u/error_ofsignificance

The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has shut down a lending program launched under former President Rodrigo Duterte's Build, Build, Build infrastructure drive after ₱4.09 billion, or more than 60% of its outstanding loans, became overdue.

The Commission on Audit (COA) found that 61.4% of the ₱6.67 billion in outstanding loans under DBP’s Infrastructure Contractor Support (ICONS) program were past due as of December 2025.

According to DBP’s own program report, ICONS approved ₱106.78 billion in financing across 536 loan accounts to support the government’s infrastructure drive, including public-private partnership projects.

DBP’s board approved the termination of ICONS on June 3, 2026, citing its high level of overdue loans, according to the bank’s 2025 audit report obtained by Bilyonaryo.

The warning signs had surfaced years earlier.

COA disclosed that DBP’s board had ordered an inquiry into its 20 largest nonperforming loans as early as January 19, 2022, including one of the ICONS borrowers flagged by auditors.

At DBP’s Albay Lending Center, a contractor obtained a ₱100 million loan in August 2020 backed by ₱284 million in expected receivables from government contracts. The borrower defaulted in June 2021, leaving ₱97.24 million outstanding and fully provided for by December 2025.

Yet the first demand notice on record was sent only in July 2025, more than four years after default.

In all, COA examined seven borrowers with a combined ₱1.18 billion in overdue ICONS loans.

The auditors warned that the lapses had “heightened risk of loss, weakened the collateral position of the Bank and resulted in doubtful recovery of the Bank’s credit exposure.”

COA demanded an investigation into possible negligence by DBP officers and employees who handled ICONS loans, with administrative or legal charges filed where warranted.

In response, DBP said it had ordered its Legal Services Group to investigate possible negligence in handling the ICONS loans, with support from other bank units. It vowed to pursue recovery efforts, particularly against borrowers still operating or with attachable assets, “until full resolution of the accounts.”

The audit did not determine how much of the ₱4.09 billion in overdue loans DBP would ultimately recover.

The contractors were supposed to build. Now DBP is left trying to collect.

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As part of the song promotion, Tandingan also released an official lyric visualizer on YouTube.

“Sana naramdaman niyo yung dapat niyong maramdaman!” said Tandingan in an Instagram post. (YouTube/KZ Tandingan Official)

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Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is suffering from major memory loss that means he sometimes forgets his lawyer’s name, according to the defense team preparing his case at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The 81-year-old Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity at the ICC over his so-called “war on drugs” during which thousands were killed, according to prosecutors.

His trial is scheduled to start on Nov. 30, but judges are weighing whether he is mentally fit to be tried and ordered a medical assessment by three experts.

That assessment has not been made public but Duterte’s defence and the ICC prosecutor reacted to it in documents dated Sept. 14 but published on the ICC website on Tuesday.

Duterte “suffers from significant memory impairment that prevents him from retaining recent information and reliably accessing memories,” the 13-page defense submission said.

This makes it impossible to engage with the case “let alone give proper instructions to his Lead Counsel, whose name he only sometimes remembers,” said his chief defense lawyer, Peter Haynes.

Haynes said he was being forced to prepare the case without meaningful input from his client.

The prosecution, in their heavily redacted seven-page submission, concluded Duterte was “capable of meaningfully exercising his procedural and fair trial rights, and that he is fit for trial.”

Under ICC rules, proceedings cannot continue if an accused is unable to understand the charges or participate meaningfully in his defense.

Since his arrest and transfer to The Hague, where the court is based, Duterte has been seen only once at an initial appearance via a video link.

He appeared dazed and confused, mumbling to confirm his name and seeming to doze off during proceedings.

His defence team has since applied for him to be absent on health grounds at subsequent hearings.

Presiding judge Joanna Korner has urged him to make an appearance at a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday and no defense application for an exemption has been made public.

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Wishing you both all the best, Caloy and Chloe! Happy 6 years together 😊

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Nahaharap sa 124 counts ng qualified theft ang nakatatandang kapatid ni Kim Chiu na si Lakambini "Lakam" Chiu kaugnay ng umano’y pagkuha ng PHP44.396 million na corporate funds ng kanilang kompanyang House of Little Bunny Philippines, Inc. (HOLB).

Ito ang naging finding ng Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City matapos suriin ang mga salaysay at ebidensiyang isinumite kaugnay ng reklamo ni Kim laban sa kapatid.

Batay sa 21-page resolution ng piskal na natanggap ng PEP.ph at may petsang Setyembre 1, 2026, pormal na hinainan ng criminal Information si Lakam noong Hulyo 15, 2026.

Idinetalye sa resolution ang mga salaysay nina Kim, Lakam, at personal accountant ni Kim na si Helena Tayag.

