Category: Philippine Star

Powerhouse Abra Solid North and defending champion Pampanga are bound to take different routes when the Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season begins its playoff round on Friday at the Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra.

The Abra Weavers finished the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team, two-division tournament with an MPBL record 26 straight wins and are solid picks over the tired and undermanned Ilagan Isabela Cowboys in the 8 p.m. encounter.

The Pampanga Giant Lanterns, a shadow of the back-to-back titlists, are expected to meet stiff resistance from the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo, who nipped them (90-87) in the elimination round, in the 6 p.m. opener.

Abra will again be led by Dave Ildefonso and Encho Serrano in its quest for its first MPBL title.

Solid support will be provided by Mike Ayonayon, John Uduba, Raven Gonzales, Marwin Taywan, Alfred Batino, Jolo Mendoza, Jayson Apolonio, Mark Yee and Geo Chiu.

The Cowboys bested the Bataan Risers, 74-71, in their do-or-die play-in game on Wednesday, but may have lost Top Gun Arth Dela Cruz to a right ankle injury in the third quarter.

Before Dela Cruz, the Cowboys survived the Risers without vital cogs Dennis Santos (hamstring injury) and Mike Dyke (mild pneumonia).

Even if Dela Cruz, Santos and Dyke managed to play, however, they won’t be 100 percent, putting more pressure on Agem Miranda, Donald Gumaru, Terrence Tumalip, JR Olegario and Joshua Marcos to deliver.

Pampanga will be led by Larry Muyang, Archie Concepcion, Chris Lalata, Jhaymo Eguilos, Jhan Nermal, Raymond Binuya and John Lloyd Clemente.

Caloocan’s power emanates from Jeff Manday, Jeramer Cabanag, Jojo Tayongtong, Chris Bitoon, Paul Sanga and Reil Cervantes.

Presidential investment czar Frederick Go on Thursday, October 9, clarified that reports claiming the corruption scandal caused the Philippine market to dive were false, even if Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Francis Lim himself was the one who cited them.

During the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines conference, Lim said that P1.7 trillion was wiped out from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) due to the corruption issue. This represented a 12% decline in the market.

Go said that Lim cited false information.

‘Unfortunately, the Securities and Exchange Commission chairman was quoting from a confirmed fake news socmed post designed to catch attention and falsely sensationalize,’ Go said in a press conference in Malacañang Palace.

Go said he also confirmed this with the PSE president himself.

The only legitimate drop in the PSE was 1.6% from August 11 to 29. Go also cited Inquirer’s Biz Buzz, which debunked the P1.7-trillion meltdown as early as September.

As far as Go knew, there were also no businesses that pulled out their investments in the country because of the corruption issue.

‘I think sometimes when there is unpredictability in the environment, people might temporarily think about their investment projects. But we’re quite confident that when this is all resolved, they will all come back. So, they have not pulled out. They will continue rather, that they will continue with their projects,’ Go said.

Go declined to comment on whether Lim will face any consequences for sharing misinformation in a public forum.

Addressing the US State Department’s report that found corruption as a barrier to investment in the Philippines, Go said that this is nothing new.

Red tape and corruption have long been flagged by other international chambers and groups, he said.

The difference now is that the administration is more keen on addressing the matter, Go said.

‘This administration sees the fight against corruption and red tape as a core part of its economic strategy. Again, the president himself initiated the current investigation as a catalyst for governance reform and to address long-standing issues decisively,’ Go said.

The Cebu City Council has appealed to the Supreme Court (SC) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter (IBP-CCC) to begin constructing a judiciary complex on a lot donated by the city government at the South Road Properties (SRP).

The appeal was made through a resolution approved by the council following a privilege speech by Councilor Sisinio Andales, himself a lawyer. His speech came a day after a joint inspection by the city government found the Qimonda IT Center-which currently houses the city’s courts-unsafe for occupancy.

A joint team from the Office of the Building Official (OBO), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), and structural engineers from the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) assessed that the building poses serious risks to both the public and its employees, recommending its immediate evacuation.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, along with other court officials, also inspected the Qimonda IT Center on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

The structure sustained severe damage from the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu on September 30.

