Author: user user

Alex Eala arrived in Osaka Friday to plot her mission of entering the Top 50 world rankings for the first time ever in the WTA250 Japan Open next week.

Eala this week climbed to No. 54 in the Women’s Tennis Association despite an early exit in Wuhan, China – making Japan a perfect place to etch more history for Philippine tennis.

No Filipina has ever stepped foot in the elite Top 50 rankings and Eala sports a pretty chance if she goes deep in the $250,000 tourney against a stacked field led by home bet Naomi Osaka, World No. 16.

WTA No. 17 Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic, Filipina-Canadian Leylah Fernandez, WTA No. 27, and No. 70 Cristina Bucsa of Spain, Eala’s tormentor in the US Open second round, are also in the fray.

The official draw is yet to be released by the WTA Tour pending the completion of the WTA1000 Wuhan Open, where Eala absorbed a 4-6, 6-3, 2-6 defeat against Japanese Moyuka of Japan in Round 1 of the qualifiers.

Eala spent a little break in China after that defeat to recharge for an expected tougher tourney in Japan that will serve her sixth straight tournament in a month on top of the US Open feat, where she became the first Filipina winner in any Grand Slam main draw.

She started the stretch of the loaded WTA Tour by netting her maiden WTA title in the WTA125 Guadalajara Open in Mexico then reached the quarterfinals of the WTA250 Sao Paulo Open in Brazil.

After Japan, Eala will have more chances to crack the Top 50 with stints in the Guangzhou Open from October 20-26 and the Hong Kong Open from October 27 to November 2.

A homecoming is slated after that with her expected national team return for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December and the planned WTA Tour hosting to be branded as Manila or Philippine Open early next year.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said that the national government’s revenue collection is expected to decrease significantly should the proposed measure, which removes the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT), be approved and enacted into law.

Noting that a striking portion of the agency’s collection is derived from the tax intake, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said the decision ultimately rests with the government’s economic managers.

‘Of course, collections will decrease since a significant portion of the government’s revenue currently comes from the VAT,’ he told The STAR. ‘It is substantial because a large percentage of the BIR’s total collections comes from the said tax program.’

Cavite Rep. Francisco Barzaga filed House Bill 5119, on Monday, proposing the removal of the 12 percent VAT on all goods and services, aiming to ease the tax burden on consumers nationwide.

In his explanatory note, the politician stated that the tax places a burden on consumers, particularly low- and middle-income families, as it is imposed on goods and services regardless of their ability to pay.

Pressed on whether Lumagui is in favor of removing the tax, the BIR chief said it would be difficult to comment since the agency only serves as the implementing body tasked with carrying out government policies.

‘It is difficult to comment on the matter since we are only the implementing agency,’ he said.

‘Also, it is really up to the economic managers at the Department of Finance to make the estimates on the potential impact of the removal of the VAT and their plans for the economy of our country,’ Lumagui added.

Based on the latest Bureau of the Treasury data, the BIR has collected P2.14 trillion from January to August this year. The revenue pile is 11.4 percent higher than what the agency collected in the same period last year at P1.92 trillion.

The VAT on goods, introduced in the Philippines in 1988, increased to 12 percent in 2005.

Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste also recently proposed reducing the VAT by two percentage points to 10 percent.

As one of the spearheads of San Miguel’s bench mob, Don Trollano’s effort has paid off, with the 33-year-old forward to be recognized as Mr. Quality Minutes in the PBA Press Corps 31st Annual Awards Night on Oct. 13 at the Novotel Manila.

Sharing the spotlight with Trollano during the gala night are members of the All-Rookie Team in Rookie of the Year winner RJ Abarrientos of Barangay Ginebra, Sedrick Barefield (Blackwater), Caelan Tiongson (Rain or Shine), Kai Ballungay (Phoenix), and the duo of Jordan Heading (TNT/Converge) and Justine Baltazar (Converge).

