Unang Balita sa Unang Hirit: AUGUST 13, 2025 [HD]

0:00 [Music] One of the contractors for flood control projects who was previously embroiled in several controversies is no longer here, based on research by GMA Integrated News Research. Several prominent personalities have been linked to other contractors, including Senate President Ches Escudero, who denied the allegations of malicious involvement. Makido has first news . [Music] President Bongbong Marcos mentioned 15 contractors who received billions worth of flood control projects or 20%

0:48 of the total funds for it. Of those 15 projects, based on data from Malacañang, Sun West Incorporated received the largest amount of projects for 78 flood control projects worth over 10 billion. Based on research by GMA Integrated News Research, Sun West Incorporated has previously been linked to several controversies. 2012 of the sewing of one of their projects. It turned out that the width of the road they built was more than 2,000 s m compared to the reported accomplishment to the DPW. They were then criticized by the Senate. Why was a construction company the PSDBM supplier for protective personnel

1:34 equipment or PPE in 2020 and 2021 during the height of the pandemic? Their name at that time was Sunest Construction and Development Corporation or SCDC . SCDC's name also appeared as a supplier of allegedly overpriced and outdated laptops to the Deped in the COA's 2022 audit of PSDBM. Former incorporator of Sunwest but has reportedly divested Ako Bicol Party List Representative Elizaldi Co. We are still trying to get his statement. Legacy Construction Corporation received more than a billion for 132 projects. This is the largest on the list. We went to Pasig City to get its office address, but the security guard said that the legacy had already moved

2:20 before the COVID pandemic in 2020. The Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corporation's project was worth more than PH billion. Alpha and Omega have the same office address in St. Timothy Construction Corporation was awarded more than P billion in flood control projects. But outside the office address of the two St. The name listed is Gerard Construction. In the latest general information sheet of Alpha and Omega, Sarah Discaya is listed as the president. Just in the recent elections, he was running against Pasig City Mayor Vico Soto for mayor of the city. When GMA Integrated News interviewed Sarah's husband, Pacifico Discaya, he said that they were former shareholders of St. Timothy, but

3:07 they've already divested from it. They also previously rented their building to St. Timothy, but he's gone. The St. Timothy is the venture partner of Miro Systems that pulled out for the 2025 automated elections. We are still trying to obtain their statements. Almost a billion was awarded to EGB Construction Corporation. The company has Quadruple A status for their construction company because their company has integrity. Our work is going well. We comply with all plans and specifications. Also on the list is Center Construction and Development Inc., which has secured over 5 billion worth of flood control projects. Senate

3:52 President Chese Escodero admitted that he is a friend of its president Lawrence Lubiano but he denied a news report that Lubyano was Escodero's biggest donor in the 2022 elections. He's been a friend and acquaintance of mine for a long time, he's been helping us since before we were even kids, and he's actually from R Sogon. Although the article I made said nothing wrong or bad, the insinuation, the innuendo, is still there, for the record, I had nothing to do with identifying, creating a program of work, bidding, awarding, housing, paying, inspecting any government project. Escudero further emphasized that

4:38 Center Waste Construction has secured Php550 billion worth of flood control projects . Why is that getting attention? The 1% is really not the 99%. Why don't we look at who the young people in the official government are who are the actual contractors, the actual owners of the companies that have obtained government contracts? GMA Integrated News is trying to get the side of Lubyano and Center Waste Construction. Escudero believes that part of the alleged demolition job against him by those pushing for the impeachment of Vice President Sarah Duterte and those from Camara Umano are behind this. What I said in recent weeks is coming true that there is a demolition PR job being done against me and um, just like

5:25 a fellow senator warned me that this will be done to ensure that I am removed from office and when the impeachment is filed again, I will no longer be here by February 6. House Deputy Speaker Antipolo Representative Ronaldo Puno responded. Maybe he'll hire someone specifically for the demolition job so they can settle things. It's bad that I'm being slandered blanket here in Congress. We are all being hit. Senator Chis is my friend. What if I too have been implicated in that accusation again? We are publicly calling on House Speaker Martin Rumwaldes. The president is already looking into what he called the disturbing cornering of several companies in projects. The DPWNCR is confident that

