Category: Business Mirror

POOL legends Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes and Francisco ‘Django’ Bustamante and carom ace Francisco de la Cruz banner the coaching staff of the newly-formed national sports association National League for Billiard Sports of the Philippines (NLBSPh).

The NLBSPh replaced the Billiards Sports Congress of the Philippines (BSCP), which the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports suspended for its failure to hold regular elections and conflicts of interest.

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) took over as ‘caretaker’ of the NSA until the BSCP eventually failed to comply to instructions from its continental confederation, leading to its dissolution as a duly-recognized federation of the POC.

‘We are very serious in bringing back the luster of Filipino billiards,’ said NLBSPh president Atty. Wharton Chan, also secretary-general of the POC, during the NLBSPh’s general assembly at the Solaire Theater in Pasay City on Wednesday.

‘We are optimistic the programs we are laying down will put the Philippines back where it is supposed to be in world billiards,’ Chan added.

Gracing the general assembly are the stars of Philippine pool Carlo Biado (pocket), AJ Manas (pocket), Alfredo Ferrer, Basil Hassan Alshajjar (snooker), Reyna Maria Legaspi (snooker), Carmille Buhat (snooker), Rubilen Amit (pocket), Michael Angelo Mengorio (snooker), Sofhia Yvanca Rosales (pocket), Rhaki Roj Constantino (pocket), Charles Ladiana (pocket) and Johann Chua (pocket).

Joining Chan in the NLBSPh executive board are secretary-general Kevin Wong, treasurer Dr. Paulo Pagteilan Jr. executive director Roselyn Hung and executive director for external affairs Alfredo Ferrer.

POC president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino personally graced the historic NLBSPh’s first general assembly, fully backing the group as they lock their sights on upcoming international battles like the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games this year and the Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games next year.

Tolentino said that with Chan at the helm, the NLBSPh will have huge support from other countries with the newly-installed national federation president having deep relationships with the Asian and world pool circuits.

‘We are bringing together absolute icons as players and coaches in Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes and Francisco ‘Django’ Bustamante with today’s fiercest competitors-Rubilen Amit, Chezka Centeno, Carlo Biado, Johann Chua, Basil Hasan Alshajjar and social media sensation AJ Manas,’ Wharton said.

As global mobility continues to influence how Filipinos travel, work, and conduct business, the need for reliable foreign exchange services has become increasingly important.

Cebuana Lhuillier, the country’s largest and leading microfinancial services provider, strengthens its role as a credible partner for foreign currency needs through its established expertise and decades of customer trust.

‘Our goal has always been to empower Filipinos with financial solutions they can trust-solutions that are accessible, transparent, and globally competitive. By strengthening our foreign exchange capabilities and expanding access to global currencies, we are ensuring that every Filipino has access to world-class currency services that uphold value, security, and confidence,’ said Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier.

Building on its expertise in foreign exchange, Cebuana Lhuillier provides access to a broad range of international currencies through exchange rates that reflect prevailing market conditions. The company continues to make foreign exchange services more accessible to millions of Filipinos while addressing the needs of overseas Filipino workers, travelers, students, entrepreneurs, and businesses engaged in international transactions.

The combination of operational excellence, accessibility, and customer trust reinforces Cebuana Lhuillier’s standing as a reputable provider capable of supporting both every day and more specialized currency requirements.

‘Our focus is on ensuring that exchange services remain transparent and aligned with market conditions. By strengthening operational processes and expanding access through our growing forex network, we are able to deliver reliable pricing and efficient service to customers across the country,’ said Philippe Andre Lhuillier, Senior Executive Vice President of Cebuana Lhuillier.

As customers increasingly seek more predictable and convenient ways to manage international transactions, Cebuana Lhuillier continues to align its services with evolving financial behaviors. Money XChange Click-and-Collect allows customers to reserve foreign currency online and complete the transaction at their preferred branch, providing a more structured way to secure currency in advance of travel or business needs.

By combining digital convenience with physical accessibility, the service reflects Cebuana Lhuillier’s broader approach of making foreign exchange more practical and responsive to realworld financial needs.

