Here are today's headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
- Hontiveros releases SALN, declares nearly P19 million net worth - Gatchalian spots red flags in DPWH’s revised 2026 budget proposal - DPWH eyes filling nearly 2,000 vacancies with promotions, young engineers - Thieves rob priceless jewels from Paris’ Louvre in brazen heist - Carlos Yulo to skip SEA Games in Thailand due to one-medal limit
00:07Senator Risa Ontiveros releases a copy of her 2024 Salen.
00:18Senator Wyn Gatchalian flags duplicate, multi-phased, and reappearing projects worth 271 billion pesos in the DPWH revised 2026 budget.
00:28The DPWH is eyeing to fill nearly 2,000 vacancies nationwide.
00:33Thieves steal priceless jewels from Paris' Louvre Museum.
00:36And Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo will skip the 2025 Southeast Asian Games due to a one-medal limit.
00:45Senator Risa Ontiveros releases a copy of her 2024 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, or Salen.
00:50Based on her 2024 Salen, Ontiveros declared a net worth of 18.9 million pesos with assets of 19.8 million pesos and liabilities of almost 900,000 pesos.
01:01The senator declared the following assets.
01:08She also disclosed ties to three companies.
01:11Ontiveros is the first senator in the 20th Congress to release her Salen after restrictions limiting public access were lifted.
01:23The restriction was removed by newly appointed Ombudsman Boying Remulia and which had been imposed by his predecessor Samuel Martires.
01:30Salens contain the summary of government officials and employees' assets and properties, making them vital documents used to monitor wealth.
01:37Senator Win Gatchalian flags 271 billion pesos worth of projects in the Department of Public Works and Highways' revised 2026 budget proposal.
01:48During the Senate budget deliberations, Gatchalian points out the following red flags.
01:524,566 projects with no station numbers.
01:5640 duplicated projects worth more than 1 billion pesos.
02:0042 projects split into multiple phases worth 2.7 billion pesos.
02:049,613 projects that reappeared from the 2025 General Appropriations Act to the 2026 National Expenditure Program.
02:13Ang unang instinct ko ho, i-defer muna yung budget ng DPWH para malinis ho ito eh.
02:19Dahil kung hindi ho natin malilinis ito, mauulit lang ho ito eh.
02:22Kung pareho yung title, pwedeng maging ghost project yun.
02:26DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon says that projects with no station numbers need to be verified.
02:31He says he supports scrapping the duplicate and multi-phase projects.
02:36As for projects that reappeared from the 2025 GAA to the 2026 NEP,
02:40Dizon says these should be validated as some of these projects are not yet completed.
02:45The DPWH has been under scrutiny for its flood control projects.
02:49In response, Dizon has already ordered the removal of more than 250 billion pesos in projects.
02:54This brings the agency's proposed budget down to 625.8 billion pesos, which was approved by the House of Representatives.
03:03The Department of Public Works and Highways is looking to fill 1,993 vacant positions nationwide.
03:10Secretary Vince Dizon says the department will prioritize promoting current DPWH employees and long-time job order personnel to fill these vacancies.
03:18He adds that the agency will establish clearer standards and more efficient systems for promotions.
03:24The nearly 2,000 vacant positions do not yet include those left open following courtesy resignations ordered by Dizon during his first day as Public Works Secretary.
03:32Several district engineers allegedly involved in corruption related to flood control projects have also been dismissed,
03:38while others remain under preventive suspension.
03:41Dizon also plans to revive the cadet engineering program, which aims to train young engineers for a career in the department.
03:47It's important for us to get the DPWH from fresh grad.
03:56Thieves in balaclavas or ski masks steal priceless objects from an area in Paris' Louvre Museum that houses the French crown jewels.
04:03The thieves broke into the museum on Sunday, October 19, using a crane to smash an upstairs window and escape using motorbikes.
04:10Paris prosecutor Laura Bacquois says the robbery took between 6 and 7 minutes and was done by 4 unarmed suspects who threatened guards with angle grinders.
04:20She adds a total of 9 objects were targeted by the criminals and 8 were actually stolen.
04:25The robbery raises serious concerns about the museum's security, where officials had already warned about lack of investment at the famous site,
04:32which houses artworks like the Mona Lisa and had 8.7 million visitors in 2024.
04:37Meantime, President Emmanuel Macron says it is, quote,
04:40an attack on a heritage that we cherish because it is our history.
04:44We will recover the works and the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
04:50Filipino gymnastics star Carlos Yulo will skip the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.
04:56This over a rule that limits him to win just one medal.
04:58Gymnastics Association of the Philippines President Cynthia Carayon confirmed the news on Saturday, October 18.
05:04She tells Rappler, quote,
05:06He's not going to compete, not at all.
05:08The country, Thailand, is not thinking of the athletes.
05:11They're thinking of the medal gain that they can have.
05:14She adds, the Olympic double gold medalist trusts his teammates to get the job done.
05:18This is the second time a host country has set a medal limit in gymnastics.
05:22In the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, Yulo was only allowed to win 4 out of the 7 possible medals in men's artistic gymnastics.
05:31And that's today's wrap.
05:32I'm JC Gutinga.
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