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Avaricio keeps pressure on leader as Lee charges in weather-hit Singha Open

Chanelle Avaricio stayed firmly in the title hunt despite cooling off from her opening-round fireworks. She carded a one-under 71, while Tiffany Lee positioned herself for a strong finish before play was suspended due to a lightning storm in the second round of the Singha-NDSF Ladies Open 2026 at Windson Park Golf Club in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday.

Avaricio, who opened with a sizzling 67, settled for a more measured round but still posted a 36-hole total of six-under 138 to remain well within striking distance, even as Thailand’s Jaravee Boonchant threatened to pull away before weather halted play.

Boonchant, after a frontside 33, stood at a provisional 11-under overall, five strokes ahead of Avaricio, while compatriot Parinda Phokan reached eight-under through 12 holes. Nattarika Sensai completed her round with a 69 for a clubhouse-leading 137, though Boonchant and Phokan are expected to continue their charge when play resumes late in the afternoon.

Focus will also be on Lee, who ignited her round with a four-under 32 highlighted by a three-birdie burst from Nos. 2 to 4. The young Korean, one of the standout performers on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, was tied with Avaricio at a provisional six-under and will have an opportunity to sustain her momentum over the back nine when play resumes.

Avaricio appeared headed for another low round after birdies on Nos. 3 and 4, but found it difficult to maintain the pace. She bogeyed the par-3 fifth, recovered with a birdie on No. 8, then struggled to convert several birdie chances coming home. A closing bogey resulted in a 34-37 card, yet her six-under aggregate kept her firmly in contention entering the final round.

While Avaricio held her ground near the top, Yvon Bisera produced the day’s most impressive comeback.

After opening with a disappointing 75 that left her flirting with the cut line, the multi-titled LPGT campaigner and last year’s Thai Ladies Masters champion fired a brilliant 66 to surge into a share of 14th at 141.

The power-hitting Davaoeña sparked her rally with birdies on Nos. 3 and 4 before a bogey on the par-5 sixth briefly stalled her charge. She caught fire on the back nine, stringing together four straight birdies from No. 11 to thrust herself back into a possible Top 10 finish.

Bisera added another birdie on the par-5 16th before closing with pars on the last two holes for a 35-31 effort.

While Avaricio continues to keep the leaders within reach and Lee remains poised to make an even stronger push once play resumes, Bisera heads into the final round carrying the hottest momentum among the Philippine contingent, albeit with significant ground still to make up.

Harmie Constantino also made her move after a backside 36, then birdied Nos. 2 and 4 to climb to four-under overall before consecutive bogeys from No. 5 stalled her charge prior to the suspension of play.

Meanwhile, Daniella Uy battled to a 71 for a 145 total and secured a spot in the weekend at joint 45th, while Princess Superal turned in a backside 38 before play was halted.

Mafy Singson stood at one-under for the round and two-over overall with six holes left to complete.

Marvi Monsalve, however, appeared headed for an early exit after reaching 10-over overall following a two-over round with three holes still to play.

In Taiwan, Sean Ramos failed to gain ground on Moving Day, settling for a one-under 71 and a 214 total to share 36th place through 54 holes at the HCT ADT Open at Hsin Feng Golf Country Club.

Meanwhile, local ace Lu Wei-chih surged ahead with a blistering 63 to reach 15-under 201, opening up a commanding four-stroke lead. Overnight leader and fellow Taiwanese Mako Shapiyate cooled off with a 69 for a 205 total, while Chang Wei-lun also carded a 69 to sit at 206 – setting up an all-local showdown for the final round.

Gatchalian eyes renting PICC rooms for 2027 budget hearings

With the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte still ongoing, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said on Thursday that the chamber might rent conference rooms at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to hold the upcoming hearings on the 2027 budget.

According to Gatchalian, several rooms have been occupied to accommodate participants in the impeachment trial, leaving only three available for legislative hearings.