6:11 their flood control projects are unhindered. The improvement is huge because although there was flooding in other areas, it subsided quickly . There are also areas that used to flood but now they don't. According to Roland Simbulan of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance OENPEG, flood control projects are his favorite milking ground . It's difficult to monitor this precisely because they are not so visible . We can only test uh their effectiveness and efficiency or what is deficient about them when the flood is already there. Although no one has elaborated on what others are doing, including giving campaign funds. They invest in politicians then the politicians are expected to provide them with the contracts that

6:59 they want to corner. DPW Secretary Manny Bonoan admitted that there is a challenge in verifying the implemented projects. Well, we are doing our best actually to monitor but once again the challenge is actually to verify them actually in the field. This is the first news. Ma Pulido for GMA Integrated News. Palace Press Officer Under Secretary Claire Castro responded to Vice President Sarah Duterte's statement about her travel abroad. I'm traveling, I'm leaving the country because Filipino communities abroad are frustrated with what's happening here in our country. Traveling is not the answer

7:46 to solving any problems the country may have. That's why we learned that Castro added that it's not the job of the B president to travel to discredit the president. It is also not the job of the B president to ask the people to remove the president from office, saying that only the busy will benefit. We are still trying to get a statement from Vice President Duterte about this. visit early morning, barangay guards in Mandaluyong patrolled several public schools in accordance with the order of the Department of Interior and Local Government to increase security due to school violence live from Mandaluyong with EJ Gomez EJ

8:35 Susa has the first news The Department of the Interior and Local Government or DIG G issued an order requiring barangay guards to guard public schools as additional security amid a series of incidents of violence in schools. At 5:00 in the morning, we found the Barangay Poblasyon staff meeting here in Mandaluyong. They are preparing for their deployment to schools today. At 6:00 in the morning, they began raiding two schools, Mandaluyong Elementary School and Mandaluyong High School. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued an order

9:20 requiring barangay guards to guard public schools as an added security measure amid a series of incidents of violence in schools. They are also tasked with directing traffic during school hours and patrolling around schools. Good morning, class opens at 6, it's already there. Our guards have been deployed so that the students can be guided and carefully monitored. We also went to the village of Adition Hills, which has six schools. It was already 6 am when the guards began to guard and monitor Andres Bonefaso Integrated School. When it's school time or school time, they immediately monitor and deploy

10:06 people, such as security guards, to schools to prevent chaos among students here in Mandaluyong. The added security at the school is a big deal for father Mark, who picks up his son who is in grade 1 every day. As a parent, we are now safe to leave our children at school because there are now guards and someone else watching over them. We are already nervous. So, according to the guards of several barangays here in Mandaluyong City that we spoke to, they really are watching over us now. It's the groups of students or youth who hang around the school that often start fights or bullying. And

10:55 that's the first news from here in Mandaluyong City. EJ Gomez for GMA Integrated News. Authorities observed several motorists using improvised plates and driving with broken lights. live from Quezon City. James Agustin James has first news. Good morning. Five public transport drivers and one motorcycle rider were caught during a random inspection conducted by SAAEI operatives this morning. The Special Action in Intelligence Committee stopped the transportation or SAIK public vehicles here in the area of A Bonefacio Avenue. The tires, wipers, windshields, lights and

11:41 brakes of jeep buses and others were inspected. The driver's license, franchise and vehicle registration were also checked. A Boost and a Jeep were seen by the driver because the brake lights were broken. Boost was also seen using an unauthorized improvised plate. A motorcycle rider who was wearing a substandard helmet and only wearing slippers while driving was also not overlooked. The drivers' licenses were confiscated and they were issued temporary operators permits or what is called TOPs. There was a little bit of a disruption, especially for passengers going to work this morning, but they said they understood the importance of the inspection being conducted by the authority. [Music] That would be better so we could find out what the problem is with our business. It's okay for the safety of the passengers as well

12:27 . Okay, sir. Because if the documents are not complete, it's a pity for the ero. We need to ensure that our countrymen are safe in their daily travels by using public transportation. It looks like the ones we have now. Meanwhile, Igan, SA continues to operate along A Bifacio Avenue. This is actually where passengers get off and on in this area. Those who have violations are required to go to the central office of the Land Transportation Office to obtain their expired license and pay the fine for their violations. That's the first news from here in Quezon City. I'm James

