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A magnitude 2.5 earthquake struck off the town of Calatagan in Batangas province on Thursday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

According to Phivolcs, the epicenter of the minor tectonic earthquake, which occurred at 4:51 p.m., was located 21 kilometers southwest of the town. It had a depth of 98 kilometers.

A tectonic earthquake is caused by sudden movements along faults and plate boundaries.

Phivolcs said the tremor is not expected to cause any damage or aftershocks. Another magnitude 2.5 tectonic tremor also hit Calatagan on Oct. 6.

Calatagan is located 71 kilometers from Batangas City and 131 kilometers from Metro Manila.

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Batangas is among the most seismically active areas in the Philippines, primarily due to the Lubang Fault situated between Mindoro Island and Batangas.

The Philippines sits along the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire,’ where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. /mr

Frederick Go, special assistant to the president for investment and economic affairs, on Thursday allayed concerns raised by the United States State Department that corruption remains a major barrier to investments in the Philippines.

He said the administration’s ongoing probe shows its seriousness in pursuing clean governance.

At a briefing, the official was asked whether or not Malacañang is bothered by the assessment and how it would affect the Philippines’ image globally. ‘I’d just like to stress that the swiftness and decisiveness of the president (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) shows the resolve of the government to clean up corruption, which is good for the economy and builds confidence,’ Go responded.

‘From the formation of respectable members of the independent commission to the very swift appointment of an Ombudsman with gravitas (high seriousness), it shows how serious the president is about fixing this problem,’ he also said.

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Go noted that ‘the negativity is overblown’ and that the Congress and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s probe into anomalous flood-control projects will be good for the country in the long run.

‘The effect of this is that the budget, and we already see it now, will be more efficiently spent and allocated on more productive programs which will benefit the country and our people,’ explained the presidential assistant.

‘Better deployment of the budget will result in projects with greater multiplier effect, bringing about better effects on the economy and jobs created. So while this may be a short-term issue, it definitely will have long-term benefits,’ he added.

According to the 2025 Investment Climate Statement, corruption is still a significant barrier to investments in the Philippines.

It cited the country’s rank of 114th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index-a position Philippines has held since 2019. /apl

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday witnessed the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program for Flexible Supervision of Pharmacies.

This initiative was launched by the Food and Drug Administration, the Professional Regulation Commission, and the private sector to enhance access to essential medicines in community pharmacies, especially in underserved areas, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a press release.

‘The pilot program between government agencies and the private sector seeks to address the current shortage of about 27,500 registered pharmacists across the country, as cited by the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC),’ it read. ‘The program aims to address the gap in the availability of registered pharmacists through flexible supervision mechanisms, including telepharmacy and video supervision,’ it also read.

The Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program for Flexible Supervision of Pharmacies will allow licensed pharmacists to remotely supervise multiple community pharmacies.

It will be jointly implemented by the FDA, the Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy, and participating private sector pharmacies.

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Under the signed contract, the FDA will ‘provide regulatory guidance, issue necessary clearances, and oversee the compliance of participating pharmacies with Republic Act No. 10918, or the Philippine Pharmacy Act of 2016,’ which requires one registered pharmacist for every pharmacy.

The program will be implemented until 2027, with potential pilot areas including Caloocan, Manila, Abra, Ilocos, La Union, Camarines Sur, Quezon, Iloilo, Negros, and Misamis.

Three alleged gang members were arrested for allegedly luring a victim with a woman, only to rob him later on in Caloocan City, the Northern Police District (NPD) said.

In a briefing on Thursday, NPD special operations chief Lt. Col. Emmanuel Gomez said the alleged robbery took place at a parking lot in Barangay 78 near Monumento on Wednesday and were later caught in the same barangay that same day. ‘It’s the same modus operandi as the Sputnik gang’s. They use women to be part of their transactions, which is sex or prostitution. They come, then they mob him and hold him up,’ Gomez explained in a mix of Filipino and English.

He noted that the victim did not report the incident to authorities over fear of retaliation, but barangay officials flagged the incident through closed-circuit television footage and reported it to the police.

Authorities recovered the victim’s cellphone, wallet and other personal belongings as well as an improvised pen gun, a bullet and a knife from the suspects, NPD Director Brig. Gen. Jerry Protacio detailed at the briefing.

