Category: Philippine Star

We have reached the tipping point.

Next week, for the third week in a row, fuel prices will spike substantially. Both gasoline and fuel will be priced over P100 per liter. The staccato of price increases will not be easy for our economy to digest.

By next week, the cumulative fuel price increases could produce a mobility crisis that paralyzes our economy. If it is too expensive to move people and goods across distances, productivity collapses. Inflation becomes exponential. Poverty becomes a flood.

Over the past few days, transport groups have signaled the distress. Network drivers and tricycle operators have complained about their exclusion in government’s subsidy scheme. Bus companies have issued statements saying it will be ‘impossible’ for them to continue plying their routes unless fares are quickly adjusted.

Transport providers have asked government for fare adjustments months ago. Government declined – possibly for reasons relating to collapsing popularity ratings. This week, transport groups are threatening to go on strike.

Government finds itself at the crux of a complex problem. With fuel prices rising above P100 per liter, providing transport for millions of commuters under the existing fare schemes ceased to be viable. If fares are increased, commuters could hardly afford them. Everything freezes in place.

The fuel price/transport fare equation has now burst out of the old parameters. It can no longer be solved by the old method of handing out fuel subsidies to registered public transport vehicles. Government can no longer afford what is required for a meaningful subsidy program that will keep both transport operators and commuters viable. We have not provisioned for a scaled-up subsidy program.

There is rising clamor for government to withdraw VAT and excise taxes imposed on fuel to mitigate the price shock. But government cannot afford such a withdrawal. Government is absolutely reliant on revenue generated from taxing fuel. If it shuts down that revenue source it will go bankrupt.

Government has hit a fiscal ceiling. Years of excessive borrowing to feed subsidy programs kicked up our national debt to nearly P20 trillion pesos. Further borrowing, if that is still possible, will kick up the cost of financing. Therefore, it is unlikely for this government to yield to the popular clamor.

Which leaves us with no option for dealing with the current fuel price and mobility crisis. Since fuel prices and transport fares spiked beyond affordability, more and more people will decide to accept immobility as a way of life.

Except that this will kill our economy.

Fuel marking

Fortunately, government has become more efficient in marking fuel and collecting the revenues due from what is sold. Without fuel marking, and at present prices, the gates might have been fully open to oil smuggling. Our consumers would have been left defenseless against inferior products infiltrating the domestic market. Imagine the market chaos that might have erupted under the circumstances.

According to numbers provided by the Bureau of Customs, the fuel marking program was able to mark 21.102 billion liters of fuel through 2025. This helped ensure the collection of P154.06 billion in excise tax and P93.04 billion in VAT – for a total revenue collection of P247.12 billion to support our chronically deficit-prone national budget.

The fuel-marking program achieves more than merely ensuring tax collection. On top of revenue protection, it is a vital anti-smuggling tool. It ensures market integrity and consumer protection.

Fuel is a high-volume, high-value commodity. Illicit trade and faulty declarations create not only a substantial amount of lost revenue but also distorts what must be an even playing field for legitimate businesses.

We are using what is probably the best technology in the world for the fuel-marking program. SICPA, the Swiss company behind the marker system we currently use goes beyond laboratory examination of chemical composition. Tests are continuously conducted under real-life operating conditions, including combustion and emissions analysis.

Independent laboratories in Europe have conducted scientific studies of the marking system. They found that fuel marking produced no differences in fuel characteristics, vehicle performance or emissions between market and unmarked fuels. As in all science, experts and stakeholders are free to examine the testing procedures and methodologies through the websites of the laboratories that conducted the tests.

Given how vital fuel is to any economy, governments need a marking system that is capable of protecting public revenues and preserving a fair and transparent market. There are rigorous safety and environmental standards to be met.

Considering the volume of revenues at stake, our two main revenue agencies – the BIR and the BOC – joined forces in enforcing the marking system. Both agencies have developed the rules for field and confirmatory testing of diesel, gasoline and kerosene at depots, storage facilities, tank truck and gas stations. Their operatives have been relentless in their inspections. Unmarked fuel products are seized and charges filed against those trying to cheat the system.

