Asianet Pakistan Private Limited
SOURCED FROM CURRENT NEWSPAPERS AND JOURNALS
Ed Amoroso – The Philippine StarNovember 21, 2025 | 12:00am
CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — A police informant was shot dead by a suspected…
November 21, 2025 | 12:00am
CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — A police informant was shot dead by a suspected drug trafficker in Rodriguez, Rizal before dawn on Wednesday.
The body of the victim, identified only as Kevs, was found at past 9 a.m. by his sister at his home in Barangay San Isidro.
Probers said the victim could have been asleep when the assailant barged in and shot him at close range.
Police said the assailant may have known that the victim was a police informant.
Ramon Efren Lazaro – The Philippine StarNovember 21, 2025 | 12:00am
NORZAGARAY, Bulacan , Philippines – Two men were arrested for allegedly m…
November 21, 2025 | 12:00am
NORZAGARAY, Bulacan , Philippines – Two men were arrested for allegedly manufacturing firecrackers without necessary permits in this town on Wednesday.
The suspects were reportedly caught manufacturing kwitis in a makeshift factory in Barangay Partida, according to Lt. Col. Ismael Gauna, acting chief of the Norzagaray police.
Aside from several bundles of kwitis, police seized from the suspects firecracker fuses, threads and tape dispensers.
Rainier Allan Ronda – The Philippine StarNovember 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — A temporary detour along a collapsed road section in Que…
November 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — A temporary detour along a collapsed road section in Quezon, Bukidnon has been opened to motorists, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The DPWH said the opening of the temporary road in Barangay Palacapao allows limited passage for motorists and residents while repair is ongoing along the Bukidnon-Davao Highway.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon ordered the installation of the temporary trail and access steps to ensure that transportation, livelihood and movement of goods and commodities are not disrupted.
Evelyn Macairan, Mark Ernest Villeza – The Philippine StarNovember 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Seven luxury vehicles found parke…
November 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Seven luxury vehicles found parked at a gas station along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Marilao, Bulacan were seized by authorities after they were found to have no license plates or were carrying improvised ones, the Highway Patrol Group said yesterday.
HPG spokesman Lt. Nadame Malang said the operation, conducted with the Land Transportation Office and led by LTO chief Markus Lacanilao, was launched on Nov. 17 following a tip from a concerned citizen.
“Our operatives validated that the report was true – these seven luxury cars had improvised plates, and some had no plates at all,” Malang told reporters.
The vehicles – a Ferrari sports car, two Nissan GTRs, a Toyota Supra, a Toyota FJ Cruiser, a Toyota Land Cruiser and a BMW – were also later found to be unregistered. The LTO has taken custody of all seven units while their records are being verified further.
Malang said investigators are also looking into whether the vehicles are among the luxury cars reportedly linked to the Discaya family, whose alleged tax and customs violations are under review by multiple agencies.
He said the HPG has received reports that luxury cars tied to the family are being moved and disposed of in various parts of the country.
“Nationwide, we are monitoring information that these luxury cars are being dispatched. We are checking whether taxes were paid and whether these passed Customs,” he said.
The seized cars were found parked at the gas station for about one to two hours, unusually long for what their drivers claimed was just a group gathering, Malang said.
“That is one angle we are considering, whether there was a transaction, possibly a sale,” he said.
All seven drivers, aged 26 to 46, were issued violation tickets, including for reckless driving, as operating unregistered vehicles is a punishable offense under Republic Act 4136.
The HPG has reportedly validated at least 12 luxury cars from a previous inspection of the Discaya residence, while an estimated 30 to 40 more vehicles remain under verification with Customs and other agencies.
Last Monday’s operation came days after a separate anti-colorum campaign in Southern Luzon, where the HPG and LTO confiscated three unregistered commuter vans plying routes from Turbina to Calamba, Batangas and Tagaytay. The drivers were fined between P200,000 and P10 million.
Meanwhile, only three of the seven luxury cars of the Discayas offered at an auction by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have been sold, earning P38 million for the government. The target proceeds from the sale of the seven vehicles stand at P103 million.
Simplex Industrial Corp. placed the highest bids for two of the cars – black matte Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG (2022) sold for P15,611,710 and red Mercedes-Benz G500 (2019) Brabus (15.5 million). Lesentrell Jewelries acquired the Lincoln Navigator for P7.1 million. Simplex issued manager’s checks for its acqusitions, while Lesentrell paid in cash.
Deputy chief of staff of the Office of the Commissioner Chris Bendijo said in an interview over dzBB the auction took a longer time because they had to count the P7 million paid in cash placed inside a backpack.
