Christmas in the Senate: Curlee Discaya, former DPWH engineers denied furloughMANILA, Philippines — The Senate has denied holiday furlough for contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and three former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers implicated in the flood control scandal. Sen. Ping Lacson, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said temporarily releasing them on Christmas may only provide an opportunity for them to escape accountability and expected arrests. Senate President Tito Sotto took his recommendation, effectively denying the leave requests of Discaya, as well as Bulacan district and assistant district engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza. The former DPWH engineers admitted to preparing and delivering the commissions themselves. So far, only Sarah Discaya, wife of Curlee, has been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation.

State auditors found that AICS beneficiaries received duplicate payments under the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) and that agency personnel drew funds interchangeably from the two programs' budgets. In Eastern Visayas, this was evident after the field office was found to have disbursed P1.44 billion to AICS beneficiaries and P773.6 million to AKAP beneficiaries for similar purposes. COA COA identifies how much was spent under each program for the same assistance in Region XIII in 2024. In terms of assistance, AICS provides cash aid for medical, burial, food, transportation and education needs. Thus, AKAP simply replaces the existing AICS program," COA said.

25 Badjaus in Sulu learn livelihood skills, basic financial managementThe 25 Badjaus who participated in the livelihood skills training of the Bangsamoro social welfare ministry are to put up within the month their individual carrageen farms. COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Experts from the social services ministry of the Bangsamoro region trained 25 Badjau mendicants from across Tapul town in Sulu on basic livelihood and management skills for two days, as part of the preparation for their introduction into mainstream society. Hadji Abdusakur Tan Sr., but agencies of the Bangsamoro regional government continued operating in all of the municipalities in the province. MSSD information officers in their regional office in Cotabato City said the livelihood training for Badjaus in Tapul shall be replicated in other provinces and in the three cities in the autonomous region. BARMM's chief minister, Abdulrauf Macacua, said their agriculture and fisheries ministry will help the 25 Badjaus put up their offshore carrageenan farms.

PNP: Cabral tested positive for anti-depressantsThen Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee motu proprio hearing on flood control, Sept. 8, 2025. Trigger warning: suicide, mental health issuesMANILA, Philippines — The body of the late public works and highways undersecretary Maria Catalina "Cathy" Cabral has tested positive for anti-depressant medication, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said. In a toxicology report released to the media on Tuesday, December 23, the PNP said that Cabral tested positive for citalopram, which it said is an anti-depressant drug. “Partial qualitative examination conducted on specimens B and C gave POSITIVE results to the test for the presence of Citalopram, an antidepressant drug.”According to the PNP, test tubes labeled “urine” and “vitreus” gave positive results containing citalopram. This was amid the investigation into the flood control projects, where she was accused of managing budget allocations for flood control projects, including insertions favoring lawmakers.

NIA caps 2025 with excellent governance rating, flagship dam projects, AI-driven irrigation revolutionMANILA, Philippines — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is marking three years under the leadership of administrator Eddie Guillen with key gains in irrigation development, food security support, modern, data-driven and climate-resilient systems and infrastructures, and institutional governance reforms since his appointment in December 2022. “The Excellent rating is the direct result of our 3 Rights Philosophy: Right Project, Right Price and Right Quality. The 2025 Right Campaign has effectively minimized delays and ensured that projects are turned over to Irrigators’ Associations (IAs) in good operational condition. In November 2025, NIA fully operationalized the NIA Command Center, a high-tech hub that utilizes AI-driven weather forecasting through the Tomorrow.io platform. Editor’s Note: This press release from National Irrigation Administration is published by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.

LTFRB vows crackdown vs falsified documentsMANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a warning to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators against the use of falsified documents. In a statement on Tuesday, December 22, the LTFRB warned drivers and operators against using fake Provisional Authority (PA) and Certificate of Public Conveyance (CPCs) amid reports of their proliferation, especially in the provinces. The LTFRB said that it has begun coordinating with law enforcement agencies to conduct random document checks on PUVs. The LTFRB cited one case for the use of falsified documents, where a transport company’s Provisional Authority (PA) was exploited by unauthorized vehicle owners for illegal operations. “We are now meeting with various stakeholders, including transport groups to intensify the reporting of those using fake PAs and CPCs,” Mendoza said.

