Category: Philippine Star

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla is delaying his trip to France to block the asylum bid of former lawmaker Zaldy Co.

Remulla cited two reasons for the slight delay, another deadly shooting in a school in Banga, South Cotabato that left the shooter, a Grade 9 student, and two other students dead and eight others injured.

Another factor are documentary requirements from the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol, but Remulla did not provide further details on these documents.

‘I would have to delay my trip to France by two weeks or three weeks to finish this,’ Remulla said at a news briefing in Camp Crame yesterday.

Remulla earlier said he will meet with Interpol officials in Lyon to follow through on the government’s request for a red notice alert on Co, who is facing warrants of arrest for plunder, graft and malversation before the Sandiganbayan.

Remulla will report to President Marcos on Monday about the guidelines he is crafting with the Department of Education on school safety measures.

It is rambutan season in the Philippines!

Rambutan’s main harvest season is from August to October. The red, hairy fruit that opens up to a translucent white flesh, which you bite off from a single big seed, is in great abundance at this time of the year and therefore sells at an affordable price.

You know it is in season when you see rambutan being sold in markets and supermarkets, offered by neighborhood online sellers for free delivery, and peddled by street vendors everywhere possible.

Some varieties give you a bit of work, as part of the hard covering of the seed tends to stick to the flesh and come off with it when you take a bite, but tuklapin varieties, where the sweet flesh easily separates from the seed, are now available for easy and effortless consumption.

Major harvests of rambutan during this peak season come from Southern Luzon, including Batangas and Laguna, as well as from Mindanao, Mindoro, and Palawan. A fruit native to Southeast Asia, it got its name from the Malay word that means hair because of its appearance. Its look and taste reminds you of the lychee fruit, and rightly so because they are relatives. It is also related to the fruit longan.

Rambutan offers many health benefits, so it should be a light and healthy fruit to indulge in. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds, it is a good source of Vitamin C, which helps the body absorb dietary iron. It also serves as an antioxidant, thus protecting the body against free radicals, and its copper content assists in the proper growth and maintenance of heart, bone, and brain cells.

The fruit also contains potassium, calcium, carbohydrates, protein, and iron. It comes with a good amount of fiber, which helps promote good digestion and address the problem of constipation.

The ‘Degree Behind Bars’ program of Mandaue City College (MCC) drew the attention of local college presidents in Central Visayas as they explored initiatives that could be adapted by other institutions.

Association of Local Colleges and Universities in Region 7 (ALCU-7) Chairman Dr. Richel Bacaltos, president of Talisay City College, said the group looked into how MCC provides persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) an opportunity to pursue higher education while serving their sentences.

ALCU-7 members visited MCC on September 16 as part of its 13th quarterly meeting held in Mandaue City.

‘Mao na ang among tan-awon dinhi og giunsa nila… tingali ma-apply namo ang among nakat-unan sa pagbisita sa Mandaue City College,’ Bacaltos said.

He said the visit allowed members of the association to learn from MCC’s experience and examine how the program could potentially be applied in other local colleges.

Around 21 presidents of local colleges and universities from Cebu and Bohol took part in the two-day meeting, with eight representatives from Cebu and 13 from Bohol.

Bacaltos said the quarterly gathering also served as an avenue for local colleges to exchange experiences and discuss concerns that they commonly face.

‘We establish partnership, ingon ani benchmarking aron sa usa’g usa makakat-on mi,’ he said.

Among the challenges faced by local colleges, according to Bacaltos, are financial constraints and compliance with the standards and requirements of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

‘These are all challenges nga atong giatubang sa mga local colleges,’ Bacaltos said.

The association also discussed micro-credentialing with CHED and other initiatives related to student development.

Before the MCC visit, the college presidents met with Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito ‘Jonkie’ Ouano at City Hall on September 15.

Bacaltos said ALCU-7’s regular meetings provide member institutions with opportunities to establish partnerships and learn from programs and practices implemented by other local colleges

Volunteer divers took to the waters off Lapu-Lapu City yesterday to retrieve and document marine debris as the city marked International Coastal Cleanup 2026 through its annual Scubasurero marine cleanup.

The activity, dubbed ‘Scubasurero 2026: Diving for Clean Seas, Building Resilient Communities’, brought together city officials, environmental groups, private-sector partners and volunteer divers who conducted an underwater cleanup along the Hilutungan Channel.

Led by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ma. Cynthia ‘Cindi’ King Chan, the activity focused not only on removing submerged waste but also on documenting the types of debris found in the city’s coastal waters.

The initiative forms part of the city’s Adopt-a-Reef advocacy and its ‘Atong Dagat, Atong Ugma’ campaign.

Chan said protecting the city’s marine ecosystems is closely linked to the livelihood of fisherfolk, coastal communities and tourism workers, as well as the city’s marine biodiversity.

She also urged residents to prevent household waste from reaching canals, waterways, and the sea.

‘Kung kita mismo magmatngon sa atong basura ug dili nato kini itugyan ngadto sa atong mga kanal, sapa, baybayon, ug dagat, dako kaayo ang atong ikatabang sa pagpanalipod sa atong kadagatan,’ she said.

The Scubasurero activity concluded with a ceremonial pledge board signing, reaffirming the participating groups’ commitment to continued ocean conservation efforts.

Among those present were Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 Regional Executive Director Laudemir Salac, CENRO head Jocelyn Abayan, representatives of the Philippine Coast Guard, environmental groups, diving organizations, hotels, and other private-sector partners.

The city also joined the simultaneous cleanup organized by the DENR-7 in partnership with CENRO.

Fifteen designated coastal cleanup areas across mainland and island barangays were mobilized for the activity, drawing participation from national government agencies, city and barangay officials, schools, environmental organizations, private companies, and volunteers.

The 2026 cleanup carries the theme ‘Clean Seas for Resilient Communities.’

During the activity at Bridge Park in Barangay Pajo, Chan said the city’s coastal protection efforts extend beyond annual cleanup drives and include waste management, mangrove rehabilitation, marine conservation, and environmental monitoring.

Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative Junard ‘Ahong’ Chan, meanwhile, called for sustained coastal protection efforts, particularly among young people.

‘This is something we need to do regularly. Let us also teach our children and young people the importance of caring for our environment,’ he said.

Salac also stressed that coastal cleanup should be accompanied by proper waste management, from waste segregation and collection to recycling, resource recovery and environmentally-sound disposal.

He said the cleanup should serve as a reminder to prevent waste from becoming pollution rather than treating cleanup as a one-day activity.

The simultaneous cleanup was also attended by representatives of the Environmental Management Bureau-7, Philippine Coast Guard Central Visayas District, Department of Social Welfare and Development-7, Department of Health-7, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Economy, Planning and Development, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, Office of Civil Defense, Bureau of Fire Protection, and other government agencies

Several groups marched through the streets of Metro Manila on Sunday, September 20, on the eve of the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.

Youth and student groups marched from La Salle Green Hills in Mandaluyong to the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City, while the August Twenty One Movement (ATOM) held a separate march in front of the Supreme Court in Manila.

The protesters called for government transparency, accountability over corruption, and the passage of legislation against political dynasties.

The march also called for the conviction of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate impeachment trial.

The protest was spearheaded by Akbayan Youth, the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, Youth Against Kurakot and various university student leaders.

Meanwhile, ATOM marched to the Supreme Court to protest the high court’s ruling that reverse the conviction former First Lady Imelda Marcos. The group called for accountability for what it alleged the Marcos family had stolen. The group, along with Tindig Pilipinas and Partido Manggagawa, also marched toward the EDSA Shrine.

Monday, September 21, marks the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines.

The proclamation placing the country under martial law was signed by then-President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. on Sept. 21, 1972, but it was only announced on national television on September 23.

Martial Law was lifted on Jan. 17, 1981. Human rights groups estimate that the regime resulted in 70,000 arrests, 34,000 cases of torture and 3,240 deaths.

