Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signs Republic Act 11997, known as the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, into law on Monday, June 3, 2024. This law increases the annual teaching allowance for public school teachers to P10,000, intended to cover the cost of equipment, materials, and other teaching-related expenses. The signing ceremony at Malacañang Palace was attended by Senate President Chiz Escudero, Speaker Martin Romualdez, members of the House of Representative, and the Senate. DepEd Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte did not attend the ceremonial signing but DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa attended the said event. Yummie Dingding, PPA Pool

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175989917353120240603-marcos-kabalikat-pagtuturo-PPA-05.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/> Fromer Senate President Chiz Escudero and former Speaker Martin Romualdez in Malacañang. Yummie Dingding, PPA Pool/File</div>MANILA (5th UPDATE) — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Wednesday requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue Immigration Lookout Bulletin Orders (ILBO) for incumbent lawmakers Francis Escudero, Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, Martin Romualdez, and other current and former officials tagged in the flood control scandal.The ILBO request of ICI was later approved by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, according to Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano, DOJ spokesperson.<div> </div><div>Aside from the 4 lawmakers , the ICI sought ILBOs for the following:</div><div> </div>• Former Senator Ramon &quot;Bong&quot; Revilla Jr.• Mayor Maria Lourdes &quot;Nancy&quot; Binay Angeles• Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario G. Lipana• Marilou Laurio-Lipana• Education Undersecretary Trygve L. Olaivar• Carlene Villa• Maynard Ngu• Cong. Roman Romulo (Pasig)• Cong. James &quot;Jojo&quot; Ang (USWAG Ilonggo PL)• Cong. Patrick Michael &quot;PM&quot; Vargas (Quezon City)• Cong. Juan Carlos &quot;Arjo&quot; Atayde (Quezon City)• Cong. Nicanor &quot;Nikki&quot; Briones (AGAP PL)• Cong. Marcelino &quot;Marcy&quot; Teodoro (Marikina)• Cong. Florida &quot;Rida&quot; Robes (San Jose del Monte)• Cong. Eleandro Jesus Madrona (Romblon)• Cong. Benjamin &quot;Benjie&quot; Agarao (Laguna)• Former Cong. Florencio Gabriel &quot;Bem&quot; Noel (An Waray PL)• Cong. Leody &quot;Ode&quot; Tarriela (Occidental Mindoro)• Cong. Reynante &quot;Reynan&quot; Arogancia (Quezon Province)• Former Cong. Marvin Rillo (Quezon City)• Cong. Teodorico &quot;Teodoro&quot; Haresco, Jr. (Aklan)• Cong. Antonieta Eudela (Zamboanga Sibugay)• Cong. Dean Asistio (Caloocan)• Cong. Marivic Co-Pilar (Quezon City)• District Engr. Loida Busa• &quot;Bogs&quot; Magalong• District Engr. Ramon Devanadera• District Engr. Johnny Protesta, Jr.• District Engr. Arturo Gonzales Jr.<div> </div>&quot;In addition to the issuance of the ILBO, may we further request that the Bureau of Immigration be instructed to immediately inform the Commission and other law enforcement agencies of any information regarding the impending travel of the subjects,&quot; the ICI said in its request.According to ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka, the commission believes that the timely issuance of ILBO is of utmost necessity to enable the ICI to proceed without delay and to hold those liable accountable to the Filipino people.ILBOs only direct immigration officials to monitor and note a subject&#x27;s movements in and out of the country. They cannot keep subjects of ILBOs from leaving.ILBOs also direct immigration officials to check whether the subject has a pending arrest warrant or hold-departure order against them.In a message to reporters, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed receipt of the order against the lawmakers and officials.&quot;Their names have been immediately included in our centralized database and their travels will be strictly monitored,&quot; the immigration bureau said.<div>ESTRADA PLAYS DOWN ILBO</div>Estrada played down the ILBO request and stressed he has no intention of evading allegations against him. &quot;Eh kung yung unang mga kaso ko na plunder, hinarap ko at hindi ako tumakas, ngayon pa ba na wala ni katiting na ebidensya laban sa akin,&quot; Estrada said in a media group chat as he dismissed allegations as &quot;double hearsay&quot;.(I faced the plunder cases against me and did not flee. Why would I do that now when there is not even a shred of evidence against me?)He added he is still the subject of a Hold Departure Order for a pending case at the Sandiganbayan.&quot;Tuwing aalis ako ng bansa nagpapa-alam pa rin ako sa Sandiganbayan.&quot;(I need to get permission from the Sandiganbayan whenever I leave the country)<div> </div><div>INVITATION TO ROMUALDEZ, PANGANDAMAN; SUBPOENA TO CO</div>Also on Tuesday, ICI issued an invitation to Romualdez and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to attend its next hearing scheduled on October 14.The commission also issued a subpoena duces tecum (to submit documents) to former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who resigned over the flood control controversy.Hosaka said Romualdez is expected to testify regarding the national budget insertions and his possible involvement in the DPWH flood control projects when he was the House speaker.In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Romualdez&#x27;s office confirmed receipt of the invitation and said the congressman &quot;welcomes the opportunity to cooperate with the Commission and fully supports its objective of promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance.&quot;Pangandaman will be asked to enlighten ICI on NEP, GAA, and unprogrammed funds.Co, meanwhile, is required to appear before the commission to testify about his personal knowledge about budget insertions when he was the chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations.Meanwhile, Hosaka once again said the commission’s policy not to live stream its hearings will remain, even after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said he wants transparency in the ongoing ICI probe.“For now, the policy stays but as long as we keep on informing the public as much as possible with regard to the information that would not trample upon the individuals rights of other. Mahirap po kasi na pakikinggan na lang natin ang statement ng isang tao especially even without checking their background or their character,” Hosaka added. —With a report from Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

The ICI on Wednesday requested the DOJ to issue Immigration Lookout Bulletin Orders for incumbent lawmakers Francis Escudero, Martin Romualdez, Jinggoy Estrada, and other current and former officials tagged in the flood control scandal.

The ICI on Wednesday requested the DOJ to issue Immigration Lookout Bulletin Orders for incumbent lawmakers Francis Escudero, Martin Romualdez, Jinggoy Estrada, and other current and former officials tagged in the flood control scandal.

DOJ OKs lookout order vs Escudero, Romualdez, others tagged in flood control mess

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DOJ OKs lookout order vs Escudero, Romualdez, others tagged in flood control mess

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 08, 2025 12:43 PM PHT

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Updated October 18, 2025 08:05 AM PHT

Read More:

ICI

flood control

corruption

politics

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