■ What is the Significance of Quiboloy's Voluntary Surrender to the AFP?

The voluntary surrender of Ptr Apollo Quiboloy to the AFP (not PNP) is a significant chapter of this political game. After more than 2 weeks of searching for Quiboloy inside the KOJC compound, the PNP did not succeed.

As a political observer, I think that the chess pieces are moving. The PNP under the Marcos Jr admin made a strategy that was funded by public funds—we, taxpayers. They made a bad precedence in serving a warrant. The necessity of sending 5,000 state forces trespassing a private property for more than 2 weeks is hard to justify. This is akin to State abuse. This will become a long legal battle in between the State and the KOJC congreagation whose rights were transgressed. Torre and his flock of 5,000 State forces failed to compartmentalize Quiboloy as an individual and the KOJC members as a congregation. The voluntary surrender of Quiboloy to the AFP is a significant move in this battle between the Marcos Jr admin who has the resources of the State through taxpayers' money versus Quiboloy.

The voluntary surrender of Quiboloy exposed the weakness of Torre and the PNP despite their show of force. His voluntary surrender to the AFP showed the failure of the intelligence unit of the PNP. The execution of the operation that lasted more than 2 weeks revelead the inefficiency of the PNP. Quiboloy's voluntary surrender to the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) sent a message to the PNP that their intelligence unit is weak. Interestingly, Quiboloy's surrender to the Intelligence Unit of the AFP is just the tip of the ice berg. I have an idea, but it's not my story to tell. This surrender is actually the beginning of a long battle.

🟥 A sunlight of strategy on the part of the opposition faction led by the Dutertes.

The State's resources and energy have been focused lately on Quiboloy, but the huge motivation for this boils down to his connection with the Dutertes.

Philippine politics has always been like this. The media will play big time in this war of information and perspectives. This is the reason why major players of the Marcos Jr admin targeted SMNI, threatening their franchise. They knew that SMNI is the media arm of the Dutertes, and it does not require a huge PR fund from the Dutertes to do that.

Meanwhile, this admin would need to secure billions of money to get the support of the traditional media in the Philippines as PR partners, political parrots, and propagandists of the State. From anti-Marcos propagandists, it's amusing how Marcos Jr easily turned these media to his favor.

It would be reasonable to speculate that money has always been the name of the game in most political maneuvers in every political era, but it's very entertaining to see how these former anti-Marcos media networks swallowed their 30+ years of decaying anti-Marcos vomitus easily. I'd surmise that their 30+ years of being an anti-Marcos was also due to money, and not by principle. Now, they are releasing anti-Duterte feces. Will this anti-Duterte media of today eat their own anti-Duterte stool like what they did to their 30+ years of anti-Marcos vomitus?

🟥 SMNI, Quiboloy, and the Dutertes' soft power

Dismantling the influence of SMNI was one of the first moves of the major anti-Duterte players of the Marcos Jr admin, and I'm pretty sure that the Duterte group is aware. SMNI has been a significant soft power of the Dutertes for offerring an alternative POV of the news not framed by the traditional media in the Philippines.

With the dissolution of the relevance of the Yellow and Pink colors in our current political landscape, the most reasonable inference here is that the Philippine politics will be soon dominated by either the Marcos Family or the Duterte Family—depending on who will reign supreme in this battlefield of political wars. SMNI's presence would greatly help the Dutertes in this political war, but SMNI has been targeted by the State (e.g. the move for the revocation of its franchise).

The Marcos Kingdom has an advantage, though—due to their incumbent powers, resources, and pivot to Uncle Sam. But, the Duterte opposition is surely aware of these.

I want to be honest in my opinion. The Duterte faction is "dehado" in terms of resources and political influence because the Congress is composed mainly of pro-admin (including the political butterflies) and is being led by a Romualdez. I've seen how the Marcos Kingdom consolidated all their traditional enemies and their traditional allies to fight the Dutertes in full force. Sobrang daming bilyones ang kailangan to orchestrate a scheme of this national scale. Pero huwag naman sana nilang gamitin iyong tax money for this while they are hyperfocused on scrutinizing Sara Duterte, despite that fact that other agencies of the government are also riddled with questionable billions of spending.

On the other hand, the fact that I'm seeing the key anti-Duterte players of this admin spending gargantuan State resources to defeat the Dutertes is a validation that the Dutertes are formidable foes.

