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DAILY BRIEF
MCT DAILY BRIEF: OCTOBER 30, 2026 · MORNING
Good morning. A new witness at Jinggoy Estrada’s bail hearing leads this brief. We also follow NAPOLCOM’s planned complaint over the treatment of journalists, sanctions against two Romblon court employees, the Candijay vote-buying cases, and the submission of shortlists for two upcoming Supreme Court vacancies.
1
NEW WITNESS TESTIFIES AT ESTRADA’S BAIL HEARING
Vergel Niño Garcia, a former aide of public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, told the Sandiganbayan on October 29 that he saw Sen. Jinggoy Estrada during a delivery of 12 boxes to the Artiaga Building in San Juan in November 2024. Garcia was testifying at Estrada’s plunder bail hearing, according to GMA News. He said he did not know what the boxes contained.
Under questioning by the defense, Garcia acknowledged that he had no photographs or videos of the delivery. Estrada has denied receiving kickbacks, as reported before this testimony. The October 29 account describes another witness being heard in the pending case, not a ruling on bail or guilt.
2
NAPOLCOM PREPARES COMPLAINT AGAINST THREE OFFICERS
The National Police Commission said on October 29 that it had completed its initial fact-finding into alleged violence against journalists during a farmers’ protest outside the Department of Agrarian Reform in Quezon City on October 19. It was finalizing a formal administrative complaint against three police officers over the incident.
NAPOLCOM said the officers would be given due process. The administrative complaint was still being prepared, and their individual responsibility had not been decided.
3
SUPREME COURT SANCTIONS TWO ROMBLON COURT EMPLOYEES
The Supreme Court announced on October 29 that it had dismissed Rose Ann R. Marzonia and suspended Wina M. Cometa for eight months without pay and benefits in an administrative case involving missing court funds in Romblon. The Court acted during its October 28 session. It found Marzonia liable for serious dishonesty and gross misconduct, while Cometa was sanctioned for gross neglect of duty.
Cometa’s liability concerned her failure to properly supervise the handling of court funds. The Court said there was no evidence that she directly misappropriated funds, forged documents or benefited from the wrongdoing. Both employees were ordered to repay the missing ₱598,444.20, with each responsible for the full unpaid amount until it is settled.
4
SC UPHOLDS CANDIJAY VOTE-BUYING DISQUALIFICATIONS
The Supreme Court upheld the disqualification of Charina C. Bagor and Erlinda Curativo from the 2025 municipal council race in Candijay, Bohol. In an October 29 announcement about its October 28 session, the Court said it had rejected their challenges to the Commission on Elections’ rulings and voided their proclamations as winners.
According to the Court’s summary, Bagor’s case involved food packs given in exchange for votes. Curativo’s involved ₱60,000 given to a barangay council member for distribution at ₱100 per voter. The ruling concerns their eligibility to hold the elected positions, not a criminal sentence. The full decisions were still to be released when the announcement was issued. It did not identify successors or say whether further requests for review had been resolved.
5
JBC SENDS SUPREME COURT SHORTLISTS TO THE PRESIDENT
The Judicial and Bar Council submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on October 29 its shortlists of five nominees for chief justice and 11 for an associate justice position, GMA News reported. The chief justice nominees are Marvic Leonen, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Rodil Zalameda, Japar Dimaampao and Jose Midas Marquez.
The lists concern the approaching retirements of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on November 6 and Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier on November 16. The president still has to make the appointments; inclusion on a shortlist does not mean a nominee has been selected.
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