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Bjorn Kristensen put on a masterclass performance by scoring all four goals as the Philippine men’s football team thrashed Timor-Leste, 4-1, in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on Thursday in Darwin, Australia.

Kristensen continued to establish himself as the team’s talisman, scoring his first two goals inside the first half-hour before two more in the second half to slammed the door shut on Timor-Leste after pulling one back after halftime.

Behind Kristensen, the Philippines took the provisional lead in Group A of third round qualification for the continental tournament with seven points on two wins and one draw, three ahead of Tajikistan.

Tajikistan was scheduled to take on Maldives as of posting time.

It was the first of two matches in this international window between the two nations, with the next slated Tuesday at New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac. Timor-Leste served as the home team but had to play in Darwin as no stadium passed strict AFC requirements.

The big night allowed Kristensen to register 12 goals in 14 appearances in a Philippine shirt, a remarkable output for the 23-year-old striker.

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The Philippines got on board in the 15th minute when Sandro Reyes put up a cross to Kristensen, who followed up his first attempt blocked by Timor-Leste goalkeeper Georgino.

Kristensen doubled the lead in the 31st when he beat out four defenders from near the other half of the field before firing a right-footed shot.

Timor-Leste got on board shortly after the restart when Gali Freitas scored past the edge of the box, only for Kristensen to continue his goal-scoring ways in a matter of seconds, heading Georgino’s deflection that hit the crossbar from close range to make it 3-1 in the 48th.

The fourth goal came in the 56th as Kristensen received Sandro Reyes’ pass off three defenders before beating Georgino yet again.

The Taguig City Police on Thursday warned the public of a scammer using a substation commander’s name in phone calls to demand money.

In a statement late Thursday afternoon, the Taguig City Police Station said the scammer had been using the name of Police Cpt. Jerson Cariño Castillo.

‘There is indeed a legitimate police officer named P/Cpt. Jerson Cariño Castillo, currently the Station Commander of Police Substation 8,’ the Taguig police explained.

‘However, he has no connection whatsoever to any extortion or harassment activity. His name is being illegally used by scammers to demand money from victims with alleged debts to lending institutions,’ it added.

In a phone interview with reporters later on Thursday, Southern Police District (SPD) public information chief Lt. Margaret Panaga said the alleged scam call took place last Monday. ‘Ang ginawa is tumawag siya (scammer) doon sa number ng asawa niya nung October 6 and ang sabi is sasampahan daw sila ng estafa,’ Panaga explained.

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(The scammer called the recipient’s spouse last October 6 and the scammer said they’ll sue them for estafa.)

‘But, the call recipient does not have debt,’ she added.

According to the SPD public information chief, the call recipient reported the incident to the 8888 citizens’ complaint hotline, which notified the Taguig police last Tuesday.

Panaga noted that police have yet to track down the call recipient through the complaint.

New Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will not allow any ‘sacred areas’ that cannot be touched or investigated on the alleged anomalies in flood control projects across the country.

This is the position expressed on Thursday by ICI Special Adviser and Investigator, former Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr Azurin was answering a question in an ambush interview whether or not there would be ‘sacred areas’ that cannot be probed by the commission.

‘Definitelly, we will not allow that. We will investigate everything,’ he emphasized.

Azurin likewise said that he, along with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, may start inspecting flood control projects next week.

Earlier this Thursday, Dizon revealed that 421 out of the 8,000 inspected flood control projects nationwide are ‘ghost projects.’

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Meanwhile, the new ICI special adviser acknowledged that the task he is currently taking on is challenging, citing that he replaced Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

‘Of course, it’s quite big and extremely difficult because we replaced Gen. Magalong. But we can handle it,’ he said.

A House lawmaker on Thursday called out Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Francis Lim for making ‘bombastic statements based on wrong information’ after he claimed in a public forum that P1.7 trillion in market value was wiped out in just three weeks due to the flood control scandal.

House infrastructure committee chair and Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said Lim must explain the source of his claim, ‘as it does not accurately reflect current and historical conditions of the Philippine capital market.’

This came after Lim, during the 57th annual Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) Conference on Oct. 7, claimed that P1.7 trillion in the market value of companies listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange was wiped out from Aug. 11 to Aug. 29 amid mounting allegations of corruption involving high-ranking officials in government infrastructure projects.

