Author: Junex Doronio

The Commission on Audit’s (COA) special fraud audit has laid bare what can only be called massive corruption in the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) under Minister Mohagher Iqbal. Over P2.2 billion intended for learning materials in BARMM has been mired in questionable transactions, procedural lapses, and outright violations of procurement law. The Special Audit Team (SAT) focused on two alarming disbursements: P1.77 billion in textbooks released in a single day and P449 million to a lone supplier for Learner’s and Teacher’s Kits. Both cases bypassed standard reviews, flouting the Government Procurement Reform Act and its implementing…

Taiwan has bestowed one of its highest civilian honors—the Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon—on Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil, former Philippine Representative to Taiwan and now Secretary General of the House of Representatives. It is a recognition that reflects not only individual excellence, but the quiet strength of Philippine diplomacy. Conferred on behalf of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, the award acknowledges Garafil’s pivotal role in strengthening Taiwan–Philippines relations. Senior government officials and business leaders from both sides attended the ceremony, signaling the value Taiwan places on the partnership she helped advance. What makes the honor particularly notable is the…

In a political season already rife with spectacle and spin, the latest attempt to bring an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. stands out — but not for the reasons its proponents might hope. What unfolded at the House of Representatives this week was less an earnest constitutional exercise and more a political theater pieced together by personalities, not principles. On Thursday, a self-styled coalition fronted by former lawmakers Mike Defensor and Jacinto “Jing” Paras alongside figures like Chavit Singson and a clutch of lawyers filed what they called a third impeachment complaint against the sitting president. They…

LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II is steering the agency toward a long-overdue overhaul, with a bold plan to fully digitalize all LTFRB transactions by 2026—a move aimed at faster service, fewer fixers, and a more efficient public transport system. Mendoza said the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board is finalizing systems that will allow online filing and verification of all petitions, motions, and transactions, cutting red tape and minimizing human intervention. The shift, he stressed, is meant to meet the expectations of a new generation of tech-savvy Filipinos who demand speed, transparency, and convenience from government. More importantly, Mendoza sees…

May mga sandali sa pulitika na hindi mo kailangang manghula—kailangan mo lang basahin ang direksiyon ng hangin. At sa ihip nito papuntang 2028, malinaw ang mensahe: tapos na ang panahon ng purong kasikatan. Ang tunay na laban ngayon ay istruktura laban sa istruktura, makinarya laban sa firewall. Sa ganitong konteksto lumilitaw ang tambalang Aquino–Torre—hindi bilang pantasya ng oposisyon, kundi bilang seryosong kalkulasyon ng kapangyarihan. Hindi ito love team ng pulitika. Hindi rin ito produkto ng social media hype. Ito ay kombinasyong tahimik pero mabigat, hindi maingay pero delikado sa sinumang kampanteng hawak na nila ang laro. Si Bam Aquino: Tahimik,…

Hanggang kailan magbubulag-bulagan ang gobyerno sa kabulukan ng PAGCOR—isang ahensiyang dapat sana’y nagpopondo sa serbisyong panlipunan ngunit naging pabrika ng bisyo, anomalya, at hipokrisya? Sa bawat press release na nagsasabing “malaki ang ambag sa kaban ng bayan,” may katumbas itong katahimikan sa mga tanong na ayaw sagutin: Magkano ang tunay na gastos ng lipunan sa sugal? Sino ang nakikinabang? At bakit parang untouchable ang institusyong ito? Pinagsasabay ng PAGCOR ang pagiging regulator at operator ng sugal. Iyan ang klasikong conflict of interest na kahit sinong estudyante ng public administration ay alam na bawal. Paano ka magiging mahigpit na bantay kung…

Sa panahong madalas nababalot ng duda ang usapin ng pambansang badyet, may isang malinaw na mensahe ang umalingawngaw sa Kamara: wala nang itinatago, wala nang isiningit. Sa matatag at dinamikong pamumuno ni House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, ang panukalang P6.793-trilyong badyet para sa 2026 ay inihain sa taumbayan na bukas, malinaw, at mapagkakatiwalaan. Hindi ito karaniwang pahayag lamang. Ito ay paninindigan. Ayon kay Speaker Dy, ang buong proseso ng bicameral conference committee ay isinagawa nang lantad at may integridad—isang malinaw na pagtalikod sa mga lumang gawi ng palihim na deliberasyon at biglaang pagbabago sa huling minuto. Sa ilalim ng…

Magandang balita para sa mga OFWs at kanilang pamilya: sinabi ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos nitong Martes na ilang balikbayan boxes na matagal nang naantala sa NAIA ay ibabalik na bago Pasko. Ang bawat kahon ay hindi lang padala — ito ay pagmamahal, sakripisyo, at pangako mula sa mahal sa buhay sa ibang bansa. Subalit, malinaw na ang pagkaantala ay di katanggap-tanggap. Ilang buwan na ang ilang kahon na nakatengga sa airport, nagdulot ng abala at pangamba sa pamilya. Para sa marami, ang Pasko ay panahon ng pagbibigayan, at ang mga padalang ito ay bahagi ng tradisyon at suporta na hindi…

May multo ng nakaraan na muling bumabangon sa Bureau of Customs (BOC)—hindi sa anyo ng sundalo at baril, kundi sa mas tahimik ngunit mas mapanganib na paraan: ang sistematikong pagsikil sa media. Kung hindi pa malinaw sa publiko, malinaw na malinaw ito sa mga mamamahayag—may umiiral na de facto martial law laban sa press sa loob ng ahensiyang ito. Sa halip na transparency, ang nangingibabaw ay takot. Sa halip na bukas na impormasyon, may pader ng katahimikan—partikular sa Port of Manila (POM) at Manila International Container Port (MICP). Dito, ang mga reporter ay tinataboy at iniikutan gamit ang mga salitang…

Senator Erwin Tulfo is merely saying out loud what millions of Filipinos have been feeling in silence: flying within our own country has become absurdly, unforgivably expensive. And while government officials keep repeating the tired mantra of “boosting domestic tourism,” the reality is that sky-high fares are killing local travel faster than any pandemic ever did. “This is the major hindrance to boost local tourism—the skyrocketing ticket prices,” Tulfo said. He is right. Dreams of exploring our own islands have become a cruel joke. Families scroll through travel apps not to book trips, but to daydream—because the moment they check…