INQToday: Marce further intensifies; trough to bring rains over parts of Luzon

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

Marce further intensifies; trough to bring rains over parts of Luzon

The state weather bureau says Tropical Storm Marce further intensified over the Philippine Sea east of the Bicol Region.

Marcos says flood control in place, but ‘just overwhelmed’

“The flood controls are there; they were just overwhelmed.”

This was the explanation offered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. amid criticisms that followed massive floodings as consecutive typhoons lashed parts of the country recently.

Marcos on aid to Kristine victims: ‘Not enough,’ wish we ‘could do more’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. admitted that the government’s response to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine was “never enough” and wished they “could do more.”

“I’ll tell you the truth. It’s never enough. It’s never enough. I wish we could do more,” he replied when asked in an ambush interview if he was satisfied with the government’s response to the people affected by the calamity.

Escudero to LTO: Go after erring driver, owner of SUV with ‘7’ plate

Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday asked the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday to identify and inform the Senate of the driver and owner / passenger of the white sports utility vehicle (SUV) bearing a plate number 7 that allegedly attempted to run over a lady traffic enforcer in Makati City.

Plate number 7 is a protocol plate assigned to senators.

Duterte expected in the November 7 quad comm hearing

The House of Representatives quad committee is expecting the attendance of former president Rodrigo Duterte in its November 7 hearing on his administration’s drug war and alleged extrajudicial killings. 

“I think the invitation was released already to the [former] President,” House Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said in a phone patch interview on Monday.

Pimentel on drug war probe: Duterte has ‘zero influence’ over me

Sen. Koko Pimentel says former President Rodrigo Duterte has no influence over him in the Senate’s probe into the former administration’s anti-drug campaign.