Through sustained investment in capability, partnerships, and service delivery, Cebuana Lhuillier reinforces its role as the Philippines’ Global Currency Center-providing Filipinos with dependable access to global currencies through a network built on experience, scale, and long-standing trust.

A WEAK industrial base and underdeveloped agriculture, combined with excessive dependence on low-productivity services, have made it difficult for the Philippines to manage its current account (CA), a ‘crucial’ measure of an economy’s health and its relationship with the global economy.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) highlighted this in a book titled, ‘Current Account Dynamics and the Philippine Economy: Developments and Prospects,’ which it launched recently.

The central bank said managing the current account is ‘becoming increasingly challenging’ for the Philippines, particularly due to the pattern of its economic development diverging sharply from the traditional industrialization route followed by many successful East Asian economies, which evolved from agriculture to industry on the way to a services-dominated economy.

‘This ‘premature de-industrialization’ of the economy, characterized by a weak industrial base and underdeveloped agriculture, combined with excessive dependence on low-productivity services, presents various challenges for CA management in the country,’ the BSP book noted.

Despite the resilient remittance inflows and the ‘booming’ information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry, the book noted that long-standing trade deficits in goods suggest that its structural weaknesses persist.

With the global landscape rapidly changing, the BSP underscored the increased uncertainty in international trade policy, particularly from major economies such as the United States through the announced tariffs as well as global trade volatility which it said may result in a larger current account deficit.

Moreover, the BSP said the new US tariffs imposed on Philippine exports could prove to be ‘hurdles’ for exporters, as they worry about a drop in American demand due to higher prices, being ‘outcompeted’ by other countries, and losing market share if costs are added to the prices of their products.

The book noted that the global landscape is marked by so-called ‘megatrends.’

These include the digitalization and automation (Industry 4.0) that put the employability of overseas Filipino (OF) workers as well as of those doing routine BPO operations in question, power shifts in the global economy towards Asia, and the ‘imperative’ to green industrial production, the BSP added.

‘These forces pose both challenges and opportunities for the Philippines, requiring a proactive and flexible policy response to achieve a sustainable CA balance,’ the central bank underscored.

Recommendations

Given these challenges, the book outlined recommendations to manage the country’s current account.

On renewing manufacturing for higher value-added, the central bank said there is a need for the government to make a ‘conscious effort’ to build technological capacity, attract and retain skilled workers, and raise research and development (RandD) resources to develop a high-value-added manufacturing industry.

As for agricultural modernization, the BSP said there is a need to transition from low-value staples to high-value, export-oriented commodities such as fruits, vegetables, coffee, cacao and fish.

‘Revitalize irrigation systems to support crop diversification and enhance agricultural productivity,’ the central bank said.

The BSP also proposed to develop agriculture business incubation centers and encourage ‘value-adding’ activities such as processing and packaging to add significant value and profitability to agricultural exports.

On ‘intensification of servicification,’ the central bank stressed the need to provide well-targeted incentives (fiscal and non-fiscal) to manufacturing firms for ‘progressively’ using or providing services, particularly for exports.

The BSP said the government should establish policies favoring smaller companies at the ‘fringe’ of the corporate network of the economy, especially regarding access to capital and competition.

It noted that the country’s corporate network is ‘quite fragmented and exhibits uneven connectedness,’ with financial investments concentrated in a few large, highly central business groups that effectively limit the small firms’ access to capital.

The central bank explained that current account records a country’s inflows and outflows of foreign currency from trade in goods and services, remittances, offshore investment profits, grants, and donations to and from abroad

‘These flows matter for policymakers, as they influence the country’s external position, foreign exchange movements, inflation pressures, and broader economic conditions,’ the BSP said.

The latest balance of payments (BOP) data from the BSP showed that the current account deficit narrowed to $16.3 billion in 2025 from $18.6 billion in 2024.

‘This was supported by an improved trade-in-goods balance on the back of robust export growth as well as higher income receipts from overseas Filipinos, consistent with record full-year cash remittances in 2025,’ the BSP said.

