Category: Philippine Star

The Mandaluyong City Fencing Club continues its commitment to grassroots sports development as it stages ‘Tuloy ang PagSulong: Developmental Fencers Tournament’ on Sunday, October 25, at the SM Center Shaw in Mandaluyong City.

Founded on the principle of nurturing young athletes, the tournament puts the spotlight on developmental fencers, providing young athletes with valuable opportunities to experience competition, develop their skills, and build confidence in the sport of fencing.

Ariel Montinola, head coach and founder of the Mandaluyong City Fencing Club, said the event was originally envisioned as a collaborative undertaking. Despite the changes in its organizing arrangements, the club has decided to proceed independently to ensure that the tournament pushes forward.

‘What matters most is that we continue to create opportunities for our young fencers. Tuloy ang PagSulong. Our focus is on the kids – their development, their confidence, and their journey in fencing. We hope to welcome not only the participating fencers but also their families this Sunday,’ Montinola said.

The club expressed its gratitude to SM Center Shaw and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for their support of previous fencing events. It also extended its appreciation to the coaches and fencing clubs that submitted entries and helped bring the tournament to life.

Registration remains open until Friday, October 23, specifically for the Under 10 Mixed Épée event. All other events have reached their minimum participant requirements. The tournament will be conducted in a single-day meet to maximize efficiency and provide a focused competition experience for the participating athletes.

The club continues to establish a tradition of making tournaments more memorable for young athletes. Since the Mandaleño Fencing Cup 2025 at SM Center Shaw, followed by events held at Greenfield District, the club has consistently provided participant event T-shirts and other complimentary items.

This year’s Tuloy ang PagSulong tournament continues that commitment, with event T-shirts and commemorative keychains prepared for participants.

For Montinola, these initiatives reflect the club’s belief that grassroots tournaments should offer more than competition – they should create meaningful experiences for children and their families.

Beyond the tournament, Mandaluyong Fencing is preparing for a new chapter in its development, with European fencing brands expressing support for the club founder’s vision.

Mandaluyong Fencing is the exclusive Philippine dealer of PBT Fencing, the Hungarian fencing equipment brand. Coinciding with the PagSulong event, the club is also moving forward with the signing of its dealership agreement with OCTAV, a fencing shoe brand based in the United Kingdom.

These partnerships are expected to strengthen the club’s initiatives in athlete development, equipment accessibility, and the growth of fencing in the Philippines. The club invites the fencing community to watch for further announcements in the coming year.

Montinola also acknowledged the continuing support of club parents, fellow coaches, participating fencing clubs, and the leadership of the Philippine Fencing Association, whose contributions help sustain the sport’s development.

As the tournament approaches, Mandaluyong Fencing remains committed to its guiding spirit: SULONG! – Sportsmanship, Unity, Love for the Sports and Humanity, Optimism, Nurturing, and Gratitude.

The Mandaluyong City Fencing Club, also known as Mandaleño Fencing, is committed to grassroots fencing development, athlete formation, and community engagement. Through training programs, developmental competitions, and strategic partnerships, the club seeks to make fencing more accessible while nurturing the next generation of Filipino athletes.

Jimboy Estrada hit a game-winning jumper off the glass to tow the Letran Knights over the San Sebastian College – Recoletos Stags, 91-89, in their NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball clash Friday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Struggling in the game, Estrada saved the Knights from the upset axe.

After Niel Castor hit a layup that tied things up at 89-all, Letran had 6.5 seconds to go for the win.

The Knights then went to Estrada, who drove to the basket, stopped on a dime, stepped back, and hoisted up a mid-range jumper off the glass, which sank to the bottom of the net.

A heave from John Ynot missed everything as San Sebastian’s clock melted.

Trailing by as much as 17 points, San Sebastian stormed back, getting the lead in the third quarter.

The two teams then traded leads, as the game swung like a pendulum.

Letran led by five, 84-79, with 2:44 remaining after free throws by Denzil Walker.

An 8-2 run by the Stags, capped by a Christian Ricio transition layup, pushed them ahead, 87-86, with 45 seconds to go.

Aaron Buensalida then connected on a point-blank attempt to give the Knights the lead anew, 88-87.

After a missed floater by Vince Segovia, San Sebastian fouled Nat Montecillo, who split his freebies, 89-87, setting the stage for the clutch shots of Castor and Estrada down the stretch.

With the injured Titing Manalili still out, Chad Gammad powered Letran with 23 points, five rebounds and three assists. Buensalida backstopped with 21 markers and six boards, to go with three steals. Estrada and Froilan Reyes provided the spark off the bench with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Caesley Bacani paced the Stags with 24 points, two rebounds and a steal. Ynot added 16 markers, while Segovia, Castor and Ricio produced 13, 12 and 11, respectively.

Letran rose to 7-3 in Group B play, while the Stags dropped to their 10th straight defeat.

Acting Communications Secretary Lino Cayetano will not accept the courtesy resignation of Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.

Cayetano confirmed this in an interview with reporters on Friday, October 23, where he also said all undersecretaries and assistant secretaries of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) were asked to file courtesy resignations.

Cayetano gave no timeline for acting on the other resignations. He told reporters that evaluating his team would be an ongoing process rather than a one-time reshuffle, with some decisions coming within days and others months later.

‘Usec. Claire, I don’t want to say we’re a package deal, but Usec. Claire is a treasure in this government,’ Cayetano said in mixed English and Filipino. ‘I haven’t seen someone articulate [that] well what this government is doing.’

Without giving further details, Cayetano said the PCO currently has an “innovation” that he wants Castro to be a part of. “In this age of digitalization, we want an analog office. I think the PCO also needs to focus on being on the ground,” he said.

Cayetano was all praise for Castro’s combative style of responding to issues and affirmed he would like both of them to continue working closely.

“In terms of being combative (sic) and protecting what this administration is doing, to explain [why we do what we do], I admire Usec. Claire,” he added.

“For me, that’s the strength of Usec. Claire. That’s her personality. We will balance that out, that if there is a need to explain a policy, we will invite the relevant department or Cabinet secretary [during briefings],” Cayetano said.

Cayetano became the PCO’s head after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced during a press interview in Singapore on October 11 that he was replacing Dave Gomez, whose appointment had been bypassed by the Commission on Appointments.

He took his oath in Malacañang on October 13, becoming the sixth official to lead the PCO under the Marcos administration, after Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, Cesar Chavez, Jay Ruiz and Gomez.

A former Taguig City mayor and television director, he had been general manager of state-run PTV-4, a PCO-attached corporation, since June.

This is the third leadership transition Castro has been a part of since she entered the PCO.

Asked whose resignations he would accept, Cayetano said: ‘That will be a process as long as I am here.

The entire police force will go on full alert status from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 to ensure security and order at 5,628 cemeteries and columbaria nationwide as the nation observes All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days on Nov. 1 and 2.

Philippine National Police spokesman Allen Rae Co said the PNP will establish public assistance desks and emergency response and medical teams in cemeteries.

He said police have not monitored any threat related to Undas, but are not letting their guard down.

Meanwhile, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora inspected the San Juan City Cemetery on Thursday as part of preparations for the upcoming observance of Undas.

The inspection focused on the cemetery’s readiness to accommodate the expected influx of visitors, particularly in terms of cleanliness and sanitation, security arrangements, traffic management, public safety and emergency response preparedness.

Zamora also assessed the coordination among concerned city government departments, law enforcement agencies, traffic enforcers and emergency response personnel to help ensure a safe, orderly and peaceful observance of Undas.

As part of Oplan Undas preparations, the city government reiterated the guidelines and regulations that cemetery visitors must observe, particularly during the extended Undas period from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2, when a significant increase in visitors is anticipated.

Visitors were reminded to observe the designated cemetery visiting hours, maintain cleanliness, dispose of garbage properly, follow traffic regulations, use designated parking areas and cooperate with security personnel and cemetery authorities.

It also emphasized the prohibition on carrying firearms, knives, ice picks, other bladed and sharp objects, alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, gambling and loud sound systems that may disturb other cemetery visitors.

