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Operations at the Talisay City Hall were suspended on Tuesday morning following a reported bomb threat, Mayor Gerald Anthony ‘Samsam’ Gullas Jr. announced in an official statement.

Gullas said the temporary suspension of work and transactions was based on the recommendation of the Talisay City Police Station as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of employees and the public.

‘For those planning to come to City Hall to transact, please refrain from doing so until we officially announce that it is safe to return,’ Gullas said in a Facebook post.

Despite the disruption, the mayor assured that certain scheduled activities, including a wedding ceremony he was set to officiate, would still proceed at an alternate location.

Authorities are now tracing the source of the threat.

Gullas issued a stern warning to those responsible, emphasizing that the city government will not take the incident lightly.

‘Authorities are now tracing the source of the bomb threat, and if this turns out to be a prank or a malicious act, we will file the appropriate legal charges against those responsible,’ he said.

The mayor urged residents to stay calm and wait for further updates through the city’s official communication channels

It’s been a decade since Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather met in boxing’s most lucrative fight.

A lot has happened since. Mayweather retired in 2017, Pacquiao followed suit in 2021, but came back in July 2025.

Throughout the years, however, one thing was constant. Every now and then, speculations of a rematch pop up.

The latest? The two rivals are rumored to run it back next year, which could be streamed on Netflix, according to The Ring’s Mike Coppinger.

‘A Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao rematch-more than 10 years after the first meeting-is being explored to take place next year as another Netflix boxing event, sources tell @ringmagazine,’ Coppinger wrote on X early Tuesday (Manila time).

But only time will tell whether the rumors finally come to fruition or fizzle out again just like previous ones.

Pacquiao turns 47 years old in December but has shown he can still compete at a high level after battling a much younger WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a majority draw in his comeback fight three months ago.

The Filipino legend has been in talks to challenge WBA titleholder Rolly Romero in January with the two camps in the final stages of discussions.

But plans involving Romero could be in limbo with Mayweather in the mix and a much more rewarding payday on the table.

Mayweather, who will be 48 in February, has stayed retired since stopping Conor McGregor in August 2017, opting for easy money exhibition fights, including one against a 59-year-old Mike Tyson slated for spring next year.

Mayweather beat Pacquiao by unanimous decision back in May 2015.

Netflix, a multi-billion dollar streaming service, is no stranger to showing live boxing matches, including the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez megafight last month.

Philippine National Bank (PNB) sustained its growth momentum with its net income climbing 23 percent in the first nine months, lifted by stronger lending activity and investment securities.

In a disclosure on Monday, the firm said its consolidated earnings had reached P18.5 billion against the P15 billion booked a year ago.

Loans and investment securities rose by 9 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

‘The bank is now harvesting the benefits from focusing on the improvement in the quality of the lending portfolio through deliberate acquisition of quality customers and improvements in the credit and lending processes and policies,’ PNB chief financial officer Francis Albalate said.

Digitalization

Its president Edwin Bautista likewise showed optimism that PNB could maintain its pace, especially as the group has continued to push for its digitalization to enhance customer services.

‘We expect steady business growth with a strong plan in place to grow corporate, commercial and consumer businesses,’ Bautista said.

‘The bank’s plan for digitalization will further expand opportunities across all areas of the business as the bank prepares itself for advancing innovations that will prioritize improving service to the bank’s customers,’ he added.

The executive, who also led the digital transformation of Union Bank of the Philippines, earlier unveiled a plan to explore the use of advanced technologies, such as data science and artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, operating expenses during the period increased by 9 percent to P23.64 billion versus the previous P21.67 billion.

Total assets

The lender ended the third quarter with P1.25 trillion in total assets, while total liabilities stood at P1.02 trillion.

PNB has operations across 17 countries in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. However, the company said last month that its board of directors had provided the go-signal to dissolve its Bahrain representative office, a move that could help PNB slash its costs as well as give more focus on its core business. INQ

The National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) is monitoring possible anti-corruption rallies even amid the upcoming observation of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day or Undas.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) previously said it was deploying over 31,000 officers to handle security amid the anticipated influx of travelers.

‘We can’t ever discount the possibility that protesters will take this opportunity to gather. That’s why part of our preparations is our deployment,’ NCRPO Public Information Office chief Maj. Hazel Asilo said.

‘Our RSSF (Reserve Standby Support Force) is ready to be deployed in case there would be lightning rallies or protesters from different locations here in NCR,’ she added, later adding that 600 officers from the regional unit were prepared to be dispatched.

Following rallies leading up to and on Sept. 21 triggered by alleged anomalies in flood control projects, the Trillion Peso March movement announced protests every Friday ahead of a planned Nov. 30 demonstration.

The PNP said it was on alert for the weekly protest-actions.

Five minor earthquakes hit Laguna and Quezon provinces on Tuesday.

In a bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that a magnitude 3.2 tremor struck Alaminos, Laguna, at 12:34 p.m.

The epicenter of the tectonic tremor was located 3 kilometers northwest of the municipality at a depth of 5 km.

