Author: gqSbgCfmna

Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday said that she will ask for a new travel request as her plans have changed due to uncertainty whether she would be allowed to travel abroad.

‘Thank you for the last-minute issuance of the travel authority,’ Duterte said in a statement addressed to the Office of the President (OP).

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Wednesday said that the OP granted the travel authority, allowing Duterte to travel to the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom from April 23 to May 15.

Screenshot of the letter of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Screenshot of the letter of Vice President Sara Duterte to the Office of the President.

‘I regret to inform you that the plans have changed due to uncertainty as to whether I will be permitted to depart,’ Duterte said.

With this, she said that the OP will receive a new request ‘soon.’

She then asked the OP to ensure prompt processing and issuance of necessary documents ‘allowing sufficient time for travel preparations rather than only a few hours before the intended departure.’

‘Additionally, ensuring the confidentiality and proper handling of sensitive documents would greatly contribute to maintaining effective security arrangements,’ Duterte added.

Police anti-narcotics operatives arrested two alleged street drug pushers, and seized P142,000 worth of shabu (crystal meth) in a buy-bust operation early Wednesday, April 22, in Rodriguez town in Rizal province.

The Rizal police reported that a team of operatives held ‘Vonvon,’ 33, and ‘Cristi,’ 36, after they sold P500 worth of shabu to a poseur buyer in Barangay San Jose at dawn.

The suspects yielded seven heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected meth weighing 21 grams, worth P142,000, and a digital weighing scale.

The Rodriguez police are still investigating the source of the illegal drugs.

The report tagged the suspects as street-level pushers on the police watch list.

‘The arrest of these individuals is proof of our relentless campaign against illegal drugs. We will continue to intensify our operations to maintain the safety and order of our community, Colonel Eleazar Barber Jr., Rizal police director, said.

The suspects were detained and are facing charges of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Last year’s Typhoon Tino dropped a month’s worth of rain over the course of a few hours, and left behind hundreds of deaths and millions of pesos in agricultural and structural damage. For some, Tino was an unavoidable tragedy and the direct result of an unforeseen natural disaster. But with questions of flood control and ghost projects, to others, it was an example of how corruption and institutional incompetence directly resulted in the loss of Filipino lives.

After firsthand accounts and videos of murky, mocha-colored flood waters surfaced in Barangay Guadalupe during the typhoon, many pointed to Slater Young’s The Rise at Monterrazas as a significant contributor to the flooding in Cebu. That is, on top of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) slamming a cease-to-operate order on the project last November.

However, after the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 7 (Central Visayas) confirmed that it lifted the cessation of operations order (CDO) against the Monterrazas project, Young broke his silence on the matter.

‘That tragedy was real, and it deserves real answers, not speculation, not misinformation,’ said the content creator/civil engineer in a statement posted on YouTube. ‘We also know that what we experienced is nothing compared to the suffering of those who were directly affected by the flood. We tried to never lose sight of that, and we waited for the truth.’

Slater’s defense

‘When the accusations were made against the Monterrazas project, our first instinct was to respond immediately, but we held back because we believed that the right thing to do was to let the proper investigations run its course, to let the science and evidence speak rather than to add to all the noise and confusion,’ added Young, putting forward an independent study conducted by the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) Environmental Hydrology Laboratory at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

‘These were done by scientists with no connection to the project, no stake in the project,’ he added. ‘They found that Monterrazas did not cause or worsen the flooding. What caused it was the sheer volume of rain.’

According to the study, the Monterrazas project helped mitigate the occurrence of flash floods during Tino. Its detention ponds acted as stopgaps that held incoming rainwater, allowing it to flow slowly rather than having it all go down at once. The study also produced models and comparisons to prove that flooding levels would have been the same even without the existence of the Monterrazas site-and in fact, the project is said to have reduced overall flooding in the area by around two percent compared to if the area was left undeveloped.

‘The science does not just say we did not cause the flooding, it says that the systems we had built in place helped reduce it. This is not our conclusion; this is theirs. This study is public, and anyone who wishes to go through it is free to do so,’ shared the Pinoy Big Brother winner.