In his speech, Andales recalled that the Marcelo Fernan Palace of Justice at the Capitol compound was also declared unsafe after the 2013 earthquake. This forced the transfer of all 30 Cebu City trial courts to the privately owned Qimonda IT Center, for which the SC has reportedly been paying around P1.2 million in monthly rent.

‘Although functional, it was far from being an ideal one,’ Andales said.

He added that the Supreme Court had long expressed its intention to build a dedicated judiciary complex equipped with modern and comfortable courtrooms in Cebu. In 2019, then-mayor Tomas Osmeña, representing the Cebu City Government, and Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez signed a deed of donation for a 1.5-hectare lot at the SRP for the project, which was envisioned to house all courts in Cebu City, including the Court of Appeals.

However, despite the urgent need for improved court facilities, Andales said the plan has remained unimplemented, leaving the courts still operating in Qimonda. He added that the monthly rent has since increased to at least P1.4 million.

‘The dream of a judiciary complex-secure, accessible, and dignified-remains only on paper,’ he said.

In his appeal, Andales urged the Supreme Court to coordinate with the IBP-Cebu Chapter, the Executive Judge, and the Office of Mayor Nestor Archival to begin utilizing the donated SRP lot and start the construction of the judiciary building.

He also proposed redirecting the monthly rental payments for the Qimonda IT Center toward funding the project’s initial construction phase.

‘Let us show the people of Cebu that justice is not only served-it is housed in a place that reflects its importance,’ Andales said.

‘This is not merely a matter of infrastructure; it is a matter of institutional respect. Our judges, our lawyers, our litigants, and our citizens deserve a space that honors the gravity of law and the sanctity of due process,’ he added.

Following his appeal, the council approved Andales’ motion calling on the Supreme Court and the IBP-Cebu Chapter, among others, to begin constructing the judiciary complex.

The IBP-Cebu City Chapter already passed a resolution appealing to the SC to expedite the construction of the long-awaited judiciary complex at the SRP.

‘A purpose-built, secure, and properly managed court facility is indispensable to the efficient administration of justice and aligns squarely with the goals of the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), particularly its pillars of judicial efficiency, access, and innovation,’ the IBP-CCC statement read.

It was earlier reported that in 2010, the city’s legislative body passed a resolution approving the donation of a 7,123-square-meter lot at the northeast side of the SRP for the Court of Appeals-Cebu Station building. Both the Supreme Court and the city government formalized this through a Memorandum of Agreement that same year.

The 15,000-square-meter property designated for the judiciary complex is located at the southwest portion of the SRP, identified as Lot 9 of the Consolidated Subdivision Plan.

Soldiers seized four B40 anti-tank rockets and two grenade projectiles that villagers found in an abandoned residential yard in Barangay Lagandang, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, on Wednesday, October 8.

Ordnance disposal experts from the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion, under Lt. Col. Tristan Vallescas, immediately brought the rockets and rifle-propelled grenades to a safe area for proper disposal.

Brig. Gen. Michael Santos, commander of the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade, told reporters on Thursday, October 9, that the operation that resulted in the confiscation of the explosives was assisted by members of the Joint Peace and Security Team.

The JPST is composed of soldiers, policemen, and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, together maintaining law and order in areas where there are MILF bastions.

Residents of Isulan, among them traditional Moro leaders actively supporting the anti-terror campaign of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, had told reporters that the anti-tank rockets and rifle grenades were left in Sitio Kimondo in Barangay Lagandang by members of the now-weakened Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

More than 300 members of the allied BIFF and Dawlah Islamiya, both fomenting hatred for non-Muslims and tagged in all deadly bombings in Central Mindanao since 2014, had surrendered in batches in the past three years to different units of the 603rd Infantry Brigade, which has jurisdiction over hinterland and seafront towns in Sultan Kudarat.

