INQToday: Typhoon Marce slightly intensifies; more Luzon areas under Signal no. 1

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

Typhoon Marce slightly intensifies; more Luzon areas under Signal no. 1

Marce (international name: Yinxing) further intensified and reached the typhoon category by mid-morning on Tuesday, prompting the state weather bureau to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No.1 over 12 areas in Luzon.

Philippine inflation rises to 2.3% in October

October’s headline inflation accelerated due to higher prices in food, nonalcoholic beverages and transport, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday.

Preliminary data from the agency showed that the consumer price index (CPI) increased by 2.3 percent year-on-year in October, up from 1.9 percent in September. However, the current pace of inflation remains slower than the 4.9 percent recorded last year.

DepEd exec claims receiving ‘monthly allowance’ from VP Sara Duterte

An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) has admitted to receiving envelopes containing P25,000 “monthly allowance” reportedly from Vice President and former DepEd chief Sara Duterte in nine months last year.

DepEd Accounting Division chief Rhunna Catalan made the revelation after she was asked by the House committee on good governance and public accountability chair and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua if she also received envelopes from former DepEd Assistant Secretary Sunshine Charry Fajarda.

VP Duterte’s chief of staff leaves PH amid House probe into alleged fund misuse

One of the seven officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) linked to alleged misuse of government funds under Vice President Sara Duterte’s watch fled the Philippines for Los Angeles on Monday night.

House committee secretary Sheryl Lagrosas reported this to lawmakers during a hearing on Tuesday.

House panel issues subpoena to OVP officials anew

The House committee on good governance on Tuesday issued another subpoena to seven officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) who were linked to the alleged misuse of government funds under Vice President Sara Duterte’s watch.

This time, panel chair and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua warned the resource persons that a “much heavier penalty” awaits them if they opt to skip the ongoing probe.

Dela Rosa tells Senate: We do not recognize ICC’s jurisdiction

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Tuesday said that although it was within the Senate’s authority to provide certified true copies of the drug war hearing transcripts to the International Criminal Court (ICC), doing so would be “tantamount to recognizing the ICC’s jurisdiction over the country.”

“Kung gusto nila, edi i-submit nila doon (If they want to, they can submit it there). But then kung nag-submit sila (If they submit it), I will try to question him (Senate President Chiz Escudero), why are you submitting to the ICC when we do not recognize the jurisdiction of ICC.

Alice Guo’s camp: She is not liable for perjury, falsification

Dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo (real name: Guo Hua Ping) cannot be held liable for the notary issue on her counter-affidavit for the human trafficking case as she was already outside the country when it was notarized, her camp argued Tuesday.

Guo’s legal counsel, Atty. Stephen David, made the pronouncement after submitting a counter-affidavit seeking to dismiss the perjury and falsification charges against Guo in a preliminary investigation hearing held at the Department of Justice in Manila.