Ladislao Matawa, who represented Lesentrell at the auction, said that they joined the auction because of the “history” of the luxury vehicles. The owner intends to use the Lincoln Navigator but might later sell for a higher price.
The Mercedes-Benz G500 Brabus bagged by Simplex attracted five bidders.
The floor price was P7,843,239.43 but Simplex, a leading distributor of rubber sealing products, paid almost twice the price with P15,500,00.
There were no bidders for the four other Discaya cars – black Rolls Royce Cullinan (2023), blue Bentley Bentaya (2022), orange Toyota Sequoia (2023) and red Toyota Tundra (2022).
Bendijo said their public auction committee would reconvene to recompute the floor price for the four unsold vehicles. – Rainier Allan Ronda, Alexis Romero
Evelyn Macairan – The Philippine StarNovember 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Classes in some public schools might be suspended on Nov. 28…
November 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Classes in some public schools might be suspended on Nov. 28 as the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) expects thousands of educators to hold an anti-corruption protest.
Instead of a regular lecture, some teachers will discuss accountability, justice and systemic changes in the education sector and the government, the group said yesterday.
Other forms of protest will be initiated by the group’s regional formations and school chapters.
“As educators, it is our fundamental duty to enlighten the youth and defend the future of education and the nation. We will hold classroom discussions to expose the rotten system and educate students about accountability, justice and genuine change,” said ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo.
Referring to the flood control controversy, the ACT lamented how state officials and contractors “swim in billions” while schools and communities remain submerged in floods.
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday called for a probe into the alleged destabilization plot backed by foreign funders, saying such an effort, if proven to be true, constitutes an act of treason against the nation.
Presidential Communications U…
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday called for a probe into the alleged destabilization plot backed by foreign funders, saying such an effort, if proven to be true, constitutes an act of treason against the nation.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said other countries should not meddle in Philippine politics.
“If it is true and if the investigation reveals that the rally was foreign-funded, we can say that it is an act of treason against the nation. Other countries should not interfere with our affairs. Other countries should not interfere with our politics,” the Palace press officer said at a briefing.
“Whatever clashes with the interest of our country should be investigated,” she added.
Castro said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is working with the police to look into the alleged foreign-funded destabilization effort.
During a press briefing last Wednesday, AFP spokesman Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said the military is looking at all possible leads with regard to the recent protest of the United People’s Initiative, at EDSA.
Among the angles being checked is the possible involvement of foreign funders in the rally, whose participants included retired soldiers.
“Hopefully, these kinds of activities will not deepen if funded by other countries,” Castro said.
As the government faces controversies arising from the multibillion-peso flood control fiasco, officials of the League of Provinces of the Philippines were scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Marcos to express their support for his administration.
The local officials were expected to meet with the President yesterday to express their backing for key legislative proposals under his leadership and reaffirm their confidence in his vision for national development.
Castro said Marcos is thankful to the league for their trust and is committed to sustain efforts to promote accountability, transparency and responsible use of the national budget.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines reaffirmed yesterday “the steadfast commitment of its combatant commanders to uphold the Constitution, safeguard democratic institutions, and ensure that all public assemblies across the country remain peaceful, lawful, and secure for every Filipino.”
In a united declaration, the heads of the military’s combatant commands declared that the AFP “remains steadfast in its constitutional mandate to uphold the rule of law and ensure full respect for civilian authority.”
The statement comes amid continuing and increasing campaigns, protest actions, and efforts to stop and combat corruption in government following more recent exposes on the flood control and infrastructure project anomalies.
“The AFP emphasizes that the right to peaceful assembly is a cornerstone of democracy, one that must be respected and facilitated, provided it is exercised responsibly, peacefully, and without compromising public safety,” the military said.
“As the nation navigates a critical juncture in its democratic journey, the AFP assures the Filipino people that it remains a professional, disciplined, and non-partisan institution,” it added.
The AFP said it “stands as a steadfast guardian of the Republic, fully committed to preserving democratic institutions, supporting lawful civic expression, and safeguarding the welfare of every Filipino.”
It also called on all sectors of society “to work together in maintaining a climate of peace and order, where freedoms and rights are exercised responsibly, and where civic engagement strengthens rather than undermines national stability.”
“Let this serve as a firm reminder: the AFP is united, resolute, and unwavering in its duty to defend the nation and protect every Filipino’s right to live in a secure, stable, and free society,” the AFP said.
The AFP has repeatedly rejected calls for it to involve itself in current political issues hounding the Marcos administration stressing that it will not let itself be affected by political noise and will remain focused on its mandate.