‘Because the budget is coming in, because we have a lot of committee hearings to do, I can see that we will need to rent space at the PICC. Obviously, our… committee offices were used for the impeachment,’ he said in Filipino.

Starting July 27, the impeachment trial won’t be the only proceedings the senators will spend their time on, as the second regular session of Congress will also commence.

Typically, committee hearings are held on weekday mornings, while plenary sessions are held in the afternoon starting at 3 p.m.

Committee and budget hearings will likely be held only on Thursdays and Fridays starting July 29, as the new schedule for the impeachment trial will be conducted every Monday to Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with plenary sessions starting at 4 p.m., Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian admitted the difficulty that comes with a packed schedule.

‘It’s going to be a challenge, honestly. Now there have been two hearings – on average, each hearing is four to five hours. The budget hearing sometimes takes longer, so it’s really gonna be a challenge,’ he added.

While there is no schedule yet for when the budget hearings will begin, Gatchalian vowed that, under his leadership, the hearings will start ‘ASAP’ (as soon as possible)

’Ex-NPA’ logistics officer nabbed in Bukidnon military intel compound

An alleged former logistics officer of the Maoist New People’s Army (NPA) wanted for murder was arrested inside a military intelligence compound in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on Wednesday afternoon, July 22.

In a press statement, the Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10) identified the suspect as Gemma Pensahan Tilucan, 32, who is wanted for murder and frustrated murder.

Tilucan, who is known by aliases Gina, Tata, Alex, Reps, and Jea, was apprehended inside the 43rd Military Intelligence Company compound in Barangay 10, Malaybalay City at 2:40 p.m., it said.

Lt. Col. Joe Patrick Martinez, 4th Infantry Division spokesman, told the Inquirer on Thursday that Tilucan was ‘a former NPA combatant’ assigned to the logistics division of the Headquarters LOADER under the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).

‘We salute and congratulate all the brave units involved in this successful operation, especially our PNP (Philippine National Police) counterparts whose steadfast resolve ensures that justice will be served to the victims of these grave crimes,’ Martinez said in a phone interview.

He added that through the seamless synergy between the 4th Infantry Division’s intelligence personnel and Bukidnon police units, the joint forces have delivered ‘overdue closure to the victims’ families.’

Martinez, however, did not elaborate why Tilucan was arrested inside a military compound.

‘The Philippine Army remains proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the PNP in maintaining peace, safety, and justice across the region,’ Martinez said.

Tilucan was arrested by virtue of warrants dated August 29, 2023. She faces frustrated murder (Criminal Case No. 41181-23) with a recommended bail of P200,000, and a separate non-bailable murder case (Criminal Case No. 41182-23).

She remains under the custody of the 43rd Military Intelligence Company in Malaybalay City. A motion for custody has been filed at the local prosecutor’s office for documentation and proper disposition.

Col. Oliver Navales, Bukidnon Police Provincial Director Police, reported the arrest to PRO-10 director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano, who commended the responding personnel for a job well done.

The arresting team includes the 1st Bukidnon Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), the Army’s 43rd Military Intelligence Company, the Malaybalay City Police Station, and PRO-10 intelligence units

SBMA revenue shares disbursed to 8 LGUs increase to P218M

Eight local governments near this freeport received a total of P218.1 million in revenue shares from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for the first half of this year.

In a statement on Thursday, SBMA Chair and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño said the amount, released on Tuesday, was 10.24 percent higher than the revenue shares distributed during the same period last year.

Olongapo City received the largest allocation at P50.42 million, followed by Subic, Zambales, with P32.87 million.

The other allocations benefited Dinalupihan town in Bataan, P27.44 million; San Marcelino town in Zambales, P26.27 million; Hermosa town in Bataan, P23.42 million; the municipality of Castillejos in Zambales, P19.82 million; Morong town in Bataan, P19.34 million; and San Antonio town, also in Zambales, P18.53 million.

The revenue shares come from the five-percent tax on the gross income paid by businesses operating inside the freeport.