The ramming by a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship of a Philippine civilian vessel can never be justified, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

‘There is no justification for the CCG vessel to undertake aggressive actions against a Philippine civilian law enforcement vessel and cause damage to the ship and endanger the safety of the civilian crew,’ the DFA said, referring to an incident on Friday off Palawan involving a CCG ship and the BRP Datu Magat Salamat, a law enforcement civilian vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

‘The Philippines emphasizes that the BFAR vessel was merely conducting routine and lawful humanitarian activities to support Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea,’ the DFA added.

The DFA noted that the CCG vessel’s ‘illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous acts are inconsistent with China’s obligations under international law, including UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS).’

‘The Philippines calls on China to respect Philippine sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone in accordance with UNCLOS as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award, exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further escalate tensions in the region,’ the DFA said.

Investigators have completed gathering evidence from a ferry that caught fire while sailing in the waters off Coron, Palawan, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

The PCG said the evidence-gathering activity on M/V June Aster was meant to support the ongoing maritime safety and crime investigation.

A joint team from the PCG, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Coron police yesterday conducted a final sweep of the vessel, according to PCG spokesperson Cmdre. Noemie Cayabyab.

A PCG response team has completed draining water from the engine room of the June Aster.

Cayabyab said the team collected 7, 865 gallons of oily water from the ferry.

Samples of lube and contaminated oil as well as seawater collected from the ferry will be subjected to laboratory tests.

Cayabyab said monitoring of the June Aster and the surrounding water will continue for possible oil spill.

Records showed 77 people died, 43 survived and eight are still missing from the maritime mishap.

Philip Morris International (PMI)’s global business services hub has expanded its facility in Makati to deliver higher-value services.

PMI Business Solutions (PMIBS) Philippines Inc.’s expanded facility at 8 Rockwell creates over 80 new positions and marks the next phase of the hub’s growth.

PMIBS president Harry Tan said that when operations began in 2021, the facility was focused mainly on finance and information technology (IT) and catering to 20 markets globally.

Today, he said the hub has expanded with over 500 professionals delivering 600 services across finance, human resources, IT, commercial services, data analytics, supply chain, project management and fleet services to 160 markets worldwide.

He said the capabilities built over the past five years now allow the facility to deliver complex and higher value work for PMI markets around the world.

As the hub transitions to more complex and value-adding services, Tan said that PMIBS wants to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to provide more strategic work for PMI.

‘If the first five years were about building capability, the next five years will be about helping our people create even greater value through Al. At the center of this future is still our people – their judgment, creativity, collaboration and ability to turn technology into real business impact,’ he said.

As such, he said that PMIBS is focused on building future-ready talent, scaling excellence and driving AI transformation.

‘With Al, we now have the opportunity to help our teams work smarter, build stronger capabilities and take on more complex, higher-value work for PMI, while creating more meaningful opportunities for our people to grow,’ he said.

For his part, PMFTC Inc. president Zhenya Ivanov reaffirmed PMI’s long-term commitment to the Philippines and expressed confidence in PMIBS’ role in supporting the company’s broader transformation and growth.

PMIBS’ facility in Makati is the second global business services center established by PMI globally and the first in Asia.

PMFTC and PMIBS both operate under the umbrella of Philip Morris Philippines.

Carlos Alvarez delivered another medal for Team Philippines after scoring a knockout victory over Indonesia’s Ananda Wahyu Setyo in the men’s MMA Traditional -77kg quarterfinals at the 2026 Asian Games.

After a tight opening round, Alvarez knew he had to step up the pressure in the second.

‘No’ng first round kasi medyo parang ganunan lang kami sa points eh. Medyo parang dikit. Tabla oh. Kaya no’ng second round sabi ko kailangan kong tapusin ‘to para manalo.’

With a medal already secured, Alvarez admitted the pressure has eased slightly, but the ultimate target remains an Asian Games gold medal.

‘At least nabawasan konti ‘yong pressure kasi malaki pressure dito. At least ngayon may medal na tayong siguradong maiuuwi at ang goal namin talaga dito sa MMA is makuha ang gold medal.’

