“As always, expect an oversupply of platitudes from ghostwriters paid for by politicians using taxpayers’ money. Elected officials never miss opportunities like this to have their names ringing in our ears, enough to last till the next election."

Marcos said hoarding and smuggling are the only factors driving up the prices of rice. But this runs contrary to the executive order he issued last week, which cited "global events" as other reasons driving up rice prices.

The Senate higher, technical and vocational education committee has issued a show cause order against officials of the University of Manila after they failed to show up to its hearing on Monday about alleged irregularities in its grading system.

Duterte also said that the surveillance activities funded by the OVP's confidential expenses had led to the arrest of a scammer posing as an OVP representative to “sell” livelihood projects in Bulacan.