‘Investors aren’t fleeing because of weak fundamentals; they’re fleeing because of weak integrity. It’s a stark reminder that corruption is a weapon of mass wealth destruction. When trust breaks down, capital dries up, and everyone-government, business, and the public-pays the price,’ Lim said. A decline in market value essentially means that the share prices of companies are going down due to investors choosing to sell their stocks.

However, Ridon, a lawyer, said that market data showed the decline in the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) began months before the controversy.

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On a six-month view (April 10-October 9), the PSEi had already reached 6,077.82 as early as April 11, 2025, he said.

‘Although a short recovery followed, the broader decline began after July 14, or two weeks before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. exposed the flood control corruption scandal in his State of the Nation Address,’ Ridon said.

Ridon said Lim’s statement ‘appeared even less accurate’ when using a one-year view, noting that the index plunged from a high of 7,456.31 in October to 5,822.85 in April,’ amounting to a 21.9-percent decline three months before the scandal.

These figures, Ridon said, showed that the ongoing corruption scandal ‘was a convenient but inaccurate explanation for the market’s weakness and for the broader slowdown in the economy.’

Separately, Ridon told the Inquirer that regardless of the actual and fake data, ‘the weakening of the stock market is independent of the flood control corruption scandal.’

‘It may have compounded it, but it certainly is not the sole reason for the weakening stock market,’ he added.

On Thursday, Special Adviser to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go also debunked Lim’s claims, saying that the chair was ‘quoting off a confirmed fake news post designed to catch attention and falsely sensationalize.’

‘The attributed source confirmed that this was fake news. The fact is, the drop wasn’t 12 percent. You may confirm this with the Philippine Stock Exchange or your favorite stockbroker,’ Go added.

A previous Inquirer Biz Buzz column last Sept. 5 already debunked a viral post claiming that’Philippines’ Corruption Scandal Triggers P1.7 Trillion Market Meltdown,’ supposedly quoting SandP Global Market Intelligence.

More than 19,000 reports have been received to date by the Sumbong sa Pangulo website since its launch on August 11, according to Palace press officer Claire Castro.

As of 9 a.m. Thursday, Castro reported that 19,729 reports had been submitted through the website launched by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. nearly two months ago. ‘When there are no more reports and it’s over.nothing is coming in, maybe it can be closed,’ she also said.

Marcos unveiled the Sumbong sa Pangulo website, allowing the public to submit comments, suggestions, or feedback on flood-control projects in their areas. Marcos said he will personally review each report.

The initiative is part of the government’s investigation into anomalous projects that contributed to flooding in Metro Manila and several other regions during the rainy season. /mr/abc

Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center has reported an influx of patients following an earthquake that struck La Union on Thursday morning.

‘Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) Emergency Room is experiencing a great influx of patients after the earthquake,’ the Baguio City Health Services Office announced around 1 p.m. in a Facebook post The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) first raised the earthquake’s magnitude to 4.8 before downgrading it to 4.4. Phivolcs noted that the epicenter was located three kilometers east of Pugo, La Union, at 10:30 a.m.

Phivolcs also said that Reported Intensity IV was felt in Pogo and Tubao in La Union and Baguio City.

‘Anyone seeking medical services, first aid, or counseling may go to the Baguio City Health Services Office (BCHSO) located at Teodora Alonzo Street, or to the sixteen (16) District Health Centers within the city,’ the health services office noted. The following district health centers are:

Asin District Health Center

Atab District Health Center

Atok Trail District Health Center

Aurora Hill District Health Center

Campo Filipino District Health Center

Engineer’s Hill District Health Center

Irisan District Health Center

Loakan District Health Center

Mines View District Health Center

Pinsao District Health Center

Quezon Hill District Health Center

Quirino Hill District Health Center

Scout Barrio District Health Center

Pacdal District Health Center

Lucban District Health Center

City Camp District Health Center /mr

Janella Salvador and Klea Pineda sent fans gushing as the pair shared photos of them being cozy with each other – which some deemed as an apparent confirmation of the actresses’ rumored romance.

Salvador initially shared through her X page on Wednesday, Oct. 8, her photos with Jasmine Curtis-Smith, her and Pineda’s co-star in the queer film ‘Open Endings.’

In the snaps, Salvador and Curtis-Smith are in an embrace at what appears to be a public establishment, with the former seemingly drawing nearer the latter’s face to kiss her on the cheek.

‘Ugh, fine. I’ll stop gatekeeping these photos. [I love you],’ Salvador captioned the post, tagging Curtis-Smith. Pineda chimed in on the thread and shared two photos of her and Salvador in which they can be seen in a much tighter embrace and with them taking turns on kissing the other on the cheek.

‘Sige na nga ako din,’ Pineda said. (Fine, I’ll do the same.)

Salvador then reposted the photos, adding the caption, ‘Ay sus, inunahan ako.’

Netizens flocked to the post, expressing curiosity over the real score between the pair.

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ay sus inunahan ako https://t.co/7x212ZgruX

– Janella Salvador (@superjanella) October 8, 2025

Just last September, Salvador and Pineda were also seen enjoying a concert together.

While the pair have remained mum on their relationship status, Salvador hinted, ‘Kung ano nakikita niyo, ‘yun na ‘yun.’ /ra

Thunderstorms are expected to affect parts of Cavite, Bulacan, and Quezon, bringing moderate to heavy rains, lightning, and strong winds on Thursday afternoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued a thunderstorm advisory at 1:24 p.m., warning that the weather effects are expected within the next two hours.

In Quezon, the affected areas will be Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Agdangan, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Pagbilao, Sampaloc, Tayabas, Lucban, Lucena, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Calauag, Lopez, General Luna, Catanauan, Macalelon, Mulanay, San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Buenavista, Perez, Alabat, Quezon and Mauban. Meanwhile in Bulacan, the towns of Marilao, Obando, Meycauayan, San Jose del Monte, Santa Maria, Bocaue and Bulakan are covered by the advisory.

Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal and Batangas are already experiencing similar conditions which may continue within the next two hours and affect nearby areas.

In a separate post, Pagasa reported that Tropical Storm Nakri (international name) has now entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was locally named Quedan.

The agency earlier said that Quedan will not have a direct effect on the country’s weather and sea conditions.

The Supreme Court (SC) will conduct an inventory of all projects within the judiciary that may have been contracted to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

This move comes amid the government’s ongoing probe into anomalous infrastructure projects across the country, acting Chief Justice Marvic Leonen said on Thursday during the oath-taking of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla. In his message, Leonen said the SC is already implementing reforms to ensure integrity within its ranks, noting that the Court’s public email address ([email protected]) is open for reports on any corruption involving the judicial body.

‘The Court en banc has also agreed to create a working committee to inventory any and all projects within the judiciary that might have been contracted to and undertaken by the DPWH if any and to report soonest to the chief justice as [to] their status,’ said Leonen.

He then emphasized in the same message that the judiciary will fulfill its part in supporting Remulla in his role as Ombudsman.

‘Remember always: While we enjoy these temporary titles, we should do what we should,’ Leonen told Remulla.

‘We trained for this. Your life, all your challenges, brought you to where you are now. I ask of you, do not fail our people. They continue to suffer,’ he told the new ombudsman. /apl

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is stepping up programs to support micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs), which make up over 90 percent of all registered businesses in the country but continue to face low productivity and lack of financing. DTI-Bukidnon provincial director Famelah R.D. Villanueva told reporters that while MSMEs contribute 16 percent of national employment, many remain constrained by outdated technology and limited access to affordable credit.

To boost productivity, DTI provides Shared Service Facilities (SSF) that give cooperators access to modern equipment.

After two years of sustained use, these facilities may be awarded to them free of charge.

Other agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), and PhilMech, also extend equipment support, particularly to agri-based enterprises, Villanueva noted.

On financing, Villanueva admitted many micro-entrepreneurs remain ‘non-bankable’ due to a lack of formal records, prompting them toward exploitative informal lenders. To address this, DTI’s financing arm-the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp.)-offers flexible and more affordable loan schemes, with offices in Malaybalay City and Maramag, and applications accessible online or via Negosyo Centers.

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Bukidnon has 23 Negosyo Centers covering all cities and municipalities except Malaybalay, where the DTI provincial office currently serves as the main hub. Plans are underway to open a dedicated Negosyo Center in the city.

‘MSMEs are the backbone of our economy. For them to thrive, we must ensure access to the right tools, technologies, and financing,’ Villanueva said./coa