Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Senator-judge Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson on Saturday said that there’s no truth to claims that former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was blocked from appearing before the Senate impeachment court to testify.

‘Hindi, hindi totoo ‘yon,’ Lacson said when asked during a DWIZ interview if Trillanes’ assertion that he was blocked by Presiding Officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero and some senator-judges to testify before the court was true.

(‘No, that’s not true.’)

At a press briefing on Friday, Trillanes has called out Escudero for allegedly singling him out on the issuance of subpoenas.

He expressed that he did not feel welcome, which prompted him to ask the House prosecution to remove him from the list of witnesses for Article II of the Articles of Impeachment on Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial.

But, Lacson explained, ‘Maliwanag yung ruling ng presiding officer, hindi magi-issue ng subpoena, pero kung magbo-bolentaryo na ipre-presenta ng prosecution si Sen. Trillanes ay papayagan ng korte,’

(‘The presiding officer’s ruling is clear: no subpoena will be issued, however, if the prosecution voluntarily presents Sen. Trillanes, the court will allow it,’)

He emphasized, ‘Maliwanag ‘yon, wala namang pumipigil,’

(‘That’s clear, no one is stopping it,’)

Lacson has earlier dismissed the allegations made by Trillanes regarding the issuance of subpoenas, clarifying that the decision was not made by Escudero alone.

‘Just so the public knows: not to defend the Impeachment Court’s presiding officer, but the decision not to subpoena former Sen. Sonny Trillanes wasn’t made by him alone,’ he stated in a post in X, formerly Twitter, on Friday.

He then explained in the radio interview that the decisions made by the Senate impeachment court were decided by the 20 senator-judges present.

‘Remember, twenty kami ngayon na nandiyan, so pwede siyang ma-overrule kung sa tingin namin, ng majority sa amin, o kung may magmi-move at mapagbo-botohan na makontra siya, babaguhin, ire-reverse ‘yong kanyang ruling,’ he said.

Alas Pilipinas team captain Bryan Bagunas embraced all the lessons from the Asian Games with his teammates as they finished their campaign in 13th place.

Alas was initially scheduled for a final classification game on Saturday, but Kyrgyzstan opted not to play, handing the Philippines 13th place after a 25-0, 25-0, 25-0 win by forfeiture.

Bagunas thanked all the people who supported the team after he revealed at the start of their campaign that the program is still facing the same problem of lack of support and inadequate allowances.

‘Thank you so much for being with us throughout this journey!’ Bagunas said in a Facebook post in Filipino.

‘We ended our Asian Games campaign with a hard-fought win over Uzbekistan. In every match, we gave our all and represented the Philippines with pride and honor.’

Bagunas erupted for 26 points in a 25-19, 25-15, 23-25, 25-17 victory over Uzbekistan.

Amid its off-court battles, Alas got a morale-boosting first win after a winless pool stage, losing to South Korea, China, and Chinese Taipei and dropping its first classification game to Indonesia.

‘Thank you to everyone who continued to believe in and support Alas. We’ll carry these lessons and experiences with us as we continue working for Philippine volleyball,’ said Bagunas. ‘We love volleyball. Above all, we love the Philippines. Let’s go, Alas Pilipinas!’

Alas also placed 13th in the 2022 Hangzhou Games.

Overcast skies and rain are forecast over parts of Visayas and Mindanao on Saturday due to the trough of a typhoon located outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in its latest forecast, Typhoon Choi-Wan was located 2,430 kilometers (km) east of Northern Luzon.

It is carrying wind speeds of 130 km per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

While not expected to enter PAR as it continued to head northwards towards Japan, Pagasa said its trough is expected to bring rain over parts Western Visayas, Negros Island region, Central Visayas, Leyte and Southern Leyte, as well as the entire Mindanao.

Meanwhile, generally fair weather is expected to prevail throughout Luzon the same day.

However, chances of short-lived rain showers remain possible due to localized thunderstorms which would be more likely to occur in the afternoon and evening.

The temperature range in key cities/areas across the country for Saturday will be:

Metro Manila: 24 to 32 degrees Celsius

Baguio City: 18 to 24 degrees Celsius

Laoag City: 25 to 33 degrees Celsius

Tuguegarao: 26 to 35 degrees Celsius

Legazpi City: 24 to 33 degrees Celsius

Puerto Princesa City: 25 to 33 degrees Celsius

Tagaytay: 24 to 30 degrees Celsius

Kalayaan Islands: 26 to 32 degrees Celsius

Iloilo City: 24 to 32 degrees Celsius

Cebu: 26 to 31 degrees Celsius

Tacloban City: 25 to 33 degrees Celsius

Cagayan De Oro City: 26 to 31 degrees Celsius

Zamboanga City: 24 to 33 degrees Celsius

Davao City: 24 to 32 degrees Celsius

Amid negotiations among political parties in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on forming a coalition to form its incoming government, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Vice Chairman Mohagher Iqbal on Saturday said that a final shape up will only emerge when parliament members eventually vote on Oct. 30.

