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Comelec orders ex-chair Sheriff Abas to explain alleged vote buying

The Commission on Elections has ordered its former chairman Sheriff Abas to explain alleged vote buying after photos circulated showing his sample ballots clipped with cash, a day before the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.

Abas, who is running under the United Bangsamoro Justice Party for the First Parliamentary District of Cotabato City, was given 24 hours to submit a written explanation.

The circulating posts showed what appeared to be P3,000 in cash attached to sample ballots bearing Abas’ name.

In its show-cause order, the Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay said the posts could constitute presumed vote buying under Section 261(a) of the Omnibus Election Code, as implemented by Comelec Resolution No. 11104.

‘It is the position of this Committee that the foregoing constitutes possible violation of presumed vote buying in violation of Section 261 (a) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 or the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), as implemented by Section 26 of COMELEC Resolution 11104,’ the order read.

Under Section 26, possession or delivery of money or other items of value together with sample ballots or other campaign materials may be presumed to constitute vote buying or vote selling.

The show-cause order does not by itself constitute a finding that Abas committed an election offense.

Abas denied the allegation in a Facebook post and called the circulating claims fake news and a smear campaign.

‘Walang lugar ang fake news at paninira sa halalan. Kung may alegasyon, idaan sa tamang proseso at sa COMELEC, hindi sa social media,’ Abas said.

(‘Fake news and smear campaigns have no place in elections. If there are allegations, they should go through the proper process and be brought to Comelec, not social media.’)

‘Suriin ang source. I-verify ang impormasyon. Huwag magpakalat ng hindi kumpirmadong balita. Sa halalan, katotohanan at respeto ang pairalin,’ he added.

(‘Check the source. Verify the information. Do not spread unconfirmed information. In elections, truth and respect should prevail.’)

The show-cause order comes on the eve of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s first parliamentary elections on Monday, September 14.

More than 2.3 million registered voters are expected to elect members of the first regular Bangsamoro Parliament, replacing the interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

Edcom: Negros lost most school days to natural hazards from 2024 to 2026

The Negros Island Region lost an average of 26 school days per division to natural hazards and calamities from 2024 to 2026, the highest recorded in the country during the period, according to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom II).

The figure means students in the region missed more than a month of classroom instruction because of weather-related hazards and other disasters, based on data submitted by the Department of Education Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DepEd DRRMS) as of May 5.

Nationwide, school divisions lost an average of 15 instructional days during the same period, equivalent to nearly a full month of classes.

Central Visayas ranked second with an average of 22.2 lost school days, followed by the Ilocos Region with 22.1 and the Bicol Region with 21.8.

Calabarzon followed with 20.1, while Western Visayas and the Cordillera Administrative Region recorded 19.5 and 19.4, respectively.

At the other end, Region IX had the lowest average at 2.4 lost school days, followed by Caraga with 4.8, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with 5.2, Region XI with 5.9 and Region X with 6.5.

The National Capital Region averaged 14.9 lost school days during the period.

Edcom II said the figures covered class disruptions specifically caused by natural hazards and disasters. They did not include lost school days due to local holidays, celebrations, off-class activities and nonteaching tasks.

The data underscore the continuing impact of disasters on learning, particularly in regions that regularly experience typhoons, flooding, drought and other climate-related hazards.

From Toronto, Pan-Afrikan Drum Festival looks home

ALTHOUGH the drumming in Toronto has ended, the discussions it inspired are now reaching across the Atlantic.

At the close of the 2026 Pan-Afrikan Drum Festival, traditional rulers, lawmakers, and cultural leaders called for the event to set up offices in Lagos and Osun states. They encouraged the organisers to create a lasting presence in Nigeria.

Over two days, the festival united Africans and people from the wider diaspora for drumming, dance, fashion, debates, skills workshops, and awards. Yet, a bigger question emerged: what if cultural celebrations are meant to do more than just entertain?

The fourth edition, organised by The Drum Online Organisation (Pan-Afrikan) and the Global Forum for Human Rights and Sustainable Development, focused on the idea that heritage can serve as a foundation for education, business, leadership, and building communities.

The first day at Brampton City Hall focused on youth. With the theme ‘From Celebration to Institution Building’, participants talked about leadership, entrepreneurship, civic duty, and cultural identity. They also joined hands-on workshops in textile printing, cosmetics, hair oil making, and decorative crafts.

Adire fabrics were handed out, connecting the event’s focus on business with one of Nigeria’s best-known textile traditions.

Prince Segun Akanni, who leads the festival, has made youth development a central goal. He said organisers want to do more than just preserve African heritage as a display. They hope to pass it on as a living resource that fits with modern life.

