Dev Flores

Kamanggagawa Party-list Representative Eli San Fernando questioned the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Francis Tolentino over the delayed implementation of the wage hike for minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region.

The lawmaker argued that DOLE Wage Order No. 27, which grants a P85 wage hike, must be implemented. He maintained that DOLE possesses the legal basis to enforce the order and should not allow the pending court case to delay its implementation.

“Sa amin saka sa Kamanggagawa Party-list, we believe na dapat harangin yung kanyang appointment sa Commission on Appointments kung ganito ang inaasal ng Secretary ng Department of Labor and Employment. Hindi dapat siya tawagin na Secretary of Labor and Employment. Secretary of Labor and Employer siya,” he said

"So ang mandato ng DOLE malinaw —  proteksyunan, ipagtanggol, at iabante ang karapatan ng mga manggagawa. Nakita niyo kanina sa budget deliberation sa budget consideration ng DOLE, walang pagtindig si Secretary Tolentino,” he added

In response to the criticism, DOLE maintained its position that opposition to the hike is not the reason for the delay.  Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino pointed out that the court injunction remains in place.

Tolentino emphasized that while he believes that wage increases are a matter of right for workers, DOLE cannot declare decisions, but the court.

“Ang dapat magsabi po nito ay hindi ako, kung hindi ang Supreme Court o ang husgado,” he said

According to the labor department, if they insist on enforcing the wage order while the restraint is active, the agency may face contempt of court. The agency reiterated that they have to comply with the legal process, instead of violating the court.

They also assured that they will immediately enforce the wage hike once the court lifts the injunction.

With reports from Mia Alonzo

The Senate Impeachment Court will invite amici curiae, or friends of the court, to discuss  the voting threshold for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The decision by Senate Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero came after Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo reopened the matter of the voting threshold.

According to Sen. Escudero, there is no trial on September 16 to give way for their meeting with the legal experts they plan to invite.

“Amici curiae, the plural form of the friends of the court. They are found in Rule 10 on the internal rules of the Supreme Court,” he said

“The court can invite amicus curiae or amici curiae to advise the court and guide the court,” he added

Sen. Escudero also stated that amici curiae could potentially assist the senator-judges when formulating their decision on the issue.

“Well, sana sa pamamagitan ng kanilang kaalaman at lawak ng kaalaman kaugnay sa batas, sa saligang batas, at gayundin, karanasan nila sa mga legal na bagay ay mabigyan tayo ng kanilang kaisipan kaugnay sa isyu nito,” he said

In line with this, the Presiding Officer stated that he has already consulted the prosecution and defense regarding who will serve as amici curiae.

However, their names cannot be announced yet as they have not been formally spoken to.

With reports from Jed Nerecina

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) sees allowing more government-issued IDs for SIM registration as a problem and a reason, as it contributes to why text scams persist.

During the House Committee on Appropriations hearing on DICT’s proposed budget for 2027, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda stated that the acceptable IDs used during registration.

“For a while, it worked. Ang naging problema lang sa sim registration, ang daming IDs na pwedeng gamitin. 17 po ata 'yun kung hindi ako nagkakamali. Kami naman po ngayon sa NTC kasama po si sila Commissioner Ella nag-iisip na baka dapat bawasan natin 'yung type of IDs. Baka dapat sa tatlo lang na national ID ang isa passport at saka license,” he said

The DICT chief explained that limiting the options will ensure higher accuracy and make falsifying identities harder.

“Kasi pag national ID na yan, medyo mahirap mo ng i-fake kasi. So 'yun po yung balak naming gawin. Limit it to an ID that has a higher chance na tama yung tao at saka tama yung information na nandon po,” he said

With reports from Asher Cadapan Jr.

The issue of recurring flooding along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), specifically at the Tulaoc section near the San Simon exit in Pampanga, was raised in the House of Representatives.

In a privilege speech by Senior Deputy Speaker and South Cotabato Second District Representative Ferdinand Hernandez, he announced plans to file a House resolution seeking an investigation involving NLEX Corporation, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, the Toll Regulatory Board, the Department of Transportation, and other concerned agencies.

A lawmaker also seeks for review if the improvements amid pavement elevations, siphoning measures, and flood barrier installations were enough. This aims to find out whether there are proven irregularities in preparations, monitoring, and response in the recurring flooding in the area.

He also questioned why toll collection was not immediately suspended amid heavy traffic, emphasizing that collecting tolls comes with a duty to deliver quality service.

“Kung may toll, dapat may serbisyo. Kung may concession, dapat may compliance. Kung may regulator, dapat may enforcement. At kung mabilis maningil ang toll, dapat mabilis din ang accountability. So I return to the question, which I began. Why charge a toll when tollway cannot deliver? This is the question tollway operator and our regulators must answer before this house,” Rep. Hernandez said

“No application, no requests, no public outrage should be necessary. The investigation should also consider automatic refund, toll waivers, rebates and appropriate compensation mechanism for motorist trapped during severe failures, as well as clear standards for when to collection must stop and when motorist may claim compensation for actual injury or lost,” he said

No lawmaker objected to Hernandez’s privilege speech, and it also gained support from colleagues from the chamber.

“Basic naman na dapat anumang service provider or establishment ay hindi mo sisingilin ang kliyente mo kapag sila ay hindi nakatatanggap ng tamang serbisyo. Mas lalo na kung palpak ang serbisyo. Dapat nga may reimbursement sa mga perwisyo na naranasan ng ating mga kababayan dito sa NLEX. Again, we support the call of our deputy speaker,” Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña said

The privilege speech was referred to the House Committee on Rules for appropriate action.

With reports from Evan Alvarez

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) discovered the alleged double entries leading to double payments related to the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, following interviews with two witnesses who appeared at the bureau.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag stated that the newly collected information will require additional days to finalize their investigation.

“Medyo mas lalong dumami pa yung dokumento at I think we will need additional few days for this week para matapos namin dahil nakita namin may parang may lumalabas na mga double entry na double payment kung saan-saan kinuha,” Matibag said

The NBI also discovered multiple contractors involved in the cauldron.

“Iba-iba 'yung contractor niyan,” Matibag said

The NBI Chief added that due to the discrepancy, the five board of trustees of the Philippine Sea Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) will face complaints.

“Siguradong may makakasuhan at siguradong merong pagkakamali,” Matibag said

“Very important yung kanina nakausap namin na witness,” he said

“Kasali na kaagad yung nandoon sa board of trustee nitong PHISGOC. Five na kaagad yun eh, so we're looking at the  other personality based nga doon sa katatapos ko lang na meeting at interview,” he continued

With reports from Benedict Samson