Though, despite the facts and figures Young has put forward, public opinion has largely been left unchanged, with others unconvinced of the validity of the UP study cited. Although Young claims that several third-party researchers have peer-reviewed the findings and have reached similar conclusions, all we have so far is a Facebook summary that won’t hold up as an undeniable fact.

Should the IESM Environmental Hydrology Laboratory publish the complete study and its findings are supported by more environmental organizations, then this would likely result in greater support for Monterrazas. But even then, it’s also safe to say that even that won’t have much impact on the court of public opinion.

‘We understand that for some, no study or finding will ever be enough. Grief does not follow a timeline, and we respect that,’ Young added. ‘But Cebu deserves real solutions and real solutions can only come from correctly identifying the real cause-that is, work that is ongoing, and Monterrazas is committed to being a part of it; I am committed to being a part of it.’

Reactive, never preventive

After the Monterrazas development was placed under scrutiny following Typhoon Tino, DENR initially halted the project, citing several breaches of forestry and environmental laws, notably the Forestry Code of the Philippines, the Clean Water Act, the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System, as well as lapses in their Environmental Compliance Certificate.

It’s also important to note that more than 700 trees were reportedly cut down within Monterraza’s 140-hectare property.

In short, these violations were happening right under our noses, and it took a region-wide disaster and several viral TikToks for anything to be done about it. And to make things worse, while Young’s statement addressed the flooding aspect of the controversy, nothing regarding the violations was ever discussed.

According to EMB-7 Regional Director John Edward Ang, the order was lifted on the basis of ‘documented remedial works, compliance milestones, and settlement of penalties’ by The Mont Property Group, Inc., meaning, penalties were paid off, and lapses were made up for-after hundreds of lives were lost to Typhoon Tino. Again, too little too late.

But as easy as it is to solely direct anger and attention towards Young and Monterrazas, DENR and the Cebu local government are also to blame. Frankly, the spotlight on Young has directed attention away from the P26 billion in flood control funds Cebu received from 2016 to 2025 that have amounted to nothing, and the rules and regulations that allowed Monterrazas to operate to begin with.

Through DENR and the Cebu local government, penalties can be paid off and cease to operate orders can be simply lifted. Meanwhile, the people of Cebu lost their friends and family, their property, and their livelihoods. But Young and The Mont Property Group, Inc.? Barely anything by their standards. A few hate comments, a slap on the wrist, and the approval to carry on with the project.

In the coming months, when typhoon season hits again, what will be their solution? Will it be to simply add more compliance checks? More detention pools? What about improving environmental compliance standards to begin with? Why not outright ban developments in flood-prone areas? In the end, Young and Monterrazas are only playing by the rules they’ve set.

Developers can handle the fines and penalties this game of trial and error asks for. But everyone else? The best they can do is survive the flood.

So yes, as Young says, Cebu deserves real solutions. But simply adhering to the bare minimum set by DENR and the local government won’t be enough. After all, it’s that bare minimum that got the people of Cebu to where they are today.

Angge Poyos admitted that blowing a two-set lead hurt for the University of Santo Tomas as they missed the outright chance to clinch a berth to the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball stepladder semifinals.

But the Tigresses have no time to dwell on the loss, shifting their focus to their Playoff for No.4 against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

‘The loss hurts, but we have to move on right away. We’ll come in more confident on Saturday because our fate is in our hands. That’s what we’ll hold on to, giving our best no matter what,’ said Poyos after pouring in 24 points, 15 receptions, and nine digs.

Poyos kept UST afloat in the decider, but her attack error sent NU to match point before Vange Alinsug nailed the game-winning kill to clinch the No.2 spot with a come-from-behind 19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-18, 15-13 win on Wednesday.

‘One factor was miscommunication, especially in crucial moments like when it was tied 13-all. There was a miscommunication with Ate Cassie (Carballo), so communication really played a big role,’ she said. ‘We struggled to close out the game. We were up 2-0 but couldn’t finish it in the third or fourth set.’

Poyos urged her teammates to keep their heads up with their final chance to keep their semifinal streak going.

‘It’s frustrating because we were already close, but still couldn’t get it. For now, our focus is recovery, rest tomorrow, then prepare for Saturday since that’s the most important game for us to make the semis,’ said the former league Rookie of the Year. ‘We just have to stay patient and move on quickly from what happened. We played well, but it still wasn’t enough to get the win.’