13:13 Agustine for Gemy Integrated News. The Department of Foreign Affairs is preparing a new diplomatic protest in connection with or following the pursuit of a Philippine Coast Guard ship by Chinese ships in the West Philippines Sea. AAP Chief of Staff Romeo Browner Jr. believes. that the Chinese vessels really intended to collide with the PCG's BRP Suluan. Chino Gastor has the first news. The Chinese Coast Guard and People's Liberation Army Navy of China attempted a pincer move, according to the Philippine Navy. Two Chinese ships are allegedly trying to pressure the Philippine Ghost Guard's BRP Sulan. But instead of the PCG barge getting stuck,

13:59 two Chinese barges collided. The muzzle of the China Coastguard ship was visibly disfigured. The Chinese Navy ship, on the other hand, had deep and long scratches on its side. It can also be seen that before colliding with the larger Chinese warship, four CCG personnel can be seen lowering the bumper on the front of their ship. After the impact, they were no longer visible in front of the ship. It is unclear what happened to them. The PCG offered assistance to the CCG but it did not respond. This is PRP Suguan 4406. This is the Philippine Coast Guard vessel. Should you need any assistance? We have medical personnel on board.

14:46 Because the departure of BRP Suluan we saw that some of the Chinese coast guard vessels were also in the vicinity launched their own umidal inflatable boat and they appeared to be searching uh for something or some somebody no uh so we assumed that there was a search and rescue that was conducted. Our thoughts and prayers are still for those Chinese coastguard who were injured because of this incident. The PCG said it would be extremely dangerous if the BRP Suluan was targeted by Chinese ships. The BRP Suluan is only 44 m long compared to the 90 m length of the CCG vessel and the 135 m length of the plan ship. You can just imagine the

15:32 impact if our little business were to fail . I don't want to speculate that the real intention of the PLA Navy Warship was to intentionally ram the Philippine Coastguard vessel. I still stick with our with our initial assessment that there was only a miscalculation on the part of the PLA Navy Warship which is why there was a collision. But AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Bronner Jr. convinced that the Chinese ships really intend to collide with the BRP Suluan. China's aggressive tactics are clearly visible there, right? Our assessment there is that the PLA Navy

16:19 Ship is really his goal, his objective is to ram our Philippine Coast Guard. The AFP will discuss what the next step will be this time. They say China's warship is being used to harass the West Philippines Sea. It's their fault, right? It's their fault that that happened. They say that we are the ones causing trouble in the West Philippine Sea, but we can clearly see from what happened that they themselves are the ones causing trouble, not because they continue to claim Baho de Mainluk or Scarborosol as their own territory. We can't agree to that. The Department of Foreign Affairs is preparing the process of filing a diplomatic protest due

17:05 to another incident of harassment. We are of the view that uh there should be this is a situation whereby we have to be more careful and we still go back to the process of whereby diplomatic dialogue and and and um and uh discussions will be uh will be best for the situation. Are we going to summon the Chinese ambassador in? I think there has been a process but we're still rethinking the whole issue. We haven't yet. The DFA is reportedly concerned about the dangerous patrolling of Chinese ships and their alleged obstruction of providing assistance to Filipino fishermen in Baho Mazinlock. The DFA also praised the PCG's offer of assistance to the Chinese ship. The

17:51 PCG also identified the crew of the BRP Suluan, particularly captain Jark Angge. Several diplomats have also condemned the dangerous actions of Chinese ships, such as US Ambassador Mary K. Carlson. China's foreign ministry blamed the Philippines for the incident and urged it to stop taking actions that incite trouble. In response to this, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, I'm already tired of contradicting, you know, and I don't want to uh answer a blatant lie and you know uh and and glorify it. And everybody knows the truth really. Why would we pick a fight? That's what the

18:36 president said. Who in his or her right mind will initiate a conflict when you are a smaller country? Common sense unless they don't have any. According to the PCG, the BRP Suluan returned to Manila first because its fuel and supplies were limited . Currently, BRP Teresa Magbanua is positioned near Baho de Masinlok. The Philippine Navy confirmed that the Philippines had a Navy Warship near the area when the incident occurred in Baho de Masinlok. The Navy was asked if the participation of the Chinese warship was not enough for the Philippine navy warships to intervene and intervene. The Philippine Navy responded that there are rules of engagement that are followed. Force can only be used for self-defense and depends on the

19:21 judgment of the ground commander. All the rules of engagements are bound by international law within the bounds of international law and domestic law. This is the first news. Chino Gaston for GMA Integrated News. Kapuso, don't miss out on the latest news and updates. Be the first to know the news and subscribe to the GMA Integrated News YouTube channel . Just [Music]