On the second day, the focus shifted from discussion to ceremony. At Wesley Banquet Hall in Toronto, traditional rulers, performers, and guests converged for royal processions, drumming, music, dance, and fashion. The Pan-Afrikan Drum Festival drummers played alongside the NEEMA Cultural Choir and East African drummers, while other artists showcased a range of African traditions.

Chief Jean-Jérôme Baudry, co-founder of Consejo Cultural Yorùbá de Canada, gave a Land Acknowledgement. This recognised Canada’s Indigenous peoples and placed the event within the country’s rich cultural history.

The drum stayed at the heart of the festival as its main symbol.

During a lecture, Prof Francis Olugbenga Fasanu from Sheridan College talked about the drum as a tool for communication, storytelling, and shared memory. He used the Yoruba talking drum to show that traditional instruments hold knowledge beyond music. He warned that when these instruments, their languages, and customs fade away, important parts of a people’s history can be lost too.

Political leaders in Canada, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and the mayors of Toronto and Brampton, sent messages of support. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, also shared a goodwill message.

However, the festival’s most important moment may have happened offstage. Traditional rulers and Nigerian lawmakers at the event asked Akanni to open offices in Lagos and Osun. Supporters say this would give the festival a base in Nigeria and help artists, young people, and cultural groups in Africa connect more closely with a project that has mostly been based in the diaspora.

This goal shows a new level of ambition. The festival is now seen as more than just a gathering of drums and dancers or a yearly celebration of African identity abroad. Organisers are now talking about cultural diplomacy, youth development, and international exchange.

It is still uncertain if these ambitions will become lasting institutions. Cultural festivals often have strong symbolism but struggle with continuity. The real challenge starts after the stage is taken down and the guests leave.

Aryna Sabalenka beats herself up after failed US Open three-peat

Aryna Sabalenka crushed a ball into the stands and received a warning. She yelled at herself, smacked her first racket against the ground and then completely destroyed another after the match was over.

The two-time defending US Open champion has been dethroned, losing to Elena Rybakina 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the final on Saturday. Denied the chance to become the third women’s player to win the American Grand slam tournament three times in a row, Sabalenka beat herself up throughout the 2-hour, 21-minute ordeal that was filled with self-inflicted mistakes.

‘I just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go outside (on the court),’ Sabalenka said. ‘It’s really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of the Grand Slam and when you were trying to go for (a) three-peat, so I just wanted to let it go.’

Sabalenka said she would not have been nice had she not expressed her frustrations. Mere minutes after the trophy ceremony, the 28-year-old from Belarus was complimentary of Rybakina but also still kicking herself for not living up to her own lofty expectations.

‘I wish I could perform a little bit better, but I guess next year,’ Sabalenka said. ‘Obviously, not really happy with the level I played (at).’

Making her fourth consecutive appearance in the US Open final, Sabalenka committed 35 unforced errors. They clearly took a toll on a player who had been atop the WTA rankings for 99 consecutive weeks.

‘I was just out there competing, trying to do my best with what I had,’ Sabalenka said. ‘Not good enough.’

Three years since losing to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final, when she was clearly not the fan favorite against an opponent from the US, this time she felt the love from the crowd, which often tried to will her back into the match.

‘At some point I felt like, ‘Oh my God, I feel American,” Sabalenka said. ‘I just wish I could win it and feel the support even more. Not this year.’

Sabalenka failed to win any of the Grand Slams this year, the first time she has come up empty since 2022. But after making such a deep run following some summer struggles, she hopes to take positives out of the US Open moving forward.

‘I’ll just keep working hard and keep improving my tennis,’ Sabalenka said. ‘There’s lots of things to take from this tournament. As experience shows, I only come back stronger, and all of these lessons this season definitely already made me stronger. Definitely going to motivate me for the next year to do a better job.’

P2.19-M marijuana plants uprooted along Ilocos Sur-Benguet border

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) uprooted and destroyed marijuana plants worth an estimated P2.19 million during a two-day operation along the disputed border of Ilocos Sur and Benguet, authorities said.

The joint operation was conducted from Sept. 10 to 11 in an area between Barangay Licungan in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur, and Barangay Tacadang in Kibungan, Benguet.

It involved PDEA Ilocos Sur Provincial Office, Sugpon Municipal Police Station, 103rd Mobile Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 1, Ilocos Sur Provincial Intelligence and Detective Management Unit, Ilocos Sur Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, and Provincial Intelligence Team Ilocos Sur.

Authorities identified the target area as a roughly 1,760-square-meter marijuana plantation.

A total of 10,960 fully grown marijuana plants were uprooted and destroyed, with a standard value of P2,192,000, based on the Dangerous Drugs Board’s valuation.

No cultivators were arrested during the operation. Authorities said they were verifying ownership of the land and conducting follow-up investigations to identify those responsible for cultivating the marijuana plants.