Although UST swept FEU in the elimination round, Poyos has no room for complacency in a do-or-die game for the right to face Adamson in the stepladder semis.

‘We just have to give everything, our 101%, and not doubt ourselves. It’s a do-or-die game this Saturday, and we know FEU will come back strong. We won’t just let this slip. We really want to make the Final Four. We’ll stay patient and just perform at our best,’ said Poyos.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the rank promotion of 17 senior Philippine National Police (PNP) officers, according to a memorandum from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The appointment papers had been signed by Marcos and transmitted to the DILG by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, according to a memorandum dated April 20 from Special Police Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Col. Christopher Olazo and addressed to PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

According to the memo, promoted to major general were Brig. Gen. Wilson Asueta, the Anti-Cybercrime Group director, and Brig. Gen. Jay Cumigad, the director for plans.

Promoted to brigadier general were Col. Madeline Cacao, chief of the Center for Police Strategy Management; Col. Rodel Pastor, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office Staff; and Col. Dominic Baccay, executive officer of the Directorate for Plans.

The memo added that the following police lieutenant colonels were promoted to police colonels:

Kenneth Mission

Manolo Salvatierra

George Marca

Jonathan Lee Chy

Richard Bogoy Gumboc

Tyrone Razon Dotimas

Arnold Acosta

Sam Andarino

Romeo Villalobos Jr.

Ariel Bait

Damaso Burgos Jr.

Casan Ali

Section 31 of Republic Act No. 6975, or the DILG Act, which reorganized the PNP, states that only the president can appoint police officers to the rank of police colonel or higher.

The results of the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (Upcat) are out. It isn’t just students who were anxious, but their families also waited with bated breath. Yesterday, families finally woke up to the news of whether their child can consider UP their new academic home. Out of 147,437 Upcat applicants, 18,350 or 12.44 percent were accepted or waitlisted, making it one of the most competitive universities in the country. After all, getting into UP means the opportunity to get quality education for zero tuition, a rare combination. With rising inflation and more economic uncertainty on the horizon, few families can opt to ignore a school’s price tag.

College admissions are already a stressful rite of passage for senior high students. Our uncertainty about our future, brought about by political and economic instability and a fast-evolving job market, has only served to increase the stakes of such milestone decisions as to which college to go to. Moreover, preparing for college is no longer just the student’s challenge; it has become the family’s cross to bear.

The day the results come out is the culmination of the years it took to get there. The student, of course, does the main work. They go through their schoolwork with the added pressure of knowing that their academic transcript can make or break their college application. This is also the student who went through the pandemic disruptions and the back-and-forth pivots to remote learning. They sacrifice social and recreation time to attend review classes to gain a competitive edge, just at the time when they should be relishing their friendships before they go their separate ways.

Parents do their parallel responsibility. They also sacrifice time and effort, best exemplified by the daily morning routine: getting kids ready for school. In the Philippines, this could mean as early as 5 a.m., depending on traffic and commuting conditions. The school drop-off is also a fast-becoming exercise in patience. Parents sacrifice on the big things as well. They save up money for years, perhaps decades, so that their child can afford as many quality choices for schools as they can get into. I know of parents who have strategized their career paths, such as working for an academic institution and gaining employee benefits or choosing a job that allows them the time to tutor their kids personally, based on what will help their children get into their school of choice.

All this emotional investment is based on a firm belief that college is a guarantee for a better life. Currently, however, a college degree has never felt more useless and at the same time more essential than now. A college degree alone no longer provides the financial security it once did. Even a diploma from the ‘big four’ universities no longer gets you in front of the line. Latin honors do not make a dent in hiring. And yet, gosh, go try looking for a job without a college degree. It is practically impossible to get one, even for jobs that do not seem to require college-level skills, such as being a server or a salesperson.

The increased stakes of our children’s education no longer begin at college. As I began looking into preschool for my child, I am disheartened to see exorbitant tuition, limited slots, and rigorous admissions testing, eerily similar to the college process. The stakes aren’t just higher; they have come for us earlier.

