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Krelz Gecosala and Kresthan Belacas delivered standout performances with double victories in their respective divisions, grabbing the spotlight in the boys’ category of the Gov. Edwin Jubahib National Juniors Tennis Championships in Tagum City, Davao del Norte over the weekend.

The fifth-seeded Gecosala defied the odds in the boys’ 18-and-under division, stringing together three straight-set wins before overpowering No. 4 seed Kurt Alcantara, 6-1, 6-3, in the finals. The 16-year-old Midsayap, North Cotabato native also dominated his own age group, dropping just eight games across three matches, culminating in a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Wallaen Cabigas in the finals.

Not to be outdone, Belacas of Mlang, Cotabato sparkled in the younger age groups. He held off Tyronne Caro in a tight 7-5, 6-3 win to secure the 12-and-U crown, then added the 14-and-U title after Caro retired in the second set, trailing 3-6, 4-2,

Their back-to-back victories earned both Gecosala and Belacas co-MVP honors alongside Faith Lazaro from Tagum City, who made waves in the girls’ division of the five-day event hosted by Gov. Jubahib in his continuing commitment to help develop the sport in the region.

Lazaro snapped Ayl Gonzaga’s winning streak in the Palawan Pawnshop nationwide junior circuit with a gutsy semifinal comeback win, 0-6, 6-4, 6-2. She then claimed the 16-and-U crown with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Telko Ello. Though she fell short in the 18-and-U finals, losing to Sultan Kudarat’s Sanschena Francisco, 6-3, 6-3, Lazaro’s strong performance earned her a share of the MVP award.

Meanwhile, Gonzaga, who has been a consistent force in both Luzon and Mindanao legs of the nationwide talent search initiated by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro, bagged the girls’ 14-and-U title with a 6-2, 6-2 win over doubles partner Justine Gumbao, replicating her triumph in Sultan Kudarat.

In other results, Maureen Mamaba of Davao de Oro shocked the girls’ field by clinching the 12-and-U crown with a 6-3, 6-3 upset of Alexandrea Bendoy; while Brandon Luchavez, an unseeded player, won the 10-and-U unisex title, defeating top seed Storm Tozer, 5-4(3), 4-0.

Gonzaga, on the other hand, bounced back in doubles play, securing two titles. With Gumbao, they trounced Sam Rodriguez and Shan Tuyor, 8-1, in the 14-and-U finals. She later paired with Francisco to beat Ello and Yana Reyes, 8-3, in the 18-and-U finals.

In the boys’ doubles, Alcantara and Cabigas captured the 18-and-U trophy with an 8-5 win over Harinne Antiola and Jaime Gultiano, while Caro and Gecosala clinched the 14-and-U crown, downing Belacas and Dimzon, 8-3.

The Group 2 tournament was presented by Dunlop and sanctioned by Philta with support from Universal Tennis and ICON Golf and Sports, utilizing both the DavNor Sports Complex and Tagum City courts to accommodate a record number of participants.

Cigarettes infused with synthetic marijuana compounds are banned, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of cannabinoids in tuklaw cigarettes or Vietnam’s Thuc lào, in the Philippines and Singapore, PDEA chief Isagani Nerez said.

‘When the result was positive both domestically and in Singapore, we informed the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) about it,’ he said.

At yesterday’s PDEA budget hearing at the Senate, Nerez confirmed that possessing tuklaw is a criminal offense.

While some cannabinoids have legitimate medical uses, the cannabinoid ‘pinaca’ has negative effects, DDB executive director Earl Saavedra said.

The PDEA and DDB have cited reports of teenagers exhibiting seizure-like symptoms characterized by brief shock-like body jerks and twitches after using the cigarette.

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has solidified its position as the broadband provider with the fastest speeds in the Philippines, but PLDT Inc. remains to be the most preferred among subscribers.

In Opensignal’s latest monitor for broadband quality, Converge turned in the quickest download speed of 56 Mbps, beating again Globe Telecom’s 53.6 Mbps and PLDT’s 53 Mbps.

Opensignal also named Converge as the provider to beat for video and reliability experience, as subscribers reported the best quality when doing basic tasks online.

PLDT registered the fastest upload speed of 42.3 Mbps, with Converge recording 39.6 Mbps and Globe putting in 36.9 Mbps. Opensignal measures upload speed as the amount of data per second that can be transferred from device to the internet.

Globe landed as the most consistent broadband provider with a score of 68.1 percent. This metric examines how fast a device meets basic requirements once connected to the internet.

PLDT remains to be the market leader in Philippine broadband, as it cornered 42 percent of all subscribers through its largely fiber network.

Opensignal principal data analyst Robert Wyrzykowski said PLDT has managed to maintain its market dominance through its widest fiber footprint and introduction of new services.

‘PLDT is the incumbent operator and market leader with its 42-percent market share – primarily over fiber – but is also serving customers on DSL and fixed wireless, the latter services under the Smart brand,’ Wyrzykowski said.

Converge, for its part, holds around 30 percent of the broadband segment.

