Dimagiba scheduled his press conference for a Monday morning—prime time for news cycles, maximum exposure.
"This is it," he announced to cameras. "Today, I reveal the truth about the creature threat."
Behind him, a screen displayed the Department logo.
Glad watched from home, surrounded by friends.
"He's going to release the names," Rigen whispered.
"Not if we stop him first." Glad's phone buzzed. A message from Luningning: "Redaction complete. Evidence package ready. Go on your signal."
"Now or never," Kim said.
Glad took a deep breath.
Then she went live.
On TikTok. On Facebook. On every platform she had.
"Hi everyone. I need to interrupt your Monday for something important. Congressman Dimagiba is about to hold a press conference claiming to expose 'the truth' about creatures. But here's the real truth."
She held up the evidence package.
"Congressman Dimagiba has been working with a known criminal—an aswang named Marikit who has actually harmed humans. In exchange for her help, he promised her immunity. The 'evidence' he's about to present is stolen Department files, given to him by a murderer."
The comments exploded.
"WHAT"
"A MURDERER?!"
"Dimagiba working with a criminal??"
"She's live right now?? This is CRAZY"
"These files contain the names and addresses of every registered creature in the Philippines. If released, they'd put thousands of innocent beings at risk. So we've redacted them. And we're releasing the evidence of Dimagiba's corruption instead."
She uploaded the files—emails, contracts, proof of Marikit's crimes.
"Congressman Dimagiba, you have one hour to withdraw your bill and denounce your partnership with a murderer. Otherwise, this evidence goes to every news outlet in the country. Your choice."
She ended the live stream.
Silence in the room.
Then chaos.
"Tita, you just declared war on a congressman!"
"He was already at war with us. I just evened the odds."
Fifteen minutes later, Dimagiba's press conference started.
He looked shaken.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I... I have been made aware of certain... allegations. I want to assure the public that I have never knowingly worked with criminals. If these documents suggest otherwise, they are clearly—"
A reporter shouted: "Did you or did you not promise immunity to a murderer in exchange for information?"
"I—that's—the documents are—"
"Did you plan to release the names and addresses of innocent creatures?"
"This is a distraction from the real issue—"
"The real issue is you collaborating with a criminal!"
The press conference dissolved into chaos.
Dimagiba fled the stage.
And Glad, watching from home, allowed herself a small smile.
Round one: creatures.