Alvarez also drew inspiration from fellow Filipino fighter Jean Claude Saclag, who earlier secured a bronze medal and advanced to the semifinals.

‘Oo na-inspire din ako kay Jean kasi siya ‘yong unang lumaban and siya din ‘yong unang nanalo sa ‘min. Sabi ko sa sarili ko ‘di puwedeng matalo ko dito.’

Alvarez now has just one day to recover and prepare for his next challenge. He will face Yerkingali Burkutalin of Kazakhstan in the semifinals on Monday at 9:40 a.m. Manila time, with a place in the gold medal match at stake.

‘Rest lang kami mamaya ng mabuti at ayusin mga masasakit na parts ng katawan tapos ‘yon. Laban na ulit.’

For Alvarez, representing the Philippines provides an added source of motivation as he continues his medal campaign.

‘Ah sobrang motivation ‘yan kasi Pilipinas na ‘yong ni-represent namin dito eh. Hindi na team lang namin sa Baguio or something. Pilipinas na siya talaga. Napakagandang motivation at inspirasyon sa aming mga lumalaban dito.

Volunteer divers took to the waters off Lapu-Lapu City yesterday to retrieve and document marine debris as the city marked International Coastal Cleanup 2026 through its annual Scubasurero marine cleanup.

The activity, dubbed ‘Scubasurero 2026: Diving for Clean Seas, Building Resilient Communities’, brought together city officials, environmental groups, private-sector partners and volunteer divers who conducted an underwater cleanup along the Hilutungan Channel.

Led by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ma. Cynthia ‘Cindi’ King Chan, the activity focused not only on removing submerged waste but also on documenting the types of debris found in the city’s coastal waters.

The initiative forms part of the city’s Adopt-a-Reef advocacy and its ‘Atong Dagat, Atong Ugma’ campaign.

Chan said protecting the city’s marine ecosystems is closely linked to the livelihood of fisherfolk, coastal communities and tourism workers, as well as the city’s marine biodiversity.

She also urged residents to prevent household waste from reaching canals, waterways, and the sea.

‘Kung kita mismo magmatngon sa atong basura ug dili nato kini itugyan ngadto sa atong mga kanal, sapa, baybayon, ug dagat, dako kaayo ang atong ikatabang sa pagpanalipod sa atong kadagatan,’ she said.

The Scubasurero activity concluded with a ceremonial pledge board signing, reaffirming the participating groups’ commitment to continued ocean conservation efforts.

Among those present were Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 Regional Executive Director Laudemir Salac, CENRO head Jocelyn Abayan, representatives of the Philippine Coast Guard, environmental groups, diving organizations, hotels, and other private-sector partners.

The city also joined the simultaneous cleanup organized by the DENR-7 in partnership with CENRO.

Fifteen designated coastal cleanup areas across mainland and island barangays were mobilized for the activity, drawing participation from national government agencies, city and barangay officials, schools, environmental organizations, private companies, and volunteers.

The 2026 cleanup carries the theme ‘Clean Seas for Resilient Communities.’

During the activity at Bridge Park in Barangay Pajo, Chan said the city’s coastal protection efforts extend beyond annual cleanup drives and include waste management, mangrove rehabilitation, marine conservation, and environmental monitoring.

Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative Junard ‘Ahong’ Chan, meanwhile, called for sustained coastal protection efforts, particularly among young people.

‘This is something we need to do regularly. Let us also teach our children and young people the importance of caring for our environment,’ he said.

Salac also stressed that coastal cleanup should be accompanied by proper waste management, from waste segregation and collection to recycling, resource recovery and environmentally-sound disposal.

He said the cleanup should serve as a reminder to prevent waste from becoming pollution rather than treating cleanup as a one-day activity.

The simultaneous cleanup was also attended by representatives of the Environmental Management Bureau-7, Philippine Coast Guard Central Visayas District, Department of Social Welfare and Development-7, Department of Health-7, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Economy, Planning and Development, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, Office of Civil Defense, Bureau of Fire Protection, and other government agencies