The funds are distributed among the contiguous LGUs based on population (50 percent), land area (25 percent), and equal sharing (25 percent).

Editha Marzal, OIC deputy administrator for finance, said the amount released also included the 10-percent retention from the first-semester 2024 distribution.

Under Republic Act No. 9400, which amended the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, the SBMA is required to allocate two percentage points from the five-percent gross income tax collected from freeport locators to the contiguous LGUs

Speaker seeks protection for food-producing provinces

Speaker Faustino Dy III has urged the government to protect provinces considered as major food producers to ensure food security.

At a briefing on El Niño preparedness conducted by the House committee on agriculture and food, Dy said food-producing provinces like Isabela are essential in safeguarding the nation’s food security.

He said that his home province of Isabela, one of the country’s top rice-producing provinces, supplies around 45 percent of the National Capital Region’s rice requirement.

Dy said protecting food-producing provinces requires not just emergency assistance, but also long-term investments that will enable farmers and irrigation systems to withstand climate-related disruptions.

He cited Isabela’s experience wherein provincial and national government agencies strengthened coordination, monitored water levels in Magat Dam and planned water releases in anticipation of prolonged dry conditions.

These steps were undertaken while the provincial government assisted farmers and fisherfolk, and pursued long-term water infrastructure projects, Dy said.

He said the country needs to invest in stronger and reliable irrigation systems, water-efficient technologies, community-based water management and climate-resilient agriculture.

These measures, Dy said, are important for agricultural provinces that serve as the country’s food baskets.

He urged government agencies to shift from reactive disaster response to proactive planning before the dry spell worsens.

Motorcycle back-rider dies, 2 hurt in Quezon road crash

A motorcycle back-rider died while two others were injured when their vehicles collided on Wednesday, July 22, in Sariaya town, Quezon province.

The Quezon Police Provincial Office, in a belated report on Thursday, said the mishap happened along a national road in Barangay Lutucan 1 at around 5:30 p.m.

Motorcycle driver ‘Jerome,’ a minor and Grade 11 student, and his pillion rider, ‘Michael,’ 26, were about to turn left when their vehicle was accidentally sideswiped by another motorcycle ridden by ‘Jeffrey.’

The three riders were thrown off the vehicles, landed on the pavement, and sustained injuries. Rescuers rushed them to two different hospitals in Sariaya and Lucena City for immediate treatment.

However, Michael was declared dead on arrival at ACE Medical Center in Sariaya.

The report did not state whether the three riders were wearing crash helmets, as required by the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009.

Police said Jerome had no driver’s license because he was a minor.

Both parties were working on an amicable settlement, police said.

40-year-old female drug smuggler bags 1-year prison sentence

A Federal High Court in Ibadan on Thursday sentenced a 40-year-old woman, Omodunmami Ayantola to one year in the correctional centre for trafficking 45.6kg of Cannabis.

Delivering judgment, Justice Uche Agomoh convicted and sentenced Ayantola based on her guilty plea and the evidence tendered against her by the prosecution.

Agomoh added that she reduced the convict’s jail term because she did not waste the time and resources of the court before pleading guilty. She said that the convict was also a first time offender.

‘The convict has shown signs of remorse and has promised to turn a new leaf after completing her jail term. To serve as a deterrent to others, Ayantola is sentenced to one year imprisonment from the date of arrest. The dried weed substance found in her possession shall be destroyed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),’ Agomoh said.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr D.O. Otunla, had told the court that the convict committed the crime on April 1, at Eleta area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Otunla said that the NDLEA operatives received intelligence reports from informants that Ayantola was into illicit drug dealing.

According to him, the operatives arrested the convict in possession of a substantial quantity of Cannabis Sativa weighing 45.6kg.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provision of Section 11(C ) of the NDLEA Act Cap n30 Law of the Federation, 2004.