It has dismissed calls for military intervention and rumors of unrest among uniformed personnel while strongly giving assurance that the AFP will continue to remain professional and non-partisan.
In response to the wave of hoax bomb threats that hit schools and communities, acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has ordered police units to bolster visibility in their areas of jurisdiction.
Nartatez said yesterday they are strengthening security operations amid what appears to be a series of coordinated bomb scares across the country.
Apart from campuses, Nartatez said police officers must also bolster their presence in other places of convergence to deter people from sowing fear.
“I have tasked our local police on the ground to intensify police presence in schools and other areas of convergence following the recent spike in bomb threats in the past days,” he said in a statement.
Nartatez expressed concern over a surge of bomb threats which prompted not only class suspensions but also evacuation of communities. Among these were eight schools in Iloilo and a campus in Digos City in Davao del Sur, which were targeted by bomb threats on Monday.
Classes at the Bagumbong National High School in Barangay Bagumbong in Jalajala, Rizal were disrupted on Tuesday when the school administration received a bomb threat from a certain Marcky Gutierrez on its social media account.
Over the weekend, a village in Ormoc City in Leyte was also hit by a bomb scare.
Nartatez has ordered an investigation to unmask and hold accountable the people behind the bomb scares.
Despite the disruptions, Nartatez assured the public they are prepared to respond to any threat.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. admitted yesterday that the corruption scandal that has been fueling protest actions coupled with current political issues is weakening the country.
He said the people are waiting for concrete action and this should be carried out fast since delays would intensify public distrust.
Teodoro also admitted that there are sectors including retired military officials who are pushing the AFP to resort to unconstitutional means of intervention but again assured the public that it will never happen.
On the political issue including Sen. Imee Marcos’ recent attacks on her younger brother President Marcos, he said it seems personal and he does not think that it will result in bigger protest actions.
But Teodoro said the investigation on the corruption scandal should be fast and impartial with those accused also given the chance to defend themselves while the state exercises its power to prosecute according to law. – Michael Punongbayan, Emmanuel Tupas
Richmond Mercurio – The Philippine StarNovember 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) saw its core net incom…
November 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) saw its core net income expand by more than half in the first nine months on the back of improved operational efficiency across its key businesses and sustained cost management efforts.
SMC reported a 54-percent increase in core net income to P60.3 billion, excluding foreign exchange and one-off items, in the first three quarters.
Operating income rose by 13 percent to P137.4 billion, while consolidated EBITDA grew by 16 percent to P194.3 billion.
SMC said that strong contributions from the food, spirits, power and infrastructure units helped offset external pressures on the fuel and oil segment.
Total consolidated revenues for the nine-month period reached P1.1 trillion, slightly lower year-on-year due to softening crude prices and the de-consolidation of select power assets.
“Despite factors outside our control, we delivered strong results and continued making steady progress on our major projects,” SMC chairman and CEO Ramon Ang said.
Ang said the group is preparing for higher consumer activity in the final quarter of the year as holiday demand picks up.
From January to September, San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. generated consolidated revenues of P302.9 billion, up by four percent year-on-year, led by Ginebra San Miguel and San Miguel Foods.
Petron Corp. also achieved higher sales, posting combined volume of 84.7 million barrels for Philippines and Malaysia.
SMC attributed Petron’s growth to improvement in Philippine retail and commercial sales. However, due to lower Dubai crude prices, revenues decreased by 10 percent year-on-year to P594.9 billion.
SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., meanwhile, recorded revenues of P118.8 billion, 23 percent lower year-on-year due to the deconsolidation of Ilijan and Excellent Energy Resources Inc. as well as softer coal and spot market prices.
Revenues of SMC Infrastructure grew by seven percent to P29.6 billion, supported by higher traffic across all toll roads, with average daily vehicle count of up to 1.07 million.
For SMC’s cement business, consolidated revenues stood at P25.5 billion, down by six percent year-on-year, amid the continued influx of cheap imports and weaker volumes.
Louella Desiderio – The Philippine StarNovember 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Investments approved by the Bases Conversion and Developme…
November 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Investments approved by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) doubled from January to November, reflecting strong investor confidence.
In a statement, the BCDA said its approved investments jumped by 99.5 percent to P63.97 billion during the 11-month period from the P32.06 billion a year ago.
These investments are expected to provide 8,476 employment opportunities, 29 percent higher than the 6,565 jobs generated by the approved investments last year.
The growth is concentrated across BCDA-managed economic zones, particularly in New Clark City in Tarlac and Camp John Hay in Baguio.
