PH Politics

The Philippine executive branch on Friday, December 5, 2025, announced it will return P60 billion in unused Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) funds in compliance with a Supreme Court order. Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said the government has started coordinating with fiscal agencies to identify fund sources, validate amounts, and process the remittance to PhilHealth through standard budget and accounting procedures. Officials will brief PhilHealth’s management on the transfer schedule and will submit compliance reports to the Supreme Court. Further implementation details will follow after interagency consultations.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledges to intensify his administration’s anti-corruption campaign, comparing graft in government to a “cancer” that requires major systemic surgery, while acknowledging the disruption and hardship caused by reforms. He cites investigations into anomalous flood control and infrastructure projects, asset freezes worth about P12 billion, and ongoing cases filed by the Ombudsman. Separately, the Bureau of Immigration moves to deport Chinese national Cao Cheng, alleged importer of luxury cars tied to contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, after his arrest for alleged misrepresentation and use of an alias. Authorities link Cao to a suspected luxury car smuggling syndicate and report multiple vehicles with missing import entries, unpaid duties, and tax deficiencies.

Porac, Pampanga Mayor Jaime Capil surrendered on Tuesday to the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 265 and posted bail for graft charges tied to the controversial POGO hub operating in his town.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Party-list on Tuesday formally requested the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate alleged anomalies in P4.4 billion worth of flood control projects in Davao City.

At a Palace briefing, Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro addressed Duterte’s remarks after he questioned the government’s assertion that a family of four could prepare a Christmas meal for P500.

A Pasig court has approved the cancellation of the Philippine passports of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Cassandra Li Ong, and three other co-accused in a qualified trafficking case linked to a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga.