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Taal Volcano continues to shake, logs 8 earthquakes

Taal Volcano in Batangas province continued to record volcanic earthquakes, logging eight in the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Thursday (October 29).

The latest volcanic earthquakes was lower in number from 13 the previous day, Phivolcs said in its morning bulletin.

Phivolcs logged eight volcanic earthquakes and one tremor lasting 31 hours and 44 minutes on Oct. 26, followed by six earthquakes and one prolonged tremor on Oct. 25. Seven earthquakes were recorded on Oct. 24, while 29 earthquakes and 20 tremors were logged on Oct. 23.

The volcano has recorded seismic activity on most days this month, with no volcanic earthquakes reported on Oct. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7.

According to Phivolcs, volcanic earthquakes are generated by magma-related processes beneath or near an active volcano. Unlike tectonic earthquakes, which result from movement along faults, volcanic earthquakes are associated with processes linked to volcanic activity.

The continuing seismic activity comes amid a series of phreatic and phreatomagmatic eruptions recorded at Taal Volcano in October.

Phivolcs reported two phreatic, or steam-driven, eruptions on Oct. 19 and another on Oct. 20. An additional phreatic eruption was included in the agency’s Oct. 21 morning bulletin.

The agency also recorded a phreatomagmatic eruption on Oct. 8, two more on Oct. 21, and another on Oct. 22.

Despite the recorded earthquakes and recent minor eruptions, Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 1, indicating low-level volcanic unrest

’The world of dela Rosa is getting smaller’ – Castro

The world of fugitive Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa is getting smaller following the government’s offer of a P50-million reward for his capture.

This is what Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Thursday.

At a briefing in Bukidnon, Castro said operations to capture dela Rosa are ongoing, but she could not disclose details to avoid compromising them.

‘Totoo na lumiliit ang mundo ni Senator Bato (It is true that the world of Senator Bato is getting smaller),’ she said when asked for information about the senator’s capture.

She explained that this is ‘because anyone who spots him can immediately report the information to the PNP [Philippine National Police] and other law enforcement agencies.’

‘NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] Director Matibag has also said that he has been receiving information about the whereabouts of Senator Bato dela Rosa,’ she noted.

Castro also defended the need to offer a prize for dela Rosa’s capture after Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson questioned the need for a cash reward for information that will lead to his fellow senator’s arrest.

She said the money will come from the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s intelligence funds.

‘The money will not be spent if it did not produce results because they would be questioned about it,’ the Palace spokesperson remarked.

‘So, as Senator Lacson said, if the location is already known, if you were Senator Bato and you knew that your location had been identified, wouldn’t you move somewhere else to avoid getting caught?’ she asked.

‘The manhunt continues. The pursuit of Senator Bato dela Rosa continues. Wherever he goes, those who need to be apprehended must be caught,’ she repeated.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest against dela Rosa for his role as the national police chief during then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs from 2016 to 2018.

He was named a co-perpetrator in the ICC’s investigation on crimes against humanity.

Dela Rosa went into hiding after reappearing at the Senate last May 11.

PSE nears full PDS Group takeover

The Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) is nearing full ownership of Philippine Dealing System Holdings Corp. (PDS Group) after signing a deal to acquire another block that would raise its holdings to about 97.63 percent.

In a disclosure on Wednesday, PSE said it had signed a share purchase agreement for 192,776 common shares of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), representing 3.08 percent of PDS.

This brings the local bourse closer to its goal of owning the entire PDS Group, which operates the country’s bond trading platform and provides securities depository services.

This will allow the unification of capital market infrastructure, which has taken decades of on-and-off deal-making.

At the P600-per-share acquisition price listed in the filing, the DBP shares will cost about P115.67 million. The transaction is subject to customary post-closing conditions.

PSE currently beneficially owns 94.55 percent of PDS after buying out banks and other institutional shareholders.

For the broader acquisition program, the filing lists 4.8 million shares, or 76.74 percent of PDS’ outstanding capital stock, and an aggregate purchase price of P2.76 billion.