Those that signed contracts with the BCDA this year are Eagle-K GC Corp.; Eagle-K RV Corp.; the consortium of Global Heavy Equipment & Construction Corp., ATD Waste-to-Energy Corp. and Uttamenergy Ltd.; Science Park of the Philippines Inc.; Sta. Clara International–Saekyung Realty and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for developments in New Clark City.
Meanwhile, investors that entered into contracts with the BCDA for developments in Camp John Hay are Istana Development Corp. and Meridian Commercial Centers Inc.; Ayala Land Inc.; Stern Real Estate; Top Taste and Trading Inc.; Amare La Cucina and Prime Collective Corp.
BCDA president and CEO Joshua Bingcang said the latest performance shows the growing investor confidence in its investments hubs.
“This achievement underscores BCDA’s vision to be the catalyst for a future where strategic infrastructure development translates into sustainable, investment-led growth, simultaneously creating the platform for more and better job opportunities for all Filipinos,” Bingcang said.
The BCDA is aiming to encourage more firms to invest in its master-planned developments.
“We remain optimistic and actively encourage our investors to partner with BCDA as we make a vital headway in our mission to contribute to national economic and inclusive development,” Bingcang said.
Earlier, he said that the BCDA aims to approve P70 billion worth of investments this year.
Created under Republic Act 7227, the BCDA is mandated to help strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines, while building great cities and creating economic opportunities through the establishment of integrated developments, business centers and communities.
Keisha Ta-Asan – The Philippine StarNovember 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has strengthen…
November 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has strengthened its support for the country’s energy security agenda through a significant role in the P47.07-billion financing package for Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. to bankroll the acquisition of major gas assets in Batangas.
The funding facility will support Prime Infra’s purchase of a 60-percent stake in First Gen Corp.’s gas-fired power portfolio and its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, which form a core part of the Philippines’ gas-to-power value chain. First Gen will retain the remaining 40-percent interest.
The Philippine Competition Commission cleared the transaction in October, enabling Prime Infra to expand its presence in the domestic energy market.
The acquisition covers more than 2,000 megawatts of combined gas-fired generation capacity along with one of the country’s principal LNG import terminals. These assets are seen as vital to managing rising demand, easing supply constraints and improving overall system reliability.
“This partnership reflects BPI’s continued support for projects that reinforce the country’s energy resilience,” BPI institutional banking head Louie Cruz said. “We value leveraging our expertise in structuring complex, large-scale financing facilities that enable industry players to deliver viable and reliable energy solutions for the nation.”
BPI, one of the country’s largest lenders and a long-time financial partner of the Razon Group, has decades of experience in arranging syndicated loans for infrastructure projects of national importance.
The listed bank said its involvement in the deal aligns with its mandate to back investments that contribute to long-term economic stability.
Prime Infra president and CEO Guillaume Lucci described the acquisition as a strategic step toward ensuring dependable power supply during the country’s transition to cleaner sources.
Brix Lelis – The Philippine StarNovember 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Community mall pioneer WalterMart is expanding its clean energy s…
November 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Community mall pioneer WalterMart is expanding its clean energy shift, with more locations across Luzon set to run on renewable power from Lopez-led First Gen Corp.
WM Shopping Center Management Inc. (WMSCMI), the developer of the WalterMart malls, has signed another deal with First Gen, this time to deliver 47 megawatts (MW) of geothermal energy to 45 retail centers.
The agreement covers W Department Store, WalterMart Supermarket and Abenson outlets across Metro Manila, as well as central and southern Luzon.
The deal also includes the Citadines Bay City Manila Hotel in Pasay and Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila, both owned by the WalterMart Group.
The electricity supply will come from the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant owned and operated by First Gen subsidiary Energy Development Corp.
“The commitment to clean power enables our malls to operate responsibly and efficiently, reducing our carbon footprint while creating a greener future for the communities we serve,” WMSCMI chairman Abraham Uypeckcuat.
This latest deal builds on the ongoing partnership between the two companies for the installation of solar facilities across WalterMart malls in Quezon, Zambales, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Bulacan and Rizal.
WalterMart first tapped First Gen in 2019 for the installation of a solar power facility on top of a mall carpark building in Nasugbu, Batangas.
“As WalterMart continues to grow and open new community spaces across the country, First Gen will be ready to power every expansion and deliver what is truly a baseload source of renewable energy,” First Gen president and COO Francis Giles Puno said.
Currently, WalterMart has 45 community malls nationwide, 25 of which are expected to be powered by solar energy before the end of the year.
This is aligned with WalterMart’s goal of sourcing 20 percent of its electricity requirements by year-end.
First Gen, one of the country’s leading renewable power developers, operates over 1,700 MW of capacity from solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy sources.