Man nabbed in Quezon City over alleged P3.4-M fraud

A man was arrested on Thursday morning for allegedly defrauding an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) recruitment agency of P3.435 million, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said.

The 31-year-old suspect was tracked down to Barangay Payatas, Quezon City, the NCRPO said.

‘Investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly posed as a representative of an organization purportedly responsible for accrediting agencies deploying overseas Filipino workers to Taiwan,’ the police explained.

‘By falsely claiming that the victim’s recruitment agency needed to open a US (United States) dollar account as part of the accreditation process, he allegedly convinced the victim to prepare a substantial amount of money,’ it added.

According to the police, the victim, identified only as a 48-year-old woman, withdrew the money from her bank account and met with the suspect.

‘After receiving the money, the suspect allegedly borrowed the victim’s luxury handbag to hold the cash, claiming he would retrieve the corresponding U.S. dollars from his nearby vehicle. Instead, he left the area and failed to return,’ the NCRPO explained.

‘Unbeknownst to the suspect, the stolen handbag contained a tracking device, which allowed investigators to pinpoint his location in Barangay Payatas,’ it added.

When police caught the suspect, operatives recovered P2.8 million in cash and the victim’s luxury handbag. The NCRPO did not say where the remaining P600,000 went.

‘Efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining unrecovered property,’ the NCRPO said.

‘The suspect remains under police custody pending the filing of appropriate criminal charges before the proper prosecutorial office,’ it added.

Owolabi Salis meets Atiku, seeks talks with Tinubu, Obasanjo on Democratic Reforms

Nigeria’s first astronaut, Chief Owolabi Salis, has met former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as part of what he described as a strategic consultation with prominent national leaders aimed at charting a new course for Nigeria’s democratic and socio-economic development.

Salis, a New York-based lawyer and chartered accountant, disclosed that the meeting with Atiku marked the beginning of a series of planned engagements with key statesmen, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Heads of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

According to him, the consultations are driven by growing concerns over Nigeria’s democratic trajectory despite more than two decades of uninterrupted democratic governance.

He lamented that the country had yet to fully harness its enormous potential, attributing the situation to electoral malpractice, weak democratic institutions and self-serving political leadership.

‘It is unfortunate that Nigeria is still drifting after over two decades of democracy despite its enormous potential,’ Salis said.

He argued that the consequences of poor governance are most evident in the widening gap between the rich and the poor, with many Nigerians unable to afford basic healthcare and other essential services.

According to him, thousands of vulnerable citizens continue to die from preventable illnesses because they cannot afford basic medications, while the wealthy often seek medical treatment abroad.

Salis said he personally spends between $4,000 and $5,000 monthly to support indigent Nigerians with food and medical expenses, stressing that the scale of hardship reflects deeper systemic failures.

He also pointed to inadequate infrastructure in many communities, particularly those inhabited by low-income earners, as evidence that governance has failed to meet citizens’ expectations.

The former Lagos State governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) called for comprehensive electoral reforms, insisting that credible elections remain the foundation of national development.

‘There is currently a dangerous trend that allows for rigging and writing of election results, which is dangerous for national development,’ he said.

Recalling his experience during the Lagos governorship election, Salis claimed he witnessed electoral irregularities firsthand while inspecting election materials at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He further expressed concern over declining public confidence in key democratic institutions, including the judiciary and the National Assembly.

While declining to disclose the details of his proposals, Salis said he has developed practical solutions to Nigeria’s democratic challenges, which he intends to present privately to President Tinubu and other national leaders during the planned consultations.

‘I believe I have solutions, but I would rather discuss them directly with the country’s leaders than in the media,’ he said.

SONA 2025 throwback: Marcos warns heads will roll over water

Water supply was one of the key issues raised by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2025. He warned officials and concessionaires over recurring shortages that have disrupted the lives of millions of Filipinos.

Declaring that ‘heads will roll’ if the problems persisted, Marcos vowed to hold those responsible accountable while directing government agencies to ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply for the public.