Meanwhile, I've also seen how the Dutertes subtly moved the chess pieces, but it's not my story to tell.

The surrender of Quiboloy is I think a significant move in this game of political chess. The success of the opposition group led by the Dutertes, including their allies, would basically be dependent on grassroot support. If the grassroots or the people would side the Dutertes, then the people would end the Marcos Kingdom through election—that, if Marcos Jr would not change the Constitution to extend his power.

Quiboloy's voluntary surrender to the Intelligence Unit of the AFP is a double-edged political sword. To whose benefit? That, I don't want to comment. As a political observer, again, it's not my story to tell; though I have an idea.

Have you seen how the different pieces of the chess game are moving?

• SMNI franchise revocation
• People's initiative
• KOJC condemnation
• Unprogrammed funds
• Inday Sara as the hyperfocus of media attacks
• The obvious gameplay in the transfer of the Confidential Funds to Inday a few days before the end of the fiscal year
• POGO
• Alice Guo


We are witnessing a historic political battlefield in the Philippines between a Marcos and a Duterte, and this will change the trajectory of our country's political history significantly.

■ What are the Rules Possibly Violated in the OVP Budget Briefing for 2025?

During the OVP budget hearing, Rep Stella Quimbo was caught by the live audio-video recording saying that they should "stick to the plan." However, the Lower House did not provide additional information about that "plan."

Since the House of Representatives' Committee of Appropriation members did not disclose what was the hidden plan, it's a controversy that left the public hanging with no idea what were the plans. The public could only decode these "plans" based on the questions they threw at the OVP budget hearing. Here are some of the scenarios that apparently stuck to the plan, but not on the rules.

🟥 (1) STICK TO THE PLAN versus STICK TO THE RULE: Release of Information related to the Confidential Fund in aid of POLITICKING?



🤳🏻𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍: 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬? —Some members of the panel had a microscopic focus on the Confidential Fund that was transferred from the OP Contingent Fund to the OVP in 2022. There were no categorical questions that were asked about the proposed budget for 2025. Apparently, without the disclosure of the plans, we could only allege that the Congress planned to abuse their power for the purpose of grilling Inday Sara outside the rules; hence, apparently abusing their powers. Disregarding the rules, especially that they are lawmakers, is tantamount to abuse of their discretion unless proven otherwise.

✍️ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄: 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐨. 𝟕𝟖, 𝐬. 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟒 (𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐈𝐈 Paragraph 𝟑𝟒-𝐝) —According to this rule: Classified matter shall be released for public consumption only upon the consent of the Department Head or his authorized representative. However, in instances where there is a demand or need for releasing classified information, extreme care and caution must be exercised to analyze in detail the contents of the classified matter before release. Normally, all information are released through Public Information Officers. Public Information Officers should be assisted in the analysis of classified information by the Security Officer.

First, based on the rule above, Congress apparently chose to stick to their plan and ignored the rules. Inday Sara is the head of the OVP. Did the Congressmen, who released information related to the confidential fund, ask the consent of Inday Sara as the head of the OVP? Why did the Congress release the information related to the Confidential Fund in the hearing despite such rule? They did not even give Inday heads-up about the possession of those information which violated the rule of consent.

Second, why did the Congress release to the public the contents of the CoA findings that are still ongoing audit scrutiny? The rule said that when there is a need to release such information, extreme care and caution must be exercised, and it should be released through Public Information Officers. Are France Castro and Arlene Brosas part of the PIO to do that job? The power of inquiry of the Congress is not absolute. It's operated under guidelines to prevent such abuse.

🟥 (2) STICK TO THE PLAN versus STICK TO THE RULE: Release of Information in aid of Witch-Hunting?



🤳🏻𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍: 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲? —Some members of the Committee like Arlene Brosas and France Castro discussed some information related to the Confidential Fund publicly. However, there is a rule that prohibits the disclosure of matters related to confidential information. Why would the subject Congressmen deliberately disrespect that rule? Was it their plan to insinuate a wrongdoing with Inday without giving her the constitutional due process to explain? Why did the presiding officer, Rep Stella Quimbo, allow this to happen despite preaching the gospel of "follow the rule?"

✍️ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄: 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐨. 𝟕𝟖, 𝐬. 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟒 (𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐈𝐈 𝐍𝐨. 32) —This rule provides that: Indiscreet discussions or conversation involving classified matter shall not be engaged in within the presence of or with unauthorized persons.