Electricity prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) jumped by 38.5 percent to an average of P7.79 per kilowatt hour (kWh) last month as supply margins thinned due to increasing demand and persistent power plant outages.

Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), the operator of WESM, said the systemwide average supply rose to 21,374 megawatts (MW), up 2.7 percent from April. Average demand also went up to 15,755 MW or by 9.4 percent from April.

This supply and demand levels resulted in a lower system supply margin, leading to the systemwide average price to rise to P7.79/kWh from P5.63/kWh.

‘The April prices were determined under the modified administered price [MAP] mechanism following the ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission]-imposed market suspension,’ Rica Cagnayo of IEMOP Trading Operations-Market Simulation and Analysis said during a press briefing on Wednesday.

The ERC declared a market suspension in response to the declaration of a State of National Energy Emergency. During this period, the MAP was applied, with coal price set at P6/kWh.

Meanwhile, regional supply-demand conditions showed mixed outcomes.

In Luzon, the relatively higher increase in demand (11,369 MW) compared to supply (15,509 MW) led to a decline in the supply margin, driven mainly by frequent planned and forced power plant outages, which prompted the issuance of grid alerts. As a result, Luzon WESM average prices surged by 24.8 percent to P7.02/kWh from P5.63/kWh.

Supply margins in the Visayas and Mindanao remain tight due to higher levels of generating unit outages and variations in electricity transfers between regions.

These conditions resulted in higher regional prices, with average market prices in Visayas soaring 81.4 percent to P10.20/kWh. In Mindanao, average WESM price stood at P9.28/kWh from P5.63/kWh.

IEMOP Vice President for Trading Operations Isidro E. Cacho Jr. said WESM average price could hit P9 per kWh if the yellow alert persists.

‘Yes, it’s possible in the next few weeks but as the rainy season starts we will see that our demand will decrease. However, the other contributing factor is the supply. As long as the big impact of forced outages is there, we might be seeing the same situation.’

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released for a second round of public comments the draft guidelines that seek to lift the moratorium on the registration of online lending platforms and raise the capital requirements of financing and lending companies in a bid to improve regulatory oversight over the sector and boost consumer protection policies.

The proposed guidelines is expected to provide stronger safeguards against abusive and unfair debt collection practices.

Under the draft rules, the SEC is set to impose a uniform minimum paid-up capital for a new company. Existing online lenders would be required an amount of paid-up capital based on the number of platforms they operate.

The proposed minimum paid-up capital for new financing and lending companies is P15 million and P5 million, respectively.

The SEC is also imposing a cap on the number of platform or company may own and operate to just up to five to ensure effective supervision, adequate governance and manageable consumer risk exposure.

The proposed minimum paid-up capital for financing companies with one platform is P20 million, P60 million for three platforms and P100 million for five platforms

Meanwhile, lending companies are proposed to have a P10 million minimum paid-up capital for one platform, P30 million for three and P50 million for five.

The proposed guidelines also adopt a Single Certificate of Authority policy, wherein each firm will only be issued one certificate covering its principal office, all branch offices and platforms.

Among others, the proposed guidelines prohibit lending firms from disbursing loan proceeds, whether automated or system-initiated, without a borrower’s explicit and informed confirmation of the final loan terms.

In payment collection, the firms should ensure that collection communications, whether made directly or through any third-party service provider, shall clearly and reasonably identify the registered name of the company, the specific platform or other information as deemed necessary by the SEC.

Under the proposed rule, lending and financing companies that violate MC 18 will be directed to pay P50,000 and P100,000 for the first offense, respectively. For the third and succeeding offenses, the SEC may impose a fine of up to P1 million, suspend the activities of the lending firm, or revoke their certificate of authority.

The public may submit comments and recommendations on the proposed guidelines on or before June 15.

THE Embassies of Canada, Mexico and the United States invite the public to the Pinoy Football Fiesta on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia’s MOA Sky in Pasay City.

This celebration brings together sports, culture and community as North America hosts the World Cup from June 11 to July 19.