The pricing was based on PDS’ enterprise value of P3.75 billion.

PDS owns Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp., which operates the fixed-income exchange, and a 97.72-percent stake in Philippine Depository and Trust Corp.

PSE wants the acquisition to help companies access both equity and debt funding through a single venue for listing and capital raising.

It also expects the integration of trading, depository, clearing and settlement functions to improve efficiency.

‘These transactions are part of PSE’s plan to acquire up to 100 percent of [PDS] to align the Philippine capital market with other markets globally which have a single exchange structure for fixed income and equities,’ the exchange said.

‘The transaction results in a vertical integration of the depository function within the same group that operates trading, clearing and settlement of listed securities,’ it added.

The DBP deal follows a series of purchases that made PDS a majority-owned PSE subsidiary in December 2024.

In January, PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon outlined a plan to dissolve PDS, with its operating subsidiaries to be held directly by the exchange.

Tinubu: With N758bn bond, minimum guarantee pension, PenCare, no retiree will be forgotten

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said approved the N758B Federal Government Pension Bond to settle accrued pension rights and strengthen the Pension Protection Fund to reverse the injustice in Nigeria’s pension system.

The President stated this on Thursday at the inaugural National Pension Week Leadership Summit held at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Tinubu who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume also declared that no Nigerian who has served the nation will be forgotten in retirement, as his administration moves to restore dignity, security and measurable value to the Contributory Pension Scheme.

Delivering the President’s address themed ‘Pensions for All: Building a Secure Future Together,’ Akume said President Tinubu views pension as a national obligation, not a favour.

‘A pension is not a favour granted by Government. It is a wage earned, deferred and held in trust. It is a promise. And this Administration has resolved that the promise will be kept,’ the President said.

President Tinubu disclosed that he inherited pension obligations deferred for far too long, with retirees waiting years for accrued rights.

To reverse the injustice, he approved the N758B Federal Government Pension Bond to settle accrued pension rights and strengthen the Pension Protection Fund.

‘That was not an accounting exercise. It was an act of restitution to Nigerians who served their country and were made to wait for what they had earned,’ Akume said on behalf of the President.

In a landmark policy shift, the President announced that his administration will finally honour the Minimum Pension Guarantee provision of the Pension Reform Act 2014 – a promise that has never been implemented since enactment over 11 years ago.

‘Since enactment, that promise has never been honoured. Under President Tinubu, it will be,’ the SGF declared.

He further announced the launch of PenCare, a national retiree wellbeing programme that will begin by giving low-income retirees access to essential healthcare – marking a decisive shift from a system that merely holds savings to one that guarantees a floor of dignity.

According to President Tinubu, a strong pension system is both a social protection imperative and a strategic pillar of economic transformation under the Renewed Hope Agenda, mobilising long-term domestic savings, deepening financial markets and supporting productive investment.

The President, however, warned that government cannot deliver retirement security alone. He charged the National Pension Commission to remain firm, fair and forward-looking and enforce the law without fear or favour; charged employers public and private to remit contributions fully and promptly, noting that ‘to deduct a worker’s contribution and fail to remit it is not an administrative lapse. It is a breach of trust.’

The President challenged Pension Fund Administrators and Custodians to deepen expertise, diversify responsibly, drive down costs and measure success not by assets under management but by what each contributor ultimately receives.

‘Preservation without growth is a slow erosion. Retirement savings that fail to keep pace with inflation quietly betray the very people who saved them,’ the President cautioned, insisting that security of capital and disciplined growth must go together.

He stressed that while pension assets should help build Nigeria through infrastructure and productive enterprise, national development must never come at the expense of pensioners. Every investment, he said, must pass rigorous tests of risk and return and serve contributors’ best interests.

President Tinubu also directed an aggressive push beyond the formal sector, saying traders, artisans, farmers, transport workers and millions of self-employed Nigerians deserve a realistic pathway to secure old age through the Personal Pension Plan and new distribution channels.