Because of their efforts, our consumers are better assured of product integrity. The same scientific standards are equally applied to competing products, assuring consumers the program is transparent, technically rigorous and capable of guaranteeing the integrity of the fuel supply chain.

Which, of course, does not resolve the price issue for the commodity. We have to look at geopolitics, not science, to provide us answers.

The fuel marking system only ensures the market is protected from unscrupulous interests and profiteers.

Now it can be told. Mark Magsayo suffered an injury in the second round of his lightweight fight against undefeated Andres Cortes in Las Vegas last week and will undergo surgery on Oct. 2.

Magsayo had difficulty coping with Cortes’ unorthodox tactics but despite the injury, battled back to stage a late rally. Cortes wound up winning by a unanimous decision with the three judges Eric Cheek, Chris Migliore and David Sutherland scoring it 97-93. The judges gave the eighth and ninth rounds to Magsayo but it was hardly enough to overhaul Cortes’ lead.

The bout was far from clean as Cortes repeatedly held down Magsayo’s head, causing seven slips. Referee Celestino Ruiz ruled knockdowns in the third and fourth frames but video replays reversed both calls as allowed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Cortes resorted to skullduggery to throw Magsayo off-rhythm and it worked, particularly as the Filipino struggled with an injury most of the way.

Magsayo said Cortes’ tricks went unabated. ‘Dami ko tinanggap na suntok sa back of the head at elbows at tinulak ako palagi pababa,’ he noted. ‘Hindi na warning ng referee. Tiniis ko lang ang injury ko at nakabwelo ako ng kaunti sa late rounds pero kulang na ako sa oras.’

Magsayo said he was surprised that Ruiz called two knockdowns. ‘Na-overturn naman kasi wala talagang knockdowns at sinasakyan lang niya ako pababa,’ he said. ‘Wala akong problema sa stamina. Kahit late rounds, malakas pa ang hangin ko. Kita naman sa galaw ko. Naunahan lang ako ng dirty game. Next time, maging mas maingat at mas-smart ako. Sayang at kaya ko siya talunin kung di lang ako nadala sa dirty tactics at na-injury pero I’m learning from this. Stay ako sa lightweight at OK naman ang timbang.’

Reflecting on social media criticism, Magsayo said he was hurt by unfair comments. ‘Masakit at handa ako sa laban pero puro batikos ang inabot ko sa mga kababayan natin,’ he said. ‘Sino ba gustong matalo? Mayroon lang talagang mga pangyayari na di inaasahan sa boxing. Ang ibang kababayan natin nababasa ko sabi ay mamatay na raw ako kung di ako mag-retire. Bakit ganyan ang Pinoy? May pamilya ako. Napakasakit na sasabihin kinakahiya ako at mamatay na raw ako.’

After surgery, Magsayo said he will rest for six weeks. He’ll do rehab then go back to the gym and prepare for his next fight. Magsayo’s chief adviser Sean Gibbons said he was concerned about Cortes’ awkward style from the onset. ‘My worst nightmare came true,’ he said. ‘Mark couldn’t solve the puzzle until late. He hurt the guy with a body shot but couldn’t sustain it. It looked ugly. Mark got wrestled, pinned down and it looked really bad. But Mark will bounce back from this.’

Cignal, the official Philippine broadcaster of the 20th Asian Games, will deploy its own cameras and digital equipment at Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Nagoya. The move lets Filipino fans at home and abroad watch Alex Eala compete live for the Philippines.

Tennis is not among the 28 sports guaranteed a live world feed from host broadcaster China Media Group-International Media Port. The remaining sports receive only highlights and ENG coverage. To fill that gap, Cignal is investing an additional P1 million to produce its own live coverage of the tournament, which begins September 27.