With such a stacked scenario, we have no choice but to follow where the pressure leads us. Every decision regarding our child’s education feels high-stakes. There is no room for error or mistakes. We need to optimize every decision and enroll them in the ‘best’ schools, even if it breaks the bank, ironically worsening our financial stability.

Unfortunately, we can pass this anxiety onto our children. They get anxious about their grades and their chances for college. They have a low tolerance for mistakes. They feel the need to be perfect to compensate for the extremely competitive environment. This can lead to them burning out and increasing their discomfort with the new and unfamiliar, making them less able to succeed in college, becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Increased uncertainty about our future can push us into an all-or-nothing mindset. For example, some families abide by ‘UP or bust.’ When the stakes feel overwhelmingly high, it is good to remember that not all decisions are as final as they feel. There are multiple routes to a desired outcome. It can be through the Upcat, via transferring, via another school, or via another path entirely. And all those choices can lead to good things.

As parents, we can share in this moment with our children and help them decide how much weight they should put into the results, whether accepted or not. We can be with them as they go through uncertainty and help them feel confident in their choices, even when no guarantees are offered. There is so much more to gain in college admissions letters than just the results.

Rising fuel costs amid the Middle East conflict forced the Department of Agriculture (DA) to delay by about one month the implementation of nationwide farm-to-market road (FMR) projects.

The agency originally targeted to begin construction of FMR projects in April. It received a budget allocation of P33 billion under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, covering 1,605 projects.

However, the DA plans to start the bidding process next month as it recalibrates construction costs.

‘We expect that by May, we will begin the procurement process for all these bidding activities,’ Agriculture Undersecretary Arrey Perez said in an interview.

Standardizing budget

Perez said the DA is closely coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to standardize the price per kilometer of FMR in the pipeline.

‘Our challenge now is that because fuel prices are rising, we cannot finalize the costing per kilometer of our road projects,’ he told reporters.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, also the DA’s spokesperson, said: ‘If we insist on using the previous costing, the bidding will likely fail. We need to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that our procurement and implementation are successful.’

Despite these delays, Perez assured that the ongoing FMR projects being undertaken by other agencies would continue.

Takeover

The DA assumed responsibility for constructing FMR projects from the DPWH, effective this year, following corruption concerns over the government’s infrastructure projects.

Although the DA is the lead implementing agency, it is allowed to partner with government agencies, local government units or private entities to complete these projects.

The agency has adopted various measures to ensure transparency and proper implementation, such as auditing FMR projects and launching the FMR transparency portal, where stakeholders can monitor projects or report any issues.

Based on the DA’s digital portal, the government had invested P109.53 billion to develop FMR projects between 2021 and 2026 covering 6,428 projects.

Of these, 3,135 projects have been completed with a total length of 2,399.85 kilometers.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. maintained on Thursday that the agency’s academy was undergoing ‘aggressive reforms’ amid a new alleged hazing case that surfaced among its cadets.

‘We will not allow favoritism or any cover-up. Anyone found responsible, regardless of their year level, will face the full force of the law,’ Nartatez stressed in a statement.

‘Aggressive policy reforms are ongoing at the PNPA, and this new case was a product of early interventions through regular monitoring and detection of hazing incidents,’ he maintained.

On Wednesday, newly appointed PNPA director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan bared that they had discovered the new case after finding bruises on two cadets’ feet during a regular physical inspection last Saturday.

The victims pointed to two of their upperclassmen as the culprits, prompting the academy to place them under restrictive custody while authorities investigate.

Neither Nartatez nor Maranan immediately provided further details on the new incident, but the agency assured that the two victims will receive medical, legal, and psychological support.

The new case came less than three weeks after three sophomore cadets allegedly smeared a mix of drain cleaner and muriatic acid on at least 22 freshmen at their barracks in Camp General Mariano Castañeda in Silang, Cavite, last April 3.

The three perpetrators, as well as four other cadets and two police officials, have been charged with violating Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act, in connection with the incident.

Further, nine PNPA officials were relieved of their posts to allow the investigation, including then-director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon.

‘Our goal is a total cultural shift. We are institutionalizing safeguards so that brotherhood is defined by discipline and respect, not by violence,’ Nartatez said.

A new generation of showbiz royalty will continue their family legacy as a new crop of stars, the children of beloved actors, actresses and screen veterans, after they were launched by Viva Artists Agency.