‘Pensions for All must mean exactly that: all,’ he said.

He called on State Governments, organised labour and all stakeholders to join hands to expand coverage and deepen compliance, insisting the Summit must not end in speeches but in measurable commitments: more Nigerians enrolled, faster payment of benefits, stronger investment performance, clearer disclosure and more dignified outcomes.

‘The true measure of our success will not be how much money the system holds. It will be how much security, and how much dignity, it delivers,’ President Tinubu declared.

‘Above all, no Nigerian who has served this nation will be forgotten in retirement. Nigeria will keep faith with those who kept faith with Nigeria.’

Philippines to remain Mitsubishi Motors ‘priority’

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) is keeping its faith in the Philippines as one of its ‘priority markets,’ even as its Japanese parent reassesses its focus on Southeast Asia amid intensifying competition from Chinese automakers.

In a statement sent to the Inquirer, MMPC reaffirmed its commitment to the automotive industry in the Philippines, one of three priority markets identified in Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s medium-to long-term strategy, alongside Vietnam and Japan.

‘We see long-term potential in the Philippines automotive market,’ the company said.

‘MMC has identified the Philippines as a priority market in its mid-to-long-term strategy, reflecting its continued importance to [the] company’s regional presence,’ it added.

Such an assurance comes after a recent report by Tokyo-based Nikkei Asia that Mitsubishi Motors was rethinking its strategic emphasis on Southeast Asia, where Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers have been steadily gaining ground.

In the Philippines, MMPC is already facing stiffer competition from Chinese automotive giant BYD, which had climbed to become the country’s third-bestselling automotive brand as of August. BYD has sold 28,399 units since the start of the year.

MMPC, however, maintained a comfortable lead over BYD, having sold 46,162 units during the same period.

Citing remarks from a briefing in May, Nikkei Asia reported that Mitsubishi Motors CEO Takao Kato had acknowledged that the automaker had ‘leaned too heavily’ toward developing products for Southeast Asia.

As such, the Japanese automaker was reportedly looking to strengthen its presence in developed markets, including the United States and Oceania, while reducing the number of new models developed specifically for Southeast Asia.

Even with the shift, MMPC said it remained committed to expanding its Philippine operations

Impeach court hails survey showing 51% of Filipinos will accept its ruling

The Senate impeachment court expressed satisfaction on Thursday after a survey showed that 51 percent of Filipinos are ready to accept its verdict on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

This pertains to a Social Weather Stations survey conducted from Sept. 21 to 27, 2026.

The survey also found that 26 percent of Filipinos do not agree with adopting the impeachment court’s ruling.

‘Ultimately, the Court is fortified by SWS’s finding that 51% of Filipinos (+25 net) commit to accepting the Senate’s final verdict, a baseline of institutional legitimacy,’ impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol wrote in a statement.

Still, Tongol said that the court is more intent on gaining the trust of the ‘undecided and skeptical segments of the public.’

‘Rather than treating these numbers with complacency, the Impeachment Court views the remaining undecided and skeptical segments of the public as a continuing challenge to demonstrate transparent, rules-based impartiality,’ he pointed out.

Moreover, Tongol welcomed the survey results as proof of ‘highly engaged citizenry’ and a recognition that the Senate is the sole tribunal authorized to try impeachment cases.

He also noted that the survey will not affect the senator-judges’ final decision.

Currently, the impeachment trial of Duterte is on a break.

It will resume on November 9 with the defense team’s presentation of exhibits on the vice president’s alleged unexplained wealth

Kris Aquino recalls asking doctor for kiss on the lips before operation

Kris Aquino shared a hilarious encounter with a doctor whom she-while under anesthesia-asked for a kiss on the lips during a medical procedure.