Protacio only identified the suspects as ‘Jonel,’ 29; ‘Raymond,’ 40; and ‘Billy,’ 42, all of whom have had previous cases of violations of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act and Presidential Decree No. 1602, which penalizes illegal gambling.

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The NPD director further pointed out, in a video shown to reporters at the briefing, that the three suspects all had tattoos on their body indicating that they were part of a certain ‘Sputnik gang.’

Protacio added that authorities have yet to track down the woman whom the suspects used to lure the victim.

At the same briefing, NPD investigation and detective management chief Lt. Col. Angelito de Juan said the district police recorded 88 incidents of robbery from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, arresting 168 suspects in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela.

De Juan said this represented a decrease from the 94 robbery cases it had logged and the 140 suspects it had arrested during the same period in 2024. /jpv

You’d think baring skin on screen is easy when you’ve got a face like Tony Labrusca or Martin del Rosario. But for these actors, ‘sexy’ isn’t as simple as stripping down; it’s also about vulnerability, control, and a lot of courage.

‘Honestly, I always tell people that I’m a good catfish because what you see on screen is just the best version of me,’ Tony Labrusca said, laughing. ‘I’m not really confident with my body. I can’t just show up on set naked. That’s not something I’m comfortable doing.’

Tony plays the titular role in Rodina Singh’s ‘Dreamboi,’ a psychological drama about fantasy, identity, and desire. But for him, sexy isn’t about flexing-it’s about facing insecurities head-on. ‘Just showing up on set gives me a different kind of vulnerability,’ he said during a recent media gathering to launch the CineSilip Film Festival, which runs from Oct. 22 to 28.

‘Because now, it’s not just about showing emotions-you’re literally revealing yourself. That was the most challenging part about doing the film,’ he pointed out. Martin del Rosario, lead of ‘Haplos sa Hangin,’ shared the sentiment. ”Di naman bago sa akin ang paggawa ng sexy roles,’ he began. ‘Pero ito yata ang pinaka-daring kong nagawa. Ang paghuhubad makes you feel vulnerable as actors. We’re lucky we went through an intimacy workshop para ma-set ang boundaries ng isa’t isa.’

For Martin, respect and communication make all the difference when filming intimate scenes. ‘Pwede naman mangyari na maghubad na lang at gawin ang sex scenes, pero at least alam mong may respeto,’ he said. ‘You know when to stop and when to go for it. That’s what’s exciting and challenging about doing erotic films.’

As for how daring his role gets, Martin added: ‘Yes, daring talaga. Poured chocolate on my body, and so there was a lot of licking that happened. But it’s very tastefully done. It has a message the director wants to convey.’ If vulnerability is the new bravery, then the CineSilip Film Festival might just be this year’s boldest stage for it. The festival is showcasing exciting works from emerging Filipino directors. Its fearless lineup says it all.

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Gian Arre’s ‘Ang Lihim ni Maria Makinang’ is a century-spanning romance that unfolds only under the full moon; Rhance Anonuevo-Carino’s ‘Ang Babae sa Butas’ is a mysterious erotic tale about faithfulness, curiosity, and a literal hole in the wall.

Mikko Baldoza’s ‘Haplos sa Hangin’ is a sensual horror where love is tested by obsession and a mysterious neighbor; Alan Habon’s ‘Maria Azama: Da Best Prn Star’ is a sexy comedy where a J-porn actress literally steps out of fantasy and into real life. Pongs Leonardo’s ‘Pagdaong’ is a drama on love, loss, and the transient nature of relationships, while BC Amparado’s ‘Salikmata’ is an erotic psychological thriller told in reverse, tackling manipulation and the unseen.

As festival director Ronald Arguelles put it: ‘This is not just a festival but a platform for fearless storytelling, a space kung saan welcome ang experimentation, kung saan lumalabas ang tunay na creativity ng mga Pinoy. Today, we meet the risk-takers and the dreamers of the seven new feature films. These films will make you laugh, cry, question, and maybe feel uncomfortable-that’s the magic of daring cinema.’

The Senate has received a petition for a writ of habeas corpus from detained contractor Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya, who cited alleged irregularities in his detention under contempt.

In a hearing before the Regional Trial Court of Pasay City, Branch 298, presided over by Judge Melvin Cydrick Bughao, the court ordered that Discaya remain under the safekeeping of the Senate sergeant-at-arms.