Around 3,000 OFWs face cases abroad; 24 on death rowGabriela urged President Rodrigo Duterte to save OFW Jennifer Dalquez, who is currently on death row for killing the employer who attempted to rape her. The department is assisting thousands of OFWs' cases, which range from labor disputes to serious criminal charges, Cacdac said. “We're handling around 3,000 'Aksyon Fund' cases,” Cacdac said, referring to the DMW's emergency fund for supporting OFWs in crises. Most of the death row cases were transferred to the DMW from the DFA when the agency was created in 2021. Cacdac said two death row cases in Saudi Arabia were recently commuted, saving the Filipino workers involved from death row.

WASHINGTON, United States — A Kenyan member of the Al-Shabaab militant group who received pilot training in the Philippines was sentenced to life in prison on Monday for conspiring to mount a 9/11-style attack in the United States. Abdullah was arrested in the Philippines in July 2019 and extradited to the United States. According to the indictment, Abdullah attended flight school in the Philippines between 2017 and 2019 and eventually obtained his pilot's license. While undergoing flight training, he allegedly conducted research into methods to hijack a commercial airliner and sought information on how to obtain a US visa. The Somalia-based Al-Shabaab was designated a "terrorist" movement by the United States in 2008.

'VP Sara visited Teves in October, not Madriaga'MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte visited former lawmaker Arnie Teves Jr. at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in October, not Ramil Madriaga. This is according to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who shared this information at a press conference Tuesday, December 23. "Pumunta sya doon pero kinausap nya si Arnie Teves, hindi si Madriaga (She did go to the facility, but it was Arnie Teves she visited, not Madriaga)," Remulla said at a press conference held by the National Police Commission (Napolcom). "I have never visited him in prison, nor have I spoken to him about anything at any time," she said. The vice president has at one point compared herself to Teves in terms of their shared legal troubles.

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The sudden death of former DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral is now the subject of a House resolution seeking a congressional investigation filed by 12 lawmakers on Monday, Dec. 22. In addition to the resolution, Diokno is also looking to file more specific bills connected to death investigations and autopsy laws. A cyber warrant legalizes the seizing of digital evidence in an investigation. For Cabral's case, Diokno lamented how the application for a cyber warrant came too late. “Yet it’s only the other day, based on the news, na merong nag-apply for cyber warrants,” he said, referring to how the Ombudsman mentioned the cyber warrant after Cabral’s death.

French carrier Air France is set to halt its direct flights from Paris to Manila from May to October next year. "Air France, in recent schedule update, adjusted service to The Philippines, as Paris Charles de Gaulle – Manila route being converted to seasonal service in 2026. During Northern summer 2026 season, the Skyteam member will not operate the 3 weekly flights between [May 4, 2026 and Oct. 12, 2026]," it reported. In December 2024, Air France launched direct flights between Manila and Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. Air France has yet to release a statement regarding the reason for the halt.

Is the United States after Venezuela's oil? Photo by PEDRO MATTEY / AFP Motorcyclists supporting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro take part in a motorcade to protest against the United States in Caracas on December 22, 2025.

Bong Go joins ‘Bring Him Home’ Christmas outreachMANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go joined the “Bring Him Home: A Christmas Outreach – Isang Paskong May Pag-asa, Isang Paskong May Panalangin” held last Friday in Davao City, lending his presence to a holiday activity centered on prayer, solidarity and assistance for children battling cancer. The Christmas outreach, organized in a tradition long associated with former president Rodrigo Duterte, brought together caregivers, volunteers and young patients for a simple gathering that combined gift-giving with quiet reflection. Go participated in the distribution of assistance to pediatric cancer patients, echoing a practice he learned from his mentor and has consistently supported in various charity and hospital-based activities as a public servant. He added that the gathering was not only about expressing political support but about remembering those who continue to struggle with illness, particularly children undergoing cancer treatment. Through the years, the former chairman of the Senate committee on health has consistently advocated for increased funding for the Cancer Assistance Fund, highlighting its vital role in easing the financial burdens faced by patients and families.

Repurposing infraThis 2025 should be remembered for one thing – the way President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. repurposed infrastructure, public and private. And the best infra of all – quality infra that is free, provided by the private sector. In this connection, let me quote my Inquirer colleague, Jake Maderazo:“What sets President Marcos Jr. apart is the combination of vision and discipline. “Clearly, in reclamation, President Marcos Jr. has shown that fiscal prudence and ambition are not mutually exclusive. President Marcos directed chairman Alexander T. Lopez and the PRA with executing this vision – and they have been made accountable to it.