“Alex chose to play for the flag when she could have played for prize money in Beijing, and that deserves to be seen by every Filipino,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman of MediaQuest. “I know Alex is sponsored by our competitors, but in Nagoya, we’re all Team Philippines. When the host left out Alex’s games, I immediately said we should send cameras there. We wanted more Filipinos to be able to watch her games, cheer her on, and hopefully see her bring home the gold.”

Eala, ranked No. 18 in the world, gave up a place at the WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing, along with its prize money and ranking points, to represent the country in Aichi-Nagoya. With several top Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian players skipping the Games for the concurrent China Open, she is now the highest-ranked player in the women’s draw. The Philippines is seeking its first Asian Games tennis gold medal since 1962.

Cignal’s Asian Games coverage airs on ONE Sports, ONE Sports+ and Pilipinas Live. Eala headlines the coverage alongside gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

The Cebu City Council is demanding that the Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), and power firms take immediate and transparent measures to stabilize the electricity supply amid the worsening power crisis in the Visayas.

In an approved resolution sponsored by Councilor Harry Eran, the council called for accountability as recurring power outages and rising electricity costs continue to affect consumers.

Eran warned that recurring outages and the possible pass-through of generation and transmission costs could severely impact households, businesses, and public institutions.

His resolution stressed that no increase in electricity rates should be imposed unless it is lawful, reasonable, and properly supported, citing reports of tariffs rising from P11 to nearly P19 per kilowatt-hour.

Eran also emphasized that consumer protection, energy efficiency, and long-term planning must be part of the city’s response to the power situation.

Councilor Joel Garganera, meanwhile, sponsored a separate resolution expressing Cebu City’s full support for House Resolution No. 1439 filed by Rep. Karen Hope Garcia.

The House inquiry seeks to examine the causes of generation unavailability, transmission delays, including issues involving the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project, and the adequacy of host community benefits under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

Garganera stressed Cebu City’s position as the Visayas’ major load center, accounting for about half of the grid’s demand. He said the city must have access to committee reports and DOE and ERC findings to guide its own legislative and policy response.

The urgency of the measure is underscored by NGCP data showing that the Visayas Grid has recorded more than 90 yellow alerts and over 30 red alerts this year, with as much as 971 megawatts of generation capacity unavailable.

Despite Cebu hosting major baseload plants such as Therma Visayas Inc. and Cebu Energy Development Corp., prolonged power shortages have forced rotational brownouts lasting up to 2.5 hours.

The DOE has deployed battery energy storage systems and modular diesel generator sets to help ease shortages, while the ERC has corrected erroneous market charges and deferred Visayan Electric’s July 2026 cost recovery, keeping rates at P14.90 per kilowatt-hour instead of P17.59 per kWh.

The council also agreed to hold an executive session to address the power crisis.

Councilor Francis Esparis moved to meet with concerned offices, a motion that was seconded and carried without objection.

The executive session is scheduled for Oct. 13 and will bring together regulators, utilities, and city officials for a focused discussion on the power situation

The government will independently pursue the missing sabungeros cases despite the lack of active cooperation from the victims’ families, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.

Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said on Thursday, September 23 that the hearing on criminal cases against the accused individuals in the case will proceed in Quezon City courts despite reports that some families have withdrawn and stopped cooperating.

‘The truth of the matter is, tuloy-tuloy ‘yung kaso. ‘Yung tatlong kaso na nasa Quezon City ngayon, nasa trial stage na ‘yan. Nagpe-presenta na ng ebidensya ang ating prosecutors,’ Vasquez said in an interview with dzMM.

(The truth of the matter is, the cases will proceed. The three cases that are currently in Quezon City are already on the trial stage. The prosecutors are now presenting evidences.)

Cases of kidnapping, serious illegal detention and homicide are filed against business tycoon Atong Ang and several police officers for allegedly killing dozens of sabungeros, or cockfighting enthusiasts, who went missing between 2021 and 2022.