Tropical Storm Quedan (international name Nakri) entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) yesterday afternoon, but is not expected to directly affect the country’s weather conditions, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

PAGASA said the center of Quedan was last located 1,370 kilometers east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph.

It is moving north-northwest at 30 kph.

The weather bureau said that Quedan’s strong to gale-force winds extend outward up to 360 kilometers from the center.

No tropical cyclone wind signal has been raised over any part of the country as of yesterday afternoon.

Despite Quedan’s presence within PAR, PAGASA said it is ‘less likely to directly affect the weather conditions in the country.’

The agency warned, however, that other weather systems – including the southwesterlies, a low-pressure area and the northeasterly wind flow – may bring strong to gale-force gusts, particularly over coastal and upland areas in several parts of the country.

Gusty conditions are expected today over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Palawan, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga del Norte and Davao provinces.

Tomorrow, gusts may persist over Ilocos Norte, Palawan, Romblon, Masbate, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

PAGASA said Quedan is expected to continue moving northwestward and may exit the PAR by late Thursday night or early Friday morning as it heads toward Ryukyu Islands, where it is forecast to further intensify.

Christy Ng, the beloved Southeast Asian fashion brand known for its stylish and customizable pieces, is now officially in the Philippines-marking its arrival with an intimate pre-launch movie screening party that perfectly captured the essence of its versatile designs.

Held last October 2 at SM Megamall Director’s Club, Fashion Hall, the exclusive event brought together media, personalities and fashion lovers for a chic yet relaxed afternoon that showcased what Christy Ng is all about: empowering women with fashion that moves with them, from power meetings to personal moments.

Guests enjoyed a private viewing of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrel. The film is about reliving important moments throughout the past of both characters, and how it leads them to each other. Much like the film’s journey, Christy Ng’s decision to start a fashion brand in her very own living room has transformed into a thriving regional label, with designs loved by women all over.

The highlight of the afternoon was a special meet-and-greet with Christy Ng herself, giving attendees the rare opportunity to connect with the visionary behind the brand and hear firsthand about her inspiring journey, from starting small in Malaysia to expanding across the region.

‘The Philippines has always been close to my heart, and I’m thrilled to finally bring Christy Ng here. Our pieces are designed for women who lead dynamic lives-where a single pair of shoes or a bag can take you from a busy workday to an evening of relaxation. This launch marks an exciting new chapter in our journey, and I’m so grateful to share it with Filipinas,’ said Christy Ng.

Just like how her pieces transition seamlessly from the workday to a well-deserved evening escape, the screening underscored the brand’s philosophy of affordable elegance, customization and Southeast Asian craftsmanship.

This private screening also marked the announcement of Christy Ng’s pop-up store in the Philippines, located at SM Megamall. With its arrival, the brand is bringing stylish, personal and empowering fashion to Filipinas who seek both function and flair in their everyday lives.

The TNT Tropang 5G and the PLDT High Speed Hitters celebrated their successful runs on the hardcourt and the taraflex with thousands of supporters in the recent ‘Champions Together’ event at One Ayala.

The joint grand fans day gig gave PBA Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup kingpin TNT and PVL On Tour and Invitational Conference queen PLDT a special venue to give back to their fans in a special celebration of loyalty, resilience and shared victories.

‘Para sa TNT, pumunta talaga ako dito. Kahit umuulan, kahit malayo. Yung puso, nandito,’ said Hendrix Manaoat from Valenzuela, one of the Tropang 5G diehards from across Metro Manila and nearby provinces who trooped to the venue to meet their idols.

‘Dream ko talaga makita sila,’ shared Robin Delgaco from Caloocan, a ka-Tropa since 2011. ‘Kahit SIM card ko, TNT pa rin.’

The champions enjoyed the interactions in the event, which featured interactive booths, games, and exclusive merchandise, as much as the fans did.