Earlier, Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III said the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the anomalous flood control projects will continue amid the change in leadership in the powerful panel. Lawyers representing Discaya argued the legality of his continued detention, while the respondents were represented by the Senate legal counsel. The case is scheduled to resume Monday at 9 a.m., after which it will be turned over to the Office of the Solicitor General for succeeding hearings.

The Senate remains firm in its decision, asserting that the contempt order against Discaya was issued within its constitutional authority.

A 12-year-old boy who went missing while crossing a river was found dead along the shoreline of San Miguel Beach early Thursday morning. According to reports from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the victim, identified as Genesis De Leon, a resident of Barangay Antipolo, allegedly drowned around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday while attempting to cross the Pamatawan River with two friends, aged 10 and 11.

Search and rescue operations were immediately launched, involving residents, the PCG Sub-station in San Antonio, the PNP Maritime Group, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

De Leon’s body was recovered around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, just a few meters from where he was last seen.

Authorities remind the public, especially children, to avoid crossing rivers during unpredictable weather and currents, as safety remains a top priority./coa

A low-pressure area (LPA) is forecast to bring rain in the southern portion of Luzon on Thursday evening, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

The LPA was located 315 kilometers west of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, at 3 p.m., Pagasa recorded.

Pagasa warned that the LPA will cause ‘cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms’ in Metro Manila, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, and Bicol Region. Meanwhile, the southwesterly windflow will carry the same weather conditions to Visayas and Mindanao, while the northeasterly windflow will bring isolated light rains to Batanes and the Babuyan Islands, Pagasa added.

On the other hand, Tropical Storm Quedan (international name: Nakri) will still not affect the Philippines and its current weather conditions until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

According to Pagasa, Quedan remains at the edge of the PAR, at around 1,370 kilometers east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon, moving north-northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph).

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It has maximum sustained winds of 75 kph, and gusts of up to 90 kph. Quedan is expected to be out of the PAR by early Friday morning, based on Pagasa’s forecast.

Another allegedly anomalous government deal, this time involving body-worn cameras amounting to nearly P1 million each, surfaced at a Senate hearing on Thursday.

As the Senate subcommittee on finance tackled the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Transportation, Sen. Raffy Tulfo confronted the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) regarding its procurement of 191 body-worn cameras in 2020, amounting to a total of P168 million.

‘Let me give you a clue – one unit costs ?879,000. That’s for a single body-worn camera,’ Tulfo said when PPA General Manager Jay Santiago asked for time to check their records.

According to Tulfo, he has documents showing that the body-worn cameras were purchased by the PPA from Boston Home Incorporated, a company with only a paid-up capital of P10 million, based on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s records. Upon checking the address of Boston, Tulfo said they found out that it was only holding office in an apartment.

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Santiago initially explained that these body-worn cameras were ‘integrated ‘into their regular surveillance system, being used by their port police.

But Tulfo was not satisfied with Santiago’s explanation.

‘Okay, integrated camera and all, but to cost P879,000? Come on,’ the senator said.

Tulso also revealed that the same company was previously flagged down by the Commission on Audit after it sold defective equipment to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

‘If only you had checked and visited this office, you would have seen that it’s just an apartment, why would we buy hundreds of millions worth of cameras from them? And if you had just done a background check, you would have found out that they had sold defective equipment to the EMB,’ he said in Filipino.

But Santiago defended the agency’s purchase of the body-worn cameras, saying it was in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184 known as the ‘Government Procurement Reform Act.’

‘And just like with other procurements of the Ports Authority, Your Honor – whether for infrastructure, goods, or equipment – we do not make advance payments,’ the PPA head said.

‘Sir, what we’re talking about here is extreme overpricing – this is immoral and highly scandalous,’ Tulfo answered.

Santiago further explained that these were not ordinary cameras as they also come with servers.

Still, Tulfo said the nearly P1 million cost per unit was more expensive than the P135,000 body-worn camera bought by the Philippine National Police.

‘Go to Shopee – it’s ?6,000, all in. But this one costs ?1 million?’ the senator later said and prodded DOTr acting chief Giovanni Lopez to investigate ‘this anomaly.’

‘Secretary, the transaction involving Boston Home is very anomalous. Please investigate – heads must roll,’ Tulfo said.