Unauthorized vending without a Special Mayor’s Permit and unauthorized electrical connections are likewise prohibited. Bicycles and motorcycles are not allowed inside the cemetery premises

Announcing a P50-million bounty for the senator’s arrest, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said he is done giving Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa special treatment.

“We have given him all the courtesy that could be afforded as a senator of the Republic of the Philippines, but he has shown nothing but cowardice by going into and remaining in hiding,” Remulla said in a statement on Friday.

He also declared that “gloves are coming off” in efforts to capture him.

Remulla said November would mark one year since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa over his alleged criminal responsibility for killings linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

The DILG chief said Dela Rosa had mistaken his attempts at negotiation for weakness.

“It’s time for the gloves to come off. It’s time to bring just justice to his victims,” Remulla said.

He also declared Dela Rosa “armed and dangerous” and announced the formation of a task force headed by Gen. Wilson Lopez, whose sole objective is to locate and arrest the senator.

Remulla said Lopez would provide further updates in the coming days

A Grade 5 student was caught carrying a handgun at a school in Opol, Misamis Oriental on Wednesday.

Reports said a .22-caliber revolver was found in the bag of the 12-year-old student.

A classmate saw the handle of the gun protruding from the bag of the suspect. He immediately reported the matter to a barangay kagawad, who confiscated the firearm.

The student reportedly admitted bringing the gun to school, although he did not reveal the reason.

Probers have yet to determine how the minor came into possession of the firearm.

The government is eyeing electric and hybrid ferries to serve sea travelers crossing short and medium-distance routes, respectively.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is planning to pilot-test electric ferries for the Iloilo-Bacolod route and hybrid vessels for the Batangas-Calapan route, according to the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

The initiative is in compliance with President Marcos’ thrust to push cleaner and more sustainable transportation.

‘We want to see how we can use this technology and how it would benefit passengers, ship owners and even our health and environment. It can reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions and operational expenses of shipping companies,’ DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said.

Ramon Hernandez of the MARINA overseas shipping service division said that pure electric ferries are being considered for shorter routes, while hybrid ships are more practical for medium-distance trips. Hybrid vessels can use dual power sources, the traditional diesel fuel engine and the electric motor with rechargeable batteries.

MARINA said there were around 69 million sea travels recorded in 2025.

Of the estimated 4,000 inter-island ferries, 300 account for about 86 percent of carbon dioxide emissions.

The use of electric and hybrid ferries was part of a study meant to improve the safety and energy efficiency of domestic ferries.

Routes serving at least 500,000 passengers annually are suitable for electric ferry operations.

Existing ferries may be retrofitted to be able to adapt to changes, which may open opportunities for the local shipbuilding industry.

International Criminal Court prosecutors have asked judges to admit the recorded statements of three witnesses who they say can describe the policy to “neutralize” alleged drug suspects under former president Rodrigo Duterte.

One witness speaks about 13 of the killings charged against Duterte, including one during a police “One Time Big Time” operation, according to the redacted version of the court filing dated October 21 and signed by Acting Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang.

The three witnesses, all women, were already on the prosecution’s witness list. The defense has known since August 31 that prosecutors planned to present them under this procedure.

Prosecutors are asking the court to allow transcripts of their earlier interviews with investigators to be admitted as evidence in place of most of their direct examination, saying this would save court time.

Under Rule 68(3) of the court’s rules, each witness must still appear in court, confirm her statement is accurate and consent to its use. Duterte’s lawyers can cross-examine them, and the judges and lawyers for victims can still question them.

All three accounts relate to Count 3, which covers killings in barangay “clearance” operations against alleged small-time drug users and pushers from about July 2016 to September 2018.

When the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed the charges against Duterte on April 23, Count 3 covered 45 victims, 43 of whom were killed. Count 1 covers 19 killings in Davao City from 2013 to 2016, when Duterte was mayor, and Count 2 covers 14 killings of alleged “high-value targets” in 2016 and 2017.

Pattern of killings

The identities of the three witnesses were withheld in the public document.

The statement of one witness, who is labelled in the filing as “P-0008,” comes from two interviews with prosecution investigators.