Why would Arlene Brosas and France Castro openly discuss matters of the Confidential Fund indiscreetly? Worse, it was discussed in a congressional hearing with national coverage. The rule said that indiscreet discussion of confidential matters should not be engaged within the presence of unauthorized persons. These congressmen discussed these matters publicly while being broadcast online with international access.

Their questions to Inday Sara would put the resource person under a malicious spotlight of public scrutiny without due process of law. Since Sara Duterte is prohibited by existing guidelines to disclose these information, some members of the House of Representatives apparently violated the rule—unless proven otherwise—to frame Inday Sara in a bad light—that she could not answer such questions. Since Inday Sara is prohibited by these guidelines to disclose these information, it followed that she was also not allowed to answer the questions. What the members did to Inday Sara could be seen from the angle of malice.

🟥 (3) STICK TO THE PLAN versus STICK TO THE RULE: Release of Classified matter outside department in aid of trial-by-publicity?



🤳🏻𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥-𝐛𝐲-𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲? —Some members of the Committee also cross-examined Inday Sara as if they were in a court of law. They even had side comments insinuating and framing Inday Sara that she couldn't explain the Confidential Fund under a Congressional hearing that was broadcast publicly. Such insinuations appeared malicious in the eyes of the critical public opinion, knowing too well that Sara is technically barred to answer the questions due to guideline-based prohibitions.

✍️ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄: 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐨. 𝟕𝟖, 𝐬. 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟒 (𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐈𝐈 Paragraph 34-a) —This rule provides that: No person in the Government shall convey orally, visually or by written communication any classified matter outside his own Department unless such disclosure has been processed and cleared by the Department Head or his authorized representative.

Who authorized the release of such information? Inday Sara is the head of the Department who handled the confidential fund in question. Was Sara given notice for its release? I heard a news that Sara wrote a letter to CoA not to release the certain information to the HoR. That letter of Sara was based on the rule. It has legal basis, since she was given the accountability to authorize the disclosure of such information.

🟥 (4) STICK TO THE PLAN versus STICK TO THE RULE: Release of Classified matter without prior clearance from the Office of the President

🤳🏻𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫-𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠? —Representative Luistro made a press release saying that "separation of powers" is not absolute. It has excemptions. I agree with that press release. However, although the separation of powers is not absolute, it also comes with the principle that the power of scrutiny of the Congress is also not absolute. Their behavior at the 2025 OVP budget hearing is not excempted from public opinion and scrutiny. As elected officials of their districts, their apparent abuse of powers are also subject to public criticisms.

✍️ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄: 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏𝟒𝟐𝟎, 𝐬. 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟒 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡 𝟐 —This rule provides that: Such top secret, secret, confidential and restricted matters shall not be disclosed or released to unauthorized persons or the general public and shall not be published or caused to be published without prior clearance from the Office of the President.

Did some of the members of the Committee follow this rule? I also would like to comment on the press release of Luistro in her "separation of powers is not absolute" line by citing some provisions of the whereas clause of the LOI NO. 1420.

• Whereas, the Constitutional right of access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions is not absolute;
• Whereas, such disclosures have been prejudicial to the general welfare, public interest, or national security.

These are my guideline-based commentaries and observations of what transpired in the 2025 budget briefing of the Office of the Vice President headed by Sara Duterte-Carpio. Thank you for reading.

~EDZ

■ Ang Anggulo ng "Pamumulitika" sa 2025 OVP Budget Briefing

Sa nakaraang budget hearing ng OVP (Office of the Vice President), hindi na niya (Sara Duterte-Carpio) ginamit ang kanyang pagkakataon na gamitin ang kanyang "privilege" na sumagot para sa kanyang 2025 briefing.

Ibig sabihin, binibigyan niya ng kapangyarihan ang Kongreso na mag-decide sa kanyang budget—kasama na riyan iyong pagbawas o pagtanggal nila sa kanyang panukalang budget.

However, kahit hindi nagbibigay ng sagot si Inday Sara base sa gustong marinig ng nagtatanong, pina-reschedule ang session sa ibang araw kahit alam naman na nila ang isasagot niya.

Kung mapapansin natin, walang tanong ang mga Kongresista tungkol sa 2025 budget. Karamihan ng mga tanong nila ay tungkol sa 2022 transfer ng confidential fund.