Families disappearing

On Wednesday, September 23, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said most of the families of the victims are disappearing one by one.

In the case filed in Santa Cruz, three family members were presented as witnesses, but two of them eventually stopped cooperating with the DOJ.

In Lipa and San Pablo, the victims’ families are no longer coordinating with their private counsel.

‘Initially, nandoon ‘yung kagustuhan, pagpupursige, na ma-file ‘yung kaso, at akala nga namin, mabubuhayan ng loob na ipagpatuloy despite the fact na merong ibang naunang umatras. Napansin namin na unti-unti nawawala na ‘yung mga complainants, at totally hindi na nakikipag-usap at nakikipag-ugnayan sa amin,’ Fadullon said.

(Initially, the desire and determination to file the case were there, and we thought they would be encouraged to proceed despite the fact that there are others who withdrew. We noticed that the complainants are gradually disappearing and they are totally not coordinating with us anymore.)

Public crimes

Vasquez explained that the cases filed against the accused individuals are public crimes that do not necessarily require the participation of the victims’ families as private complainants.

The justice undersecretary added that, unlike private crimes that require the cooperation from the victims for the case to proceed, public crimes like kidnapping and kidnapping with illegal detention can be pursued by the government independently.

‘Those are crimes against the state, and therefore, they can be prosecuted even in the absence of private complainants,’ Vasquez said.

The families’ noncooperation, however, might affect their ability to pursue civil damages or financial claims from the accused.

Vasquez said prosecutors are confident that they have sufficient evidence to pursue the cases.

Obstruction of justice

Vasquez mentioned that there is also an ongoing preliminary investigation into alleged obstruction of justice complaints against the legal team of Ang.

In late May, Ang’s lawyer Caroline Cruz was accused of bribing the families of some victims with monthly financial assistance in exchange for their absence during court hearings.

Cruz denied any wrongdoing, saying that the families of the victims reached out to her first.

Vasquez said that while families of the victims did not provide specific reasons behind their noncooperation, their sudden withdrawal could be attributed to the alleged obstruction of justice committed by Ang’s camp.

”Yung aspetong ‘yon ay inaaral pa base sa ebidensya kung meron bang obstruction of justice laban sa mga abogado na sinasabi nila ay gumawa ng paraan para hindi na tumuloy ‘yang mga pamilyang ‘yan,’ Vasquez said.

(That aspect is being studied based on evidence, if there is any obstruction of justice against the lawyers who they accused of taking steps to discourage the family.)

Kathlyn Bugna continued to make a strong case as one of the country’s most promising young tennis players, sweeping three titles, including two singles crowns, in the Bagong Pilipinas Juniors Age Group Tennis Championships at the Capitol indoor and outdoor courts in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat recently.

The Batang Onay/RSB standout from La Carlota was virtually untouchable in the girls’ 16-and-under division, dropping just four games in four matches before routing Justine Gumbao, 6-0, 6-2, in the final.

Bugna was just as dominant in the premier 18-and-U category, yielding only five games in four matches and capping her run with a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Princess Obaniana.

She completed her three-title haul by teaming up with Ashley Garcia to capture the 18-and-U doubles crown over Dyan Placa and Marxian Sira, matching her three-title performance in the Bagong Pilipinas circuit’s Manila leg, underscoring the consistency of a player being groomed for a bigger future in Philippine tennis.

Her latest sweep also earned her another MVP trophy in the Philta and Universal Tennis Ranking-sanctioned circuit, further highlighting her emergence as a leading prospect in the junior ranks and her ambition to follow the path blazed by Alex Eala, who has risen to international prominence.

Bugna’s continued development comes amid expanded efforts from both government and private-sector partners to strengthen the grassroots tennis pipeline. The tournament is part of the Bagong Pilipinas sports agenda and held under the long-running Palawan Pawnshop talent-search, which seeks to widen opportunities for young athletes through grassroots programs, public training facilities and youth sports initiatives nationwide, while private supporters continue to help provide competitive avenues for rising players.