May kinalaman ang kaso sa binuong kumpanya ni Kim, ang House of Little Bunny Philippines, Inc. (HOLB), isang fashion brand ng handbags na ang karaniwang presyo ay above PHP4,000.

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The Department of Energy (DOE) has filed a supplemental estafa complaint against Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste and two former Solar Philippines executives over allegedly irregular renewable energy projects covering 1,350 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity and 30 MW of wind capacity that were never delivered.

The complaint, filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Taguig, also names former Solar Philippines executive Hazel Iris Lafuente and former corporate secretary and board director Irma Flaminiano.

According to the DOE, the respondents secured Green Energy Auction Program (GEA-1) awards by submitting documents representing that their project companies met the required financial, technical and operational qualifications.

The agency said the projects were required to meet delivery commitments by December 25, 2025, but none of the awarded capacity was delivered by the deadline.

The underlying contracts were eventually terminated after the respondents allegedly failed to meet project milestones and renew their performance bonds.

The DOE also alleged that the respondents were not financially qualified when they entered the auction, citing financial statements showing negative equity in some project companies.

The agency accused Leviste, Lafuente and Flaminiano of acting in conspiracy to obtain the renewable energy awards through alleged false representations and subsequently transfer or monetize the project vehicles instead of developing the committed projects.

The DOE is asking prosecutors to find prima facie evidence against the three respondents for estafa under Article 315, paragraph 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code.

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The National Bureau of Investigation is set to file cases in the coming days over alleged irregularities related to the “golden cauldron” installed for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said.

Speaking at a forum in Quezon City over the weekend, Matibag said the investigation had yielded documents and testimonies that could support criminal charges.

“Within the next few days, perhaps within a week, we will be filing cases,” Matibag said.

The investigation is part of the NBI’s broader probe into the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), which Matibag said involves multiple cases and a large volume of documents and testimonies.

“We divided this into pieces so we can file cases. There will be different cases coming out. The cauldron is another case. That might be the first one,” he said.

Matibag said the NBI had obtained documents concerning the cauldron, which reportedly cost P55 million, although the actual cost was allegedly only about P5 million.

He said several leaders of sports associations were also being investigated, with some already appearing before the NBI after receiving subpoenas.

Matibag said the NBI was also examining the activities of people associated with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who was the head of PHISGOC in 2019.

He identified sports executive Ramon Suzara as among those being looked into, noting that some PHISGOC members had been Cayetano’s colleagues, staff members or associates.

“We are still developing and checking what ventures they are involved in,” Matibag said.

The NBI is also looking into why PHISGOC continued to sponsor international events despite being created specifically to organize the 2019 SEA Games.

“It was supposed to end its existence after the SEA Games. But we found out that until now, they are still sponsoring international events. We are looking into that,” Matibag said.

Matibag stressed that the PHISGOC investigation remains ongoing and that the NBI is pursuing separate cases based on the evidence it has gathered.

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The concrete jungle could be one of the most unforgiving terrains.

Alex Eala learned this the hard way as she absorbed a heartbreaking 5-7, 6-3, 5-7 defeat at the hands of Iva Jovic to see her US Open come to an end Sunday morning (Manila time) at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

Jovic outlasted her good friend in a match that went three hours and three minutes.

“I don't even know what to say. That felt like a marathon and I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match but it's really worth it for this feeling,” Jovic said after the match.

“I’m usually not one that shows that many emotions but this one really meant a lot to me so it's it's everything to have another match here at the US Open.” 

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Anne Curtis' daughter Dahlia is now in Grade 1!

The actress and TV host shared a series of Instagram Stories showing their preparations for school.

Dahlia's last day of vacation was spent getting a haircut, and she chose a layered style.

Anne also shared photos of her daughter's school supplies, which she lovingly labeled with stickers showing Dahlia's name.

She also shared a photo of Dahlia wheeling her school bag.

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Filipino pole vault ace Ernest John "EJ" Obiena ruled the ISTAF Berlin with a 5.82m clearance at the Olympiastadion in Germany early Monday, August 31 in Manila.

"5.82m here in Berlin for the gold," wrote Obiena in an Instagram post, captioning a video of him clearing the said height.

"Thank you Istaf Berlin for having me. Hope to see you again next year!"

Obiena thus swept the Istaf Berlin meets this year, having also ruled the indoor competition last March.

The 30-year-old also collected his fourth Istaf Berlin gold overall, ruling the 2023 outdoor meet and the 2024 indoor.

Overall this 2026, Obiena has collected nine gold medals as his resurgence continues after a lackluster 2025 season.

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The tennis ace admitted that she isn’t sure what to feel about the viral word. “Hindi ko alam kung ano mararamdaman ko 'pag naririnig ko yan kasi grabe yung paghihirap ko sa serve, grabe the work that I put in. And I love my serve,” she explained. “My coach says it’s like my little brother. Parang ate ako sa serve ko.”

