Author: Nouman Ali

DigiPlus Foundation, the social responsibility arm of the country’s pioneer in digital entertainment, DigiPlus Interactive Corp., has formalized its partnership with the Philippine Red Cross through a signing ceremony, marking a ?6 million commitment to support the upgrade of the organization’s facilities in Cavite. Building on previous collaborations focused primarily on blood donation initiatives, this partnership marks the first major infrastructure-focused project between the two organizations.

Under the DigiPlus Foundation’s KalusuganPLUS program, this partnership aims to enhance emergency response capabilities, strengthen blood service operations, and improve community resilience across Cavite and nearby areas. It underscores a shared commitment to strengthening frontline services and ensuring that communities are better equipped to respond to emergencies, disasters, and critical health needs.

More than a building, it is a lifeline: DigiPlus Foundation and Philippine Red Cross have formalized their partnership to strengthen continuous humanitarian support, advancing community resilience and making healthcare more accessible for all. (In photo from left to right: Angela Camins- Wieneke, DigiPlus Foundation’s Executive Director; Jasper Vicencio, Board of Trustee of DigiPlus Foundation; Gilbert Remulla, Chairman of Board of Trustee of Philippine Red Cross – Cavite Chapter; Ms Adelina B. Castillo, Philippine Red Cross-Cavite Chapter Administrator)

Through this initiative, the facility upgrade will enable the Philippine Red Cross to expand its operational capacity, enhancing its ability to deliver timely assistance, mobilize resources more effectively, and provide life-saving services at scale. The improved facilities are expected to support key functions such as emergency response coordination, blood services, volunteer training, and community-based programs.

‘At DigiPlus Foundation, we believe that meaningful impact comes from building solutions that last. Through this commitment, we are investing in stronger emergency response, better access to essential services, and more resilient communities as we continue to multiply the good,’ said Ms. Angela Camins-Wieneke, Executive Director of DigiPlus Foundation.

AB Leisure Exponent, Inc. President and DigiPlus Foundation Board Director Jasper Vicencio shared during the ceremony that ‘Our partnership with the Philippine Red Cross Cavite Chapter is rooted in a shared purpose-to be there when people need help the most.’ He added, ‘We are grateful to be part of this journey with the Red Cross as we create together something that will serve generations to come.’

The partnership highlights DigiPlus Foundation’s continued focus on creating sustainable, long-term impact by investing in systems and infrastructure that directly benefit communities-moving beyond one-time assistance toward lasting solutions.

The new Red Cross building will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance service capacity, featuring a modern disaster operations center, a spacious blood center, multipurpose training rooms, and comfortable community meeting spaces. It will enable faster crisis response, support larger blood drives, provide training and workshops, and foster collaboration with local organizations

For the Philippine Red Cross, the upgraded facilities are expected to significantly enhance both preparedness and response capabilities, enabling more efficient coordination during emergencies and improved delivery of humanitarian services across the province.

‘This support from DigiPlus Foundation is a meaningful contribution to our mission of providing timely and effective humanitarian assistance. With improved facilities, we will be better equipped to respond to emergencies, expand our blood services, and serve more communities across Cavite. Partnerships like this are essential in helping us save more lives and strengthen our reach,’ said Gilbert Cesar Remulla, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Red Cross Cavite Chapter.

As one of the country’s leading humanitarian organizations, the Philippine Red Cross plays a vital role in disaster response, health services, and community-based initiatives. Strengthening its infrastructure in Cavite is expected to further enhance its capacity to serve areas that are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and public health challenges.

This partnership forms part of DigiPlus Foundation’s broader mission to ‘multiply the good’ by working alongside trusted institutions to deliver meaningful and measurable impact. By investing in infrastructure that supports emergency response, healthcare access, and community preparedness, the Foundation continues to contribute to building safer, stronger, and more resilient communities.

Moving forward, both organizations are committed to ensuring the effective implementation of the project, guided by transparency, accountability, and a shared vision of sustained impact.

Police arrested four men allegedly involved in fuel pilfering, locally known as ‘paihi,’ during a late-night operation on Wednesday in Alaminos, Laguna.

The Police Regional Office 4A said local police, assisted by barangay tanods (village watchmen), were conducting a routine patrol when they caught the suspects in the act of siphoning fuel from two tanker trucks along the Alaminos-Lipa City bypass road in Barangay San Miguel at around 11 p.m.

The suspects were identified by their aliases as ‘Roberto,’ 34; ‘Fernan,’ 33; and ‘Mark Paolo,’ 28 – all drivers – and a helper, ‘Jericho.’

Authorities said about 400 liters of petroleum products, valued at P40,000, had already been siphoned and transferred into a drum inside a Mitsubishi L300 van driven by Mark Paolo.