Krelz Gecosala likewise sustained his impressive form in the boys’ side, ruling both the 16- and 18-and-U divisions in similarly dominant fashion.

Gecosala dropped just four games in four matches in the 16-and-U category, highlighted by a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Rein Hayana in the final. He then captured the centerpiece crown with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Kurt Alcantara in the event sponsored by Gov. Pax Ali Mangudadatu and supported by A.C. Garcia Corp., Gareco Garcia Refinery Corp., A.C. Garcia Group of Companies and A.C. Garcia Palm Oil Mill Corp.

Other winners in the second leg of the circuit’s Mindanao swing were Kresthan Belacas and Gumbao in the 14-and-U division, and Liam Harrow and Athena Guarde in the 12-and-U category.

Belacas defeated Rafael Pascua, 6-3, 6-4, while Gumbao bounced back from her 16-and-U final loss by beating Teresinha Calingasan, 1-0 (ret.).

Harrow turned back Francis Dimzon, 6-2, 6-4, while unranked Guarde pulled off one of the tournament’s notable upsets, defeating top seed Arissa Macapendeg, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the semifinals before dominating Len Falconitin, 6-2, 6-1, in the final

The four-time defending champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers blasted the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM), 95-63, for their third straight win in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 26 basketball tournament Tuesday night, September 22, at the Cebu Coliseum.

Albert John Sacayan spearheaded UV’s one-sided beating of UCLM with 20 points, two rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

Two-time Most Valuable Player Kent Ivo Salarda added 11 points, five rebounds, one assist, and two steals, while Steven Christian Cañete scored nine points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Lancers improved to 3-1.

The game was close only in the early going as the Lancers pulled away to take a 47-35 lead at halftime before cruising to a 32-point blowout.

Javier Palco finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and two steals for UCLM, which suffered its fifth loss in six matches.

It was a completely different story for UCLM in high school play.

Kenz Dome Reboldad bagged 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists as UCLM dumped the Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC) Greywolves, 92-51, to earn a share of the juniors division lead with the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguar Cubs, both sporting identical 3-0 records.

Four other UCLM players cracked double figures, including Carl Torreon with 12 points.

Klent Ovillo posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds, with three assists, while Rain Lie Pequit and Marky Mitch Goc-ong also tallied 10 points apiece in UCLM’s 41-point rout of the hapless Greywolves.

Zane Oddyssie Ondoy chalked up 16 points and seven rebounds, while Richard Mark Abrigo Jr. added 12 points and two assists, but their efforts went for naught as the Greywolves slumped to their third consecutive defeat.

With its first contract on a massive scale as the national elections, iOne Resources Inc. did not disappoint.

Along with its joint venture partner Ardent Networks Inc., iOne Resources bagged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) contract for electronic transmission services during last year’s midterm elections and the recent Bangsamoro polls, snatching the deal with its P1.426-billion bid.

‘We were asked for proof of concept and we immediately complied. We won because our bid was P200 million lower than the only other bidder, but we still needed to prove we can run it. Thankfully, we did and got the award,’ said iOne president and CEO Alberto Catangui.

Catangui founded iOne in August 2002 to provide end-to-end ICT solutions for government entities and private corporations, from satellite connectivity and network infrastructure to cybersecurity, managed services, field deployment and enterprise systems. His chief technology officer, Larry dela Cruz, is also an applied math major at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños.

Although iOne has handled projects in other government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Bureau of Customs and Department of Budget and Management, Catangui said the Comelec contract was, by far, its most significant to date – deploying about 8,700 Starlink satellite units across the country that not only showcased iOne’s technical capacity but also set a new standard for ensuring election integrity and inclusivity, especially in remote and underserved areas.

According to Comelec-accredited poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the transmission of the election results was faster than any previous election.

‘The speed of transmission was unprecedented due to the deployment of approximately 8,700 Starlink low earth orbit satellites which offer high speed internet,’ it said in a report.

