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An official of a Batangas community environment and natural resources office (CENRO) was caught allegedly demanding P7 million in exchange for the issuance of an alienable and disposable land certificate, the police said on Monday.

In a statement, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) identified the arrested official as ‘Rommel,’ the officer-in-charge of the Calaca City CENRO.

He was entrapped last Thursday afternoon at the CENRO’s office for alleged violation of Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code, which pertains to robbery-extortion, according to the CIDG.

‘The operation stemmed from a complaint of a male victim that the suspect allegedly demanded a total of P7,000,000 in exchange for the issuance of an alienable and disposable zone certificate,’ the CIDG explained.

‘Allegedly, the official demanded a P1 million initial payment or else, no certificate will be issued. Thus, the complaint and subsequent law enforcement operation that resulted in the suspect’s arrest,’ it added.

A certificate of alienable and disposable land affirms that a parcel of land can be privately owned.

The Philippines’ Joy Barcoma extended the Miss Earth pageant’s advocacy on environmental awareness even to her wardrobe, showcasing a costume made with repurposed fabrics.

‘A tribute to timeless Filipino elegance and sustainability. The Mascota National Costume reimagines heritage through innovation, as it is crafted entirely from recycled materials,’ she wrote when she posted photos of the costume on social media.

‘Each intricate detail reflects the grace and resilience of the Filipina, and the commitment to turn creativity into climate action. [green heart emoji],’ she said of the costume created by renowned Filipino designer Patrick Isorena.

He also made the national costumes of Miss Grand International titleholders Christine Juliane ‘CJ’ Opiaza and Emma Tiglao, and other international beauty queens.

The mascota is a traditional attire among women in Zamboanga in Mindanao. The feminine garb is characterized by an oversized ‘panuelo’ over the shoulders.

To add a more pageant flair to the mascota, Isorena included an intricate headpiece in gold hue, with bead tassels, the same ones found on the hems of the sleeves and the panuelo.

‘This gown is more than fashion. It’s a statement that sustainability can be elegant, and tradition can evolve beautifully toward a greener future. [Philippine flag emoji],’ Barcoma shared.

The 25-year-old lass from Bacoor City is hoping to become the fifth Filipino woman to be crowned Miss Earth, and inherit the title from 2024 winner Jessica Lane.

The 2025 Miss Earth pageant will hold its coronation night at the Cove Manila club of Okada Manila in Parañaque City on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Police are searching for three men who shot dead an Indian national on Sunday afternoon in front of a variety store in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao del Norte.

Lt. Colonel Jopy Ventura, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), said Jagmeet Singh, an Indian moneylender and resident of Barangay Rosary Heights 10 here, was collecting money from his borrowers about 3:30 p.m. on Sunday when three men on board a motorbike arrived and shot him in the head three times.

Ventura said the attack happened in front of a roadside store in Barangay Limbo, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte.

The victim died on the spot and the suspects, based on witnesses’ accounts, took the victim’s sling bag that contained an undetermined amount of collection.

Police said that money could be the motive of the attack as the suspects took away the victim’s sling bag containing his collections.

Over 7,000 villages nationwide are identified to be prone to landslides and flooding due to Typhoon Tino’s (international name: Kalmaegi) wide diameter of around 600 kilometers, Office of Civil Defense spokesperson Junie Castillo said on Monday.

Castillo said this data is from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB).

‘Early noon, they (DENR-MGB) reported that more than 7,000 villages in the entire Philippines are advised that they are under those lists of rain-induced landslides and flooding. This 7,864 [villages] to be exact,’ Castillo said in an interview.

Also due to its wide diameter, Tino is already affecting large areas in Visayas despite being far from landmass, according to him.

Meanwhile, Castillo said forced evacuation is also in effect in Eastern Visayas’ coastal areas due to storm surge.

‘They should evacuate until this afternoon because at night, the winds will get stronger, and, of course, they are on the shores so the threat of storm surge should be taken care of,’ he said.

OCD has yet to report any casualties.

Tino was last spotted 235 kilometers east-southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 150 kph while moving westward at 25 kph, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Tino is then forecast to remain a typhoon until it exits the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday morning.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 in two areas due to Tino.

