High stakes

This whole flood control corruption scandal just got messier. A key figure, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary for planning and programming Maria Catalina Cabral, was found dead in a ravine in Tuba, Benguet – a plot twist one usually sees in edge-of-your-seat political thrillers. Reality is indeed stranger than fiction in this nation of 115 million.

It’s hard to say what happens next but the stakes are certainly high, and it’s difficult not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding her death. Given what she knew, her silence, for sure, would favor many people in high places.

Early on, my sources have pointed to two key officials of the DPWH as most knowledgeable about the happenings in the department, including the trillion-peso corruption scandal – Cabral and Roberto Bernardo.

My sources attest that both knew a lot and held the key in unlocking the truth, including the proponents of the projects and who asked or particularly demanded for kickbacks through budget insertions.

With the death of Cabral, though, the search for truth just got even more complicated, and authorities must probe deeper into the rabbit hole to find out what really happened.

Recommended for plunder

In the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)’s eighth and most recent interim report, Cabral is one of 15 officials recommended for plunder and bribery charges over budget insertions made to the National Expenditure Programs (NEPs) from 2023 to 2025. Heavily relying on the supplemental affidavit of former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, the ICI stated that Cabral – with the blessing of former DPWH secretaries Mark Villar and Manuel Bonoan – had direct control over the insertions.

The report would show that Cabral allegedly worked to include projects committed to a lawmaker, as requested by an aide, in the NEP. (The STAR, Dec. 20).

Bernardo likewise claimed that Cabral determined the allocable NEP per district. The allocables are basically pork funds given to district representatives for various projects in their areas.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism reported that Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos got P15.8 billion in allocables from 2023 to 2025, while Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez got P14.4 billion, the top recipients during the period.

Cabral’s death isn’t the first case of death of a DPWH official over the past couple of months.

Last Nov. 13, DPWH also confirmed the death of Larry Reyes, a local agency executive who was the chair of the Bids and Awards Committee of the Sorsogon first district engineering office.

This latest turn of events is a wake-up call for our investigating authorities. They need to work double-time in securing all the necessary files, gadgets and documents of key figures in this grand thievery of corruption, not just those in Cabral’s possession, but those of others as well.

As I said, the stakes are certainly high.

FFCCCII meets new China Ambassador to promote Phl trade

It looks like a new chapter of economic diplomacy is unfolding for the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII).

The massive umbrella organization of Filipino-Chinese business groups recently held a meeting with His Excellency Jing Quan, the newly appointed ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines.

Led by FFCCCII president Victor Lim, the dialogue reinforced the private sector’s steadfast commitment to supporting the Philippine government’s strategic goal of enhancing bilateral relations.

This engagement, FFCCCII said, is particularly timely as the Philippines prepares to host the 2026 ASEAN Summit, a pivotal event for regional and global dialogue.

An action-oriented agenda for balanced growth

During the meeting, FFCCCII presented a concrete action plan to Ambassador Jing, with the hope of creating more balanced and mutually beneficial exchanges.

The federation’s initiatives are strategically designed to address economic realities, including the significant trade deficit with China, by unlocking new opportunities for Philippine exporters and service providers.

These include:

• Expanding Philippine exports to China by actively promoting Philippine products through business forums and supporting local entrepreneurs in participating in major Chinese import fairs, such as the China International Import Expo in Shanghai and the China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning.

• Boosting two-way tourism by leveraging China’s status as the world’s largest tourism market to increase tourist arrivals. The FFCCCII will promote greater cultural understanding to position the Philippines as a premier destination for Chinese travelers.

• Championing MSMEs by answering President Marcos’ call to empower micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as crucial drivers for inclusive economic growth.

• Pledging to host the 2026 ASEAN Chinese Business Leaders Summit in Manila next October. This commitment follows the successful inaugural summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last October, which recognized Thailand’s Dhanin Chearavanont of the Charoen Pokphand Group as the ASEAN Chinese Business Leader of 2025. The 2026 event will be a cornerstone of commemorative activities for the 5th anniversary of the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

In all, FFCCCII hopes to sustain the positive momentum in the multifaceted Philippines-China relationship.

“This drive for stronger regional economic integration carries greater urgency than ever, as global protectionist trends underscore the critical need for robust trade and business ties within ASEAN and with China,” the chamber said.

For sure, no trader or business organization can ignore China and its huge market of both buyers and suppliers and that is what FFCCCII hopes to tap into, notwithstanding the fact that our relations with China are complex, at best.

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