She acknowledged that fans mean well by it, however she remains apprehensive about its possible connotations and would much rather appreciate something more “positive.”

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Reklamong obstruction of justice hinggil sa 'pagtakas' ni Bato dela Rosa sa Senado, natanggap na ng DOJ

Ayon kay DOJ Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato, natanggap ng ahensya ang reklamo noong Agosto 11 at sumasailalim na sa evaluation.

Kasalukuyan na itong sinusuri kung may sapat na basehan ang reklamo para maisailalim sa preliminary investigation, kung saan maaari nang mag-isyu ng subpoena at ipatawag ang mga respondent upang magpaliwanag.

Mahalagang umanong hindi pangunahan ang proseso at hindi rin muna maaaring ibunyag ang pangalan ng mga sangkot hangga’t wala pang naipapalabas na subpoena.

Dagdag pa niya, dumaraan ang reklamo sa mekanismo ng DOJ alinsunod sa Department Circular No. 20, kung saan may koordinasyon na naganap sa pagitan ng law enforcement agency at ng kagawaran bago umabot sa ganitong yugto.

Sa oras na umusad ang reklamo sa preliminary investigation, indikasyon aniya ito na may nakitang posibleng sapat na batayan upang ipagpatuloy ang kaso sa mas pormal na proseso ng imbestigasyon.

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Noong Mayo 13, nagkaroon ng pamamaril sa pagitan ng Senate security personnel at mga tauhan ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) sa kalapit na office facility, na nagdulot ng panic sa loob ng Senate premises.

Ilang oras matapos ang insidente, umalis si Dela Rosa sa Senate protective custody sakay ng sasakyan ni Sen. Robin Padilla.

Sinabi ni Padilla na siya mismo ang hinilingan ni Dela Rosa na makisakay at ihatid siya sa Makati City.

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Love how Ms. Kara explained malasakit. Hindi lang siya about feeling sorry for someone but actually feeling their pain and being moved to help. Parang hindi ka mapakali kapag may taong nahihirapan. Kaya niya tinayo ang project malasakit scholarship para makatulong sa mga batang may pangarap. True public service talaga 🙌

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Meanwhile yung isa, may 470+ na nagbabantay na para bang hindi sya gaanong ka confident sa safety niya pero confident sa confidential funds 😂

Kara David has spent three decades in journalism, covering stories across the country while continuing her work with i-Witness and other media projects, as well as teaching journalism at UP Diliman.

“I super enjoy my job,” she replied when asked if she ever felt burnt out. “Shooting is always fun because there’s always a challenge—you’re moving a lot. Challenging at nakakapagod siya, pero alam mong may patutunguhan ’yung ginagawa mo.”

For Kara, the challenge is also making sure the people behind her stories are never reduced to just subjects.

“’Yun ’yung ayaw kong mangyari sa’kin. ’Yung umabot ako sa point na istorya na lang sila. Hindi na sila tao.”

Kara found herself at the center of a conversation about public service after the FAMAS Broadcast Arts Awards, where she tied with content creator and actress Ivana Alawi for Best Host for Public Service. She also took home Best Public Affairs Talk Show for I-Listen and Best Documentary for i-Witness’ Embalsamador de Motor.

“Magkaiba lang kami ng platform. Magkaiba rin kami ng paraan ng pagtulong,” she said of Ivana. “I think you can do public service in any platform.”

For Kara, the more important question is how that influence is being used.

“When we talk about public service–whether in the media or in government or ano mang industriya pa ’yan–sana talagang para sa publiko at hindi para sa sarili,” she said.

“Kasi ’yun ’yung totoong public service. When it becomes for you, hindi ’yun public service.”

There is a reason she has kept going for three decades, even with the frustrations that come with the work. Journalism has changed around her, but the stories she wants to tell still remain familiar. After 30 years, she hopes to reach the point when she runs out of them.

“I hope umabot ako sa point na wala na akong mahahanap na child laborer,” she said. “I hope umabot ako sa point na wala na akong mahahanap na communities na walang access to healthcare. Sana dumating ’yung panahon na wala nang mga nagsisiksikang bata sa mga classroom. Sana dumating ’yung panahon na lahat ng mga politiko hindi epal at hindi na nagnanakaw.”

“Sana good news naman ’yung i-document ko,” she continued.

It would be, by her own admission, a very good problem to have. Until then, there will be another story waiting somewhere, and another reason to go looking for it.

“I will be very, very happy ’pag wala na akong mahahanap na ganoong klaseng mga problema,” she said. “But until meron pang mga batang napagkakaitan ng karapatan nila, well, hindi ako titigil.”

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Nanahimik yung tao eh, ayun tuloy. Nakakaloka si ateng