PPCRV spokesperson Anna Singson said the transmission was ‘incredibly fast.’

‘We’ve broken all past records in electronic voting since 2010. The time when it took weeks or even months before a candidate is declared (the winner) is now a thing of the past.’

PPCRV said within 67 hours, or less than three days after the May 12, 2025 polls closed, the last data dump was received by the PPCRV Transparency Server at 2:41 p.m. on May 15 and reached 98.12 percent of all transmissions at that point.

During the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro elections, the results came in faster. All 32 parliamentary district representatives were formally proclaimed the following day and after midnight on Sept. 16, the Comelec Regional Board of Canvassers formally proclaimed all elected members of the parliament.

‘Considering that this election marks the first Comelec activity of iOne, we cannot expect them to have a full mark or 100 percent satisfaction score. However, no one questioned the transmitted results and no one questioned that a lot of precincts were not able to transmit. This showed the performance of iOne and which made the elections a success because our providers all did their best to make this activity successful,’ said Celia Romero, director at Comelec’s Election Records and Statistics Department.

Dela Cruz said despite the challenges, the deployment of Starlink stands out as one of the Philippines’ biggest and most ambitious uses of satellite internet infrastructure.

‘For iOne, this project doesn’t just strengthen its credentials; it helps redefine what reliable internet access means for all Filipinos, no matter where they are,’ he said.

Sibol closed its Naraka: Bladepoint campaign with a 2-1 victory over Hong Kong but fell short of the semifinals of the 20th Asian Games Wednesday at the Aichi Sky Expo in Japan.

The Philippines finished third in Pool B with a 1-2 record, behind Vietnam and Chinese Taipei, with only the top two teams advancing to the semifinals.

After losses to Chinese Taipei and Vietnam ended their hopes of advancing, the Filipinos bounced back against Hong Kong in their final group-stage match.

Team captain Joaquin Paclibar opened the series by defeating Mingjie Wang twice in the solo match to put the Philippines ahead, 1-0.

Hong Kong responded in the team match, with Fanny Fung Ching Wong, Yu Hin Wong and Kevin Lam beating Richard Espejo, Von Teñoso and Kenneth Perez to force a decider.

Sibol recovered in the final match to secure its lone victory of the group stage.

‘For this group stage, we’re confident that we executed what we practiced. But the teams at this level are really good, and they adapt very quickly. That’s something we still need to improve on,’ said Paclibar.

‘Qualifying through Singapore and then making it to Japan gave us proof that there are players from the Philippines who can compete at a high level. The hours we’ve put in throughout our growth have all led to this moment and we’re very grateful,’ he added.

Sibol continues its Asian Games campaign Thursday with Karl Gonzalvo competing in Puyo Puyo Champions.

Gonzalvo opens Pool A against Japan at 9:20 a.m., followed by Kazakhstan at 10 a.m.; South Korea at 10:40 a.m.; and Hong Kong at 11:20 a.m.

September brought the Rabano family of the tuna industry and the Lim family together for a celebration that was about more than birthdays. The families gathered at Vikings in Mall of Asia for a special reunion that brought relatives and loved ones together over good food, laughter, and shared memories.

Making the occasion even more meaningful were family members who flew in from Japan especially to join the celebration. Their presence gave everyone an opportunity to reconnect despite the distance and their busy schedules.

The gathering was filled with lively conversations, laughter and cherished family moments. Guests enjoyed a sumptuous buffet dinner at Vikings, featuring a wide selection of dishes that gave everyone plenty of choices.

The children, meanwhile, had their own share of fun as they happily indulged in an array of desserts, from colorful cakes and creamy ice cream to refreshing ice pops. Their excitement and laughter added a cheerful touch to the celebration.

Throughout the evening, family members enjoyed catching up, reminiscing about old memories, sharing stories, and exchanging jokes. There was plenty of laughter around the table, reflecting the warmth and closeness that make family gatherings so meaningful and memorable.