‘Sobrang excited kami makita ‘yung fans kasi sila talaga ang nagbibigay buhay sa amin bilang players,’ said TNT’s Kim Aurin, considering the event as a ‘reminder of the team’s purpose.’ ‘Maraming salamat sa malupitang suporta ninyo. Gagawin namin ang best namin sa 50th season ng PBA.’

PLDT’s Kim Kianna Dy was thankful to the fans for inspiring her comeback from injury.

‘It was a long wait, and I’m super grateful the fans kept cheering even when I wasn’t playing. They’re one of the reasons I kept going,’ said Dy.

It works both ways, said Yul Solajes, a fan and volleyball player from Taguig.

‘She’s a natural. As a player myself, I relate to her journey. She’s an inspiration inside and outside the court.’

Dy and the High Speed Hitters scored their breakthrough in the PVL recently and won not one but two titles.

‘Hard work always works. It wasn’t easy to get a back-to-back championship. We just worked hard, stayed together, and trusted the process,’ said ‘KKD.’

Jude Turcuato, FVP and Head of Sports at PLDT and Smart, said ‘Champions Together’ was held to further strengthen the connection between athletes and fans.

‘We don’t just build teams – we build communities. Today showed us that the heart of sports isn’t just in the game, but in the people who believe in it,’ he said.

With ‘Champions Together,’ the company reiterated its commitment to the fans who continue to support, celebrate, and stand by their teams through every season.

At the same time, PLDT and Smart remain committed to supporting Filipino athletes by creating platforms that connect teams with their communities.

TNT feels the itch as it launches a renewed bid for the PBA Philippine Cup title that eluded them in their near-grand slam run the previous season.

‘If you look back at last season, I thought we performed pretty well. So, it’s a matter of continuing that,’ said coach Chot Reyes, whose Tropang 5G won the Season 49 Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup then valiantly fought San Miguel Beer with a hobbling crew before settling for runner-up honors in the All-Filipino.

‘We are by no means satisfied with how we finished the season and we hope to be able to improve on our last all Filipino placing,’ he added.

Rey Nambatac returns to action after missing the Philippine Cup playoffs due to injury while Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy and Jordan Heading are back in full strength after playing hurt in the finale.

TNT also loaded up with veteran Kevin Ferrer, athletic wing Tyrus Hill and defense-oriented guard Jio Jalalon ahead of its Season 50 Philippine Cup debut tonight against Phoenix at the Ynares Center-Montalban.

‘Our goal really for this season is to be the best at the things that take no talent. And that’s what for us TNT stands for. We might not be the biggest, most talented team in the league, but we strive to be the best in the things that take no talent – hard work, effort, team-manship, doing the extra mile, caring for each other,’ said Reyes.

Former Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla has officially been named the new Ombudsman, assuming one of the country’s most powerful anti-corruption posts amid a packed investigative docket.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Remulla on Tuesday, October 7, succeeding former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, whose term expired in July. Remulla took his oath of office on Thursday, October 9.

Justice Undersecretary Fredderick Vida will serve as acting Justice Secretary in the meantime.

As Ombudsman, Remulla is expected to face and handle several high-profile cases:

1. Complaints filed against him

Even before assuming office, Remulla faces multiple complaints filed during his tenure as Justice secretary.

Acting Davao City Mayor Paolo Duterte lodged criminal and administrative complaints against Remulla and several officials over the handover of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court on March 11, 2025.

Separately, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio filed arbitrary detention charges against Remulla and National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago for the arrest and detention of Cassandra Ong and Shiela Leal Guo, who were accused of involvement in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators’ illicit activities.

Under standard procedure, officials who are subjects of complaints are expected to inhibit themselves from proceedings related to their own cases.

2. Flood control fund scandal

Remulla will also inherit a major corruption probe into anomalous flood control projects.

On September 1, the Ombudsman created a special panel of prosecutors to investigate alleged irregularities in government infrastructure projects, in coordination with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, the Department of Justice and both chambers of Congress.

