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Pangilinan pushes school safety act passage after another fatal shooting

Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan on Saturday, Sept. 19, said the passage of the Comprehensive School Safety Act is one way to address campus violence following another school shooting incident at a high school in South Cotabato.

Pangilinan expressed sympathies to the families and students affected after a Grade 9 student opened fire at Banga National High School that killed at least three students, including the shooter, and injured six others.

The senator said that among the steps in addressing the rising violence in schools is the Comprehensive School Safety Act, which is set to be passed by the Senate.

‘Kailangang palakasin ng mga paaralan, magulang, komunidad, lokal na pamahalaan, at mga pambansang ahensya ang maagap na pagtugon, mga paraan ng pag-uulat, mental health care, seguridad sa mga paaralan, at responsableng paggamit ng online platforms,’ he said in a statement.

(‘Schools, parents, communities, local governments, and national agencies need to strengthen proactive responses, reporting mechanisms, mental health care, school security, and the responsible use of online platforms,)

He added, ‘Isang agarang hakbang tungo rito ang malapit nang maipasa ng Senado na Comprehensive School Safety Act,’

(‘An immediate step toward this is the Comprehensive School Safety Act, which is set to be passed by the Senate,’)

The bill seeks to strengthen school safeguards, expand mental health services and child protection, promote responsible social media usage, among others.

Once passed into law, campuses are required to implement a comprehensive school safety framework and localized school safety plans, such as the establishment of a safety and security infrastructure and mandatory inspections.

Pangilinan then called for the speed-up process of the investigation, as well as to enforce appropriate actions to address the incident.

‘Nanawagan ako sa pulisya na ganap na ipatupad ang batas, kabilang ang Juvenile Justice Act. Hindi pinapalampas ng batas ang anumang maling ginawa; tinitiyak nito ang pananagutan sa pamamagitan ng ligal at angkop-sa-edad na mga hakbang,’ he said.

Africa has many traditional foods with potential to support nutrition, digestive wellness -Dr Richard Adefioye, food scientist, co-founder of GutNurish

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, then came to the University of Kentucky for my master’s and PhD in Animal and Food Science. My doctoral research focused on nutrition, gut health, immune function and gut-supporting dietary additives, and I have presented that work at various national and international scientific conferences. That research is really the foundation for everything I do now. I work full-time at GutNurish today, applying that scientific training directly to product development, food innovation, and our broader mission.

What is GutNurish, and what problem is it meant to solve?

GutNurish is a Louisville-based food brand that my wife and I co-founded. We started it because we kept seeing the digestive and gut-health challenges many Americans deal with – and, at the same time, we recognised that Africa has numerous traditional foods with real potential to support better nutrition and digestive wellness. Those two observations came together into an opportunity: combine African food heritage with modern nutritional science to create products that are healthy, convenient, and genuinely enjoyable, not just functional.

Your first products are built around ogi. For readers who have never encountered it, what is that exactly?

Ogi is a traditional West African fermented cereal food, usually made from grains such as corn. The fermentation process produces beneficial compounds generally known as postbiotics, which have been shown to support gut health. Fermentation also improves the digestibility of the ogi itself and reduces certain antinutritional compounds that are typically found in cereal grains. So this is a food that has been part of West African diets for generations, and the traditional process behind it aligns closely with what modern gut-health science is now looking for.

Your LinkedIn profile says your doctoral research focused on nutrition, gut health, immune function, and gut-supporting dietary additives. How directly does that connect to what ends up in a GutNurish product?

Very directly. That research is what let me look at ogi and recognise what was actually happening in the fermentation; not just that it is a traditional food, but why it works the way it does: the postbiotic compounds it generates, the improvement in digestibility, and the reduction in anti-nutritional factors. That scientific lens is what allows us to take a process that is centuries old and apply it deliberately.

So, the products we build are grounded in food science rather than just tradition alone.

Your graduate research was on gut health and feed additives in broiler chickens, not in humans. How did that translate into a human food brand?

That is a fair point. My master’s and doctoral work at the University of Kentucky looked specifically at gut health, immune status and gut-supporting feed additives in broiler chickens. However, animal and human nutrition have such a huge overlap that it’s nearly impossible to separate them. That is why a lot of animal modelling is commonplace even in human research.

The underlying biology and how postbiotics interact with gut and immune function are very similar across different species. In fact, it is commonplace to use data generated from other species to generate hypotheses and make inferences about different species subjected to similar experimental conditions.