A tectonic earthquake is produced by sudden movement along faults and plate boundaries.

The quake was reported at Intensity III in San Pablo City, Laguna.

It was also logged at Instrumental Intensity II in Los Baños, San Pablo City, and Calamba City, Laguna; and Intensity I in Carmona, Cavite; and in Dolores, Quezon. Intensities are measured based on an earthquake’s damage to property and its effect on people, while instrumental intensities are measured by an intensity scale.

At 1:12 p.m., a magnitude 1.8 tectonic tremor was recorded in Los Baños.

The state seismologists said that the epicenter of the earthquake was located 6 km southeast of the municipality. It had a depth of focus of 33 km.

It was recorded at Instrumental Intensity I in San Pablo City.

Earlier, at 11:31 a.m., a magnitude 2 tectonic tremor was also detected in Los Baños.

The epicenter was located 6 km southwest of the locality with a depth of 33 km.

At 11:28 a.m., a magnitude 1.5 earthquake was also recorded in the same municipality.

According to Phivolcs, the epicenter of the tremor was located 4 km southwest of the town. It had a depth of focus of 32 km.

Phivolcs also reported that a magnitude 2.7 tectonic earthquake was felt in Lopez, Quezon, at 12:20 p.m.

The agency said that the epicenter of the tremor was located 13 km southeast of the locality with a depth of focus of 2 km.

Phivolcs said it does not expect any damage or aftershocks from the quakes.

Due to the earthquakes, the Office of the Chancellor at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños was forced to suspend classes.

‘In view of the recent earthquakes felt on campus today, classes and work in UPLB are suspended for the rest of the day (Tuesday, 28 October 2025). Take care and stay safe,’ the UPLB said in a post on its Facebook.

The students and faculty evacuated to an open field after a 1.8-magnitude earthquake hit the locality

A P3.6-billion food and agri hub is set to rise in Pampanga, a large-scale agri-food complex that will serve as the main trading center for northern Philippines.

State-run firms Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) and Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) signed a memorandum of agreement on Monday for the planned food and agri hub to be called Bagsakan ng Bayan Mega Food Hub (BBM Food Hub).

FTI President and CEO Joseph Rudolph Lo said construction of the BBM Food Hub in Clark was set to begin in March next year and will take about a year to finish.

Trading

The food and agri complex will rise on a 46-hectare property of the CIAC, which will integrate wholesale trading, food storage, processing, logistics and agri-tourism facilities.

According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), it will feature a Halal-certified zone and dedicated spaces for One Town, One Project enterprises that promote local livelihoods, innovation and sustainable growth.

CIAC President and CEO Joseph Alcazar said the collaboration entails development, operation and maintenance of the food hub.

Global markets

It will cater to Clark Freeport Zone, New Clark City, Metro Manila and the regions of northern, Central and southern Luzon, as well as provide direct access to global markets.

In a statement on Monday, the CIAC said the project would boost national food security and enhance the country’s competitiveness as a food exporter by improving logistics, cold chain systems, quarantine processes and compliance with international trade and safety standards.

The FTI will lease the Clark property from the CIAC for 25 years.

‘This is one of several mega food hubs the DA will develop to ensure stable markets and long-term food security. It supports the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of giving farmers and fisherfolk fair access to markets through strategically located food terminals,’ Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement on Monday.

‘This partnership aligns squarely with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize agricultural development and strengthen the agro- and agri-logistics value chain-particularly in advancing the nation’s aquaculture and agriculture industries,’ Alcazar said. INQ

Gabbi Garcia shared behind-the-scenes photos from the international film ‘Prisoner of War,’ where she stars alongside English actor and martial artist Scott Adkins.

The film, which premiered at the Beverly Hills Film Festival last April, continues to gain attention as more audiences around the world get to see it. Garcia plays the role of Theresa, a nurse during World War II.

‘It has been such an honor and a true thrill to work on this project alongside [Scott Adkins],’ the Filipina actress wrote in her Instagram post. The carousel of photos showed Garcia’s character aiding the wounded Adkins.

‘Prisoner of War’ is an action-drama directed by Louis Mandylor, with a story co-written by Adkins. The film follows a British officer who becomes a prisoner during the Japanese occupation and is forced to fight for survival inside a war camp.

Garcia’s participation in the film was confirmed last August after she posted a photo on Instagram with Adkins taken during their filming.

Garcia is known for her performances in the 2016 ‘Encantadia,’ ‘Unbreak My Heart,’ and ‘Slay.’ She recently marked her 11th year in showbiz.

Adkins, meanwhile, best known for his roles in ‘Undisputed,’ ‘Ip Man 4: The Finale,’ and ‘John Wick: Chapter 4,’ among others.

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) said it is working ‘double time’ to clear the remaining 1,000 administrative cases against police officers who violated law enforcement rules, with two months left before its self-imposed year-end deadline.

Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Calinisan set the target when he was appointed as the agency’s vice chairperson and executive officer last April.

