Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

No player won the Grand Lotto 6/55 or Lotto 6/42 jackpots in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) draws Saturday, Oct. 3.

According to the PCSO, the Grand Lotto 6/55 winning combination was 11-23-36-20-29-50 for a jackpot of ?242.63 million. No ticket matched all six numbers.

The Lotto 6/42 winning combination was 41-17-42-21-37-02 for a jackpot of ?75.9 million. The jackpot also had no winner.

Minor games

PCSO also released the results of the day’s minor lotto draws:

6D Lotto: 6-2-2-7-4-1 – ?1.09 million; no winner

3D Lotto 2 p.m.: 5-9-6 – ?4,500; 118 winners

3D Lotto 5 p.m.: 9-7-9 – ?4,500; 83 winners

3D Lotto 9 p.m.: 9-9-6 – ?4,500; 450 winners

2D Lotto 2 p.m.: 09-28 – ?4,000; 609 winners

2D Lotto 5 p.m.: 13-23 – ?4,000; 153 winners

2D Lotto 9 p.m.: 31-24 – ?4,000; 170 winners

Draw schedule

Grand Lotto 6/55 draws are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, while Lotto 6/42 draws take place every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Japan cycling queen Yumi Kajihara broke down after her latest Asian Games gold as she dedicated victory to her brother, who died of cancer this year, saying: ‘He’s here with me.’

Kajihara claimed her third consecutive omnium gold at the Izu Velodrome on Friday and dissolved into tears as she talked about how her younger brother Hyogo had helped her cope with some dark moments.

‘After I missed a medal at the Paris Olympics (2024) I was really depressed,’ said the 29-year-old Kajihara, the first woman cyclist from Japan to win an Olympic medal – omnium silver at the Tokyo Games in the same Izu velodrome.

‘I hit rock bottom. And my brother said: ‘Why do you look so down? Even though I have cancer, I’m this happy’,’ she said.

‘He was going through an incredibly difficult battle with cancer, alone in a Tokyo hospital.

‘It must have been so hard for him but he never once complained. He told me: ‘Just being alive means you’ve already come out ahead’.

‘I thought: Yes, he’s right.

‘It made me realise I needed to be grateful simply to be alive, grateful to those supporting me, and that I needed to enjoy life.’

It was Kajihara’s fourth Asian Games gold having also won the team pursuit at Hangzhou three years ago.

‘Every single day my brother told me to ‘enjoy’. I think I’ve finally begun to understand what it really means,’ said Kajihara, who also claimed team pursuit silver on Tuesday.

‘Whenever I competed here (before) in Izu, he came to watch and stayed with me,’ she said.

‘So today I kept thinking: Maybe he’s here at the venue? I’m sure he’s here, and I thought about him over and over as I raced.

A female juvenile Philippine eagle was electrocuted in Sitio Panghaon, Barangay Guinalaban of Salay town, Misamis Oriental on Wednesday morning.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Northern Mindanao through the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Gingoog City is now investigating the death of a Philippine eagle found near an electrical post in Sitio Panghaon, Barangay Guinalaban, Salay, Misamis Oriental.

According to the agency’s Facebook page on Saturday, CENRO Gingoog City received a report from barangay officials on Wednesday morning that a farmer in the area discovered the eagle at around 9 a.m. perched near a power line while visiting a nearby farm.

Reports states that CENR Officer Noe Calipusan, together with personnel from the CENRO Gingoog City Enforcement and Monitoring Section and the Mt. Balatukan Range Natural Park (MBRNP) and Barangay chair Wilfredo D. Banaag Jr., proceeded to the area to conduct a field investigation.

The eagle was measured and has approximately 76 inches in wingspan, with one wing measuring 36 inches, a 40.5-inch tail and weighs some 5.25 kilograms. Its bill measured approximately 3.18 inches, or eight centimeters in length.

DENR reports added that the eagle showed no external wounds but burn-like marks were observed on the bird’s feet.

Initial field investigation reports revealed the eagle was last seen by residents flying between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sept. 30. The following morning she was seen near the power line and was immediately reported to barangay official.

Presence of chickens, chicks and a leashed hound near the electrical post was observed, according to DENR Northern Mindanao.

The eagle’s remains was turned over to the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) on Friday, Oct. 2, for necropsy and further examination.

DENR Northern Mindanao reminds the public that every wildlife report matters.

‘The public is encouraged to immediately report sightings of Philippine eagles and other wildlife, particularly injured, distressed, or deceased animals, to the nearest DENR office or appropriate wildlife authorities. Prompt reporting allows authorities and conservation partners to conduct timely assessments, ensure proper handling of wildlife, and undertake appropriate conservation interventions,’ the agency said.

Authorities on Saturday continue to race against time for two men trapped by floods at a mining tunnel in Barangay Dilud of Dumingag town, Zamboanga del Sur since Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Responders have launched search and rescue operations for the duo at the abandoned mining tunnel. As of Saturday afternoon, the Dumingag municipal police station said the two miners were not yet located.

Captain Derf Jay Maquinta, spokesperson for the Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZSPPO), said personnel from the Dumingag municipal police station responded to a report from a concerned citizen regarding the incident.

Initial investigation revealed that the two men allegedly entered a previously closed mining tunnel at a site covered by a cease-and-desist order issued by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

While inside, a sudden surge of river water-triggered by heavy rains-entered the tunnel and trapped the individuals. The site, located about 20 kilometers from the town center, had been abandoned following regulatory closure.