That being said, I was privileged to take several courses in Human Nutrition during the course of my master’s and doctoral degrees. That wide range of exposure during graduate work is what gave me the framework to look at a fermented food like ogi and ask the right scientific questions about it. Applying that same framework to human food is the throughline between the two halves of my career.

How do you take something like ogi, which is traditionally a porridge, and turn it into the kind of product people pick up off a shelf today?

At GutNurish, we transform ogi into familiar, convenient formats: cultured parfaits, desserts, and smoothies, so people can get the benefit of that fermentation in a format they already recognise and enjoy. The goal is to make it approachable. Someone does not need to know anything about postbiotics or West African food traditions to pick up a parfait and enjoy it, but the science and the heritage are both there underneath it.

You have described the mission as making ‘culturally authentic, gut-supporting foods’ more accessible. What does accessibility mean to you in that sentence?

It means people do not have to already know West African food traditions to try these products, and they should not have to choose between something culturally rooted and something convenient for a busy week. That is part of why we built cultured parfaits, desserts, and smoothies instead of packaging ogi only in its traditional porridge form: familiar formats lower the barrier to trying something new, while the fermentation science underneath still does the work.

What does day-to-day look like for you now that you are working on GutNurish full time?

Most of my time goes into product development and food innovation, taking the science from my doctoral work on nutrition, gut health, and gut-supporting dietary additives and applying it directly to what we build. It is a shift from the research side of my career, but the throughline is the same: nutrition, gut health, and how food affects the body.

Why does it matter to you that this is specifically African food innovation, rather than a gut-health product built from any tradition?

Because Africa has numerous traditional foods with real potential to support better nutrition and digestive wellness, and that potential has not gotten the recognition it deserves in the United States. Ogi is one example of a food that already does, through fermentation, much of what modern gut-health science is trying to engineer from scratch. Bringing that heritage forward, paired with rigorous food science, is how we want to demonstrate the contribution African food innovation can make to human health, animal health, and economic development here.

Where can people find GutNurish products right now?

We currently sell at various farmers’ markets and in five retail stores across Louisville, Kentucky. Since launching, we have served hundreds of customers, and we are preparing to expand into additional retail locations. It has been a steady, deliberate build rather than a rush to scale, and Louisville has been a good place to start: a market where we can meet customers directly at farmers’ markets, hear from them, and refine the products before we grow the footprint further.

What have you heard from customers so far?

We have received encouraging testimonials, including from people with digestive issues who have reported improvements in their symptoms after incorporating our products into their diets. I want to be careful here, because those are individual experiences, not medical claims. But they reinforce our commitment to developing foods that support digestive wellness as part of a healthy lifestyle. That feedback is a big part of what keeps us motivated.

Your background is in animal science as well as food science. Is that showing up anywhere else in the business?

Yes, our innovation is not limited to human nutrition. Drawing on my background in animal science and nutrition, we are also developing products for companion animals, including pet treats formulated to support digestive health and address some of the gut-health challenges dogs experience. Our long-term product portfolio will extend across both human and animal nutrition, so it is really an extension of the same science applied to a different audience.

Looking ahead, what is the long-term vision for GutNurish?

My vision is for GutNurish to become a household name, providing delicious, gut-healthy alternatives to conventional dairy-based products, especially for people who avoid dairy or have sensitive guts. A fermented, plant-based base like ogi is naturally suited to that role, and it means people do not have to give up the format of a parfait or a smoothie just because dairy does not work for them. Ogi is only our starting point, though. We plan to introduce additional African-inspired and scientifically informed foods that support gut health without sacrificing taste or an enjoyable eating experience.

Beyond the products themselves, what do you hope GutNurish accomplishes?

One of our major long-term goals is to create meaningful job opportunities for people in Louisville as the company grows. We intend to build a strong local foundation, expand our retail presence, and eventually take GutNurish nationwide. Through that growth, we hope to support the local economy, improve access to nutritious foods, and demonstrate the contribution African food innovation can make to human health, animal health, and economic development in the United States.

Any closing thoughts?

Just that this is only the beginning. Ogi has already proven itself over generations in West Africa, and we are excited to keep showing what it can do here, first across Louisville, and eventually beyond it.

Land Dispute Horror: Stray bullet kills university student in Niger

A 400-level student of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL),Isma’il Ishaq Magaji, has been killed by a stray bullet during a land dispute in Niger State.

Magaji, who studied Public Administration, was reportedly struck by the bullet in his hometown of Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area of the state.

The university confirmed his death in a statement issued on Saturday by its Deputy Registrar, Information, Alhaji Baba Akote.