On just the second day of Thailand’s hosting of the Miss Universe pageant this year, tension is already brewing between the local organizing committee and the international pageant organization, with talk of a legal action being considered.

After the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) issued a statement declaring as ‘not authorized’ a social media campaign launched by the team of Nawat Itsaragrisil, they also came up with their own statement saying it is on top of Thailand’s hosting of the pageant, and has full authority to mount such campaign.

The ongoing online voting includes a supposed special dinner, with the leading delegates winning limited seats to the engagement.

‘In reference to the recent announcement by MUO, we would like to clarify that the ‘Like’ voting campaign on social media is part of the official marketing package authorized for the Host Country,’ the Thai committee said in a statement released on Monday, Nov. 3.

The Thai organizing committee said it holds ‘the rights to manage and execute such promotional activities within our territory’ as the host organization.

‘This activity is a collaboration with our valued sponsors, whose generous support has made it possible to deliver such a world-class event as everyone has witnessed. The voting process is a fair and transparent selection method designed to determine which delegates will participate in specific activities among a large number of contestants,’ the Thai committee continued.

Nawat is the president and founder of the Miss Grand International, another international beauty pageant brand. During Anne Jakrajutatip’s management of MUO, Nawat managed to acquire a stake in her company JKN Global Group, and was appointed MUO’s vice president for Asia and Oceania. The Thai mogul likewise acquired the franchise to stage the Miss Universe Thailand pageant until 2029.

When Jakrajutatip stepped down in June, MUO was left to her co-owner, Raul Rocha, who retains his post as president of the organization.

Special dinner, talk show

On the first day of Thailand’s hosting of the 74th Miss Universe, Nawat launched a social media campaign where the Top 10 candidates with the most likes on their solo portraits will have a ‘special dinner and talk show’ with him. The portraits are found on the official Facebook and Instagram accounts of Miss Universe Thailand.

This did not sit well with the new MUO management, now under Guatemalan Mario Bucaro, which fired the first shot through a statement that said it did not authorize the dinner and talk event.

‘Any independent or third-party activity using the Miss Universe name, logo, marks, or related branding without prior written authorization is considered a violation of intellectual property rights and brand integrity,’ it stated.

The activity in question is similar to what Nawat does in his Miss Grand International pageant, where fans are made to vote for their bets, with the leading delegates gaining spots for a dinner with him and the reigning queen.

MUO said, ‘any promotional materials, contests, or voting initiatives currently circulating online under the Miss Universe name, including those associated with the aforementioned event, are unauthorized and misleading.’

The pageant organization further advised the public that all official announcements and voting initiatives will be found ‘exclusively’ on its verified channels-www.missuniverse.com and @missuniverse on Instagram or ‘Miss Universe’ on Facebook.

‘[MUO] reserves all legal rights to take appropriate action against any individual, company, or entity found to be using its intellectual property, trademarks or brand assets without permission, including but not limited to the Miss Universe name logo, imagery, or official event designations,’ continued the statement.

Legalities

The Thai committee said the MUO’s announcement resulted in public misunderstanding. ‘We will forward this matter to our legal team for review regarding any potential impact on our Thai sponsors and will immediately pursue appropriate legal action in response if necessary,’ its statement added.

This is the fourth time that Thailand is hosting the Miss Universe pageant. The last time the competition was held in the Southeast Asian nation was in 2018 when the Philippines’ Catriona Gray won the crown.

More than 120 ladies are competing this year to succeed reigning Danish queen Victoria Kjær Theilvig. The coronation show is scheduled on Nov. 21 at the Impact Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi, northwest of Bangkok.

Pageant veteran Ahtisa Manalo hopes to post the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe victory.

Thrust into a bigger role, Adrian Villados has shown tremendous poise and maturity while filling in for Ish Polvorosa as Criss Cross’ lead setter.

Amid Polvorosa’s absence due to a knee injury, Villados’ steady hands have been instrumental in the King Crunchers’ league-best 3-0 start in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.

