Dev Flores

Meralco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manny V. Pangilinan expressed willingness to collaborate with the government regarding the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to remove system loss charges from the electric bills of consumers.

However, he questioned who would shoulder the cost if the system loss charge is completely removed from the electricity bills.

System loss occurs when power travels through transmission lines, but it does not mean that operations are inefficient.

Pangilinan added that if the system losses are scrapped, power industry companies will be forced to shoulder the costs from generation, transmission, and distribution. For him, this is not a small matter as it could cost billions of pesos just in case they pay the charge.

Recently, the collection of system loss charges has been mandated by law. Several lawmakers aim to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) before the implementation of the complete removal of such charges from the consumer’s electric bills.

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is continuing its investigation into the alleged death threat received by Senator Risa Hontiveros.

In line with this, the NBI has detected a group chat containing threats against the Senator and other personalities.

According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, they have observed what allegedly appears to be a pattern in the reports of threats they have received.

“It's creating a pattern na parang ang dali-daling manakot eh,”  he said

[“It's creating a pattern that makes it seem so easy to make threats.”]

“After na namatay si Mima, yung isang vlogger, may mga sinasabing isunod ng patayin ‘tong mga tao na ‘to and there are personalities  including nga diyan (yung) Presidente,” he added

[“After Mima, the vlogger, died, comments were saying that these other people should be killed next, and there are personalities included there, including the President.”]

The NBI Director also revealed that he has been receiving threats against his own life.

He also added that this behavior should not become a habit for anyone.

“Yun na yung nagiging norms — that's exactly what I'm saying that we have to stop,” he said

[“That’s becoming the norm — that’s exactly what I'm saying that we have to stop.”]

“Lumaki tayo nung nakita natin yan, pag may namatay tayong kapitbahay, kahit hindi natin kasundo nakikiramay tayo. But this time, ang wish natin pag may namatay, dapat mamatay na susunod ko. I think that should not be the norm,” Matibag said

[Upon growing up, when our neighbor passed away, even if we weren’t on good terms with them, we expressed our condolences. But this time, when someone dies, the wish is for the next person to die too.”]

The NBI is prepared to summon anyone identified as involved in issuing these death threats.

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) aims to wrap up the investigation into the alleged anomalies in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games within a month.

“We’re intending to wrap it up in 3 to 4 weeks lang kasi malinaw naman yung ebidensya,” NBI Director Matibag said

[We’re intending to wrap it up in just 3 to 4 weeks because the evidence is already clear.”]

According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, they have already seen clear evidence regarding the case. He added that out of the seven individuals summoned by the bureau, one has already responded to the subpoena.

Besides, the bureau is still awaiting documents to be submitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commission on Audit (COA) that may help in the ongoing investigation.

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Meralco is appealing to the government to thoroughly study the impact of the proposed removal of the system loss charge on electricity rates.

In an official statement, Meralco said it respects the proposals and policy direction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding plans to amend the Electric Power Industry Act (EPIRA).

However, the company explained the importance of the system loss charge in maintaining continuous and smooth operations within the proper supply distribution network.

“We believe it is important to recognize that system loss charge is not unique to any distribution utility but is a common operational aspect of the delivery of electricity — which affects the entire power industry,” according to Meralco

The power distributor added that while it continues to invest in modernizing and  upgrading technologies to minimize system loss charges, technical losses remain necessary to maintain ongoing operations.

“While distribution utilities like Meralco continue to invest in modernizing and upgrading facilities and deploying technologies that reduce system losses, a certain level of technical losses remains inherent in operating an electric distribution system,” Meralco said

To ensure genuine benefits for consumers, Meralco emphasized that it is necessary to consider the support and stability for distribution utilities.

The company expressed readiness to collaborate and engage in dialogue with the government on the issue to uphold consumer protection and to stabilize the power industry.

A joint operation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), and other government agencies raided an alleged substandard steel factory in Magalang, Pampanga on July 18, 2026.

“This will also set a warning doon sa mga nagnenegosyo. Spending billions of money without following the standards na sinet natin,” NBI Director Matibag said

[“This will also serve as a warning to business operators spending billions of pesos without following established standards.”]

According to the NBI, they had received information regarding the steel factory’s operations last March.

Authorities noted that the business allegedly operates on a large scale, supplying numerous contractors for both private and public projects. To prevent further distribution, the NBI immediately conducted test buys in various locations across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, then later, authorities confirmed that the products were substandard.

“Standard po kasi iyan ng imbestigasyon na kapag V bars, metals ang iyong dini-deal with, you do not only examine the chemical and physical characteristics, but as well the radiological and nuclear characteristics of the material,” according to NBI-CFMIU Chief Atty. Zulikha Marie Conales

[It’s standard of the investigation that when dealing with V-bars and metals, you do not only examine the chemical and physical characteristics, but as well the radiological and nuclear characteristics of the material.”]

“We're addressing it by looking at the inventory. Yung documents, yun iyung pino-forensic namin ngayon dito sa mga companies na ‘to, so that we will specifically pinpoint kung sino yung mga nabigyan na na-distribute yung mga bakal na yon,” Matibag said

[“We're addressing it by looking at the inventory. We are currently conducting forensic procedures on these companies, so that we will specifically pinpoint who received and distributed those steel products.”]

After the raid, the NBI discovered that the steel produced by the company was the same as the materials used in the building that collapsed in Angeles City, Pampanga last May.

The bureau also linked the steel factory to several buildings that collapsed during a strong earthquake in Mindanao last June.

“We should be helping each other how to safeguard iyong market at saka iyong mga structures na ipapatayo natin,” according to PAOCC Exec. Director Usec. Benjamin Acorda Jr.

[“We should be helping each other how to safeguard the market and the structures that we’re going to build.”]

“We will probably come out with an inter-agency coordinating task force on this matter dahil sabi ko kanina maraming marami pa tong mga factories na ’to,” Matibag said

[“We will probably come out with an inter-agency coordinating task force on this matter because as I said earlier, there are still many factories like this.”]

The authorities emphasized that steel purchased for residential homes, government buildings, and critical infrastructure must meet strict quality and durability standards.

Currently, authorities have taken twelve suspects and may face potential charges for violating Consumer Act of the Philippines, Philippine Clean Air Act at Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act.

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