Orly Guteza, former bodyguard of ex-Congressman Rizaldy Co., has recanted his September 2025 testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, where he claimed he helped deliver suitcases of money in connection with the flood control controversy. Guteza said his affidavit was prepared by former Congressman Mike Defensor and his son-in-law, Mark, and was later revised by Senator Rodante Marcoleta. He said the meeting took place on Sept. 24, 2025, at a Japanese restaurant near the Senate. Guteza also claimed Defensor offered him cash and educational scholarships for his children in exchange for his testimony. Also, in his new 4-page affidavit notarized on August 13 in Pasig City, Guteza claimed he was tapped to testify because Co’s executive assistants might be expelled from the Iglesia ni Cristo if they admitted their role in moving the money.
SM Prime Holdings Inc. expects sustained demand for warehouse and logistics facilities as e-commerce, faster delivery expectations, and last-mile distribution reshape the Philippine supply chain.
As persistent market pressures, soft domestic demand, and tight liquidity continue to squeeze Filipino households and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Global Dominion Financing, Inc. has partnered with Go Negosyo to deploy "Trabaho at Negosyo," a nationwide economic intervention designed to expand capital access, business mentorship, and income-generating opportunities across regional markets.
Jobstreet by SEEK and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are tightening the link between technical-vocational training and employment as the Philippines seeks to turn skilled talent into job-ready workers.
The Philippine government said it will act on recommendations from the World Bank’s latest Public Finance Review, putting a sharper focus on broadening the tax base, improving revenue collection and ensuring that public spending translates into measurable gains for Filipinos.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recognized six distinguished institutional partners across Mindanao during the Outstanding BSP Stakeholders Appreciation Ceremony held on September 28, 2026, wrapping up the central bank’s 2026 nationwide appreciation series. This recognition follows earlier ceremonies held for North Luzon in July, Head Office and South Luzon in August, and the Visayas in September.
The Jollibee Group is bringing its inclusive employment initiative for qualified senior citizens and persons with disabilities to the Visayas region for the first time, through a new partnership with the Cebu City Government. Under this collaboration, eligible seniors and PWDs will take on customer relations roles across 36 participating branches of Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Burger King, marking a key milestone in the program’s national reach.
The various sugar groups are urging Congress to revise the ProGRESS tax reform bill, warning its current design will further shrink local cane sugar use as cheaper alternatives dominate. The Department of Finance-backed measure would raise the sweetened beverage tax tiers to P20 and P40 per liter without reclassifying sweeteners, a change producers say will push manufacturers to replace cane sugar entirely.