The Pinoy Football Fiesta highlights the shared commitment of Canada, Mexico, and the United States to deepen people-to-people ties, promote sports diplomacy, and celebrate decades of friendship with the Philippines.

The Philippine Football Federation, with the support of McDonald’s, will conduct a youth football clinic at the adidas Football Park.

The public is invited to a watch party at the MOA Sky Amphitheater with the live broadcast of the opening ceremony at 7:30 a.m. with the support of Blast TV. The US opening match against Paraguay will kick off at 9 a.m.

THE first visible impact of the Middle East conflict on the Philippine labor market may be showing up not in outright job losses but in shrinking incomes and reduced work opportunities, as underemployment climbed to a nearly three-year high in April, economists said.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that 7.41 million of the country’s 48.89 million employed Filipinos were underemployed: these are workers who wanted additional working hours, another job, or a new job with longer hours.

This pushed the underemployment rate to 15.2 percent in April 2026, the highest reading since July 2023 when underemployment reached 15.9 percent.

Of the total, 4.21 million were visibly underemployed, or workers who rendered less than 40 hours of work a week and wanted additional work. Meanwhile, 3.2 million were invisibly underemployed, or workers who already worked 40 hours or more a week but still sought additional work or longer working hours.

‘Deteriorating conditions’

For University of Asia and the Pacific (UAandP) economist Marco C. Agonia, the rise in underemployment suggests that the ripple effects of the oil crisis are beginning to surface through ‘deteriorating labor market conditions.’

‘Factories may not be able to produce as much as they ought to, while transportation operators are forced to reduce hours due to lower margins,’ Agonia told the BusinessMirror.

PSA data showed 3.87 million underemployed workers were in the services sector, followed by 2.06 million in agriculture and 1.49 million in industry.

Within the services sector, wholesale and retail trade accounted for the largest number of underemployed workers at 1.14 million. This was followed by transportation and storage with 677,000, other service activities with 504,000, and accommodation and food service activities with 422,000.

Transportation and storage recorded one of the most notable increases in underemployment, adding around 160,000 workers from a year earlier. The increase was concentrated among passenger land transport workers, including jeepney drivers, taxi drivers, and bus drivers.

Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante B. Canlas said the increase in underemployment also reflects a labor market that had already been losing momentum amid slower economic growth before being hit by fresh external shocks.

Canlas noted that labor market conditions have softened since the start of the year as real economic growth slowed to 2.8 percent in the first quarter, while the geopolitical tensions and the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz added further pressure on businesses and workers.

‘As real wages stagnated from the Iran war, even employed workers were impelled to look for additional work, thereby swelling the ranks of the underemployed,’ Canlas told the BusinessMirror.

Job quality concerns

De La Salle University (DLSU) economist Ella C. Oplas said the latest figures also point to persistent concerns over job quality rather than simply the availability of work.

According to Oplas, many of the jobs being generated appear to be temporary, short-term, or otherwise insufficient to provide workers with adequate income-forcing many Filipinos to accept work while continuing to search for better-paying opportunities.

‘People would rather still get underemployed given the set up. People are desperate,’ she added.

Too early to tell

However, Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) economist Ser K. Peña-Reyes cautioned against drawing a direct link between the rise in underemployment and the Middle East conflict.

He said the increase in underemployment is consistent with workers facing pressure on earnings and working hours, but it may also reflect a broader deterioration in job quality rather than a collapse in labor demand.

Peña-Reyes said a clearer picture will emerge in the coming months. If elevated oil prices persist and are accompanied by rising underemployment, shorter work hours and eventually higher unemployment, it would strengthen the case that the external shock is feeding through to the Philippine labor market.

‘The bigger near-term risk is weaker earnings and reduced working hours rather than a sharp rise in outright unemployment. This pattern would be consistent with the way the Philippine labor market has historically absorbed external shocks: income and hours tending to adjust before headcount does,’ he told the BusinessMirror.

Job creation

While underemployment has emerged as a growing concern, economists also warned that job creation could come under pressure in the months ahead.