The theft is called ‘paihi,’ a Filipino term that refers to the act of urinating and now means siphoning fuel from a tank or depot.

The suspects were taken into custody and are set to face criminal charges.

The two tanker trucks and the van used in the operation were impounded.

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.

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.

When Creamline flushed Cignal with a heavy dose of championship experience to take Game 1 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference finals, the Cool Smashers did so in such an authoritative manner that even their foes couldn’t help but notice.

‘It’s about how they (Creamline) stay composed and enjoy every situation. For us, it felt different,’ said Super Spikers coach Shaq Delos Santos. ‘The biggest lesson for us, especially since it’s our first time [in the All-Filipino finals], is to embrace the moment.’

Cignal, which owns runner-up finishes in the 2022 Reinforced and 2024 Invitational, has one shot to embrace the moment.

Creamline guns for the crown on Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, intent on reclaiming its crown but very much aware of how much its gritty foe has to offer as it fights for survival.

‘Cignal is the type of team that doesn’t stick to just one lineup. They make a lot of changes. So we need to stay patient and be ready for whatever adjustments they make in Game 2,’ said Jema Galanza, who had 17 points in Game 1, aside from collecting 13 excellent receptions from 18 tries.

The Cool Smashers looked untouchable in that 25-22, 25-18, 25-16 victory two days ago, but even coach Sherwin Meneses admitted that his squad can’t expect to run through their rivals in the same easy manner.

‘The series isn’t over,’ Meneses said, adding there is much to clean up heading into the 5:30 p.m. Game 2 tussle. ‘We’ll continue to work on our lapses in practice and go back to square one. Cignal won’t back down. That’s why they’re in the finals. So we can’t relax.’

Jia de Guzman, who returned to the finals for the first time in three years, is optimistic heading to Game 2, but said her teammates will have to be careful against a team that beat them twice in three previous meetings this conference.

No surrender

‘We have to do our best to close out as much as possible because we know Cignal is a good team. They gave us a hard time the whole conference,’ said De Guzman, who had 22 excellent sets and scored four points.

‘We’re optimistic. We’re thankful that the team is slowly coming together. We’re peaking at the right time. But Game 2 will be a different kind of fight,’ she added.

It is a fight that Cignal hasn’t surrendered just yet.

‘There’s still a Game 2. The championship isn’t decided in Game 1. We still have the opportunity to bounce back, reset, and perform better in the next game. We’ll fight until the end,’ said Delos Santos in Filipino.

‘It’s tougher for us since we didn’t get Game 1. Personally, I need to trust the team and our system more. We just have to play our game. I told them not to pressure themselves too much. I want us to show what we’ve built and prepared for, because that’s why we got here. We just need to bring out our real game, and that’s it, no regrets,’ he added.

The Super Spikers will again rely on Vanie Gandler, who finished with 17 points and 10 receptions in Game 1, and will hope that Erika Santos can rebound from a 9-of-39 attacking clip that netted 10 points. Gel Cayuna was limited to 14 excellent sets but scored six points-the third-best scorer of the team.

PLDT, meanwhile, looks to clinch bronze in Game 2 against Farm Fresh at 3 p.m.

Four vendors were arrested on Wednesday after authorities seized more than 66 kilograms of puffer fish being sold at the public market in Nabua town in Camarines Sur.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Bicol (BFAR-5), in coordination with the Nabua police, inspected the public market at 6 a.m. This led to the arrest of the vendors for violating Fisheries Administrative Order No. 249, series of 2014, which bans the sale and distribution of puffer fish.

Wheng Bricia-Briones, BFAR Bicol information officer, said violators can be penalized with imprisonment from two months to a year, and a fine of not less than P10,000.

She said seven kilograms of puffer fish were worth P1,400; another seven kilograms were worth P1,540; 7.02 kilograms were worth P1,404; and 45 kilograms were seized, valued at P45,000.

Administrative charges will be filed against the four suspects.

The confiscated fish were brought to the BFAR regional office for proper disposition.

The agency reiterated its warning against the sale, whether fresh or processed, and consumption of pufferfish, locally known as ‘butete,’ citing its potent toxin that can cause serious illness or, worse, may lead to death.

Arah Panique redeemed herself by leading National University to the No.2 spot ahead of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball stepladder semifinals, anchoring the defending champion’s five-set comeback against University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Last Sunday, Panique’s costly net fault sealed La Salle’s five-set win to complete a 14-game sweep and clinch an outright Finals berth, sending the rest of the field into a stepladder.

The senior opposite spiker admitted she blamed herself for the crucial error.

‘I couldn’t help but blame myself before because it really was my fault,’ said Panique in Filipino. ‘So this game, I just gave my best to make up for the team and to help us secure that No. 2 spot so we won’t have a harder path and can also get some rest.’

