Author: Nouman Ali

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.

Joint operating troops from the Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13) and the Philippine Army uncovered an arms cache believed to belong to the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Antongalon, Butuan City, on Monday.

Police Brig. Gen. Marcial Mariano P. Magistrado IV, director of PRO-13, said the discovery was made by personnel of Butuan City Police Station 4, the 29th Infantry Battalion, and the 25th Ordnance Explosive Disposal (EOD) Team of the Philippine Army after acting on a report from a concerned citizen.

Recovered from the site were five M76B rifle grenades, one M76C rifle grenade, one M76A-1 rifle grenade, two short plastic magazines for M16 rifles, four short alloy magazines for M16 rifles, one long magazine for an M16 rifle, two M60 barrels with defaced serial numbers, one handheld radio, and one Alcatel keypad cellular phone.

‘I commend our citizens for helping maintain peace and order in the region, particularly through their vigilance in reporting the presence of firearms and explosives. Our operatives are still conducting an investigation into the origin and intended use of the recovered items, as well as the individuals or groups responsible for storing them in the area,’ Magistrado said.

Authorities said the five M76B rifle grenades, one M76C rifle grenade, and one M76A-1 rifle grenade were deemed hazardous to handle and were immediately disposed of through controlled detonation at the site by the 25th EOD Team.

Meanwhile, the two recovered M60 barrels were turned over to the Butuan City Forensic Unit for ballistic examination.

A mother-and-daughter duo, both classified as high-value individuals (HVIs) in the regional drug trade, was arrested by authorities following a midnight buy-bust operation in Jaro district here on Tuesday.

Personnel from the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU) conducted the sting at around 12:05 a.m. on April 21, in Barangay Simon Ledesma. The operation resulted in the seizure of roughly 70 grams of suspected shabu (meth) with a total estimated street value of P476,000.

The arrested individuals were identified by police under the aliases ‘Welnie,’ 64, and her daughter ‘Pani,’ 37. Both suspects are residents of Iloilo City and are currently unemployed. According to investigators, the pair had been under intense surveillance for nearly a month prior to the arrest.

The coordinated effort involved multiple units, including the Iloilo Maritime Police Station, the ICPO Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, and the Station Drug Enforcement Team of Police Station 9.

In addition to the 10 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing the suspected narcotics, authorities recovered the marked buy-bust money and various non-drug related items from the scene.

Police Brigadier General Josefino D. Ligan, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 6, lauded the joint task force for the successful operation.

Welnie and Pani are currently in police custody.

United Airlines has implemented broad-based fare hikes of 15 to 20 percent as it seeks to offset the surge in gasoline prices while protecting profits, executives said Wednesday.

The big US carrier, which has also trimmed its 2026 flying capacity by 5 percent, aims to recover 100 percent of the added costs from the jet fuel price spike due to the Middle East war.

Chief Executive Scott Kirby described oil prices as ‘incredibly volatile,’ but said the company’s plan is based on the assumption that ‘fuel may remain higher for longer.’

While the airline has yet to see pullback from customers due to high fares, United may cut back additional flights in 2027 if demand ebbs, Kirby said.

United on Tuesday reported higher first-quarter profits but lowered its full-year profit forecast due to jet fuel costs. United expects fuel prices to average $4.30 per gallon in the second quarter, up 55 percent from the average in the first quarter.

Other carriers too

Other airlines have also announced fare increases and capacity curtailments in response to the surge in oil prices since the US-Israel siege on Iran launched on Feb. 28.

The head of the International Air Transport Association on April 17 called on authorities to put ‘well-coordinated plans in place’ in case of jet fuel rationing.

Worries about jet fuel availability are more acute in Asia and Europe compared with the United States, said United Chief Financial Officer Michael Leskinen.

‘We don’t see a lack of availability being an issue at all in the US. It’s a price issue,’ Leskinen said.

‘However, even in Europe and Asia, as we sit here today, we think it’s a price issue not an availability issue,’ said Leskinen adding that ‘spot outages’ could happen in Europe and Asia if the conflict drags on.

