SCUTTLEBUTT

Tip of the iceberg

The questionable Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and IBC-13 multi-million lottery airing deal is a mere tip of the iceberg in the multi-million peso operations of the apparent syndicate.

A reliable source from a government-run television station, privy to the details of the controversial TV contracts involving the private media company Digital 8 Inc., revealed that certain officials conspired to secure another multi-million-peso contract for broadcasting House of Representatives hearings through Congress TV.

“The officials involved, in collusion with Digital 8, are earning P17 million monthly from that. That could have been the salary of the people at our station,” the source said.

Further, he said that an official of Digital 8 was the live-in partner of a now Malacañang official, who happens to be the brains of all corruption when it comes to securing TV contracts using PTV4 as its platform.

“Why is Digital 8 needed when the one broadcasting is a state-run television station that already has complete equipment up to transmission? Because, well, they’re partners in crime — they’re husband and wife, after all,” he said.

Congress TV is a Philippine digital television channel owned and managed by state-run networks People’s Television Network (until 17 November 2024) and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation in collaboration with the House of Representatives.

Congress TV, launched on 22 January 2024, primarily airs live plenary sessions, committee hearings and other House of Representatives-produced content on digital television.

On October 2024, Congress TV commenced broadcast on Channel 17 in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Iloilo via IBC’s DTT network, becoming its second subchannel.

At the same time, selected Congress TV programming is simulcast on IBC’s analog TV network.

The channel ceased broadcast on PTV Digital Channel 14 on 17 November 2024 and was replaced by the mirror feed of the main PTV channel.

It continued to broadcast on IBC DTT Channel 17, Converge Vision, and Sky Cable.

Evil eye business

A quiet province may have provided the legal basis to sharpen the focus on protecting public health. A national organization dedicated to safeguarding vision lauded a courtroom decision that put two imposters behind bars. Can you guess who they are — and what they did to earn a judge’s stern ruling?

A Regional Trial Court in La Union known for its lush landscapes and tight-knit communities handed down a four-page decision on 20 February that sent ripples through the medical community. Judge Marita Balloguing of the Balaoan court issued the pivotal ruling.

Balloguing sent two impostors to a year in jail and a modest P10,000 fine each. Here’s a twist: these two didn’t even fight the charges. They raised their hands and said, “Guilty,” sealing their fate.

Both men were caught red-handed in a barangay called Paagan and thought they could play doctor without the proper credentials.

They were busy conducting eye exams, diagnosing vision problems, prescribing lenses, and even counseling locals — all without a license.

Their actions crossed a legal line drawn by a 1995 law protecting a very specific profession. The law they broke was Republic Act 8050.

Leading the applause was a group of eye care specialists across the Philippines. “This is a win for justice and public safety,” the group said.

The same organization warned the public to watch out for fakes peddling glasses in schools and neighborhoods.