INQToday: Sara Duterte gives up OVP, DepEd confidential funds for 2024

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

Sara Duterte gives up P500-M OVP secret fund

Vice President Sara Duterte “will no longer pursue” the requested P500 million confidential and intelligence funds for her office next year, Senator Sonny Angara revealed Thursday.

Angara, chair of the Senate committee on finance and sponsor of the 2024 national budget bill, said his office received “a statement from the VP” maintaining that the Office of the Vice President would only propose a 2024 budget that would ensure the implementation of its programs against poverty, among others.

PNP files murder, theft complaints vs 3 suspects in Jumalon slay

Murder and theft complaints were filed against three suspects involved in the brazen killing of radio broadcaster Juan Jumalon in Misamis Occidental on November 5, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the complaints were filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Misamis Occidental. She added that only one suspect was identified by name, while the two others were referred to as “John Does” in the complaint sheet.

Meralco hikes November power rates

Higher generation and transmission charges pulled up distributor Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) power rates in November by P0.2357 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

This translates to an increase of P47 in the total electricity bill of customers consuming 200 kWh.

Where is Paul Soriano? Angara says ‘Wala na po’

Where is presidential adviser on creative communications Paul Soriano now?

“Wala na po,” Senator Sonny Angara said on Thursday, when Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III asked about Soriano during Senate plenary discussions on the proposed budget of the Office of the President (OP) next year.

Phivolcs records highest Taal sulfur dioxide emission for 2023

Phivolcs says Taal Volcano posted on Thursday, Nov. 9, the highest amount of sulfur dioxide emissions for this year.