According to Akote, the incident occurred amid a dispute over land in the community.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Sulaiman, expressed sorrow over the death, describing it as a painful loss to the university community.

Sulaiman extended his condolences to Magaji’s family, friends, classmates and associates, and prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased’s shortcomings and grant him eternal rest.

He also prayed for strength and fortitude for Magaji’s family and loved ones to cope with the loss.

The Vice-Chancellor urged the communities involved in the dispute to embrace dialogue and exercise restraint, stressing the need to prioritise peaceful coexistence to prevent further loss of lives and bloodshed.

Bangsamoro IP leaders seek stronger voice in first parliament

A tribal leader who will serve as a member of the regular Bangsamoro Parliament expressed optimism that the long-neglected concerns of indigenous peoples (IPs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will finally be heard and addressed now that non-Moro indigenous peoples (NMIPs) have representation in the regional legislature.

‘Our priority is the protection and development of our ancestral domain,’ Timuay Leticio Datuwata of the Lambangian tribe in Maguindanao del Sur told the Inquirer in an interview on Friday.

‘We are glad that we now have a voice in the halls of the regular Bangsamoro Parliament,’ Datuwata said in Filipino.

Datuwata and Jo Genna Jover of the Teduray tribe in Maguindanao del Norte were officially proclaimed members of the Parliament by the Commission on Elections at 2 a.m. on Tuesday.

The two NMIP sectoral representatives were selected through customary and Indigenous processes rather than through direct voting in the Sept. 14 parliamentary elections.

The Teduray and Lambangian communities selected Jover and Datuwata, respectively, on Aug. 25, in accordance with their customary laws and Indigenous processes.

Peace, security

Datuwata said he and Jover would serve not only as the voices of the Teduray and Lambangian tribes but also of other indigenous political structures representing the Dulangan Menubu, Erumanen ne Menuvu, Blaan and Higaonon tribes.

Datuwata said the protection and development of ancestral domains would be among his priority legislative measures once the regular Parliament convenes on Oct. 30.

He and Jover would also prioritize strengthening tribal self-governance and indigenous political structures with the support of the regional government.

‘Peace and security among IP communities across BARMM are also among our priorities, as well as promoting and protecting our human rights,’ Datuwata said.

Since 2019, when the Bangsamoro Organic Law created the BARMM, IP communities in the region have faced harassment and armed attacks.

As of September this year, the Timuay Justice and Governance, the recognized indigenous political structure of the Teduray and Lambangian tribes in mainland Mindanao, had recorded 109 IP killings, mostly in Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte, according to Datuwata.

‘That is a major challenge to us in the legislature-how to eliminate IP killings under the regular Bangsamoro government,’ Datuwata said.

His legislative agenda also includes educational support for IP youth and students and the full delivery of basic social services to IP communities.

Asked whether social services were absent in IP villages under the interim BARMM government, Datuwata said: ‘There were services but not of the same scale as those in Bangsamoro and settler communities.’

Datuwata said he would also bring women’s issues to the Parliament. He said IP women have opposed the government’s policy discouraging home births.

‘Our women would like to deliver their babies through traditional means and not to other areas like barangay health centers,’ Datuwata said.

The Department of Health has denied banning home births but strongly promotes and encourages facility-based deliveries to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

The IP leader declined to say which regional political party he and Jover would align themselves with.

Civil society network MindanawOne, which has accompanied the Teduray and Lambangian tribes in their recent political journey, welcomed the incoming assumption of Datuwata and Jover as members of Parliament.

Khuzaimah Maranda of MindanawOne told the Inquirer that the institutionalization of the selection process, rather than election, was already a big win for the NMIPs, shielding them from the pressures of money and power politics.

‘We are hopeful that respect for the customary process of leadership selection will result in NMIP representatives in Parliament who will truly champion the interests of the tribes,’ she added.

Meanwhile, a conflict-monitoring group has identified six risks to peace and stability in the Bangsamoro following its first parliamentary elections, including possible post-election violence, renewed clan feuds, political divisions within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the growing influence of traditional politicians, unresolved peace-process grievances and perceived national government interference.

Remember

In the next two days, many institutions will turn to remembering the atrocities of the martial law period. Often dubbed by historical revisionists as the ‘golden era’ in Philippine history, it was an overlooked period in time, marred by multiple offenses against humanity. Not all of us were born during that time; all we hear are stories that resonate so deeply in the present. With a president having the same surname as the dictator, it seems like we are confused about what will happen next.