Major Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the 6th ID, said on Thursday that they are thankful to the residents of Lagandang for reporting promptly to the 7th IB their discovery of the rockets and grenades in wooden boxes piled in a yard owned by a certain Mutin Ali, who reportedly relocated elsewhere earlier.

President Marcos has signed the Expanded Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act into law, paving the way for more campuses to rise in various parts of the country.

Under Republic Act 12310, more campuses will be established to offer Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics or STEM education in line with the government’s efforts to produce more Filipino scientists and innovators.

The law mandates the establishment of at least two PSHS campuses in every administrative region, including one in the Negros Island Region, and consolidates all existing campuses under a unified system of governance

The Expanded PSHS law reflects the government’s commitment to make premier STEM education more accessible to Filipino students with exceptional aptitude in science and mathematics, while ensuring that the Philippine Science High School System remains a symbol of academic excellence, innovation and public service.

The PSHS System is an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology.

The expansion allows more talented youth to experience world-class STEM learning and to be part of a community that nurtures curiosity, creativity and scientific leadership.

Chaired by the DOST secretary, the PSHS board is composed of representatives from the Department of Education, University of the Philippines, Congress, the Alumni Association and the private sector.

Recognized as specialized science educators, PSHS teachers are exempt from civil service examinations and may extend their service under the Magna Carta for S and T Personnel, ensuring the retention of top STEM talent.

The law also grants tax and duty exemptions on donations and imported research equipment, enabling more resources to be directed toward innovation, research and student development.

Cebu Governor Pamela S. Baricuatro, marked her first 100 days in office by highlighting transparency, service delivery, and people-first leadership as a vital part of her administration.

Baricuatro, the 28th governor of Cebu and the second female to hold the Capitol’s highest seat, said openness and accountability remain her guiding principles.

‘I’ve said this from Day One: true leadership is measured by service, integrity, and the courage to do what’s right even when it’s difficult,’ Baricuatro posted on her official Facebook page.

Baricuatro won over 1.1 million Cebuanos who elected her in May 2025, when she ran under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) and defeated former governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The governor identified three core priorities pursued during her first 100 days: service delivery and accountable governance, inclusive growth and investment, and people-centered leadership.

Among the reforms she cited were streamlined frontline services at the Capitol, faster health and social welfare responses, and tighter oversight on public funds to ensure transparency.

Baricuatro said every peso in government should be accounted for and must directly benefit families, barangays, and communities across Cebu.

On economic development, she underscored her expanded support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), along with farmers and coastal communities.

Infrastructure and digital connectivity investments have also been initiated to widen access to education, health, and commerce.

In the course of her governorship and as what she mentioned in her State of the Province Address (SOPA) in August 29, she highlighted the hiring of 25 new doctors and 160 nurses, with more to follow, to boost health care delivery across the province.

In addition, her term also reactivated the Provincial Health Board, with broader membership and expertise to guide health programs.

Disaster resilience was strengthened after the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) was elevated into a full-fledged department.

Revelations

At the outset, Baricuatro bared what she called ‘disturbing findings’ from the previous administration-P1.1 billion in payables from unfunded projects, obligations without budget cover, and infrastructure built without bidding.

Baricuatro also flagged neglected hospitals lacking basic supplies and short on manpower, idle education funds worth over P1 billion that should have gone to classrooms and teachers, and questionable environmental permits issued to non-compliant firms.

On the other hand, she has ordered a one-month suspension of all quarrying, sand and gravel extraction, and special disposal operations in Cebu to review permit compliance and tighten enforcement.

The move comes amid mounting public complaints and aims to ensure stricter environmental accountability.

Accomplishments

Recently, the Capitol acquired its first-ever Sea Ambulance, aimed at ensuring swift emergency transport for patients in Cebu’s island municipalities.

The Sea Ambulance project was made possible through the PDRRMO in partnership with stakeholders, reinforcing the Capitol’s focus on timely rescue operations.

Fisherfolk communities also benefited, as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) turned over two fishing boats to the province, which were later distributed to the local governments of Danao City and Medellin.