‘I will not name the doctor and this is not the doctor who was my boyfriend. This is a very well respected doctor,’ she shared during her TV reunion with her close friend Boy Abunda on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda’ on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

‘Kasi nabigyan na ako ng anesthesia pero hindi pa ‘yung todo so medyo gising-gising pa ako. Then I saw him and I know how busy he is. He’s super respected talaga -and then I was saying ‘You have to kiss me. You have to kiss me on the lips’-in the operating room. And si Bimb, sinabi niya, ‘Mama, not on the lips! Only on the cheek!” she narrated, referring to her youngest son.

Kris said that even in her groggy state, she even reasoned out to Bimby and said she and the doctor are ‘already adults,’ so he could kiss her on the lips.

‘[He said], ‘Mama, you’re really embarrassing! Stop and don’t embarrass him!’ And then I said, holding hands na lang,’ she continued. ‘Holding hands kami until nakatulog ako.’

The Queen of All Media noted she was unaware of what she had said at the time and only learned about it after the operation.

‘[It was a] two-and-a-half-hour operation and then he (doctor) waited until natapos. Sabay kaming lahat umalis and since then, never na niyang sinagot yung messages ko,’ she said, bursting into laughter.

‘Siguro feeling niya, ‘That girl is weird! Ayoko na siyang maging pasyente!” she stated.

Doctor for a partner

During the interview, Kris and Abunda also talked about her love life, with the actress-TV host expressing hope that she would eventually meet someone she could spend her life with.

‘I want to end up with someone na kakampi ko, kasi hindi naman nawawala sa akin na Bimb is 19. He deserves a life. His life should not just revolve around taking care of his Mama,’ she said.

Further sharing her preference in a partner, she continued, ‘Gusto ko talaga doctor.’

‘Hopefully somebody na hindi magpi-freak out kapag tumigil ako ng paghinga. Nangyari na, e. I stopped breathing for two minutes, just this year. My heart was beating but my lungs stopped. So I want someone na if that happens, won’t panic,’ she added.

Kris’ last relationship was with Dr. Mike Padlan, who was one of her physicians while she was undergoing treatment in the United States. They broke up in 2025.

Shin now 4-up; Avaricio, Kim in all-out ladies battle

Micah Shin stayed on attack mode on the course he calls home, churning out an eagle-spiked four-under-par 68 to widen his lead over Clyde Mondilla to four halfway through the P2.5-million ICTSI Apo Golf Classic in Davao, where Chanelle Avaricio and Seo Yun-kim of South Korea are locked in a tight battle for the ladies’ crown.

The 29-year-old Shin, a Korean-American who spent his childhood years honing his game at the tree-lined layout, actually played his final 13 holes starting from No. 15 at five-under as he held off Mondilla to take a 134 aggregate into the third round on Thursday.

‘Today was actually worse than yesterday, but I got some lucky breaks and made some really good par saves,’ said Shin, who eagled the par-5 18th, even as Mondilla, the champion last week at nearby South Pacific, signed for a 69 to keep his back-to-back bid alive.

Sean Ramos also submitted a 69 to be five off the pace, with Tae Soo-kim of Korea and unheralded Jeremy Tandoy firing 70s for 140s as they make up the upper half of the 12 players remaining to be under-par at the halfway mark over one of the toughest courses in the land.

Meanwhile, Avaricio, the defending champion, scrambled to save a 72 and keep a share of the lead, this time with Kim, who fired a second straight 71 for 142.

The final round of the P1.25-million ladies event will be played Thursday with Harmie Constantino, who dropped out of a share of the lead with Avaricio after firing a 74, and Princess Superal, who gutted out a 71, down by two shots.

Daniella Uy remained mathematically in the hunt after shooting a 72 to stay four behind, with Yvon Bisera and Sarah Ababa, proud daughters of Apo Golf, within six shots of the lead after a 73 and 72, respectively.

After hitting 15 greens in an efficient second-round effort, Kim will be rewarded by playing in the final flight ranged against the seasoned Avaricio, who won last week at South Pacific.

EFCC hands over N1.05bn recovered for disengaged Adamawa teachers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over a bank draft valued at ?1.054 billion recovered for 659 disengaged staff of the Adamawa State Post-Primary Schools Management Board.