That time was filled with military rule. My grandmother would say that they could not just leave the house at any time they wanted. They were forced to adhere to the soldiers’ commands, often getting scared to death. Others speak of extortion and torture, especially when they did not get what they wanted. Detractors would tell us to just forget and move on. The most difficult part is the latter, but it is always a choice not to forget. It is in remembering that we learn, supposedly, not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

We are seeing a repeat of those events in different forms: the silencing and threatening of the press, abuse of power, and many more. We are masked in a concept of freedom that we cannot even fully grasp. It is as if we are fooling ourselves while enjoying the liberty that we have now. I wish there was just someone who could cut across those who are dazed by that era. I wonder what it takes for them to believe that everything was real. Even the families of those who were victims live to tell the tale, but they, too, are often disregarded.

What happens next is still a blur. We are finding ourselves in a political turmoil, caught between two big political families. Both find themselves with a fanbase almost close to a cult. Their narratives are the same, including their spiels and convictions. It is as if they have been brainwashed with information only they want to believe. I feel sad that the truth is devalued unless more institutions stand up and teach what is supposed to be true.

I don’t know how many of us will still remember or if we still want to. It is indeed a choice, a hard one, but it just makes perfect sense. Remembering is not about being trapped in the past. It is about carrying its lessons into the present, especially when the same language of fear, power, and silence begins to sound familiar. Perhaps that is why memory matters most when it becomes uncomfortable.

We owe it to those who lived through that period to listen and to those who never came home to remember. Perhaps, we also owe it to ourselves to ask whether the freedoms we enjoy are being protected, or slowly being taken for granted. Forgetting may be easier but keep in mind that remembering requires courage. If history is meant to teach us anything, it is that forgetting has consequences.

Bandits flee, abandon three kidnap victims as troops strike in Katsina

Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have foiled a kidnapping attempt along the Dandume-Damari road in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State, rescuing three abducted men and recovering a vehicle abandoned by the fleeing bandits.

The troops reportedly swung into action after receiving a distress call from residents alerting them to an ongoing abduction along the route.

Responding swiftly to the alert, the soldiers arrived at the scene and engaged the armed bandits in a confrontation, forcing the criminals to abandon their victims and flee into the surrounding bushes.

According to Zagazola, in their hurried escape, the bandits left behind a black Volkswagen Golf vehicle and the three kidnapped men, who were subsequently rescued by the troops.

The rescued victims were taken through preliminary security checks and provided with necessary assistance before being allowed to continue their journey safely.

No casualty was recorded among the troops during the encounter.

Following the rescue, troops pursued the fleeing bandits, conducted a clearance operation around the area and secured the immediate environment to prevent the criminals from regrouping or returning to the scene.

The development forms part of sustained security operations by troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA aimed at disrupting bandit activities and restricting their freedom of movement across Katsina State.

Troops have continued day-and-night patrols along critical roads and communities in Dandume, Malumfashi and Dutsin-Ma, as well as around educational institutions and other public facilities.

Asian Games: Philippines eyes medals in busy September 20 slate

Team Philippines has medal opportunities in soft tennis, teqball, wushu and triathlon among a crowded Sept. 20 program at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan.

The Philippine women’s soft tennis team faces host Japan in the semifinals, putting the squad within reach of the medal rounds.

Prince Agustin will play Myanmar’s Friday Saw for bronze in men’s singles teqball, giving the Philippines a direct opportunity to add a medal.

Wushu also offers multiple chances for the delegation. Agatha Wong competes in women’s taijiquan and taijijian, while Jenifer Kilapio takes part in the women’s 52-kilogram sanda quarterfinals.

Four Filipino triathletes are also scheduled for individual finals at the Gamagori City Triathlon Venue.

Iñaki Emil Lorbes and Fernando Jose Casares are entered in the men’s individual final at 8:30 a.m. event-local time, while Raven Faith Alcoseba and Marion Kim Mangrobang compete in the women’s individual final at 11 a.m.

The Philippine swimming campaign begins with Gian Christopher Santos in the men’s 200-meter individual medley. The country is seeking its first Asian Games swimming medal since Ryan Papa won two bronzes at the 1998 Bangkok Games.

In women’s beach volleyball, Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons open against Bangladesh.

Alas Pilipinas, the Philippine women’s volleyball team, faces Qatar in the classification round after missing the quarterfinals.

The program gives the Philippine delegation a mixture of direct medal opportunities and chances to advance deeper into competition one day after the Asian Games opening ceremony.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio urged the delegation to keep its focus as competition intensifies.