Her administration also established the Cebu People’s Assistance Center (CPAC) through Executive Order No. 5. CPAC serves as a 24/7 one-stop help desk where Cebuanos can access provincial services, emergency assistance, and to lodge complaints or concerns.

Baricuatro’s early tenure was also tested by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit northern Cebu on September 30, killing a total of 72 people.

She commended the response of Cebuanos during the tragedy, saying the spirit of bayanihan proved stronger than fear and despair. ‘The people of Cebu did not fail me, nor their fellow Cebuanos in the north; together, we stood strong,’ she said.

Looking ahead, Baricuatro vowed to sustain reforms, expand inclusive economic opportunities, and maintain open collaboration with local governments, civil society, and private partners.

“I will stay focused on the people and the province we all love. God bless Cebu, and may we continue working together for a brighter future,” her post concluded.

It’s all systems go for an 11-day tennis and lifestyle festival billed to be the sport’s largest event in the country.

Taking place from October 10-19, at the CSA Tennis Stadium in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Gentry Open 2025 will bring together top Filipino and international players, emerging young athletes and tennis fans from across the nation.

Designed to merge competition with culture, the Gentry Open 2025 will showcase the very best of Philippine tennis while highlighting wellness, community, and brand collaboration.

With Palawan Pawnshop, Palawan Express and Palawan Pay as official event and tournament partners, the competition underscores a shared commitment to elevate sports development and expand opportunities for Filipino athletes nationwide.

The event will feature men’s and women’s singles and doubles divisions, exhibition matches, junior showcases, and interactive off-court experiences. Visitors can also enjoy wellness zones, lifestyle booths and family-friendly attractions, making the tournament not just a competition but a holistic celebration of health and community spirit.

‘The Gentry Open is more than a tournament – it’s a movement to elevate tennis as a mainstream sport in the Philippines,’ said Hayb Anzures, president of Gentry. ‘Through the support of Palawan Express and our Platinum Sponsors, we’re creating a stage that unites passion, performance, and purpose.’

The event is presented by Great Wall Motor Philippines. Platinum sponsors include Hiessence, Purse Maison, Mobile Cart, Primoshine, Sole Avenue, Dear Face, PDAX, Darling’s Fine Jewels, Luxetrust by Amethyst, The Watch Reserve and Guapo Car Care Solutions.

Beyond competition, the event aims to position Bulacan as an emerging hub for tennis and sports tourism, setting the foundation for what is envisioned to become an annual national tradition.

The Department of Public Works and Highways will build a detour bridge within two months to allow the resumption of vehicle traffic in the section of the Piggatan bridge in Alcala, Cagayan, which collapsed earlier this week, according to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon.

Dizon, who went to Cagayan to inspect the Piggatan bridge with Gov. Edgar Aglipay, said they also wanted to tap alternate modes of transportation to address the province’s needs for both its people and goods, mainly agricultural crops.

Dizon said that while the DPWH will work to build a detour bridge that people can use in place of the collapsed bridge, the detour will still be too long for convenience.

‘The most pressing issue we’re facing now is the distance of the detour,’ he said. ‘For trucks, it adds about 80 kilometers more to their route. You can just imagine the effect on logistics costs, especially for essential goods like food. That’s a huge impact – more than two additional hours of travel for an 82-kilometer detour.’

According to the DPWH chief, the move would help speed up the transport of agricultural products during the harvest season and reduce the heavy dependence on long-haul trucking routes.

ARROW Law IRR being drafted

Meanwhile, the DPWH will start drafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Republic Act 12289 or the Accelerated and Reformed Right-of-way (ARROW) Law, which expedites the government’s right-of-way land acquisitions for infrastructure projects.

Dizon named DPWH Undersecretary for legal service Samuel Rufino Turgano to chair the ARROW Act IRR Committee and to form the team that will lead the drafting.

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearings on the ghost and substandard flood control projects had revealed that delays in ROW acquisitions for the projects were used to justify stopping work and abandoning the projects.

Meanwhile, the DPWH should lower the prices of their infrastructure projects so as to discourage engineers from getting kickbacks or commissions, Batangas’ Rep. Leandro Leviste said.

