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FACT CHECK: RISA NOT INVOLVED IN PHILHEALTH ANOMALIES The false claims have recently resurfaced following her investigations into the reported cases of fugitive Apollo Quiboloy, and alleged human trafficking in the premises of a POGO in Bamban, Tarlac.

FACT CHECK: RISA NOT INVOLVED IN PHILHEALTH ANOMALIES The false claims have recently resurfaced following her investigations into the reported cases of fugitive Apollo Quiboloy, and alleged human trafficking in the premises of a POGO in Bamban, Tarlac.

LAWYER DISOWNS GUTEZA AFFIDAVIT IN BLUE RIBBON PROBE Atty. Petchie Rose G. Espera has disowned the affidavit of Orly Regala Guteza, a retired Marine who claimed to have served as a security consultant for Ako Bicol Party-list, which was submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday, September 25. "I categorically deny notarizing, signing, or participating in the preparation of the said document. The signature and notarial details attributed to me are falsified and unauthorized," Espera said in a letter seeking the removal of a social media post on Guteza's sworn statement. She stressed that "the use of my name and notarial commission in connection with the said document is spurious, fraudulent, and injurious" to her reputation as a lawyer and notary public. In the disputed affidavit, Guteza alleged that former ACT-CIS representative and now Benguet Rep. Eric Yap delivered 46 suitcases filled with cash in Taguig City, which were later brought to a penthouse at Shangri-La at the Fort and a Forbes Park mansion. Guteza was presented as a surprise witness at the hearing by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta, who said he was introduced by former congressman Mike Defensor.

RISA EXPLAINS 'NO' VOTE TO 2025 BUDGET Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros explained her reasons for voting "No" to the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (HB 10800). In a statement on Tuesday, December 17, Hontiveros revealed that she had initially voted "Yes" to the Senate version of the national budget, believing it would allocate sufficient funds for critical programs. However, she expressed deep concern over the drastic funding cuts in the bicameral version, particularly for essential sectors like public health and education. One of the most alarming changes, according to Hontiveros, is the decision to remove the state subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in 2025. Despite acknowledging PhilHealth's mismanagement, she argued that eliminating the subsidy entirely is not the solution. She emphasized that current laws, such as the Universal Health Care Act and the Sin Tax Reform Act, mandate annual premium subsidies, which cannot be ignored based on PhilHealth's reserve funds. Hontiveros also raised concerns about the potential operational impact of removing the subsidy, warning that PhilHealth could face a net loss, which would compromise its ability to provide financial support to vulnerable Filipinos. Beyond PhilHealth, the bicam version also slashed the Department of Health's (DOH) budget by ₱37.59 billion and reduced funding for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) by ₱50 billion. Furthermore, significant cuts were made to the budgets for education, with the Department of Education (DepEd) losing ₱15.17 billion and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) losing ₱11.77 billion. The senator also criticized the expansion of unprogrammed funds in the bicam version, which increased by ₱373 billion compared to the National Expenditure Program (NEP). She expressed concern that these funds might be misused. Hontiveros concluded that the bicam version of the 2025 budget reflects misplaced priorities, sacrificing essential services like health and education for unprogrammed funds. She stated, "For these reasons, I cannot, in good conscience, vote to ratify this version of our national budget."

FACT CHECK: RISA NOT INVOLVED IN PHILHEALTH ANOMALIES The false claims have recently resurfaced following her investigations into the reported cases of fugitive Apollo Quiboloy, and alleged human trafficking in the premises of a POGO in Bamban, Tarlac.

‘Wag tayong titigil kasi tip of the corruption iceberg pa lang ‘to sa Pilipinas.

FACT CHECK: RISA NOT INVOLVED IN PHILHEALTH ANOMALIES The false claims have recently resurfaced following her investigations into the reported cases of fugitive Apollo Quiboloy, and alleged human trafficking in the premises of a POGO in Bamban, Tarlac.

FACT CHECK: RISA NOT INVOLVED IN PHILHEALTH ANOMALIES The false claims have recently resurfaced following her investigations into the reported cases of fugitive Apollo Quiboloy, and alleged human trafficking in the premises of a POGO in Bamban, Tarlac.

FACT CHECK: RISA NOT INVOLVED IN PHILHEALTH ANOMALIES The false claims have recently resurfaced following her investigations into the reported cases of fugitive Apollo Quiboloy, and alleged human trafficking in the premises of a POGO in Bamban, Tarlac.

FACT CHECK: RISA NOT INVOLVED IN PHILHEALTH ANOMALIES The false claims have recently resurfaced following her investigations into the reported cases of fugitive Apollo Quiboloy, and alleged human trafficking in the premises of a POGO in Bamban, Tarlac.

FACT CHECK: RISA NOT INVOLVED IN PHILHEALTH ANOMALIES The false claims have recently resurfaced following her investigations into the reported cases of fugitive Apollo Quiboloy, and alleged human trafficking in the premises of a POGO in Bamban, Tarlac.

RISA EXPLAINS 'NO' VOTE TO 2025 BUDGET Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros explained her reasons for voting "No" to the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (HB 10800). In a statement on Tuesday, December 17, Hontiveros revealed that she had initially voted "Yes" to the Senate version of the national budget, believing it would allocate sufficient funds for critical programs. However, she expressed deep concern over the drastic funding cuts in the bicameral version, particularly for essential sectors like public health and education. One of the most alarming changes, according to Hontiveros, is the decision to remove the state subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in 2025. Despite acknowledging PhilHealth's mismanagement, she argued that eliminating the subsidy entirely is not the solution. She emphasized that current laws, such as the Universal Health Care Act and the Sin Tax Reform Act, mandate annual premium subsidies, which cannot be ignored based on PhilHealth's reserve funds. Hontiveros also raised concerns about the potential operational impact of removing the subsidy, warning that PhilHealth could face a net loss, which would compromise its ability to provide financial support to vulnerable Filipinos. Beyond PhilHealth, the bicam version also slashed the Department of Health's (DOH) budget by ₱37.59 billion and reduced funding for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) by ₱50 billion. Furthermore, significant cuts were made to the budgets for education, with the Department of Education (DepEd) losing ₱15.17 billion and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) losing ₱11.77 billion. The senator also criticized the expansion of unprogrammed funds in the bicam version, which increased by ₱373 billion compared to the National Expenditure Program (NEP). She expressed concern that these funds might be misused. Hontiveros concluded that the bicam version of the 2025 budget reflects misplaced priorities, sacrificing essential services like health and education for unprogrammed funds. She stated, "For these reasons, I cannot, in good conscience, vote to ratify this version of our national budget."