‘We may expect a reduction in labor force participation as workers may decide to instead pursue further schooling or avoid the labor market altogether, if economic expectations deteriorate further,’ he said.

PSA data showed 2.41 million Filipinos were unemployed in April, higher than the 2.06 million recorded a year earlier, but lower than the 2.96 million posted in January.

Of the total unemployed, around 240,000 were new labor force entrants who had yet to find work.

‘Current economic stress may amplify the seasonal graduation effect, with laid-off workers forced to compete with a fresh intake of labor market participants,’ Agonia also said.

He added that firms facing higher costs and persistent uncertainty may become more cautious in hiring, potentially affecting both the quantity and quality of jobs created.

Peña-Reyes agreed, saying the greater risk is not necessarily a sharp increase in unemployment but a labor market that continues to generate jobs that offer fewer hours, lower pay, or less stability.

Building resilience

For his part, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the government is working to expand market access and attract investments in emerging and high-growth industries, including artificial intelligence, through stronger economic partnerships, and initiatives such as the Luzon Economic Corridor.

Balisacan also stressed the need for closer collaboration between government and industry to equip workers with skills demanded by a rapidly evolving economy and help workers transition into more stable and productive jobs.

‘These initiatives are essential to building a more resilient labor market that can withstand shocks while creating better opportunities for Filipino workers,’ Balisacan said.

The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) likewise said it would continue expanding pathways to quality employment, strengthening workforce competitiveness and protecting labor rights.

‘These valuable efforts are part of the Department’s broader vision to build a future-ready workforce that can thrive in a changing economy while contributing to sustained, inclusive, and people-centered growth under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda,’ it said.

PRECIOUS ZARAGOSA went wire-to-wire to emerge victorious in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Negros Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) Championship at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Bacolod City on Wednesday.

By winning the final two legs of the six-stage Visayas-Mindanao Series, the rising Davaoeña star rocketed from the middle of the standings to a joint-first finish to book her spot on the South team in the JPGT Elite Grand Finals with Tashanah Balangauan.

Ranked fifth overall after her victory at the Pueblo de Oro leg last month, Zaragosa’s commanding performance at the par-70 Marapara layout this week propelled her to the top of the leaderboard.

She finished with 42 points, tying Cebuana standout Balangauan, who had already secured the first finals berth.

Zaragosa closed out her dominant Negros run with a final-round 74 for a 13-over-par 223 total over 54 holes.

In the boys’ final, Cebuano Sebastian Sajuela turned what had appeared to be a down-to-the-wire battle into a cruising victory.

Facing off against Del Monte’s Clement Ordeneza in hot and humid conditions, Sajuela clinched a two-stroke win, finishing with a 75 for a 224 total despite a double-bogey mishap on No. 18.

Apple Gotiong pulled to within two strokes off Zaragosa after an impressive frontside 36, putting pressure on the two-day leader. After storming to a six-shot lead after 36 holes, Zaragosa faltered early, wavering with four bogeys in the first eight holes.

Gotiong also finished with a four-over card for a 229 and despite her setback, the Cebuana successfully propelled her into the finals via the backdoor, raising her total to 36 points on the strength of three second-place finishes across the Vis-Min series.

Lois Laine Go shot a 79 to finish third at 242 and secure the third qualifying spot with 35 points, while Cagayan de Oro’s Mikela Guillermo, who placed fourth at 253 after an 81, grabbed the fourth and final ticket with 28 points. Guillermo effectively dislodged erstwhile No. 4 Zero Plete, who surrendered her finals aspirations by skipping this final elimination leg.

‘I felt the pressure mounting on the back nine when Apple cut the lead to just three shots,’ Zaragosa said.

The race for the remaining national finals slots shifts to Luzon, where the final leg of the Luzon Series will take place from June 17 to 19 at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in General Trias, Cavite.

The ICTSI North vs South Elite Junior PGT Finals will from August 17 to 20 at Pueblo de Oro.

A HOUSE of Representatives impeachment trial spokesperson on Wednesday said the defense team of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte is pushing for the outright dismissal of the impeachment case because it lacks counterevidence to refute the allegations in the Articles of Impeachment.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, a House trial spokesperson, said that while Duterte’s official answer was lengthy, it largely focused on stopping the proceedings instead of directly addressing the charges.