‘We’re on double time.,’ Calinisan said, speaking in Filipino, in a press briefing on Tuesday. ‘We won’t allow any pending cases by the end of December 2025. In fact, Napolcom now works every Saturday to finish the cases we inherited from 25 years ago.’

‘We have around 1,000 cases left. In all honesty, it’s all systems go. All our lawyers are focused on these cases,’ he added.

Meanwhile, Calinisan reiterated that cases filed since he became executive officer are subject to Office Order No. 2025-012, dated June 2, 2025, which gives Napolcom 60 working days to resolve complaints.

Sy family-led BDO Unibank Inc. delivered record-high net income in the first nine months on the back of a double-digit growth in its lending operations, which reached a P3.5-trillion milestone.

The local banking giant said on Monday its profit had hit P63.1 billion, its highest nine-month figure. The amount was 4-percent higher than the P60.6 billion booked a year earlier.

For the third quarter alone, net income increased by 5.9 percent to P22.4 billion, likewise the highest earnings delivered by the bank for the same quarter.

The nine-month earnings were in line with consensus estimates, said online stock brokerage COL in a research note. However, it was slightly below COL’s estimate, accounting for just 71.4 percent of its full-year forecast.

‘We continue to favor the bank as we believe that BDO, as the largest bank in the Philippines, is well-positioned to capture growth opportunity as the local economy expands,’ COL said in a research note.

‘Its extensive and still growing branch network, as well as its strong ties to the SM Group, should provide a significant advantage.’

COL described BDO’s balance sheet as robust and liquid, and its capital ratios healthy. These are seen to give the bank leeway to pursue new avenues of growth.

While margins may narrow due to the interest rate-cutting cycle of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, COL said the compression would be mitigated by the bank’s asset mix and the reduction of the reserve requirement.

‘Additionally, we see potential earnings upside from easing credit costs and the booking of trading gains,’ it noted.

Loan book up 14 percent

This was as BDO’s nine-month net interest income rose by 8 percent. Gross customer loans posted a 14-percent growth, hitting P3.5 trillion.

Deposits also improved by 10 percent, 67 percent of which consisted of low-cost deposits.

In terms of asset quality, bad loans accounted for 1.77 percent of total loans. For every P1 of bad loans, the bank has conservatively set aside a loss buffer of P1.34.

Noninterest income likewise grew 14 percent, driven by a 15-percent increase in fee-based businesses.

Nonperforming loans ratio, a key indicator of asset quality, stood at 1.77 percent.

This translated to a return on average common equity of 14.1 percent for the period.

The country’s leading lender said the Philippines would remain ‘resilient’ despite persistent trade tensions triggered by higher tariffs imposed by the United States, as well as controversial local issues hounding politicians and government offices.

BDO said the local market could find support from ‘stable inflation and strong domestic consumption.’

‘Meanwhile, the bank’s robust capital foundation and diversified business portfolio position it well to navigate current risks and capitalize on emerging growth prospects,’ it said.

For the full-year 2025, an official previously said earnings growth may ‘be a little less’ amid the central bank’s rate-cut cycle.

‘And it’s because of the expected decline in interest rates. Spreads will be affected. It will still have growth, but probably not at the same level as last year,’ Nestor Tan, company president and chief executive officer, said earlier this year. INQ

Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc on Tuesday challenged the House of Representatives to explain how and why it quietly increased its own budget by P10 billion in the proposed 2026 national budget.

In a press conference, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago noted that while the proposed P27.7-billion budget for the lower chamber was still lower than the P33-billion budget it had in 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), it’s still unclear which items exactly saw higher funding and from where it drew the money.

‘We call on the House to be transparent and explain the reason for this increase. What are the items involved, which items saw increases? Especially in this time of mounting corruption allegations, this move is insensitive to public sentiment to have transparency in the national budget,’ Elago said.

A comparison of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by the Department of Budget and Management to Congress and a copy of House Bill No. 4058 showed that it raised its own budget allocation from P17.2 billion to P27.7 billion-a 61 percent jump-in the proposed P6.7-trillion national budget for next year.

These changes did not appear in the reports of the House budget amendments review subcommittee and only appeared in the third version of the HGAB.

Much of this P10 billion increase went to the House’s maintenance and other operating expenses, which jumped from P10.7 billion in the NEP to P18.6 billion in the HGAB.

Within this budget line, the biggest increases went to communication expenses (+P1.07 billion) and an item called other maintenance and operating expenses (+P2.9 billion).

In a press conference last Wednesday, People’s Budget Coalition policy researcher AJ Montesa said the 61-percent hike was ‘very steep’ compared to other branches of government and worth noting since Congress controls the national budget.

While it was unclear where the increase was drawn from, an analysis conducted by the People’s Budget Coalition (PBC) says it could ‘reflect new insertions for infrastructure, assistance programs, or internal budgets.’

The funds could have been taken from two agencies that saw major cuts in the House’s version of next year’s budget: the Department of Public Works and Highways, which absorbed a P255-billion slash, and the Office of the Vice President, whose proposed funding was reduced to the 2025 level of P733 million.