Lopez, for his part, gave his commitment that he would look into it.

In a statement later released to the media, Santiago clarified that the project, which was undertaken in two phases, amounted to a total of P337 million. Phase 1 of the project, costing P168.8 million, was awarded in 2020 while the second phase, awarded in 2021, was valued at P168.68 million.

The ?168.68 million deal, according to Santiago, was for 164 cameras, which he said was below the ?170 million approved budget for the project.

The contract, he said, also covered not just the cameras but ‘the entire surveillance and evidence-management ecosystem for deployment across 22 Port Management Offices nationwide.’

Regarding the issue of the supplier’s paid-up capital and use of an apartment, the PPA chief noted that it ‘fully satisfied all eligibility requirements during post-qualification.’

Pertinent documents from the Government Procurement Policy Board likewise confirmed that it was not blacklisted by any government entity during the time of procurement in 2020, according to Santiago.

‘At the time of post-qualification, there were no adverse records or blacklisting orders against Boston Home, Inc. The company met all statutory and documentary requirements,’ he stressed.

‘PPA reaffirms that the 2020 Body-Worn Camera (Phase I and II) project followed an open and competitive bidding process, not negotiated procurement,’ Santiago further said.

Also during the hearing, Tulfo asked the PPA about its supposed purchase of six mobile X-ray machines.

Santiago, however, said the transaction did not push through because he was not satisfied after personally inspecting the equipment.

There was not a dry eye at the Dolphy Theater as soon as Piolo Pascual, Maricel Soriano, Belle Mariano, and Juan Karlos Labajo saw the trailer of their film ‘Meet, Greet and Bye’ for the first time.

After all, the upcoming film deals with a heavy topic of sickness and the possibility of death in the family. It follows the the Facundo siblings, namely Tupe (Pascual), Brad (Joshua Garcia), Geri (Mariano), and Leo (Labajo) who are grappling with the their mother Baby’s (Soriano) recurring cancer, and their struggle in dealing with her impending death.

‘Pasensya na, napaka-emotional namin sa pelikula. It was really hard to do because I don’t wanna say personally, but it really hits home, especially for Filipino families,’ Pascual said moments after the film’s trailer was revealed to the public for the first time in a media con, that left even the screen veteran Soriano teary-eyed.

‘It’s something that we have to face inevitably, ang sakit sa puso. When we were doing the film, pinipigilan kami ni Direk [Cathy Garcia-Sampana] kasi bawal kaming umiyak. We were full of emotions [while filming], but we couldn’t show it as much,’ he continued.

And the waterworks continued when Mariano, Labajo, and Pascual were asked about how they would react when faced with the death of a parent.

‘Five minutes,’ Mariano jokingly said in response while wiping tears off her face. ‘I honestly don’t know how I’ll take it. Me as Belle, and not as Geri. Grabe, ang strong, strong ng characters namin kasi just to go through that and face it, I don’t know how I’ll face it. Only time will tell if I’m in that situation. Siguro, I’ll do my best to be strong not only for me, but also for my mama.’

Labajo and Pascual, who both lost their parents at an early age, said no one will be prepared for the heartbreak that comes with losing someone.

‘I’ve been in that situation. I was 12. And I did not know what to do. And it’s okay. It’s okay to not know what to do,’ the ‘Ere’ hitmaker said. ‘There’s no right or wrong answer. We all go through these situations differently. We grieve differently. But at the very end of it, just remember that you’re never alone.’

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Pascual looked back on how he was unable to process the death of his dad, even as he was trying to rein in his emotions.

‘When I lost my Dad, I was 16. I couldn’t process it back then. But now that facing this kind of situation, it’s hard because you’re never prepared for it. But you have to show up not just for yourself but also for your loved ones, especially your mom. No one is prepared for that. Kailangan mong magpakita ng kalakasan kahit masakit (You have to show that you’re strong even if it hurts). It’s hard,’ he said.

Also part of the lead cast is Joshua Garcia, who was unable to join the media con, as it coincided with his personal vacation in celebration of his 28th birthday.

Joining Pascual, Soriano, Garcia, Mariano, and Labajo are Kaila Estrada, Kaori Oinuma, KD Estrada, Matet de Leon, Kit Thompson, and Robbie Jackson. It is set to hit theaters on November 12. /edv