Category: Philippine Star

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday denounced corruption claims made by Cavite Rep. Kiko Barzaga.

Described as a ‘crazy cat’ and an ‘annoying dog’ by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Barzaga called for the PCG’s abolition, saying the agency would spark the third world war in the West Philippine Sea.

‘The PCG’s presence in the WPS is not an act of provocation,’ PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said. ‘Our patrols and operations prevent the normalization of China’s illegal activities, protect our fishermen from harassment and expose violations of international norms.’

Barzaga has aligned himself with the Dutertes, who are seen to have a pro-China stance.

A dialogue with Barzaga and all stakeholders in Congress would ‘clarify misconceptions and strengthen cooperation toward maritime security and safety,’ PCG spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab said.

Barzaga, who has been delisted from the Army reserve force, accused the PCG of being ‘one of the most corrupt’ agencies for giving high ranks to Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon.

Romualdez and Gadon are ranked auxiliary vice admiral and rear admiral, respectively, in the PCG reserve force.

Cayabyab explained that auxiliary members are ‘not active-duty PCG officers and their honorary ranks do not confer authority or compensation.’

Pinoys trust PCG – OCTA

Meanwhile, an OCTA Research survey has found that most Filipinos are satisfied with the PCG’s performance and highly trust the agency.

Seventy-five percent of the respondents are satisfied with the PCG’s performance and 71 percent trust the PCG, according to the Sept. 25 to 30 poll.

OCTA released the survey after Barzaga called for the abolition of the PCG.

Anti-narcotics agents arrested a businessman from Uganda who was caught allegedly with P42.5 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay on Tuesday night.

The 45-year-old suspect, whom the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) identified only as Adna, was nabbed during an interdiction operation at the airport’s customs exclusion room. He allegedly yielded 6.25 kilos of shabu.

The suspect arrived in the country from Antananarivo in Madagascar, authorities said.

Police detained Adna after five bags of shabu were found in his luggage.

Airport authorities confiscated the suspect’s passport, boarding pass, cell phone and personal belongings.

The foreigner is being held on charges of violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Two cute, pixie-like and oyster-shaped figures – ‘Bughaw’ and ‘Lila’ – are the adorable official mascots of the 3rd FIGH Artistic Gymnastics World Championships set from November 20-24 at the Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom at the Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion said that the two mascots were carefully conceived to inspire not only the young gymnasts coming all the over the globe but also to draw the attention of the millennial generation to watch them in action during the five-day competition.

‘In this age of millennials, we need mascots who can relate not only to our sport but to the new generation. This gymnastics showcase is a great opportunity for them to watch our exciting, vibrant and beautiful Olympic sport,’ Carrion explained of the tournament organized by the GAP and sanctioned by the International Gymnastics Federation, known by its French acronym FIG.

Clad in a light-blue leotard, ‘Bughaw,’ represents the athletes in the men’s artistic gymnastics events while ‘Lila,’ in dainty pink tights, is for the entries in the women’s artistic gymnastics of the elite junior tourney backed by the Office of the President, Philippine Sports Commission, Department of Tourism and Newport World Resorts.

Both mascots are also on the pictograms performing on the six individual apparatus in MAG and four in WAG in the meet that has the Manila Marriott Hotel, Hotel Okura Manila, Belmont Hotel, Hilton Manila Newport World, Savoy Hotel Manila, Belmont Hotel and Holiday Inn Express as official accommodations.

Carrion said she expects the success of Paris Olympic double gold medalist Carlos Edriel Yulo in the recent 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, capturing a gold in the men’s vault and bronze in the floor exercise, to spark further interest in the world juniors.

‘The success of Carlos at the world championships is timely and ought to generate more attention for the Junior World championships that we are staging since fans will get the glimpse of the promising junior gymnasts who will be the future stars of the sport,’ she said.

The gymnastics head said local interest should be excited with the participation of the country’s two standard-bearers: Karl Eldrew Yulo, the younger brother of the two-time Olympian, and Elisabeth Antone, who stood out in the Asian Artistic Junior Championships held last June in Jecheon, South Korea.

Currently training in Tokyo, Japan under celebrated Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, Yulo took the sliver in the men’s vault while the US-based Antone bagged the bronze in the tough women’s individual all-around event.

‘We are praying that Eldrew and Elizabeth, who have both been training hard, will do our country proud in the junior world championships,’ said Carrion of both athletes, who will take part in the blue-ribbon competition also backed by Milo and the Pasay City government.

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for the Sandiganbayan to proceed with the graft charges against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada related to alleged corruption in his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

In a statement released by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, October 29, its en banc dismissed Estrada’s petition for certiorari challenging his prosecution for graft, specifically rejecting his argument that the charges should be dropped because they were “absorbed” by his now-dismissed plunder case.

The high court dismissed Estrada’s petition, effectively giving the go-signal for his 11 counts of violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, to be prosecuted separately.