By late September, the ICI had recommended filing graft, malversation and falsification charges against former Rep. Zaldy Co and several Department of Public Works and Highways officials.

3. Confidential funds investigation

The Ombudsman is also handling a contentious case involving Vice President Sara Duterte over the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds – P500 million from the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million from the Department of Education between 2022 and 2024.

The probe stems from a recommendation by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability. In June, the Ombudsman directed Duterte and nine other officials to respond to the allegations.

4. Pandemic-time Pharmally scandal

Remulla also vowed to revisit the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. controversy, one of the most prominent corruption cases to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said his office would reexamine findings and testimonies related to the alleged overpricing of medical supplies procured during the Duterte administration, as well as the accountability of officials linked to the transactions.

The case, which previously led to Senate hearings and criminal complaints, has remained largely unresolved since being referred to the Ombudsman in 2022.

Ombudsman’s scope

Under the Constitution and the Ombudsman Act of 1989, the Ombudsman serves as the government’s independent watchdog against corruption and abuse in public service.

The office has broad authority to investigate, prosecute, and discipline public officials – from rank-and-file employees to Cabinet members – when misconduct, negligence, or misuse of public funds is suspected.

The Ombudsman can:

Initiate investigations on its own or upon complaint;

Direct public officials to act on or cease improper conduct;

Recommend suspension, removal, or criminal prosecution of erring officials;

Access government documents and financial records;

Administer oaths, issue subpoenas, and hold individuals in contempt; and

Publicize findings when warranted, ensuring reports are balanced and factual.

The office also has authority to recover ill-gotten wealth acquired after Feb. 25, 1986-when the current president’s father was deposed as dictator through People Power Revolution.

The Ombudsman, notably, is also expected to push for reforms that eliminate inefficiency, red tape, and corruption across government agencies.

Remulla steps into an institution under intense public scrutiny and charged with investigating some of the most politically sensitive cases in government.

The office he now leads holds sweeping powers to seek accountability, but its credibility depends on whether he can wield those powers with impartiality.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will start the voter registration for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Oct. 20.

The registration, which will be conducted nationwide except in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), will run until May 18.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the voter registration for the barangay and SK elections in the BARMM will start on May 1 and will also end on May 18.

Garcia said the Comelec opted to start the voter registration for the barangay and SK polls in the Bangsamoro region after holding the first BARMM parliamentary election, which is scheduled in March.

He said conducting the registration simultaneously may create confusion among BARMM voters, who may think the activity is for the parliamentary elections.

The Comelec said it is expecting up to 1.4 million applicants during the seven-month registration period.

Almost three million prospective voters have submitted applications in the last national voter registration held from Aug. 1 to 10.

The barangay and SK elections will be conducted nationwide in December 2026.

The construction and real estate industries are major contributors to economic growth. Businessmen say thousands of jobs in these industries are currently as frozen as the assets of controversial contractors and public works officials.

Approvals for collecting payments from government agencies have also become more complicated, with the required signatures tripling or even quadrupling. This time, the businessmen say the red tape is meant not to collect grease money or ‘facilitation fees,’ but to spread culpability or broaden deniability in case a project is deemed to be anomalous by probers.

The real property sector had already taken a hit from the property bubble created by the proliferation – and then the abrupt shutdown – of Philippine offshore gaming operators.

Now the construction sector and its downstream industries are reportedly being battered. The corruption scandal has spread to substandard, overpriced or non-existent farm-to-market roads, schools and hospitals.

This week, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Francis Lim lamented in a speech that the ‘crisis of confidence’ arising from the corruption scandal has wiped out an eye-watering P1.7 trillion in market value from the stock market. Lim described corruption as a ‘weapon of mass wealth destruction.’

Presidential investment and economics adviser Frederick Go clarified that the P1.7 trillion was based on sensationalized ‘fake news’ posted on social media, although there has been a slide on a much smaller scale in the stock market in recent weeks.

