00:00Today on Rappler
00:06Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano denies a plot to oust Senate President Tito Soto
00:17A lawyer sues seven mayors from Cebu province after they reportedly traveled to London during Typhoon Tino
00:24Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan flies to the U.S. as he faces inquiries into alleged corruption in flood control projects
00:32And Alex Ayala will join top-ranked players in the Macau Tennis Masters in December
00:37Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano denies an ouster plot against Senate President Tito Soto
00:45Cayetano describes the supposed coup plot as weak but stops short of rejecting the post should it be offered to him
00:51People always talk about it. Everyone in the minority wants to be the majority. Everyone thinks they can do a better job
00:59Cayetano has repeatedly denied rumors that he is seeking the Senate's top post
01:04But says the line between the majority and minority blocs could easily change
01:08Walang active, ano ngayon, but if it falls in our lap, sumama yung iba, etc.
01:15Kung opposition ka, you always want to be administration. Kung minority ka, you always want to be majority
01:20Rumors of a leadership shake-up surfaced after Senator Ping Lacson was re-elected as chairman of the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee
01:28Seven mayors from Cebu's 5th District reportedly traveled to London while Typhoon Tino was battering Cebu in neighboring provinces
01:36On Tuesday, November 11, Cebuano lawyer Julito Anyora Jr. files complaints against the officials at the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas
01:44The mayors are Alju Fernando Frasco of Liluan, Avis Guinoong Monleon of Catmon, Alfredo Arquillano Jr. of San Francisco
01:52Gremansolante of Tudela, Edgar Rama of Poro, Manuel Santiago of Pilar, and Felihur Quino of Compostela
01:59Their overseas trip drew public criticism as thousands faced widespread flooding, landslides, and power outages during the typhoon
02:07The mayors are accused of gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, dereliction of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service
02:14Records show the mayor secured travel authorities from Governor Pamela Baricuatro prior to the typhoon's landfall
02:21However, she notes, while traveling is the prerogative of elected officials, they remain accountable to their constituents
02:27One other mayor, Nico Dotilios of Borbon, had also secured a similar travel authority but canceled it because of the typhoon
02:34Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who is one of the officials tagged in the flood control anomaly, is currently out of the country
02:43Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval confirmed on Tuesday, November 11, Bonoan departed for the United States via Taiwan
02:51She also says Bonoan is covered by an immigration lookout bulletin order earlier issued by the Department of Justice
02:57A lookout order means a person's movement in and out of the country will be monitored but it cannot be used to prevent their departure
03:04Sandoval adds, quote, upon encounter, immigration officers immediately coordinated with the DOJ to verify if a whole departure order or warrant of arrest was in effect
03:13The DOJ confirmed that none exists, hence he was cleared to depart
03:17DOJ spokesperson Rafael Martinez says Bonoan traveled to the U.S. to accompany his wife for a medical procedure
03:23Martinez adds Bonoan will stay in the U.S. until December 17
03:27Filipino tennis star Alex Ayala is set to see action alongside other top-ranked players in the Macau Tennis Masters from December 27 to 28
03:37Retired Grand Slam champions Lee Na of China and Conchita Martinez of Spain will banner the team tournament as captains
03:44Ayala will get a chance to test her mettle against world number 9 Mira Andriva of Russia who won a pair of WTA 1000 tournaments this year
03:52Ayala enjoyed a stellar 2025 season that saw her crack the top 50 of the WTA rankings for the first time in her career
04:00Before Macau, she might see action in the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December
04:04If she pushes through with the SEA Games, Ayala eyes the single gold after settling for bronze in the 2021 Games in Vietnam
04:11And that's today's wrap. I'm JC Gotinga. Thank you for watching. Click the link below for the full story. For more updates, download the Rappler app.
Comments