Wyrzykowski said the company has seen the peak of its customer expansion in the early 2020s, but it is still increasing market share thanks to its network upgrades.

‘Converge controls nearly 30 percent of the fixed broadband market, with most customers using fiber-to-the-home, but some still use cable broadband. Its rapid market share growth through the early 2020s has slowed a bit, but they continue to take share,’ Wyrzykowski said.

For Globe, Wyrzykowski said the target appears to be growing in the low-cost market, where its GFiber Prepaid has gained more than 400,000 subscribers to date.

Right now, Globe controls 20 percent of the broadband market, offering wired and fixed wireless access, and it is upgrading its last-mile assets to fiber to improve connectivity.

The first batch of criminal and administrative charges was finally filed against resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and 17 others over a reported anomalous flood control project found in Oriental Mindoro. Less than three weeks after it was organized, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) initiated the filing of these cases before the Office of the Ombudsman last Monday.

The three-man ICI headed by retired Supreme Court (SC) associate justice Andres Reyes Jr. acted on the findings of the team led by Department of Public Works and Highways acting Secretary Vivencio ‘Vince’ Dizon, accompanied by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who was then the ‘special adviser’ to the ICI, that conducted the ocular inspection of the project site pointed out to them by Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor.

After Malacañang spokesperson Claire Castro seemingly cast doubt on his impartiality, Magalong resigned. He was replaced by retired police chief Rodolfo Azurin as ICI investigator and ‘special adviser.’

The ICI’s first ever interim report was personally delivered by Reyes to the Office of the Ombudsman. The criminal charges included violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019), malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents by a public officer (Article 217 in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code) and violations of the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184). Co’s co-accused included DPWH district engineers and the private contractor of the project.

According to the ICI report, Co has been recommended to be charged for receiving ‘unwarranted benefits’ in relation to the construction projects of Sunwest Inc., one of the 15 contractors that have cornered P545 billion worth of flood control projects of the DPWH budget for the past three years.

‘While Cong. Co claims to have divested his interests, reports suggest he may potentially retain beneficial ownership. The Commission underscores that additional evidence is needed to establish any definitive connection,’ the ICI noted.

After submission of the ICI interim report, Reyes immediately left the Office of the Ombudsman and declined media interviews. But speaking for the ICI, its executive director Brian Keith Hosaka told reporters the ICI chairman is merely trying to ‘prudently’ and ‘carefully’ work quietly to ferret out the truth on the multibillion-peso flood control scandal. Hosaka further sought to assuage public concern over the ICI proceedings being conducted behind closed doors. He stressed the Commission is striving to shield itself from political interference, saying: ‘We cannot allow the ICI to be used by any political agenda or leverage.’

In Executive Order (EO) No. 94 signed on Sept.11, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (PBBM) created the ICI as a fact-finding body. Among other things, PBBM empowered the ICI to investigate the alleged ‘ghost’ flood control and other infra projects for the past 10 years. The President subsequently named Reyes to chair the ICI after he earlier appointed former DPWH secretary Rogelio ‘Babes’ Singson and SGV and Co. country managing partner Rossana A. Fajardo as Commission members.

Yesterday, Reyes signed in behalf of the ICI a memorandum of agreement with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in its effort to facilitate freezing of bank deposits and other assets of Co and other individuals implicated in various alleged ‘ghost’ flood control and substandard infra projects.

The current ICI is well-intentioned but is not good enough. It lacks subpoena and prosecutorial powers. As stated in EO 94, the ICI can be assisted by the ombudsman, Department of Justice (DOJ) and its attached agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and some other government agencies that it may call upon for assistance.

While the ICI doing its own work, the Senate decided to continue with its on-going ‘inquiry in aid of legislation’ into the alleged ‘ghost’ flood control projects of the DPWH. However, its parallel congressional investigation being done by the House infra committee headed by Bicol Saro party-list Rep.Terry Ridon has been called off upon the imprimatur of newly installed Speaker, Isabela Rep. Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III.

Before it closed down its public hearings, dismissed DPWH district engineers of Bulacan Brice Hernandez tagged former Senate Senate pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada and majority leader Joel Villanueva. At the last House hearing, Hernandez pointed to Estrada and Villanueva as ‘proponents’ who downloaded their flood control projects in the province in the 2025 budget. On the other hand, one of the 15 DPWH contractors admitted he was an election campaign donor of ex-Senate president Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero.

Conducting its own motu proprio investigation, the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, currently headed by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson, has conducted six public hearings so far as of last Monday. On that day, a ‘surprise witness,’ retired Marine Sgt. Orly Guteza, testified under oath that the alleged kickbacks from these DPWH projects were delivered to the Valle Verde residence of Co and that of former speaker Martin Romualdez. Earlier that day, retired DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified that a businessman-friend of Escudero acted as the alleged go-between of the ex-Senate chief in securing funds for projects in the DPWH budget.