PDEA Region 1 Director Julius Paderes said the agency would continue its marijuana eradication campaign to curb the supply of the illegal drug at its source.

‘We will continue and sustain our marijuana eradication efforts to curb the source of marijuana in our region. We call on local government officials to help stop this nefarious activity that destroys the future of our youth and tarnishes the image of their local government units,’ Paderes said.

Authorities said charges for violating Section 16 (Cultivation of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, would be filed against the unidentified cultivators.

UAAP: Acido rues ‘rushed plays, forced shots’ in UST loss to UP

University of Santo Tomas swingman Amiel Acido felt the Growling Tigers lacked composure and patience in their UAAP Season 89 opening loss to University of the Philippines on Sunday.

UST was in the thick of things and even led by nine in the third quarter before UP buckled down and pulled away in the final frame.

‘We had a lot of rushed plays and forced shots,’ Acido told the Inquirer in Filipino after the 92-85 setback.

‘They expected us to commit those and I guess we got frustrated. Of course, it was our first game, we all had high adrenaline. We should learn to control that. We have to be more composed and patient in the next games.’

The Tigers held a nine-point lead after a basket by Collins Akowe at the 6:42 mark of the third quarter, but they couldn’t maintain it after a string of possessions that either ended with a bad shot or a turnover.

Acido scored 18 points but shot just 4-of-12 from the field. Mark Llemit scored a game-high 19 points, while Collins Akowe posted 13 points and 18 rebounds for UST.

Acido is confident UST will only get better as the season progresses.

‘The important thing for us is to stick together in wins and losses,’ he said.

‘We have a strong bond here now, we lift each other up and help each other off the court. That is huge for us. Hopefully, we fix our mistakes in the next games and be more aggressive.’

After playing last year’s runner-up, UST takes on defending champion La Salle next on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena. The Green Archers opened their title defense with an 89-87 squeaker over the National University Bulldogs earlier.

CSO lauds COAS Shaibu over gains against terrorism, others

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, has been commended for what the Centre for Public Integrity (CPI) described as significant gains in military operations against terrorism and banditry, as well as improved civil-military relations.

CPI, a pro-democracy civil rights movement, gave the commendation in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its convener, Dr John Samuel Nang.

The group said the Nigerian Army under COAS Shaibu’s leadership had demonstrated improved professionalism and strategic coordination in tackling terrorism, particularly in the North-East and North-West.

It said troops had intensified operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP and armed bandits, resulting in the dismantling of some criminal enclaves and the neutralisation of key commanders.

According to CPI, the military’s operations had also helped restore confidence among some displaced communities, with residents beginning to return to their homes and farms.

The group said Shaibu’s leadership had also brought a new approach to civil-military relations, with greater emphasis on community engagement and adherence to human rights and rules of engagement.

Nang said the Army’s Civil-Military Affairs department had strengthened its engagement with communities through dialogues, medical outreaches and other initiatives.

‘Today, citizens no longer view the soldier as an object of fear, but as a protector and partner in peacebuilding,’ he said.

CPI further praised Shaibu for strengthening collaboration between the Army and other security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and local vigilante groups.

The group said improved inter-agency cooperation had enhanced intelligence gathering and the response to security threats.

‘The era of inter-agency rivalry is rapidly giving way to strategic synergy. This unified front among our security agencies has proven to be the nightmare of criminal elements,’ Nang stated.

CPI urged Nigerians to support the security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence to help protect communities and strengthen national security.

‘Security is a collective responsibility. As the military under Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu continues to deliver on its mandate, we call on all patriotic citizens to support our troops, respect the law, and stand united against those who threaten the peace and sovereignty of our nation,’ Nang said.

2027 is done deal – Ebonyi APC

The Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday resolved to sweep all elective positions in the 2027 general elections, as party leaders met to harmonise strategies ahead of the polls.

The meeting, held at the party secretariat in Abakaliki under the leadership of the State Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, was attended by National Assembly members, House of Assembly members, local government chairmen, APC LGA chairmen and all party candidates for 2027.

Emegha charged stakeholders to close ranks across the senatorial districts, federal and state constituencies, warning that the party must not cede any seat to the opposition.

‘The party must not lose any of the elective positions to the opposition parties,’ the chairman said.

‘We must work in synergy within our various zones. Victory in 2027 will be total or nothing.’

Responding, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and Senator representing Ebonyi North, Sen. Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, and the member representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Chinedu Ogah, assured the leadership of the candidates’ readiness to work together.

They pledged to mobilise their constituents and ensure a ‘landslide victory’ for the APC across the state.

The Chairman of ALGON and Executive Chairman of Izzi LGA, Hon. (Mrs) Helen Aduga, also pledged the support of all 13 council chairmen for the party’s victory.