‘Although their response is quite voluminous and even comes with an executive summary, the core of it is really to halt the process rather than confront the allegations,’ Adiong said.

He explained that the House prosecution panel opted to file a manifestation instead of a point-by-point reply, arguing that there was nothing substantial to respond to.

‘But our position on that is exactly why the House prosecution team simply submitted a manifestation-because how can you respond to something that, in truth, does not require any answer,’ Adiong explained.

According to Adiong, the defense’s main objective is to have the case dismissed even before trial begins-a move he stressed is not provided for under the Constitution.

‘The Constitution does not give the Senate Impeachment Court the option to dismiss the case outright. Its role is to conduct a full trial and then decide whether to acquit or convict,’ he said.

He added that the procedural and constitutional objections raised by the defense are not new and had already been brought up during House proceedings last year by Fortun Narvasa Salazar, Adiong said, referring to the defense law firm.

He said the Constitution gives the Senate Impeachment Court the role of trying and deciding the case, not dismissing it outright before the presentation of evidence.

Constitutional accountability

ADIONG said political pressure, disinformation, and personal attacks must not undermine constitutional accountability as the impeachment trial for Duterte moves forward.

He said public officials have a duty to uphold the Constitution regardless of political consequences, even as he acknowledged facing backlash for supporting the impeachment process.

He admitted that his position has drawn criticism, particularly in Mindanao, where Duterte remains politically popular.

‘The backlash has really affected me, but as I’ve been saying, this is the time when you have to stand firm in what you believe is right,’ Adiong said.

‘You have to stand by the Constitution because the Constitution is just a document-it’s on paper; it has words. If we do not live by it, then the Constitution will have no effect,’ he added.

The Senate Impeachment Court prepares for its June 18 pre-trial conference, where both prosecution and defense panels are expected to present their evidence, witnesses, and key legal issues.

According to Adiong, the impeachment proceedings serve as a test of whether public officials are willing to enforce accountability despite political pressure.

‘The Constitution will only be alive if we act on it. If there are impeachable officers who have committed violations such as culpable violation of the Constitution or betrayal of public trust, it is our duty to uphold this,’ he said.

The House of Representatives earlier impeached Duterte and transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, which is now convened as an impeachment court.

Adiong said lawmakers who supported the complaint did so after reviewing evidence and hearing testimonies during congressional proceedings.

‘We saw the evidence and heard the testimonies of the witnesses. We have no choice but to stand on the Constitution,’ he said.

He also warned that intimidation tactics and false accusations could create a chilling effect on efforts to hold powerful officials accountable.

Adiong said he and other members of the House prosecution panel face allegations from a group of former bodyguards of former Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co of Ako Bicol, who claimed they delivered cash-filled luggage to lawmakers. He has repeatedly denied the accusations.

‘If I give in to the backlash and to the spread of false information meant to damage my reputation, it would be as if I were supporting a culture of impunity,’ he said.

Disclose ‘Mary Grace Piatos’

ADIONG also said the defense panel must disclose early if it intends to present ‘Mary Grace Piatos’ as a witness in the impeachment trial.

Speaking ahead of the pre-trial conference, Adiong said both camps are expected to submit their evidence and list of witnesses, subject to possible objections.

‘The House prosecution team is ready to submit its evidence and potential witnesses. We also expect objections from the other side,’ he said.

He explained that the pre-trial will determine the overall flow of the proceedings, including how the court will handle witness disclosures, documentary evidence, and objections.

The issue surrounding ‘Piatos’ is linked to the confidential funds controversy, where lawmakers previously questioned certain names and acknowledgement receipts used in liquidation documents.

‘If they truly have someone named Mary Grace Piatos to present, it would be better for them so that there will be clarity,’ Adiong said.

‘There is no judgement here. The goal is to establish probable cause and give the defense the opportunity to respond,’ he said.