The proud Arellano University product averaged 25.3 excellent sets per outing in the crowd-darling’s winning run.

For his veteran composure and decisive playmaking, Villados emerged as the first Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live from October 27 to November 2.

Villados tossed up 22 excellent sets, coupled with three points, in Criss Cross’ 25-15, 23-25, 25-23, 25-14 win against PGJC-Navy to open the new conference last Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Arena.

He then followed it up with 20 excellent sets and four points in a 25-14, 25-15, 25-21 sweep over the VNS Griffins three days after.

The young setter’s finest performance came against nine-time champion Cignal, where he dished out an impressive 34 excellent sets in the King Crunchers’ 25-23, 24-26, 25-22, 25-18 statement win over their archrivals on Sunday.

While filling in for Polvorosa is no easy task, Villados credits his veterans and coaches at Criss Cross for providing ample guidance.

‘There’s always some pressure, but I try not to think about it because my older teammates and coaches are there to guide me,’ said the proud Arellano University product.

‘Like coach always says, I just need to contribute to the team, do my role as a setter, and focus on my goals. So that’s what I’m doing, just training hard and staying happy.’

Villados edged out Criss Cross teammates Jude Garcia, Jaron Requinton and Noel Kampton for the weekly plum deliberated by print and online reporters covering the pioneering men’s volleyball league organized by Sports Vision.

Also in the running were Cignal’s Louie Ramirez, UST-Gameville’s Josh Ybañez, Savouge’s Mark Calado and Reymark Betco, and the Alpha Insurance pair of Rocky Motol and Barbie San Andres.

Villados and Criss Cross will now aim for their fourth-straight win on Wednesday against Savouge at the Paco Arena in the action-packed tournament, streamed live and on-demand via the Pilipinas Live app and on www.spikersturf.ph.

Despite their strong start, the young setter knows that Criss Cross’ form remains a work in progress, especially after their second set collapse against the Super Spikers.

‘There’s still a lot we need to work on, especially in the second set where we made a lot of mistakes,’ he said.

‘Like they always say, we take it one game at a time, one point at a time. We just keep training.’

Marjorie Barretto couldn’t help but feel sentimental as she marked the 40th day since the sudden death of Mito, the eldest among her siblings.

Barretto took to her Instagram page on Saturday, November 1, to express how much she missed her older brother since his death. The post also contained a photo of the actress holding Mito’s framed photo and glimpses of herself bonding with the latter’s family.

‘[Fortieth] day without you, Mito. They say the soul’s journey ends today. You are free now, surrounded by light and peace, watching over us with the same quiet strength you always had. There is not a moment for the past 40 days that I do not think of you,’ she said.

Barretto also confessed that she feels her older brother’s loss ‘more and more every day,’ while vowing that she loves him forever.

‘I feel your loss more and more everyday. I miss you so much. We all do. You would have been happy to see us celebrate you today. We love you always and forever,’ she said.

The actress-politician recently made headlines after her mother Inday accused her of stirring a rivalry between her sisters Gretchen and Claudine, and herself due to ‘inggit (envy)’ in a two-part interview with entertainment insider Ogie Diaz.

Inday also alleged that she wasn’t invited to Marjorie’s parties and other gatherings because the latter is ’embarrassed’ of her.

This led Marjorie to deny Inday’s claims in a lengthy statement last October 29, with the actress calling out her mother for turning her into some sort of a ‘damage control’ to make her youngest child ‘look clean,’ in an apparent reference to Claudine. At the same time, she also expressed her fury for causing a stir amid Mito’s wake.

‘Am I once again damage control? The Mission: Destroy Marjorie – to make the youngest child look good and clean,’ she said. ‘With my mom, if you are not a problematic child, you become the least favorite.’

Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) further intensified as it moved closer to the Philippine landmass on Monday evening, the state weather bureau said.

Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 remains raised over several areas in Visayas and Mindanao.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Tino was last spotted 95 kilometers (km) east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar while moving westward at 15 km per hour (kph).

The typhoon now carries maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.