She thanked the governor and the party for giving them the ticket in the last local government election and promised that they would justify the confidence reposed in them.

‘On behalf of my colleagues, we will work tirelessly for the victory of the party across the state,’ Aduga said.

John Bonifacio bags Philippines’ 1st Mister Cosmopolitan title

John Eriq Bonifacio won the Philippines’ first Mister Cosmopolitan title on Saturday, September 12, in Vietnam.

Bonifacio beat 19 other contestants at the grand finals held in Nha Trang in Vietnam. He was also named Best in Physique and Best Catwalk.

‘We did it, guys. Mabuhay, Philippines. Para sa inyo ito (This is all for you),’ Bonifacio said in a video.

The Kapampangan heartthrob was asked during the question and answer: ‘As a gentleman, what does having a noble heart mean to you, and how do you believe a man can demonstrate it through his action toward others?’

The Filipino answered: ‘For me, [a] gentleman with a noble heart is not defined by how he [dresses] or looks, but rather how he [treats] people with respect. This is something that I learned from my father who just passed away. It taught me that regardless of who they are, rich, poor, or what gender they choose, respect must always come first.’

Bonifacio succeeds Taiwanese Shawn Lin, who won the title in last year’s competition in Thailand.

Ombudsman Remulla: France trip to get info on Co, Legarda

There is no assurance that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla would be able to successfully facilitate the return of former House lawmaker Zaldy Co and Sen. Loren Legarda, both of whom are reportedly in France.

Remulla said his trip to France with other officials would only ‘lay the groundwork’ for flying them back to the Philippines to face their respective criminal liabilities in compliance with European Union rules.

‘There will be an exchange of information first,’ he said in his weekly radio show ‘Executive Session’ on dzRH.

Asked on whether the trip would result in capturing Co or Legarda, Remulla said: ‘No, what is needed there is to prepare… prepare for the different questions you want to ask (authorities).’

Co, who previously chaired the House committee on appropriations, is charged with graft and malversation for his alleged role in an irregular flood control project worth P299.4 million in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

‘Asylum’In April, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida initiated efforts to expedite the return of Co after President Marcos Jr. announced that the former Ako Bicol party list lawmaker was accosted at the border of Germany and Czech Republic.

Co was later released by Czech authorities as there was no standing international arrest warrant or red notice from the International Criminal Police Organization against him. He, however, is now believed to have been staying in France, where he supposedly applied for asylum.

On the other hand, Legarda and son Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste left the country on Aug. 2 for Hong Kong, with France as their final destination. They departed days after the Office of the Ombudsman announced that the two lawmakers were being investigated for plunder and graft in connection with ‘ghost electricity’ projects.

The projects allegedly cost the government more than P10.4 billion in unpaid financial obligations.

FATF meeting eyed

Remulla said he intends to meet with the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force to raise possible money laundering issues, as well as with EU officials since Co and Legarda may easily move between the border-free Schengen area.

Remulla said he wants to relay to the EU representatives that the bloc should not be a haven for money laundering, citing rumors about the acquisition of properties by public officials.

He added that the absence of an extradition treaty between the Philippines and France should not stop the government from exhausting legal means to bring Co or Legarda home.

‘No gov’t money was stolen’

Also on Saturday, Legarda’s spokesperson, lawyer Tony La Viña, criticized as a ‘waste of prosecution resources’ the investigation into the plunder and graft complaint filed against her and her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, particularly over the latter’s solar companies.

The Ombudsman is conducting a preliminary investigation into the complaint filed in connection with alleged irregularities involving Leviste’s Solar Para sa Bayan (SPBC) and Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc.

This also stems from the more than 30 service contracts granted to Leviste which the Ombudsman said created a ‘monopoly’ of solar projects.

In an interview with DWIZ, La Viña maintained that ‘no government money [was] used, no government money was stolen,’ as he previously explained that service contracts and franchises acquired by Leviste are not allotted government funds and used only private funds.

He said further the fines on these contracts were even paid by Leviste.

‘There is no so-called [P]24 billion or [P]10 billion. Not a single document asking him to pay for that,’ La Viña said.

No influence

He said Legarda did not help her son secure a solar franchise when she headed the Senate committee on finance as the votes were unanimous.

‘It seems absurd, doesn’t it? That just because you’re a senator and have a son, it’s automatically assumed you used your power to secure franchises or contracts for him?’ the lawyer said.

He acknowledged, however, that 90 percent of Leviste’s renewable energy initiatives failed, while only 10 percent delivered.

Yet he also noted that the ‘most successful renewable energy project’ of the administration was among Leviste’s projects.

‘That’s the nature of the business, is what I’m saying. Leandro is only one of several players in the business. But again, what Senator Legarda has nothing to do with that,’ La Viña said.