In several of the 13 killings she discusses, she allegedly described events before the victims died. Names, dates and places are redacted in the public filing.

The filing does not say where or when the “One Time Big Time” operation took place. Police in the Philippines are known to have used the term for simultaneous, large-scale anti-drug sweeps, where deadly shootouts also occur.

Prosecutors said P-0008’s evidence shows the “modus operandi and pattern of violence” police used against alleged criminals.

Another witness, labelled “P-1164,” spoke about three charged killings by police.

Meanwhile, “P-1303” gives evidence about an individual who was shot dead by police, but her relationship to him is redacted in the filing. Prosecutors said her account relates to one charged killing.

Prosecutors said the three accounts are internally consistent and match evidence expected from other witnesses, including “P-0003,” who is due to testify in person.

They said the evidence also helps prove that the killings were part of a widespread or systematic attack on civilians, a requirement for crimes against humanity.

The prosecutors said the three witnesses will show there was a policy to “neutralise” alleged criminals through violence, including murder.

All three women were told their interviews were voluntary and were informed of their rights, and each confirmed she answered of her own free will, the filing said.

Thousands of kilograms of hazardous medical waste from Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) and Guba Community Hospital are being packed into ordinary but sealed container vans, shipped by cargo vessel to Luzon, and hauled to Bulacan for treatment and disposal.

The arrangement came under scrutiny by the members of Cebu City Council, who were all surprise to learn about it. City Councilors raised concerns about environmental accountability, local treatment options and the transparency of the bidding process.

The councilors discovered the arrangement during the deliberations on a resolution authorizing Mayor Nestor Archival to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with HCML Logistics Service for the collection and transport of hazardous healthcare waste generated by the two City government-run hospitals. The proposed contract is worth ?4,085,690.

Documents attached to the resolution show that HCML was declared the lowest calculated and responsive bidder.

The company would collect hazardous healthcare waste from the two hospitals and transport it to Total Organic Environmental Solutions Inc. (TOESI), a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-accredited treatment, storage and disposal facility in Pulilan, Bulacan.

The questions were raised primarily by Councilor Joel Garganera, Environment Committee chairman, who said recent reports of improper waste disposal in nearby localities underscored the need for the government to know exactly where hazardous hospital waste ultimately ends up.

“We cannot allow that hazardous waste will be just a mere transfer of address to other areas that will cause environmental degradation,” Garganera said as he pressed hospital officials and the winning contractor for details on the technology, location and final disposal process for Cebu City’s infectious medical waste.

Garganera’s concerns came amid heightened public attention over waste disposal issues in Cebu.

Earlier, authorities in Talisay City investigated an attempted illegal dumping incident involving truckloads of hospital waste from Mandaue City in Barangay Jaclupan, prompting city officials to pursue charges and intensify enforcement of environmental regulations.

During the council’s regular session, HCML representative Muana Tragico disclosed that the company hauls approximately 3,000 kilograms of infectious waste every week.

Tragico said the waste is packed and sealed inside a container van, transported by vessel from Cebu, and delivered to Bulacan for treatment.

When Councilor Franklyn Ong asked whether refrigerated vehicles were used, Tragico admitted that the company only uses an ordinary container van that is sealed before transport.

“Ordinary container van lang siya,” he said, adding that the trip to Bulacan takes roughly five days.

The disclosure prompted further questions from council members, with Ong noting that hazardous waste is usually transported in refrigerated container vans. Tragico, however, maintained that the company complies with DENR standards.

Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who presided over the discussion, repeatedly sought clarification on the waste’s final destination and the process used to treat it.

He also questioned why waste generated in Cebu had to be transported all the way to Bulacan. At one point, Osmeña referred to a treatment facility in Toledo City and asked whether it was the same company being tapped for the service.

He said he had even been invited to inspect the facility. Osmeña later called for transparency in the bidding process.

“In the interest of transparency, we just want to know whether there was a proper selection, whether everyone was notified, and whether there was fair competition in the selection of the provider,” the vice mayor said.

He also remarked: “That’s rather strange for us to bring our garbage to Bulacan.”

Ong likewise questioned the arrangement, noting that Cebu already has an established medical waste treatment facility.