Pagasa continues to forecast Tino’s initial landfall to occur in Homohnhon Island or Dinagat Islands by Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

Tino is then expected to make landfall over Leyte or Southern Leyte on Tuesday morning, before crossing over Visayas and Northern Palawan and then exiting the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday morning.

‘Tino is forecast to make its initial landfall at or near peak intensity (currently forecasted around 140 to 155 kph maximum winds with higher gustiness),’ Pagasa said.

‘Rapid intensification before landfall remains likely,’ it added.

With this, Signal No. 4-or winds greater than 118 kph up to 184 kph expected in at least 12 hours-is raised in the following areas:

Visayas

The extreme southeastern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Mercedes)

The western and southern portion of Leyte (Mahaplag, Abuyog, City of Baybay, Inopacan, Hilongos, Hindang, Bato, Matalom, Javier, Macarthur, La Paz, Mayorga, Burauen, Isabel, Merida, Albuera, Dulag, Julita, Palompon)

Southern Leyte

The northern portion of Cebu (Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova, Mandaue City, Cebu City, Balamban, Asturias, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Borbon, Carmen, Tuburan, Catmon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Tabogon, San Remigio, City of Bogo) including Camotes Islands

The northeastern portion of Bohol (Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Getafe, Trinidad, Ubay, Bien Unido, Talibon)

Mindanao

Dinagat Islands

Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands

Signal No. 3-winds of greater than 89 kph up to 117 kph in at least 18 hours-is up in the following areas:

Visayas

The southern portion of Eastern Samar (Lawaan, Balangiga, Giporlos, Quinapondan, Salcedo)

The southern portion of Samar (Marabut)

The central portion of Leyte (Tanauan, Palo, Tabontabon, Ormoc City, Dagami, Pastrana, Tolosa, Matag-Ob, Villaba, Kananga, Jaro, Alangalang, Santa Fe)

The extreme northern and central portions of Cebu (City of Talisay, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Sibonga, City of Carcar, San Fernando, City of Naga, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Aloguinsan, Pinamungahan, Barili, Dumanjug, Argao, Alcantara, Moalboal, Ronda) including Bantayan Islands

The central and eastern portions of Bohol (San Miguel, Mabini, Buenavista, Inabanga, Danao, Dagohoy, Guindulman, Pilar, Alicia, Candijay, Anda, Jagna, Duero, Sierra Bullones, Carmen, Sagbayan, Clarin, Tubigon, Batuan, Catigbian, San Isidro, Calape, Loon)

The northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan, La Libertad, Jimalalud) The northern portion of Negros Occidental (Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, Isabela, La Castellana, Pontevedra, San Enrique, La Carlota City, Cadiz City, Bago City, Enrique B. Magalona, Toboso, Valladolid, Salvador Benedicto, Sagay City, Bacolod City, Murcia, City of Escalante, Calatrava, San Carlos City, Silay City, Pulupandan, City of Victorias, City of Talisay, Manapla, Binalbagan)

Guimaras

Iloilo

The southern portion of Capiz (Tapaz, Mambusao, Jamindan, Dumalag, Dumarao, Cuartero, Dao, Panitan, Pontevedra, Sigma, President Roxas, Ma-Ayon, Pilar)

The central and southern portions of Antique ( Tobias Fornier, Anini-Y, Hamtic, San Jose, Sibalom, Belison, Patnongon, San Remigio, Valderrama, Bugasong, Tibiao, Laua-An, Barbaza)

Mindanao

The rest of Surigao del Norte

On the other hand, Signal No. 2 or winds greater than 62 kph and up to 88 kph in at least 24 hours is hoisted in:

Luzon

The southern portion of Masbate (Esperanza, Pio V. Corpuz, Placer, Balud, Cawayan)

The southern portion of Romblon (San Jose, Santa Fe, Alcantara, Looc)

Cuyo Islands

Visayas

The central portion of Eastern Samar (Can-Avid, City of Borongan, Taft, Llorente, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Sulat, San Julian, General Macarthur, Hernani)

The central portion of Samar (San Sebastian, Santa Rita, Villareal, Zumarraga, Pinabacdao, Talalora, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, Motiong, Calbiga, Daram, Paranas, Basey, Hinabangan, Santo Niño, Almagro, Tarangnan)