‘You have worked hard and sacrificed much to be here,’ Gregorio said in a statement. ‘Focus your mind and remember your purpose-for yourself, your family, and the country.’

New crime bill passes in Trinidad’s Lower House

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, Sept 19, CMC – The House of Representatives has passed the Special Operations Bill, 2026, to give law enforcement additional powers to tackle violent crime in designated areas.

The Bill was approved shortly after midnight, following more than 13 hours of debate in the House on Friday.

It replaces the previous Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) legislation and establishes seven policing districts across the country.

The Bill now goes to the Senate

ERC mulls over 50-kilowatt power retail threshold

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is looking at further slashing the retail choice threshold to 50 kilowatts (kW) in 2027 to allow more Filipino consumers to pick their own electricity supplier.

ERC Chair and CEO Francis Saturnino Juan said the commission is currently assessing the traction in the competitive retail electricity market (CREM), especially after recently lowering the threshold to 100 kW from 500 kW.

Juan said regulators are creating a roadmap to guide retail electricity players.

A possible inclusion in that roadmap is the expansion of the retail electricity market to smaller-volume consumers.

‘The phase in we’re looking at is lowering the threshold further to 50 kW until we reach the household level and everyone will have the right of choice after that,’ Juan said.

‘So we’re just trying to firm up the readiness of all stakeholders to be able to manage the switch or the migration of the captive customers to a contestable market,’ he added.

Programs under CREM include the retail competition and open access (RCOA) and the retail aggregation program (RAP).

The RCOA allows participants that consume at least 100 kW a month to buy lower-priced electricity from retailers other than the existing suppliers in their area.

The RAP accommodates households and smaller consumers that share a common area to consolidate their demand to meet the threshold.

Juan is optimistic the commission, as well as industry players-particularly distribution utilities and electric cooperatives-could implement the 50-kW threshold in the following year, as the ERC speeds up the approval of capital expenditure projects.

Under a rate reset process, a regulated entity must submit to the ERC its spending and proposed projects over a period, usually five years, unless extended by the regulator. This will then be the basis of the rate that will be passed on to consumers.

Troops smash drug peddlers, oil thieves, terrorists in nationwide operations

Nigerian Army has listed arrest of suspected drug peddlers and oil thieves, as well as disruption of terrorist and criminal activities among the achievements of its troops in recent intensified operations nationwide.

The operations were conducted across theatres between Sept. 18 and 19, according to an operational report made available Saturday in Abuja.

Details of the operations revealed that in Nasarawa, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, working with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, arrested 12 suspected drug peddlers at Mararaba Udege.

It said the troops recovered 76 wraps of suspected cannabis and 50 grammes of tramadol from the suspects, who were handed over to the NDLEA for further action.

In Rivers, the report said the troops of the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, arrested two suspected oil thieves and recovered illegally refined petroleum products.

According to the report, one suspect was arrested at Ndoni Junction with 19 bottles of illegally refined dual-purpose kerosene.

‘Another suspect was intercepted along the Okwuzi-Mgbede-Ebocha axis while allegedly conveying 34 cellophane sacks of illegally refined automotive gas oil,’ it said.

The military said the recovered products and vehicle were handled in line with extant regulations, while the suspect remained in military custody for further action.

In the North-East, it said the troops of 19 Brigade, Operation Hadin Kai, also foiled an attempted terrorist attack on farmers in the Gajiri-Giwa area of Kukawa Local Government Area, Borno.

It added that troops detected the terrorists’ advances on motorcycles towards Kauwa Primary School to attack farmers.

According to the report, the Brigade’s mobile strike team engaged the terrorists along the Cross-Baga axis, forcing them to flee.

‘One soldier and a farmer who sustained gunshot wounds were stabilised at the 19 Brigade Medical Centre.

‘In another development, troops of Sector 3, Operation Hadin Kai, recovered weapons and other equipment after repelling an ISWAP attack on FOB Mairari in Guzamala Local Government Area.

‘The troops discovered four neutralised terrorists, including the group’s photographer, and recovered an AK-47 rifle, 25 rounds of PKT ammunition, an RPG bomb, two AK-47 magazines and a camcorder,’ it added.

The army said troops also foiled another attempted terrorist infiltration of FOB Gajiram on Sept. 18, as troops, air assets and quasi-security forces repelled the attackers.

It said the operations underscore the Army’s sustained efforts to disrupt terrorist activities, combat illicit economic activities and strengthen security across the country.