“It’s good to note also that there is a facility, a very nice facility, in MEPZ, where they’re handling most of the hospital waste,” Ong said.

“That’s why it’s very surprising to know that our medical wastes are being transported to other cities,” he added.

Other councilors noted that transporting waste all the way to Bulacan appeared likely to increase operational costs, making it surprising that the arrangement still emerged as the winning bid.

Meanwhile, Councilor Mikel Rama focused on the procurement structure. Rama pointed out that the bidding documents described the project as covering the collection, transport, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste.

However, documents later presented to the council showed that HCML would primarily handle transportation, while another company would perform the actual treatment and disposal.

“Based on the bid documents, the procurement is supposed to be for transport, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste,” Rama said.

“When they bidded it out, the winning bidder is HCML. But based on the documents, the service that they can provide is only transport, and then they contracted out the treatment and disposal to another entity.”

It was also noted that the MOA between the city and HCML did not specifically identify where the waste would ultimately be treated and disposed of, although the separate agreement between HCML and TOESI identified the Bulacan facility.

Garganera continued to press officials on accountability beyond transportation, stressing that the government’s responsibility does not end once the waste leaves Cebu City.

He asked what safeguards were in place to ensure that the hazardous waste was properly treated and did not simply become another community’s environmental problem. Hospital officials defended the arrangement.

Dr. Anton Oliver Reposar II, CCMC chief of hospital, said the hospitals’ responsibility was to properly segregate and label infectious waste before turning it over to the contractor. He said treatment and disposal were handled by the accredited service provider and monitored by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) through permits, manifests and certificates of treatment.

Dr. Carol Cajegas, officer-in-charge of Guba Community Hospital, added that technical evaluators had visited the Bulacan facility and reviewed HCML’s agreement with TOESI before recommending the contract.

Procurement records show that HCML submitted the lowest responsive bid of ?4,085,690, beating proposals from ZIGS Eco Sanitation Corporation, Cleanaway Philippines Inc. and Medclean Management Solutions Inc.

ZIGS was later disqualified due to deficiencies in its bid security requirements. The resolution authorizes Archival to sign the MOA with HCML for the collection and transport of hazardous healthcare waste from CCMC and Guba Community Hospital, with TOESI designated as the treatment and disposal facility in Bulacan.

The contract will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2026. Despite the questions raised, the City Council approved the resolution, with Rama abstaining

Filipino companies will be able to test artificial-intelligence tools before spending money to deploy them under a new EU-Philippines lab designed to lower the cost and risk of AI adoption.

European Union and the Philippines announced the EU-Philippines AI Industry Lab on Thursday, October 22 at the 2026 AI Forum organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

The Department of Science and Technology will establish it as an allied laboratory under the National AI Center for Research and Innovation program.

At the center of the initiative is a “test before invest” model that will allow compnies, particularly smaller businesses and startups, to evaluate AI solutions before committing capital to their deployment.

The lab will serve Philippine and European companies, micro, small and medium enterprises, and startups as part of the National AI Strategy for the Philippines.

Participants will receive access to AI infrastructure, cloud services and data sets, including Earth-observation data from the EU’s Copernicus program and information from DOST programs.

The initiative will also develop practical AI applications in energy, health, environmental protection and disaster resilience.

Expertise, market access

Businesses and innovators will be connected with technical specialists, innovation advisers and European technology expertise through European Digital Innovation Hubs and AI Factories.

The lab will seek to build partnerships among Philippine and European companies, universities, and other public and private organizations.

The EU and the Philippines said the initiative would also help promising AI products attract investment and enter new markets. It does this by promoting technology standards and drawing on European practices in interoperability, cybersecurity, data protection, intellectual property and human-centered AI governance.

Research cooperation will form another part of the program, with both sides seeking to turn academic work into commercial and industrial applications.

The lab follows a three-day joint mission of the EU and DOST that gathered European experts and private-sector participants from the Philippines and Europe to discuss AI research and innovation.

The initiative forms part of EU-Philippines digital cooperation under the bloc’s Global Gateway Strategy, which the EU said now amounts to pound 40 million.