Speaking at the brief handover ceremony, the Acting Zonal Director of Gombe Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Austine Adache, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to accountability, justice and restitution of recovered funds to their rightful beneficiaries.

He emphasised that the EFCC remained committed to ensuring that victims of financial misconduct receive appropriate redress in accordance with the law.

Leading the beneficiaries, their counsel, Luka Musa Haruna, SAN, who received the bank draft on their behalf, expressed profound appreciation to the Commission for its painstaking investigation and commitment to securing the recovery. He stated that he had consistently maintained confidence in the EFCC’s capacity to combat economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

Similarly, Abraham B. Song, the petitioner whose complaint initiated the investigation, commended the Commission for its prompt intervention. He noted that the recovered funds would significantly alleviate the financial losses and hardship suffered by the affected staff.

The recovery followed a petition submitted to the EFCC in 2024 by Song, who alleged that the beneficiaries were employed by the Adamawa State Government in 2012 and served for 29 months in various secondary schools across the state.

According to the petitioner, their appointments were declared illegal by the state government in 2014, following which the affected staff instituted proceedings before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Yola Judicial Division, sitting in Jos. The court subsequently ordered the Adamawa State Government to pay their outstanding entitlements.

However, the alleged failure to comply with the court’s order resulted in garnishee proceedings against the state government’s accounts.

In the course of its investigation, the EFCC reportedly received intelligence indicating a potential risk of suspicious misapplication of the funds. The Commission consequently took steps to preserve the funds pending the outcome of its investigation, ultimately facilitating their recovery and restitution to the beneficiaries.

The recovery and subsequent handover underscore the EFCC’s commitment to protecting the interests of victims of financial wrongdoing and ensuring that recovered proceeds are returned to their rightful owners.

The handover marks a significant milestone for the affected staff, who have pursued the payment of their entitlements for years, and demonstrates the importance of effective investigation and inter-agency engagement in the recovery and restitution of funds.

DOT eyes new diving tourism spot in Misamis Oriental

The Department of Tourism in Northern Mindanao (DOT-10) has identified Initao, Misamis Oriental, as a potential new diving destination after underwater exploration reportedly uncovered a rare marine species believed to be uncommon in the Philippines.

In an interview Tuesday, Ivy Guantero, DOT-10 promotion head, said the discovery will be revealed at the culmination of the three-day Misamis Oriental Dive Festival, or MisOr Divefest, which is tentatively scheduled to begin on Nov. 12, 2026.

‘The discovery is expected to further enhance Misamis Oriental’s growing potential as a marine tourism destination, particularly for scuba diving, underwater photography and macro photography,’ she said.

Guantero said the newly explored underwater site in Initao could become another attraction for divers and marine enthusiasts, though the event is expected to disclose further details about the species and its significance.

The three-day festival is expected to feature diving activities at several coastal destinations across the province, including Gingoog City, Medina, Talisayan, Laguindingan, Balingoan and Initao, subject to the final program and arrangements.

Organizers are also seeking financial support from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) of Misamis Oriental to help stage the event and promote the province’s underwater attractions.

Gov. Juliette Uy has expressed support for the initiative by asking the provincial board to approve financial assistance for the festival.

The proposed event venue is on the fifth floor of SM CDO Downtown, though organizers said the venue and final schedule remain subject to confirmation.

The 2026 MisOr Divefest will be the second edition of the provincial diving festival, following its inaugural staging in 2025. It is also part of ongoing efforts to promote diving destinations in Northern Mindanao, where Camiguin is already known for its established dive sites.

Tourism stakeholders hope the festival will help generate greater interest in the province’s coastal communities, promote marine conservation, and create new opportunities for sustainable tourism and local livelihoods.

Identifying Initao as a potential new dive destination could further strengthen Misamis Oriental’s marine tourism portfolio, particularly if subsequent exploration and scientific assessment confirm the uniqueness and conservation value of the reported marine species