Iqbal issued the comment as the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) announced on Friday that it has secured the support of 46 of 80 elected members of the regional legislature.

Iqbal, who is a Member of Parliament-elect, dismissed the claim as ‘more a matter of optics than political reality.’

In a post on social media, Iqbal said that in negotiations, nothing is agreed upon until it is formally signed.

‘The ball is still round, so to speak. October has only just begun,’ he said.

Iqbal said the outcome would depend on which party holds the stronger bargaining chips, adding that the national government would also weigh which political formula better serves the national interest.

The choice, according to Iqbal, is between ‘a united or a fractured BARMM.’

Following the Sept. 14 regional parliamentary elections, the BFP secured 31 seats while the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party had 30.

Both can decide to coalesce to form a majority in parliament to elect the regular Chief Minister who will head the regional government as well as the Parliament Speaker and other key legislative officers.

Either can also form a coalition mainly with the BARMM Grand Coalition which secured 16 seats.

The regular parliament is set to convene on Oct. 30 this year, for a term that will end on June 30, 2031.

The lengthy negotiations between the Detroit Pistons and star center Jalen Duren didn’t leave any lingering animosity, at least not in the mind of head coach JB Bickerstaff.

Duren, an All-NBA Third Team selection last season, agreed to a five-year, $200 million contract on Thursday. There were reports during the offseason that the restricted free agent sought sign-and-trade options and even felt disrespected by the front office.

Duren, who was not made available to the media, underwent a physical and other testing on Friday and is expected to start practicing as early as this weekend. Bickerstaff brushed aside any suggestion that Duren might not be fully invested in rejoining the team.

‘The most important thing for us was having JD back with us and I know JD wanted to be back,’ Bickerstaff said. ‘All that stuff that was floating (around), we know what’s real. It’s a negotiating process and we went through the process and we knew he’d be back.’

Duren had little leverage, other than to sign a $9.6 million qualifying offer – which expired on Thursday night – and become an unrestricted free agent after this season. President of basketball operations Trajan Langdon repeatedly stated he had no interest in dealing his starting center.

Duren was eligible for a five-year contract worth up to $287 million but the fully guaranteed deal will still make him one of the top 10 centers in terms of annual salary.

‘There’s never been any bitterness between the group and how we feel about him and I know how he feels about us,’ Bickerstaff said.

Duren averaged a career-high 19.5 points last season, along with 10.5 rebounds per game on 65% shooting. He struggled in the playoffs, averaging 10.2 points as the top-seeded Pistons failed to get out of the second round.

‘We know how much he means to us and how important he’s been for us the past couple of years and how important he’ll be for us moving forward in the future,’ Bickerstaff said. ‘That’s our guy. He’s been our guy and we’re happy to have him back.’

Duren has ways to expand his game. He’s not a perimeter threat or a prolific shot-blocker (0.8 per game last season).

‘He hasn’t reached his ceiling, so there’s no reason why we wouldn’t expect him to take another step,’ Bickerstaff said. ‘I know that’s what he wants to do. He wants to continue to get better and reach greatness.’

Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape’s journey began with a leap of faith. He walked into the University of Santo Tomas taekwondo program simply to ‘try his luck,’ inspired by his sister Stella’s own path in the sport.

That gamble has now blossomed into a career-defining moment with a gold medal at the 20th Asian Games, proof that courage and bravery can be the foundations of greatness.

Just a day after clinching bronze in the men’s individual poomsae, the 22-year-old fitness and sports management major struck again, this time with a dazzling victory in the mixed individual virtual taekwondo event that delivered the Philippines’ fourth gold medal of the Games.

But for Yape, the Asiad gold medal will only motivate him to achieve more.

‘I always think about my next competition and win,’ said Yape, emphasizing his relentless drive to improve. ‘I cannot just rest on these victories and relax.’

Kurt Barbosa and Tachiana Mangin snatched silvers in their respective divisions to add to the taekwondo haul that also counts the silver of Juliana Mykhail Candelaria.

The Olympian Barbosa fell to Kazakhstan’s Tamirlan Tleules in the men’s -58-kilogram final, 16-14, 15-2, while Mangin yielded to China’s Ma Jingyue in the women’s -49-kilogram final, 2-0.