After Ashley Diaz, Gabbi Ejercito, Icee Ejercito, Jac Abellana, Jaime Yllana, Rob Walcher, Ryan Walcher and Vito Quizon were introduced as Viva’s ‘Next Gen’ stars, they vowed that they’re more than just rising stars who carry the last names of their famous lineal kin.

‘Okay lang po na natatawag kaming nepo baby, since totoo naman siya. Pero pwede ko namang ipakita na [I’m more than just a] nepo baby since nanggaling ako sa pamilya ng Quizon and kilala po sila,’ Vito, grandson of Comedy King Dolphy and son of Vandolph, said.

‘Medyo mas madali makapasok sa buhay ng paga-artista, and ang pinakagagawin ko is to improve and ipakita anong kaya kong gawin. Nandito po ako ngayon and ipapakita ko na kaya ko,’ he continued.

(It’s okay that we get called nepo babies because it’s true. But I can show that I’m more than just a nepo baby who comes from the Quizon clan. Since they’re known, it may be easier for me to get into show biz. What I can do is to improve and show what I can do. I’m here now, and I’m here to prove that I can make it.)

Gabbi, daughter of Gary Estrada and Bernadette Allyson, said she carries the advice that her parents gave her in her budding showbiz career. Also signing with the agency is her sister, Icee.

‘My parents always tell me to take every opportunity given. Going into Viva alone, of course, I was reluctant, but with their support and advice, I took the chance, and I’m very grateful that I did,’ she said.

Ryan shared that his beauty queen mother, Patricia Javier, and father, Dr. Robert Walcher, taught him how to make the most out of his entertainment career.

‘The best lesson that my parents taught me is to always make the best of things. No matter how [tough] things may seem, it just makes things a lot easier,’ he said, while his brother and fellow Viva artist Rob nodded in agreement.

Ashley, who stars as Rosetta Rodriguez in ‘Project Loki,’ is the daughter of Joko Diaz, an actor known for his antagonist roles onscreen. She is also the granddaughter of Paquito Diaz.

Also part of the newest crop of stars are Jac Abellana and Jaime Yllana, the son of Jojo Abellana and son of Anjo Yllana, respectively.

The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) has activated a Special Investigation Task Group to establish the identities of bodies recovered following a series of ‘encounters’ in Toboso, Negros Occidental, on Sunday.

Through forensic examination, documentation, and coordination with local government units and relatives, the task group aims to provide a formal accounting of the deceased, said the PRO NIR statement.

The Philippine Army earlier said that 19 alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed during a series of encounters with soldiers of the 79th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, on April 19.

On Wednesday, PRO NIR confirmed that six of the 19 fatalities have been positively identified and claimed by their respective families. They were Rene Villarin Sr., alias Kumader Pikot, 58, of Sitio Huwebisan, Barangay Marcelo, Calatrava; Roger Fabillar Tapang, alias Jhong or Arnel, 36, of Sitio Malig-on, Barangay Bandila, Toboso; Ruel Sabillo, 19, of Sitio Singiton, Barangay Tabun-ak, Toboso; Sonny Boy Manayon Caramihan, 28, of Sitio Batbataw, Barangay Bagonbon, San Carlos City; Pedro Agustin Bonghanoy, 32, of Barangay Libertad, Escalante City; and Arnel Mahilum Javoc, 32, of Sitio Labay-ao, Barangay Lalong, Calatrava.

Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas C. Ibay, PRO NIR Director, said that the successful identification and release of the remains reflect their commitment to professionalism and humanitarian considerations.

He noted that while the police are carrying out lawful duties, they remain dedicated to showing compassion to the families involved.

Meanwhile, Altermidya Network had said its NIR coordinator. RJ Nichole Ledesma was among those killed, while the UP Diliman University Student Council confirmed the death of Alyssa Alano in Sunday’s incident.

Continuing efforts are now focused on identifying the other fatalities, the PRO NIR said.

Police authorities are currently validating submitted information, reviewing available records, and conducting further medico-legal and forensic documentation, it added.

The PRO NIR said they are facilitating the orderly release of all confirmed cadavers once the necessary documentary and legal requirements are fully completed.