However, Adiong noted that if a witness claiming to be Piatos is presented, the defense must reconcile the signature with those appearing in the confidential fund documents.

‘The Mary Grace Piatos who will appear should have a signature that matches exactly the one in the acknowledgement receipts,’ he said.

He also cited the case of ‘Kokoy Villamin,’ whose signatures in separate receipts reportedly differ, raising the possibility of forensic examination during the trial.

‘It will be difficult to simply present a witness claiming to be Kokoy Villamin, because experts may be called to forensically examine the signature specimens,’ Adiong said.

The House prosecution panel, he added, is now preparing its evidence and witnesses for the upcoming pre-trial conference.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on welcomed the conviction of Canadian national Thomas Gordon O’Quinn by a Tagaytay City court for drug possession charges tied to a P9.5-billion shabu haul in Batangas as it is a ‘strong win’ in the country’s ongoing anti-illegal drugs campaign.

In a statement, Nartatez said the ruling underscores the value of a rules-based enforcement effort that leads not only to arrests but also to convictions in court.

‘This case highlights that our anti-illegal drugs campaign is not only measured by arrests and seizures but also by successful convictions. The suspect was arrested without loss of life, evidence was preserved, and the judicial process ultimately resulted in a conviction, reflecting the effectiveness of a rules-based approach to law enforcement,’ he said.

In a 19-page decision dated May 29, 2026, the Tagaytay City Regional Trial Court Branch 135 found O’Quinn guilty of two counts of illegal possession of dangerous drugs under Republic Act 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The court sentenced him to life imprisonment and fined him P500,000 for possessing 45 grams of shabu.

It also imposed another life sentence and a P10-million fine for possessing 81.65 grams of cocaine.

‘The court finds that the chain of custody over the seized dangerous drugs remained unbroken, and the integrity and evidentiary value of the corpus delicti have been properly preserved,’ Presiding Judge Andy S. De Vera said.

The conviction stemmed from O’Quinn’s arrest on May 16, 2024 inside a wellness resort in Tagaytay City after intelligence monitoring linked him to the April 15, 2024 interdiction in Alitagtag, Batangas, where authorities seized around 1.4 tons of suspected shabu worth about P9.5 billion.

According to the ruling, the driver of the van, Ajalon Michael Zarate, identified several alleged associates, including a man known as ‘James Toby Martin.’ Subsequent investigation revealed that ‘James Toby Martin’ was allegedly a false identity used by O’Quinn.

Police also verified through the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime that an Interpol Red Notice had been issued against O’Quinn for drug-related offenses in the United States.

Investigators later learned that O’Quinn regularly visited the Tagaytay wellness resort for detox therapy.

Acting on information from an informant, police surveillance teams monitored the resort on May 16, 2024 and coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration’s Fugitive Search Unit.

Immigration officers entered O’Quinn’s villa that night under a mission order and arrested him after he allegedly failed to present valid identification documents.

A subsequent search by police recovered two vacuum-sealed sachets containing suspected shabu, a sachet containing suspected cocaine, tablets suspected to be illegal drugs, and 14 identification cards bearing O’Quinn’s photograph but carrying different names, according to the decision.

Among the aliases listed in the ruling were James Toby Martin, Robert Wagner, Steve Wilson, Ryan Brooke, Steve McDonald, and Jay Mcallan.

The ruling noted that O’Quinn was the sole occupant of the villa where authorities found the drugs and that he failed to show any legal authority to possess them.

‘Having been caught in flagrante delicto, there is prima facie evidence that he had animus possidendi,’ or intent to possess the drugs, the court added.

Nartatez directed all concerned units to maintain operational momentum and strengthen coordination with partner agencies, including the Bureau of Immigration and international counterparts.

He also commended all police units involved in the operation, citing the successful arrest without casualties and the preservation of evidence that led to the conviction.

‘The successful prosecution of a suspect linked to one of the country’s largest drug seizures sends a strong message that drug syndicates will be held accountable under the rule of law. We will continue working with our local and international partners to ensure that those involved in the illegal drug trade are brought before the courts and held accountable,’ Nartatez said.