‘I think we all know we could’ve won that game. We just fell short in closing it out. It also comes down to how we play together as a team,’ she added.

Against UST on Wednesday, Panique unleashed 24 points off 21 kills, two blocks, and an ace to help save NU from a two-set deficit en route to the 19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-18, 15-13 win.

‘For me, the main thing was to bounce back from our last loss. That’s really what motivated us. We’re also happy because you can really see our team effort and teamwork in this game,’ she said.

NU finished the elimination round with a 10-4 record and will have enough time to prepare for the last phase of the stepladder, where the finals berth against unbeaten La Salle is at stake.

UST and Far Eastern University will fight for the last semis berth on Saturday, with the winner taking on Adamson next on April 29.

Suspected drugs worth a total of P3.4 million were confiscated, and four individuals were arrested in buy-bust operations in Quezon City and Pasay City on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

In a statement on Thursday, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said it entrapped two suspects in front of a restaurant at the corner of Tomas Morato Avenue and Scout Limbaga Street on Wednesday night.

‘A police officer acted as poseur buyer and bought P451,000 worth of shabu from suspect Ronnie, and at the given pre-arranged signal, he was arrested along with his cohort, [John],’ the police explained.

Operatives recovered an additional P913,538 worth of suspected shabu from the two suspects, according to the QCPD.

Police said the suspect, identified by the alias Ronnie, has a previous case for violating Presidential Decree No. 1602, which prescribes stiffer penalties for illegal gambling.

Meanwhile, the Southern Police District (SPD) said it had apprehended two more suspects in front of a fast-food restaurant at the corner of Libertad Avenue and Taft Avenue in Barangay 92 early Thursday morning.

The SPD identified the suspects by the aliases ‘Chong,’ 33; and ‘John,’ 26, noting that they were both ‘high-value’ individuals.

‘Seized during the operation were approximately 300 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price value of P2,040,000, along with buy-bust money, a mobile phone and other drug paraphernalia,’ the police explained.

All four suspects were taken into their respective police’s custody, awaiting charges for violating Republic Act No. 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Five alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were arrested during a warrant service operation in Talisay, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, following a recent deadly clash in the province.

The military operation was conducted along the Circumferential Road, Barangay Matab-ang of Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said on Thursday.

Operatives were serving an arrest warrant for attempted murder against a suspect identified as alias ‘Glem’ when four additional individuals were apprehended after being found in possession of firearms and explosives, it said.

The arrested individuals were identified as alias ‘Glem,’ 48, of Zamboanga Sibugay and squad leader of the North Negros Front (NNF); alias ‘Dan,’ 25, of Himamaylan City, squad leader of Central Negros 2 (CN2); alias ‘Jud,’ 34, of San Carlos City; alias ‘Ju,’ 26, of Murcia; and alias ‘Je,’ 57, of Bacolod City.

Both ‘Glem’ and ‘Dan’ are listed on the Periodic Status Report (PSR) of wanted personalities, the police said.

Authorities said some of the suspects reportedly had visible body wounds, which led them to believe the group was previously involved in an armed encounter with troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) in Toboso, Negros Occidental, on Sunday.

Authorities recovered four short firearms, live ammunition, and explosive devices from the suspects, the PRO NIR said.

The operation was led by the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) of PRO-NIR in coordination with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit (CIDG-RFU), the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU), the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), the 6th Special Action Battalion of the PNP Special Action Force (6th SAB, PNP SAF), the Talisay City Component Police Station (Talisay CCPS), and the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) of the Philippine Army.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) welcomed the appointment of former Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento as the new presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity.

‘We recognize an opportunity in his appointment for the substantial fulfillment of the CAB (Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro) and building the foundations of peace in the Bangsamoro,’ Mohagher Iqbal, MILF vice chair, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Iqbal said the MILF also expressed its gratitude to the contributions of former presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. in the country’s peace efforts. Galvez took the post in 2018 after retiring from military service.

‘General Galvez has not merely been an official, but a partner to the MILF in the critical years of [CAB] implementation,’ he said.

Iqbal, who led the MILF in political negotiations with the government, noted that during the tenure of Galvez, the Mindanao peace process witnessed historic achievements like the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and beginning the work on decommissioning.

‘Harder work’

‘What remains is the harder, less visible work: completing normalization, building fiscal and governance capacity in the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), ensuring that the Bangsamoro’s first parliamentary elections strengthen rather than fracture democratic legitimacy, and delivering development that reaches the communities most affected by decades of conflict,’ he said.

And for Iqbal and the MILF, this is where the new peace adviser fits in.

‘This is civilian work. It requires the kind of governance experience that Secretary Sarmiento brings-his understanding of municipal administration, regional development coordination, and national government and BARMM intergovernmental work,’ Iqbal said.