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DAILY BRIEF
MCT DAILY BRIEF: OCTOBER 27, 2026 · MORNING
Good morning. A senior prosecutor has flagged possible lapses in the case against journalist Philip Lustre. Budget watchdogs are asking for project records, while House leaders defend their amendments. Two court developments concern who may testify and who will hear a case; the DFA is defending its authority to decide visa applications.
1
FADULLON FLAGS POSSIBLE LAPSES IN LUSTRE CASE
Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said on October 26 that Philip Lustre may not have received due process during the preliminary investigation of the cyberlibel complaint against him because the subpoena went to the wrong address. He said Lustre could ask to reopen that investigation. [1]
Fadullon’s assessment concerns whether Lustre had a fair opportunity to answer the complaint before it reached court. Reopening the preliminary investigation is the remedy he identified; a decision granting it has yet to be established. [1, 2]
2
HOUSE DEFENDS BUDGET AMENDMENTS AS WATCHDOGS SEEK DOCUMENTS
House leaders defended changes to the proposed ₱7.2-trillion 2027 budget on October 26 after the People’s Budget Coalition questioned project details and the availability of supporting documents. Representative Albert Garcia said the projects had agency validation and asked critics to identify disputed entries for checking. Deputy Speaker Ronnie Puno also cited agency clearance and project requirements. [3]
The Senate’s transparency portal now links the coalition and BetterGovPH’s independent budget analysis. Its disclaimer matters: those findings belong to the groups, not the Senate. The disagreement concerns the records supporting the proposed projects, including their programs of work and certifications that they can be implemented. [3, 4]
3
TWO DOH OFFICIALS TESTIFY IN DUQUE–LAO GRAFT TRIAL
The Sandiganbayan allowed two Department of Health administrative officers to testify on October 26 in the graft trial of former health secretary Francisco Duque III and former budget undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao. The case concerns an allegedly unlawful ₱41-billion transfer of DOH funds to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) during the pandemic. [5]
The defense argued that the testimony would be repetitive and delay the trial; prosecutors opposed excluding the witnesses. Both officers said they lacked personal knowledge of policy-level decisions. The trial continues, with the next hearing set for November 9, according to GMA. [5, 6]
4
COURT REJECTS BID TO MAKE MORENO STEP ASIDE IN REVILLA TRIAL
The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division rejected prosecutors’ request to remove Associate Justice Ronald Moreno from the trial over an allegedly anomalous ₱92.8-million Bulacan flood-control project. GMA reported the denial on October 26, citing division clerk Dennis Pulma; its report does not give the signed order’s date. [7]
Prosecutors had questioned Moreno’s conduct and treatment of witnesses. The ruling leaves Moreno on the case against former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and six other accused. Their malversation trial continues. [7]
5
DFA SAYS VISA DECISIONS MUST REMAIN WITH GOVERNMENT
The Department of Foreign Affairs pushed back on October 26 against Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s proposal to outsource visa processing. Remulla had argued that a private provider could improve screening; the DFA said assessing applications requires official judgment, not just clerical work. [8]
The department drew a distinction: a contractor may help receive applications, but Philippine embassies and consulates retain the authority to approve or reject visas. The department cited its existing legal mandate to make those decisions. [8, 9]
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