According to the high court, Estrada had contended that his graft charges should be dismissed because they were “deemed absorbed” by the plunder charges under Republic Act No. 7080.

However, the SC rejected this absorption principle, affirming that the two offenses punish distinct wrongs.

The Court pointed out that the wrong punished under graft RA 3019 involves giving an “unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference” to a private individual separate from the public officer.

Conversely, plunder RA 7080 punishes the public officer himself for directly benefiting or unjustly enriching himself, according to the high court.

The high court also said that the component act of graft cannot be absorbed by the predicate acts of plunder, except in rare instances where the same public officer is both the giver and the recipient of the unwarranted benefit.

Plunder petitions mooted by acquittal. The high court said that it also dismissed Estrada’s other petitions for certiorari related to the plunder charges, but on grounds of being moot and academic.

The Supreme Court said that it took judicial notice of the Sandiganbayan’s decision dated Jan. 19, 2024, which acquitted Estrada of the plunder charges.

This acquittal, according to the high court, resolved the issues raised in those specific petitions.

The original charges filed by the Ombudsman involved:

Plunder for alleged ill-gotten wealth totaling at least P183.79 million from kickbacks and commissions received from Janet Lim Napoles.

Eleven counts of graft involving fund releases amounting to an estimated P255.11 million drawn from his PDAF.

On October 2, the Sandiganbayan denied the demurrer to evidence filed by Estrada concerning his graft cases in connection with PDAF.

Other possible cases for Estrada. On Wednesday, the Independent Commission on Infrastructure also recommended that the Office of the Ombudsman file charges under anti-graft laws against several lawmakers over alleged corruption in flood control projects.

Among these lawmakers is Estrada, who was implicated by former district engineer Brice Hernandez, allegedly receiving kickbacks in anomalous projects worth P355 million in Bulacan.

Hernandez also claimed that Estrada received 30% from these projects, all of which Estrada denied.

The suspension of Manila Councilor Ryan Ponce over acts of sexual harassment is not enough as laws clearly provide for sanctions against perpetrators, the Commission on Human Rights said yesterday.

The CHR said the 60-day suspension imposed on Ponce by the Manila City Council is a ‘welcome step toward accountability. However, it must be emphasized that suspension alone is not a substitute for full accountability.’

The city council earlier ordered Ponce’s suspension upon the recommendation of the committee on ethics, which investigated the sexual harassment complaint filed by fellow Councilor Eunice Castro.

But according to CHR, domestic laws such as the Magna Carta of Women, Anti-Sexual Harassment Act and the Safe Spaces Act ‘provide for clear sanctions and mechanisms to ensure the perpetrators of gender-based misconduct are held accountable.’

‘These laws likewise require institutions to adopt preventive measures, ensure access to justice and extend protection and support to victims or complainants,’ the commission added.

The CHR also cited the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which serves as a guiding framework for the proper behavior expected of all government personnel.

The human rights body expressed concern over the incident, which occurred within a local government unit and involves an elected official entrusted with serving the public.

The CHR welcomed the reminder issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government to all local officials that sexual misconduct constitutes a serious breach of law, ethics and public trust.

Authorities are now responding to crimes and other emergencies within three minutes, the Philippine National Police said yesterday.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuano said police officers are beating the five-minute response rule as they are responding to emergency situations in about three minutes.

Tuano attributed the improvement to the Unified 911 Hotline of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

As the DILG hotline has a feature than can block prank calls, Tuano said police personnel are focused on responding to legitimate calls for assistance.

‘From four minutes and 62 seconds response time, it was shortened to two minutes and 79 seconds,’ he said.

Tuano said pranks calls had dropped from 22,000 to 2,000.

He said there were 4,634 legitimate calls before the hotline was launched on Sept. 11. The PNP recorded 19,761 authentic calls for assistance.

The 911 hotline has a geolocation tracking capability and an active caller directory that can track the location of prank callers.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla urged the public to be responsible in using the 911 hotline, warning that prank calls can hamper response to real emergencies.

Manufacturers have committed to holding off price increases of basic goods until the end of the year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

‘There will be no price increase for basic necessities and prime commodities until the end of the year. All manufacturers have agreed to this,’ Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said in a Viber message yesterday.

The DTI said in a statement that during the recent Consumer Welfare Month Stakeholders’ Appreciation Night, it called on manufacturers to help maintain current prices at least until the end of the year.

The agency continues to coordinate with manufacturers and retailers to maintain the current suggested retail prices in line with the directive of President Marcos to keep essential goods affordable during the holiday season.

While the DTI has secured the manufacturers’ support to keep prices of basic necessities and prime commodities stable, Roque said the agency is still in discussions with manufacturers of Noche Buena items, or those purchased for the Christmas Eve meal.

‘We are still in talks with the manufacturers, but we will inform the public next week,’ she said.