Travelers flying within and out of the Philippines are facing significantly higher airfares for the rest of April after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) approved a Level 19 fuel surcharge, pushing additional charges to as much as P15,397 per ticket.

This new rate brings jet fuel surcharges close to the maximum Level 20 and marks a sharp increase from Level 8 imposed from April 1 to April 15.

Before the Middle East conflict broke out, Level 4 surcharge had applied.

Under Level 19, fuel surcharges for domestic flights now range from P627 to P1,834, up from P253 to P787 earlier in April-equivalent to increases of 147.83 percent and 133.04 percent, respectively.

For international flights, the surcharge rises to at least P2,070.77 and as much as P15,397.15, from P835.05 to P6,208.98 previously, representing a 147.98-percent increase.

CAB issued the advisory on Wednesday, although the new rates had taken effect for tickets issued starting April 16.

‘This interim measure shall be in effect until the current situation stabilizes, or as may be revised or revoked accordingly,’ it said.

These new rates will be applied at a conversion rate of P59.95 per US dollar.

Up 436% from prewar levels

This adjustment comes as global jet fuel prices remain high, reaching $184.63 per barrel as of April 17, from $99.40 per barrel prior to the Iran conflict, based on data from the International Air Transport Association.

Compared with prewar levels, Philippine jet fuel surcharges have now increased by 436 percent.

In March, carriers were unable to immediately reflect the price surge, as surcharges had already been set at Level 4 before hostilities escalated. At that level, domestic charges ranged from P117 to P342, while international surcharges were between P385.70 and P2,867.82.

Level 20 remains the highest allowable tier under CAB rules, with domestic surcharges ranging from P661 to P1,993 and international charges from P2,183.11 to P16,232.44.

On top of base airfare

Under CAB Resolution No. 25, Series of 2022, fuel surcharges are optional and charged on top of the base airfare. These may be removed if the one-month average price of jet fuel falls below P21 per liter.

In a statement, AirAsia Philippines said the increase reflects mounting cost pressures on carriers amid the ongoing conflict.

‘With the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, our operational cost base has significantly exceeded initial forecasts-global jet fuel prices have surged to more than double 2025 levels,’ the airline said.

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.

LBC Express Holdings Inc. is exiting its Taiwan-based employment services business after three years as part of a move to refocus operations and address losses.

In a disclosure on Wednesday, the logistics company said it had approved the sale of its 100-percent stake in Blue Eagle and LBC Services Ltd. to Ruby Chang for 2 million Taiwanese dollars, or about P3.8 million.

LBC said the divestment is aimed at realigning its strategy for the unit.

‘The divestment of Blue Eagle is pursuant to the plans of the Corporation to refocus strategic direction for Blue Eagle, which may include implementing certain organizational changes, with a view of turning around losses of the subsidiary,’ it said.

Blue Eagle, incorporated in Taiwan, is engaged in employment services.

The purchase price represents a steep markdown from LBC’s earlier acquisition cost. In 2023, the company acquired the same unit for 5 million Taiwanese dollars, or about P8.7 million at the time, as part of efforts to expand its global revenue streams.

‘The acquisition is expected to benefit the company by contributing to the global revenue stream,’ LBC said then.

The sale remains subject to approval by Taiwan regulators.

Business mix

LBC generates the bulk of its revenues from logistics services, including domestic and international courier, freight forwarding and cargo transport across air, sea and land.

It also operates a money transfer business covering remittances, bills payment and corporate payout services.

The company returned to profitability in 2025, posting attributable net income of P246.06 million.

Domestic operations continued to account for the larger share of revenues, generating P8.61 billion, while overseas operations contributed P5.41 billion.

By segment, logistics services brought in P13.56 billion, compared with P465.53 million from money transfer services.

‘Ibigay ang hilig ng walang ligalig.’ (Give the desire without trouble.)

This was the response of Palace Press Officer Claire Castro to questions on why the Office of the President (OP) approved Vice President Sara Duterte’s request for a 22-day overseas travel.