With these very serious accusations, how can we expect an impartial conduct of congressional investigations when ‘almost all senators’ – as Lacson admitted – are involved in the budget mess? In the same way, as Lacson cited, there were many House members who got the bulk of budget ‘insertions.’ So how can the House investigate itself when many of their 316 or so colleagues in the present 20th Congress were re-elected from the 19th Congress that was behind the mangled 2025 budget?

Summing up, the first-best solution is to have a strong, unbiased, fearless ombudsman in the mold of the late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, whose ninth death anniversary was observed last Monday. There are 17 candidates being vetted by the Judicial and Bar Council in the search for the new ombudsman.

The solution is to prosecute corrupt politicians, government executives and corrupt contractors; jail them – and make them pay.

A suspected illegal gun dealer was killed while three police officers were wounded in an alleged shootout that broke out in this city on Monday night.

Maj. Edgar Fabregas and S/Sgts. Arvin Ilagan and Karl Ernest Fabonan of the Batangas City police were rushed to the Saint Camillus de Lillis Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds.

The fatality, identified as Ronald de Guzman, was killed in a pursuit operation.

Investigation showed the officers met up with a suspected gun dealer identified only as Bonsai in Barangay Bolbok to supposedly buy firearms.

However, the suspect and his companions sensed that they were dealing with undercover police officers, prompting them to draw their guns, triggering a shootout that left the officers wounded.

The suspects fled after the shooting, prompting a chase and another shootout that resulted in the death of De Guzman. A manhunt was launched for De Guzman’s cohorts.

When you walk into Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH), you will feel like you’re stepping into a mall lobby or a hotel.

It’s this transformation that MDH medical director Dr. Alberto Roxas has been constantly pushing-a facility that blends cutting-edge medicine with hotel-like comfort.

‘It is an integration of hospital care with the comfort, aesthetics and service quality of a hotel. It improves patient experience, gives MDH a competitive edge, enhances brand reputation, and influences the recovery and healing of patients,’ he shares to Philstar.com.

Roxas’ combined background as a surgeon and former dean of the UP College of Medicine gives him a unique vantage point.

For him, it has given different but complementary strengths. This unique lens combines the ‘precision and decisiveness of a surgeon with the vision and foundation of an academe.’

‘I was able to apply the learning from experiences of having been in clinical practice and the academe, to navigate the turbulent waters of crisis management, risk benefit analysis, strategic planning and interdisciplinary collaborations.’

Meanwhile, his academic experience has shaped his leadership style as a servant leader.

‘I listen to patients and doctors alike and together we shape MDH to address their needs,’ he adds.

From surgery to strategy

For Roxas, the transition from clinical practice to administration was a natural progression.

‘Clinical practice allows you to help colleagues in the same profession and to mentor residents in training, providing the opportunity to help individuals. On the other hand, being in administration lets you shape systems that improve care for entire populations,’ he shared.

After years of honing surgical skills to young doctors, he now applies the same decisiveness to hospital management.

‘Admin roles give you a seat at the table to influence hospital strategy, patient safety, training and best practices in healthcare delivery,’ he says, adding that it is not unusual that senior practicing surgeons become administrators in the latter part of their professional career.

‘Their experience makes them leaders and administrators.’

Investing in innovation and people

MDH has poured resources into world-class equipment and facilities, including the expansion of its Operating Room Complex, enhancement of its flagship Cardiovascular Center and Cancer Institute, and the introduction of the COMPASS Program.

‘MDH aims for excellent patient experience, all the time!’ Roxas says enthusiastically, adding that technology should not replace but rather enhance compassionate care.

MDH’s technological investments are for improving processes, delivering care faster and ensuring better clinical outcomes.

Beyond machines, the medical director is also keen on investing in doctors themselves.

From international affiliations and partnerships, to doctor engagement programs locally and abroad, MDH makes it a point to attract, retain and nurture top medical talent.

‘We want our doctors to grow not just technically, but also in compassionate care and interpersonal skills,’ he emphasized.

‘These programs foster collegiality and collaboration; to provide developmental programs to improve interpersonal skills, compassionate care aside from continuing medical education.’

Roxas is candid about the challenges and gaps in Philippine healthcare, such as a declining workforce, outdated infrastructure, overcrowded government hospitals, and disparities between urban and rural systems.

MDH, he notes, is committed to being part of the solution, as it works with the Manila City Health Department in the move toward universal healthcare.

A stronger MDH

Roxas is most excited about the further development of MDH’s flagship centers as well as strengthening international affiliations and continuously building MDH’s reputation as a hospital that blends innovation with compassion.

With Roxas at the helm, MDH continues to be a premier hospital in Manila-not just through cutting-edge facilities, but a leadership that places people at the center of progress.

Under Roxas’ guidance, he hopes that MDH become a model of holistic leadership in medicine. His legacy would be an institutionalized ‘Patient First, Always’ philosophy and future-proofed healthcare.

And like the ‘hotelization’ of hospitals, Roxas’ leadership integrates care and service quality in management.

Asked what he hopes will be his lasting legacy, Roxas reflects: ‘A legacy of healing hands focused on patient care, of shaping minds through research and teaching, and of reforms that institutionalize a culture of Compassion + Excellence.’