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DAILY BRIEF
MCT DAILY BRIEF: OCTOBER 28, 2026 · MORNING
Good morning. Victims’ lawyers and Rodrigo Duterte’s defense disagree over recorded evidence at the ICC. We also look at gaps in Customs’ seized-asset records and the files handed to the new DPWH chief.
1
VICTIMS’ LAWYERS BACK RECORDED STATEMENTS IN DUTERTE CASE
Victims’ lawyers have asked the International Criminal Court to accept three witnesses’ recorded statements in Rodrigo Duterte’s case, ABS-CBN reported on October 28, citing a filing dated October 27. They argued that the accounts mainly address the background to the alleged crimes rather than Duterte’s own actions, and that using the statements would protect the witnesses and speed up the trial.
In its public redacted response dated October 26, Duterte’s defense argued that one account directly implicated him and that two disputed accounts needed testing through cross-examination; it did not object to the third witness’s statement. These are arguments over evidence, not a court ruling admitting it.
2
COA FLAGS GAPS IN CUSTOMS’ SEIZED-ASSET RECORDS
The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged discrepancies in Customs’ records of confiscated assets, INQUIRER.net reported on October 27, citing the bureau’s 2025 audit. The discrepancies included records for 52 Port of Manila vehicles valued at an estimated ₱1.292 billion. Incomplete or unmatched records do not establish that the vehicles were stolen.
Customs management said reminders requiring monthly reports had been sent to ports, but attributed incomplete compliance to the volume of confiscated assets. COA recommended regular reporting, consolidation and proper accounting to reduce the risk of loss or unauthorized disposal, according to the report.
3
DIZON HANDS LOPEZ FILES ON ALLEGED DPWH CORRUPTION
At the October 27 DPWH turnover in Manila, outgoing secretary Vince Dizon handed incoming chief Giovanni Lopez documents naming personnel he alleged were corrupt, GMA News reported. Dizon urged Lopez to review the files and remove those personnel in the coming weeks.
Lopez said he would continue the department’s transparency and accountability reforms and work to make them last beyond changes in leadership. The handover and call for removals do not establish guilt or show that the personnel on the list have already been dismissed.
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