Context Dispatch
Lack of govt subsidy won’t impact Philhealth coverage
PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma assured that the agency can pay health benefits for all Filipinos, even without government subsidies. "The bicameral conference...
USAF sends A-10 Warthogs to Clark for training
The U.S. Air Force sent A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, also known as Warthogs, to Clark Air Base at the weekend for a 10-day integrated training...
PHIVOLCS raises Kanlaon Volcano alert to L3
The Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Monday raised to Level 3 its alert on Kanlaon Volcano, indicating magmatic eruption has begun that...
VP Duterte Faces Possible Plunder Raps
Batangas Rep. and lawyer Jinky Luistro told the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Monday that Vice President Sara Duterte could face plunder charges for the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which Duterte headed until July. “Dalawang Pasko ang lumipas na nilustay ang perang ito,” said Rep. Luistro. “Ito ay malinaw na halimbawa ng pandarambong—hindi lamang maling paggamit ng pondo, kundi sistematikong pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan.” P50 million is the threshold for plunder, a capital offense.
Lawmaker notes missing birth records in fund inquiry
Rep. Joel Chua, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, told Monday’s public hearing that over 400 recipients of confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education under VP Sara Duterte lack birth records with the Philippine Statistics Authority, the repository of population data. This represents more than half of the 667 names submitted for verification, with over 200 having namesakes. Chua said the PSA report suggests illegal disbursement of P612 million in OVP and DepEd funds, an amount in excess of the P50 million threshold for a plunder case.
