INQToday: Ex-DBM exec tagged in Pharmally mess arrested for graft in Davao City

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:

Ex-DBM exec tagged in Pharmally mess arrested for graft in Davao City

Christopher Lao, the former Budget undersecretary tagged in the Pharmally mess, was arrested in Davao City on Wednesday over alleged graft, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Lao, 47, was nabbed by PNP’s criminal investigation and detection group (CIDG) in Barangay 18B, Obrero through a Sandiganbayan first division’s arrest warrant dated Sept. 12.

Pagcor exec told: Name ex-PNP chief in Pogo ‘payroll’ or face charges

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and General Benjamin Acorda Jr. dared a former military intelligence official to identify the top cop who allegedly received bribes from dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.

Azurin and Acorda made their statements on Wednesday following the revelation of state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Senior Vice President of Security and Monitoring Cluster Retired General Raul Villanueva that PNP officials had allegedly received bribes from Guo in connection with her escape.

Duterte: New House probe wants to tell people ‘don’t vote for Sara in 2028’

The new House of Representatives hearing on the use of the budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) just intends to dissuade people from voting for the vice president in 2028.

Vice President Sara Duterte made the statement on Wednesday as she showed up at the House committee on good government and public accountability hearing.

DOJ files qualified human trafficking case vs Alice Guo before Pasig court

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a qualified human trafficking case against ex-Bamban Mayor Alice Guo (real name: Guo Hua Ping) and several others before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court.

This was said by DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano IV in an ambush interview on Wednesday.

Alice Guo House quad comm hearing attendance gets greenlight

Dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo has been ordered by the Valenzuela court to appear in the House of Representatives, the Philippine National Police said on Wednesday.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said that the city’s regional trial court (RTC) approved the appearance of the former mayor, whose real name is Guo Hua Ping, at Thursday’s quad committee hearing on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) probe.

DFA eyes UNGA resolution to address China aggression in WPS

Amid China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) plans to file a resolution before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to address the ongoing tensions between the two countries.

This was disclosed by Nueva Ecija 2nd District Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago during Wednesday’s plenary deliberations on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill. Violago was defending the DFA’s proposed P27.392 billion budget for next year.

Cheaper plane tickets await passengers in October

Plane fares will continue to go down next month with the implementation of the year-low fuel surcharge, a welcome development that is seen to further boost travel during the holiday season.

In a recent advisory, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) announced that the fuel surcharge was downgraded to Level 4 for October from the current Level 5.