The rest of Leyte

Biliran

The rest of Bohol

The rest of Cebu

The central portion of Negros Oriental (Tayasan, Manjuyod, City of Tanjay, Bais City, Mabinay, Bindoy, Ayungon, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Sibulan, San Jose, Amlan, Pamplona, City of Bayawan, Basay, Valencia, Dumaguete City, Bacong)

The rest of Negros Occidental

Siquijor

The rest of Capiz

Aklan

The rest of Antique including Caluya Islands

Mindanao

The northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes, Tago, San Miguel, Marihatag, Cagwait, Bayabas, City of Tandag)

The northern portion of Agusan del Sur (Sibagat)

The northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, City of Cabadbaran, Remedios T. Romualdez, Magallanes)

Camiguin

Signal No. 1, with winds 39 to 61 kph to be expected in at least 36 hours and intermittent rains:

Luzon

Albay

Sorsogon

The rest of Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands

The southern portion of Quezon (San Francisco, San Andres)

The southern portion of Marinduque (Torrijos, Buenavista, Gasan, Boac)

The rest of Romblon

Oriental Mindoro

Occidental Mindoro

The northern and central portions of Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli, San Vicente, Roxas, Puerto Princesa City, Aborlan) including Calamian Islands and Cagayancillo Islands

Visayas

Northern Samar

The rest of Eastern Samar

The rest of Samar

The rest of Negros Oriental

Mindanao

The rest of Surigao del Sur

The central portion of Agusan del Sur (City of Bayugan, Prosperidad, Esperanza, San Luis, Talacogon, San Francisco, Rosario)

The rest of Agusan del Norte

Misamis Oriental

The northern portion of Bukidnon (Baungon, Malitbog, Impasug-Ong, Libona, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao)

The northern portion of Misamis Occidental (Baliangao, Plaridel, Sapang Dalaga, Calamba, Lopez Jaena, Concepcion, Oroquieta City, Aloran)

The northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Sibutad, Rizal, Dipolog City, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Polanco, Dapitan City, Piñan, La Libertad, Mutia, Jose Dalman)

Suspected shabu (crystal meth) valued at P3.4 million was confiscated and four individuals were arrested in a Cavite buy-bust operation late Monday afternoon, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

In a statement, the PDEA noted that the operation targeted a compound along Niog Road in Barangay Niog Purok II in Bacoor City.

Operatives arrested garbage collectors ‘Daniel,’ 31, and ‘Sherwin,’ 42; painter ‘Arjay,’ 34; and construction worker ‘Antonio,’ 58, the agency further detailed.

‘Confiscated from the suspects were approximately 502 grams of shabu with an estimated (Dangerous Drugs Board standard drug) price value of P3,413,600,’ the PDEA explained.

‘Also seized were buy-bust money, deposit slips, disposable lighters, and an open transparent plastic pack,’ it added.

The arrested suspects will face a case for violations of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act.

As Typhoon Tino threatens to batter Western Visayas, one family in Sitio Agkaningay, Barangay Bilao, Sapian town in Capiz has built a sulakob – a makeshift underground shelter – to protect themselves from the incoming storm.

Photos of the bamboo-reinforced trench were shared on the Facebook page of digital creator Dennis Ofalla Alambra, showing the unnamed family’s improvised refuge built amid banana and coconut trees. The sulakob, covered with wooden planks and a tarp, serves as a small underground bunker designed to shield them from strong winds, flying debris, and potential landslides.

In Hiligaynon, ‘sulakob’ comes from the word lakob, meaning ‘to cover’ or ‘to shield.’ Such hand-built shelters are traditional forms of protection in rural communities during intense storms or times of danger.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (Pagasa), Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) may get stronger as it crosses the Visayas, bringing destructive winds and heavy rains that could trigger flooding and storm surges. More than 2.3 million residents across the region have been placed under heightened alert.

In Capiz, still reeling from flash floods brought by Typhoon Ramil in October, the Sapian family’s sulakob has become a symbol of resilience and resourcefulness – a grassroots expression of survival in the face of worsening storms.