The Yape win sort of made up for losses taken by two big fighting hopes-Olympian Carlo Paalam of boxing and ex-world champion Annie Ramirez of jiujitsu (related story on this page).

Boxing remained without a gold medal since Rey Saludar won in Guangzhou in 2010, settling for silver after Japan’s Rui Yamaguchi by split decision, 3-2, in the men’s 55-kilogram final on Friday at Nishio Gymnasium.

The 28-year-old Paalam still surpassed his bronze medal in the 2018 Asiad and redeemed himself from a quarterfinal exit in the 2022 Hangzhou, despite falling to the former world youth champion.

Paalam, an Olympic silver medalist, was the only Filipino boxer to reach the podium after outclassing the world champion from Kazakhstan to advance to his first-ever Asiad finals.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio, visiting the Filipino jins at the Toyohashi Gymnasium, expressed relief and pride.

‘We’re proud of what the Philippine taekwondo team has achieved in these Games. One gold, one silver and a bronze. Congratulations,” said Gregorio. ‘We’ve already matched our golds and we hope to win more and surpass it,’

With Yape’s triumph, the Philippines’ overall medal tally rose to four golds, five silvers and 14 bronzes, matching its gold haul from the 2018 Jakarta and 2022 Hangzhou editions.

In the virtual taekwondo finals, Yape faced Vietnam’s Chau Ngoc Tuyet Sang. With unyielding focus, he delivered flawless sequences, winning 500-0, 620-0 in a commanding performance that left no doubt about his superiority.

His path to gold was equally impressive after defeating Kazakhstan’s Rita Bakisheva in the semifinals and Japan’s Hayate Suzuki in the quarterfinals.

Each bout demanded courage and technical mastery, qualities Yape has honed with the UST program in the UAAP.

The victory not only secured him a P2-million incentive from the Philippine Sports Commission but also cemented his reputation as one of the country’s most promising taekwondo athletes.

Yet Yape remains grounded.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has mobilized its regional offices, line bureaus and field units to strengthen nationwide preparedness and mitigation measures against the ongoing El Niño.

The state weather bureau warns that this climate pattern may intensify into a very strong event before year-end and persist through the first half of 2027.

The DENR’s heightened preparations include building additional water sources, promoting water conservation, protecting watersheds and forests, preventing forest fires, safeguarding vulnerable ecosystems, and protecting personnel from extreme heat.

El Niño is expected to bring increased risks of prolonged dry conditions, reduced water availability and extreme heat in parts of the country.

‘With the critical action window now upon us, every DENR unit must proactively execute climate adaptation and risk reduction protocols,’ DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said.

‘By closely coordinating with local government units, monitoring our vital water systems, and promoting strict conservation practices, we are taking decisive steps to protect our communities, ecosystems, and natural resources from the severe impacts of this climate phenomenon,’ the secretary said.

Among its measures, the DENR has constructed small water impounding structures and rainwater harvesting systems to provide additional water supply during periods of limited rainfall.

Its regional offices and attached agencies are also strengthening water conservation, watershed monitoring, forest-fire prevention, ecosystem protection and heat-safety measures in coordination with local governments and other stakeholders.

In Central Luzon, the Pampanga Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office and regional field units are conducting information campaigns in barangays and community colleges in Guagua and Lubao, to promote simple water-saving practices such as using buckets instead of hoses, reusing greywater, repairing leaks and harvesting rainwater.

DENR Region 3 is also monitoring possible coral bleaching linked to elevated sea surface temperatures in coastal areas, including Aurora.

In Caraga, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has advised mining companies and processing plants to manage water demand, check for leaks, harvest rainwater, and establish cooling stations and early warning systems for extreme heat.

Advisories have also been sent to provincial governors in Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands to strengthen local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and monitor critical watersheds.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Region 11 has strengthened health and safety measures for field personnel, including limiting high-exposure outdoor work from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., providing personal protective equipment and ensuring continuous hydration.

These measures help secure water for communities during dry periods, protect forests and watersheds, and safeguard people and livelihoods that depend on healthy ecosystems.

Water impounding structures and rainwater harvesting systems provide additional sources of water when rainfall is limited, while conservation efforts help make available supplies last longer.

Protecting forests and watersheds also helps maintain the natural systems that collect, store and regulate water.

The DENR’s proactive measures support the government’s broader preparations for El Niño and the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for government agencies to prepare early for the expected dry spell. Through early action, continuous monitoring and coordination with local governments and other stakeholders, the DENR is working to strengthen the country’s climate resilience and help communities better manage the effects of El Niño.