He suggested that it would be best if the agency ‘lower project prices by 25 percent to prevent kickbacks’ and to be ‘fully transparent about the 2026 DPWH budget before it is voted on by Congress’ on third and final reading.

The Office of the Ombudsman has launched another investigation of former Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia in connection with the cancellation of a 20-year water supply contract, which reportedly resulted in higher water rates.

In a two-page order dated Sept. 25, the ombudsman gave Garcia 10 days from receipt of notice to file her counter-affidavit and documentary evidence.

Garcia was directed to furnish the complainants, led by a certain Aileen Rama Donal, with a copy of her affidavit and documentary evidence.

The complainants were given the option to submit their reply within 10 days from receipt of Garcia’s counter-affidavit.

The ombudsman said Garcia’s failure to comply within the prescribed period would be deemed as a waiver of her rights, and the preliminary investigation will proceed according to existing rules on procedures.

In July, state prosecutors suspended Garcia for one year without pay for issuing a permit to a quarry operator without requiring an environmental compliance certificate.

But since Garcia is no longer in office, the ombudsman said the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to her basic salary for six months.

The new investigation was for alleged violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and for committing administrative offenses of grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority.

The investigation stemmed from a complaint filed by Donal on July 25.

Donal alleged that Garcia was behind the premature cancellation of the 20-year bulk water supply contract signed between the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) and Cebu Manila Water Development Inc. (CMWD) in December 2013.

The complainant said the termination of the contract between the CMWD and the MCWD led to an emergency procurement arrangement between the MCWD and the provincial government.

Donal said the contract was replaced by a new deal between the MCWD and the Manila Water Philippine Ventures Inc., which allegedly resulted in the increase of water rates from P24.59 to P58 per cubic meter.

President Marcos has awarded eight new petroleum service contracts (PSCs) worth around $207 million in a bid to ramp up local energy production and reduce the country’s oil import dependence.

The contracts cover exploration areas across Cagayan, Cebu, northwest Palawan, east Palawan, Central Luzon and the Sulu Sea, according to the Department of Energy.

The DOE said the new PSCs include the world’s first competitive bid round for native hydrogen alongside co-managed projects with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

‘These service contracts signify not only our determination to secure new energy sources but also our readiness to embrace innovation and sustainability while reducing import dependence,’ Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said.

Among the successful bidders were the consortia led by tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan’s PXP Energy Corp.

PXP, along with The Philodrill Corp., Australia’s Triangle Energy (Global) Ltd. and United Kingdom’s Sunda Energy Plc, bagged PSCs 80 and 81 spanning 780,000 hectares and 532,000 hectares in BARMM, respectively.

These contracts are aimed at revitalizing petroleum exploration in the southern Sulu Sea to boost the local economy across BARMM and Mindanao.

Similarly, PXP and its partners Philodrill, Anglo Philippine Holdings Corp. and Forum Energy Philippines Corp. secured PSC 86 to explore 132,000 hectares in the northwest Palawan basin.

Furthermore, the government awarded PSC 82 – covering 480,000 hectares in Cagayan basin – to Triangle Energy and PSC 85 – spanning 127,475 hectares in onshore Cebu – to Gas 2 Grid Pte. Ltd.

In the east Palawan basin, Israel’s Ratio Petroleum Ltd. won PSC 87. This marks the company’s second contract in the Philippines following PSC 78, also in the same location.

For native hydrogen exploration in Central Luzon, the Marcos administration awarded PSC 83 and 84 totaling 211,727 hectares to Koloma Inc., a company based in the United States.

Following the landmark unveiling of these PSCs, the DOE said contractors may now start their respective work programs over a seven-year exploration period. These include geological and geophysical studies, seismic surveys and drilling activities.

‘From conventional petroleum to native hydrogen, we are expanding the frontiers of Philippine energy exploration,’ Garin added.

‘As we work with our partners in both the private sector and the BARMM, we move closer to our vision of a truly energy-secure and inclusive Philippines,’ she said.