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit nag-request ng rule si Inday Sara sa hearing, dahil ang mga katanungan ng mga Kongresista ay hindi na nila sakop gaya ng ng legality ng Confidential Fund at kung paano ito na-utilize.

Related: How did Sara Duterte Spend Her 125-Million Confidential Fund?

Ang audit at discussion ng Confidential Fund ay may sariling guidelines. Hindi Kongreso ang gumagawa ng post-utilization audit dahil trabaho iyan ng CoA. Ganun din ang pag-determine kung legal o hindi, dahil trabaho iyan ng Korte.

🟥 ANG PANG-AABUSO NG KAPANGYARIHAN NG IBANG MIYEMBRO NG KAMARA

Ang Congress ang may "power of the purse." I'm pretty sure hindi satisfied ang Congress sa interrogation, and it's so easy for them not to give Inday a budget.

A ZERO budget or budget realignment for the OVP is what they were threatening, but Inday didn't care about defending her budget anymore due to politicking.

Ang tanong, bakit pa mag-reschedule ang Congress ng ibang budget briefing kung alam naman na nila na hindi sasagot si Inday? Ginagamit ba nila ito para mag-grandstanding sa Kongreso at abusuhin ang kanilang kapangyarihan?

Matatandaang ang tanong ni France Castro (na convicted criminal for child abuse ng RTC) ay hindi naaayon sa power nila na taga-gawa ng batas. Nag-bigay ng judgment si Castro noong sinabi niyang "illegal" ang transfer ng Confidential Funds mula Office of the President papunta ng OVP. Trabaho ng Korte ang pagbibigay ng verdict, at maliwanag na inabuso ni Castro ang kanyang position bilang Kongresista by encroaching into the boundaries of the power of the Judiciary using the resources of the government in that hearing. Ang masaklap nito, gusto niyang sagutin ni Sara ang mga tanong niya na hindi angkop at may pamumulitika. Nasabi ko na sa taas na ang tanong ni Castro about sa legality ay trabaho ng Korte.

🟥 "STICK TO THE PLAN" - ANO ANG PLINANO NG KONGRESO PARA KAY INDAY NA HINDI ALAM NG TAUMBAYAN?

Kayá ba may extension ang budget briefing dahil hindi nagtagumpay ang plano nila? Matatandaang sinabi ni Rep. Stella Quimbo ang katagang "Stick to the Plan." Ang tanong, ano ang "plan" ni Quimbo at ang kanyang nga enablers?

In the end, gusto mo man si Inday or hindi, she unmasked the real intention of some members of the Congress.

She also proved a point na may pamumulitikang nangyari masked as "inquiry" kahit they denied it. The fact na pare-pareho lang ang sagot niya yet some of the members of the Congress ay patuloy pa rin sa pagtatanong (at alam naman pala nila ang sagot), this goes to show that they really want to "stick to the plan."

Inday Sara also called out Quimbo sa pagsasabi niya ng "stick to the plan." Kahit naka-record sa video na sinabi ito ni Quimbo, nag-deny pa rin siya na hindi niya sinabi ito. Nagsisinungaling si Quimbo sa bahaging ito, considering siya ang presiding officer at nagsasabi na "follow the order." Mismong si Quimbo ay questionable ang kanyang moralidad sa kanyang pagsisinungaling para lang sa kanilang "plano." Freudian slip kaya iyan?

Sa Psychology, ang Freudian slip ay described as "an unintentional error regarded as revealing subconscious feelings." Ibig sabihin, hindi mo sinasadyang sabihin ang isang bagay kasi ayaw mong mabukíng. Pero dahil iyon talaga ang nakatagong intention mo at plano, lumalabas siya ng kusa na hindi mo sinasadya. Iyan ang theory ng Freudian slip.

Nag-reschedule pa sila ng bagong briefing. Dahil ba hindi umubra ang orihinal nilang "stick to the plan?" Bakit may pa-briefing ulit in another day if there's no point of giving her a budget anymore? Nag-change sila ba sila ng plan para gawing circus ang Kongreso at sirain ang dignidad nito? Sabi nga nila, ang Kongreso ay isang Crocodile Farm (regardless if it was in the term of BS Aquino III, Duterte, or Marcos Jr), dahil ang kanilang MOOE ay walang scrutiny. Lustay lang ng lustay pero hindi sila required magbigay ng resibo. Sarili nilang pondo, hindi nila ma-justify sa taumbayan using liquidation through receipts.