At a briefing on Thursday, Castro also refuted claims that the OP intentionally granted Duterte’s request a day before her departure, which Duterte said was a last-minute decision.

The request was made on April 14, and according to Castro, it usually takes five business days to process. This is the same process followed for other officials who request travel authority.

Duterte on Thursday said she will soon file a new travel request and asked for its prompt issuance to allow sufficient time for travel preparations.

‘The vice president, based on records, receives her travel authority documents a day before her intended trip. So, she was not denied. There is also no record showing that when she requested a vacation or a personal trip for an extended period, she was ever refused. Therefore, to say that this was a last-minute resolution or decision is not accurate. This is because this is what usually happens-the travel authority is normally given to her a day before,’ Castro explained in Filipino.

‘Why did the vice president change her mind? What made her change her mind is the 6.7 billion question,’ she added.

Castro was referring to the alleged amount of suspicious transactions that flowed through the bank accounts of Duterte and her husband, Mans Carpio, from 2006 to 2025, as flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

During the briefing, Castro also dismissed Duterte’s request for confidentiality regarding her approved travel authority, citing security concerns.

‘She is a public servant; she is not a private individual. She cannot hide things she wants to conceal. There are matters that the public needs to know because she is a public servant,’ Castro said in Filipino.

‘For example, amid the crisis in the Middle East and the billions-worth of issues currently involving the vice president and her husband, if you were asked, if you were the vice president, would it be appropriate to go on vacation? If what she wants is to take a vacation and go on a world tour to pursue her personal interests, considering that she does not have an ILBO (Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order) and there is also no precautionary hold departure order in place,’ she added.

When asked for a message to Duterte regarding her continued absence from congressional hearings on the impeachment complaints against her, Castro said there was no need for one.

‘She is already an adult. Second, she is the vice president and a public servant. She says she promotes accountability and transparency, so she should know what she needs to do and how to explain it to the public. Therefore, she does not need any message from the Palace,’ she said in Filipino.

Impeachment proceedings against Duterte continued on Wednesday. The House justice committee reviewed financial documents, including her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth, tax filings, and business records, to examine allegations that she amassed wealth beyond her declared income.

She is also accused of misusing hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when she was its secretary.

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.

Customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) can expect a bigger rebate as regulators ordered the swift implementation of P14.17-billion remaining refunds beginning May, as Filipinos reel from rising prices due to the Middle East war.

Based on a document posted on its website, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) directed the Manuel V. Pangilinan-led firm to hasten the rollout of the remaining refunds out of the original amount of P19.96 billion.

This is part of an earlier order that declared July 2022 to December 2024 as a lapsed period.

The true-up calculation shows the gap between Meralco’s actual weighted average tariff and the regulator-approved rate for the period under review.

The refund program started a year ago, initially covering P5.8 billion at a rate of P0.1189 per kilowatt hour (kWh).

Now, the ERC has mandated a higher average refund rate of P0.2511 per kWh.

Residential customers, in particular, will see a reduction of P0.4278 per kWh.

Immediate relief

‘By expediting the refund, we are providing more immediate relief to Meralco consumers, particularly in the face of rising electricity costs driven by global and domestic factors,’ ERC chair and CEO Francis Saturnino Juan said in a statement on Wednesday.

‘The true-up mechanism is a safeguard embedded in our regulatory framework, ensuring that tariffs remain cost-reflective and reasonable at all times,’ he added.

The ERC said the remaining amount would be refunded over a shorter period of 12 months instead of the original 36 months.

According to the ERC, the refund will be under a separate line item in their power bills, allowing consumers to check the amount being returned to them.

In February, Meralco sought regulatory approval for a capital spending of P272 billion for a five-year period, or until 2030.

Rate reset

Under a rate reset process, a regulated entity such as Meralco must submit to the ERC its spending and proposed projects over a certain period, usually five years, unless extended by the regulator. This will then be the basis of the rate that will be passed on to consumers.

Meralco is the country’s biggest power distributor, delivering electricity to over 8.2 million consumers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, including the municipalities of Sto. Tomas, Batangas City and San Pascual.