Regardless of the actual amount of market value losses, the scandal is turning the country into Asia’s basket case. Not only because of the staggering extent of the corruption now being uncovered, but also because of perceptions that after all the hue and cry, there will only be token punishments. The big fish will get a slap on the wrist and everything will return to business as usual.

Surely there are honest, competent folks who are in government not to rob the nation but to serve the people and the greater good. But for now, they are being tainted by too many rotten eggs at all levels of government.

Are we a nation of thieves? We’re seeing the impact of this perception in that incident reported by One News’ Gretchen Ho, whose mother was humiliated when a foreign exchange dealer at the airport in Oslo, Norway, upon seeing the Philippine passport, refused to accept her 300 US dollars for currency conversion for fear that it was dirty money being laundered.

The currency dealer reportedly acted on an advisory that had not yet been updated: the inclusion of the Philippines in the gray list of countries under closer monitoring for money laundering by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force.

The FATF took the Philippines out of the gray list last February; the European Union did the same only in August. The currency dealer in Norway – a non-EU state that is part of the Schengen visa zone – still had the old FATF alert, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

We might yet be returned to the gray list, if the FATF would take a closer look at our election campaign system and consider the ongoing corruption scandal.

Being flagged for dirty money at currency exchanges abroad is just one of the hassles Filipinos go through because of weak governance and development woes.

A nation’s standing in the international community is reflected in the strength of passports. Singaporeans, who hold the world’s strongest passport as per the Henley Passport Index for 2025, can enter 192 out of 227 global travel destinations visa-free; the second-ranked South Koreans, 190, and the third-ranked Japanese, 189.

Filipinos, ranked 74th, are visa-free only in 64 destinations. When applying for a Schengen visa, we must submit not only an originally issued birth certificate, income tax return and certificate of employment, but also bank statements with transaction records covering six to eight months depending on the Schengen Area state issuing the visa.

Those are humiliating requirements that I suspect are meant to ensure that the applicant is no hampaslupa planning to become a TNT living off welfare or refugee applicant status within the Schengen zone. But the stringent requirements can’t prevent all the obscenely wealthy Pinoy money launderers from entering Europe, buying up properties and regularly depositing their loot in Switzerland.

The robbers in our country would have scoffed at money laundering involving such a miniscule amount; $300 would buy only one Hermes handkerchief. But that Norway incident deserves attention, because the millions of Filipinos working overseas could suffer the same humiliation.

One answer is to show a resolute response to the corruption problem. China has executed several former officials for corruption, with another ex-minister currently on two-year suspended death sentence. South Korea has sent several former presidents to prison for graft.

We abolished capital punishment. But we can present to the world a swift and credible probe, with full transparency, accompanied by structural reforms to rebuild damaged institutions rather than just patch them up like Humpty Dumpty, and of course the speedy prosecution and punishment of the guilty.

It’s unfortunate that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure has steadfastly refused to open even part of its hearings to the public, preferring instead to conduct its probe like the Supreme Court, to which the ICI chair used to belong. The Philippine judiciary is not known for integrity; it warranted special mention even in the US State Department’s latest country assessments for corruption.

The impression is that it’s just business as usual in dribbling justice, with VIPs mollycoddled. So far the ICI has questioned the Discayas, former Senate finance committee chair Grace Poe and former public works chief Mark Villar. What these key players told the ICI is left to conjecture, fueling suspicions of hush-hush arrangements.

It seems the ICI tack is to wear out those demanding open hearings, as cases crawl at the usual glacial pace through the legal mill. In the meantime, toss the Marites mill a bone, such as the request for immigration lookout bulletin orders for the big guns.

ILBOs, which Jesus Crispin Remulla promptly approved in a parting act as justice secretary, won’t stop any of the 33 covered people from leaving the country.

The government will have to do more than this, to reassure Filipinos and the world that genuine change is on the way – soon, and with full transparency, the lack of which was a key factor in dragging the nation into this mess.