Basic necessities cover canned sardines, milk, coffee, bread, noodles, salt, detergent or laundry soap, bottled water and candles.

Meanwhile, prime commodities include canned meat products, condiments, toilet soap and batteries.

A young contestant’s answer on game show “Family Feud Philippines” is going viral for her quiet yet blunt reaction.

The October 22 episode of “Family Feud Philippines” featured contestants of another competition show, “The Voice Kids Philippines.” Both shows are currently hosted by actor Dingdong Dantes.

Competing against each other were Billy Crawford’s “Team Bilib,” consisting of Yana Goopio, Lovers Cabrera, Ava Towns, and Thurd Jacob Casumpang, and Zack Tabudlo’s “Project Z,” composed of Summer Pulido, Erallyn “Era” De Guzman, Alliyah Raylee Rodriguez, and Sofia Mallares.

“Project Z” dominated the game by defeating “Team Bilib” by 420 points. The team qualified for the “Fast Money Round,” where they were represented by Era and Sofia.

Era started well by giving the three top answers from five questions, scoring 165 points. With Era scoring top marks, Sofia only needed 35 more points for “Project Z” to win P200,000.

Sofia’s three qualified answers accumulated their points at 204, but a quiet response by the young contestant is now making the rounds online.

The third survey question was: “Sa iyong palagay, ano ang trabaho ng presidente ng Pilipinas?”

Era previously answered: “Nagko-kontrol ng bansa,” which scored 10 points.

“Gumagawa ng batas,” Sofia answered.

She later acknowledged that it was not the correct answer since lawmaking is the job of legislators, such as senators and congressman. Nevertheless, Sofia’s answer garnered 14 points, higher than Era’s.

Dingdong then shared the top answer was “Ayusin ang problema ng bansa,” eliciting a reaction from Sofia, who bluntly murmured, “Ah, hindi niya rin ginagawa…”

The moment belatedly trended as the microphone barely picked up Sofia’s response. Last Monday, “Family Feud Philippines” posted a clip highlighting the reaction, followed by numerous art cards doing the same across social media platforms.

Freddie Freeman blasted a walk-off home run in a record-equaling 18-inning World Series classic to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.

Freeman – who had smashed an iconic walk-off grand slam in the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series win over the New York Yankees – launched a mammoth solo shot to settle a marathon six-hour 39-minute battle at Dodger Stadium.

The victory puts the Dodgers 2-1 up in the best-of-seven Major League Baseball championship series with Game 4 due to take place on Tuesday.

Freeman’s winning home-run crowned a night of extraordinary drama that saw both teams slug it out in a back-and-forth battle that resembled a heavyweight boxing contest.

The game equaled the previous longest game in World Series history, the Dodgers 18-inning victory over the Boston Red Sox in the 2018 championship, that was also won via a walkoff.

‘This one took a little longer but this game was incredible,’ Freeman said, comparing Monday’s drama to last year’s grand slam winner against the Yankees.

Freeman’s moment of magic – which makes him the only player in history with multiple walk-off World Series home runs – eclipsed an array of astounding individual performances on both sides.

Dodgers’ superstar Shohei Ohtani had almost single-handedly hauled his team back into the contest, blasting two home runs and getting on base a record nine times.

Ohtani, the hitting and pitching superstar regarded by many as the greatest player in history, is due to lead the Dodgers from the pitching mound in Game 4 on Tuesday.

‘What matters the most is that we won and what I accomplished today is in the context of this game and what matters the most is we flipped the page and play the next game,’ Ohtani said.

‘I want to go to sleep as soon as possible so I can get ready.’

With the two teams essentially playing the equivalent of two games back-to-back without a rest, each team burned through almost their entire pitching staff.

Dodgers reliever Will Klein was the last available arm for the world champions as the tension mounted. Klein, who had not thrown more than 36 pitches in any of his previous appearances, threw 72 pitches as he navigated the final four innings superbly to shut down the Blue Jays bats.

‘Our bullpen was absolutely incredible,’ Freeman said afterwards. ‘Will Klein – absolutely incredible.’

The archers found their marks as former champion Baguio City seized the lead in Day 3 of the 2025 Batang Pinoy at the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University IBED Quadrangle here.

Jianna Rose delos Reyes and Jeptha Caleb Fernandez bagged three golds each as Baguio hit a 10-gold harvest in the opener of the archery competitions to propel the Summer Capital to the leaderboard with 23 gold, 10 silver and 13 bronze mints.

‘Medyo ni-nerbyos po ako kasi first Batang Pinoy ko po ito, pero nag-training po kasi ako nang matindi so parang sinabi ko sa sarili ko na prepared ako,’ said Delos Reyes, a Grade 12 student from the Philippine Science High School.

Delos Reyes set the tone by ruling the girls’ 12-under 30m compound divisions, firing 334 and 346 for two golds. She totaled 680 for a trifecta.

Fernandez hit 324 and 319 for 643 overall to rule the 14-under division.