The segment of the Philippine-Singapore cable that went down was restored on Saturday, Oct. 3, bringing the internet service back to normal, a Philippine-based telecommunications company said.

InfiniVAN Inc., a Japanese-Filipino telecommunications and information and communications technology solutions provider, said in an advisory that the C2C Submarine Cable (Philippine-Singapore) segment has been fully restored.

Several internet service providers (ISPs) in the country experienced network connection and internet speed issues on Friday.

The company explained that its Philippine-Singapore link went down, which caused the intermittent or slower-than-usual internet connectivity.

It added that its Hong Kong link was undergoing maintenance, which also resulted in limited network service.

‘Our Network Operations team continues to closely monitor the connection to ensure service stability,’ it assured in an advisory issued at 3:11 p.m. on Saturday.

Some ISPs, including Converge, Eastern Communications, PLDT, announced that they successfully rerouted and restored their internet services.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Saturday, Oct. 3, called for a multi-agency investigation into what he described as continuing illegal reclamation activities on the Taguig side of Laguna Lake.

Lacson said concerned government agencies should work together to determine who was behind the alleged dumping of garbage and filling of materials in the lakeshore area.

He earlier posted a 25-second video of a joint government inspection in the area, which he described as a ‘total display of impunity and disrespect for the law.’

‘Ako ang nag-suggest noon nang nagkaroon ng conference sa office ko. Masama ba yan? Ako ang nag-consolidate, mag tulong-tulong tayo to get to the bottom of this issue. Pagka laki-laki ng area na natabunan ng basura at filling materials ang Laguna Lake sa Taguig side, ito ang Lakeshore, 170 hectares,’ he said during an interview with DWIZ 882.

(‘I suggested the composite approach during a conference at my Senate office. Is there a problem with it? We should consolidate our efforts because a huge area of Laguna Lake has been filled with garbage from the Taguig side, or Lakeshore, and it involves 170 hectares.’)

Lacson said that agencies, including the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), Land Registration Authority (LRA), Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Office of the Ombudsman, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), should coordinate to investigate the matter.

‘Pag reclamation, PRA. Pag Laguna Lake, LLDA and DENR kasi kung basura tinatambak mo concern ng DENR yan. Pag infrastructure projects, DPWH. Pag kaso, Ombudsman. Kaya composite ‘yan,’ he explained.

(The reclamation aspect is addressed by the PRA. Concerns on Laguna Lake are addressed by the LLDA. The DENR is involved because the reclamation involves the dumping of garbage. The Ombudsman is concerned with pursuing the appropriate cases, so it must be a composite team.)

Lacson said he would continue gathering evidence on the issue despite what he described as insinuations from Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

‘Hindi ko papatulan pero ang paghanap ng ebidensya, tuloy-tuloy ang pagkalap ng ebidensya,’ he said.

(I will not dignify him, but I will continue to gather evidence),’ he said, referring to Cayetano.

Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) is letting go of nearly 1,000 employees amid the massive seawater inflows at one of its mine sites, with limits on investments due to uncertainties in the bidding of coal contracts adding to the pressure on future production.

On Friday, the Consunji-led group reported that the flow rate at its Acacia coal mine had already climbed to about 30,000 cubic meters per hour, significant inflows that could fill 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools every hour.

The worsening situation has forced SMPC to cut down on operations, particularly stripping activities in the area.

With reduced operations, SMPC would implement another round of layoffs, this time involving 996 employees.

‘Managing these seawater inflows over the longer term requires substantial investment in pumping equipment, power systems and other infrastructure. Uncertainty surrounding the coal bid round complicates planning for these investments,’ it said.

‘Without adequate capital spending, the risk of flooding and losing access to Acacia’s remaining coal reserves increases,’ SMPC added.

Last August, the company initially removed a total of 462 employees from its operations following the decision to slash its coal production target for the year due to the planned coal mine bidding, which has been facing delays.

SMPC, accounting for more than 90 percent of domestic coal production, has a coal contract with the government that is set to lapse in July 2027.

The group said it was working closely with the Department of Energy (DOE) on the operating challenges and longer-term options amid the issues at the Acacia mine site.

While this year’s target remains intact at 12 million metric tons, the current woes at the Acacia mine site will affect 2027 coal production as the latter ‘was expected to supply most of next year’s coal output.’

DOE Secretary Sharon Garin said the auction process may resume in a few weeks.

Earlier this week, SMPC warned the government that prioritizing the highest bid could backfire if the winning company has no technical expertise to operate Semirara Island.