Search and rescue operations were done by combined forces from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Authorities confirmed that water inside the tunnel remained about 20 feet deep, complicating rescue efforts for the victims, who were reportedly residents of Purok 7, Barangay Paraiso, Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur.

The Dumingag local government reiterated its warning to the public to refrain from entering abandoned or unauthorized mining areas for safety reasons.

Zamboanga del Sur Governor Divina Grace Yu had expressed frustration over persistent illegal mining in Dumingag.

Yu, who inspected Barangays Dulop and Licabang last week, warned local officials to halt illicit extractions immediately.

She noted that residents often engage in covert small-scale operations, transporting sacks of ore that are bought at about P1,000 each. Yu stressed that economic pressures cannot justify violations of environmental laws.

Coco Gauff kept her composure to beat Camila Osorio 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-2, at the China Open on Saturday, overcoming shaky serving to survive the second round.

The Colombian, ranked 66th, put up a formidable fight after double-faulting to lose a testy first-set tie-break, though she needed medicine to push through trouble with her back.

Osorio saved two match points but Gauff, the world number four, dug deep, rescuing long rallies with a solid backhand and cross-court saves.

‘It was tough, it wasn’t the cleanest,’ said the 22-year-old American after the two-hour-and-18-minute match.

‘Just happy with how I was able to reset,’ she said.

She next faces either Spain’s Cristina Bucsa or Chinese teenager Sun Xinran, world number 582.

It was Gauff’s first match since losing to Elena Rybakina in three sets in the final four at Flushing Meadows on Sept. 11.

Later on Saturday, Rybakina is scheduled to play Armenia’s 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva in the night session.

Two students, aged 7 and 8, died after being electrocuted along with two other children during a Color and Bubble Fun Run at Cauayan South Central School here on Saturday morning (Oct. 3), police said.

The fatalities were identified by relatives and witnesses as an 8-year-old Grade 3 pupil, and a 7-year-old girl, who reportedly died at the scene.

Investigators said the two other children, aged 9 and 6, were taken to Cauayan Medical Specialist Hospital and Cauayan District Hospital, respectively.

The 9-year-old, who sustained wounds on his arm and hands, was later discharged, while the 6-year-old remained under observation.

Police said the event started early Saturday, and the electrocution was reported at 6:20 a.m.

Initial investigation showed that the four children were playing near a machine producing thick bubbles when they were electrocuted.

Police officers, rescuers and volunteers at the scene immediately assisted the children and brought them to nearby hospitals.

Investigators are determining the cause of the electrical incident and how the children came into contact with the electrical source.

Majority senators welcomed the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a petition challenging the legality of the Senate session on June 3 that resulted in the ouster of then-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

In an en banc resolution dated Aug. 26, the high court dismissed the petition filed by lawyers Valeriano Loon and Zigfred Diaz for failure to sufficiently show the respondents committed grave abuse of discretion in holding the June 3 session.

The court said the session, on the contrary, appeared to be ‘in accord with the facts and applicable law and jurisprudence.’

Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson, who was among those named respondents, said the 12 senators who attended the session had made sure they had sufficient legal basis to proceed with the reorganization.

‘We were certain then and it is now validated by the Supreme Court that we stood on solid legal ground when we reorganized the Senate by removing Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and elected Sen.

Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and Acting Presiding Officer having a clear majority of 12 in our bloc,’ Lacson said in a statement on Friday.

Gatchalian also welcomed the resolution, saying it was consistent with the position maintained by his camp from the beginning.

‘The Court found no basis to question the holding of that session, and noted that it appears consistent with the facts and the law,’ he said.

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen rebuked rowdy fans at her home tournament China Open on Saturday before opponent Anna Kalinskaya retired with injury to give the Chinese player a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 3-0 victory.

A strong breeze and a noisy crowd made for tense rallies on a chilly centre court in Beijing, with the umpire stepping in to warn people to stop moving around in the stands during play.

During a tight first-set tie-break, Zheng-a beloved figure in her home country -twice was heard telling spectators to ‘stop shouting’ as she stepped up to serve.

‘I thought the first set in particular was really difficult,’ Zheng told the crowd in an on-court interview after the two-hour-and-22-minute match.

‘Indeed, seeing some movement in the audience, my emotions were not very stable,’ the 23-year-old added.

But she declared: ‘It’s my problem, it’s my problem,’ and vowed to adjust.

Chants for Zheng rang through the wind-rattled stadium before most points, with fans occasionally yelling at each other to quieten down.

After leveling in the second set, the world number 54 was handed a lifeline when Russia’s Kalinskaya retired three games down in the third due to injury.

Zheng next faces either Czech player Marie Bouzkova or Australia’s Kimberly Birrell in the third round.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday called out what he described as the continued ‘illegal reclamation’ on the Taguig side of Laguna Lake, as he shared a video during a joint government inspection of the area.

The inspection team in the 25-second video included members of the Office of the Ombudsman, Philippine Reclamation Authority, Land Registration Authority, and Department of Public Works and Highways. Lacson also called the attention of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Laguna Lake Development Authority to what he called the ‘total display of impunity and disrespect for the law.’

Lacson also said his office was informed that a cause-oriented group went to the Office of the Ombudsman, protesting the Taguig government for the illegal reclamation in the lakeshore area.

‘The names they mentioned as responsible were former Assistant District Engineer of Taguig-Pateros, Lamberto de Leon, Atty. Joel Montales and a certain Arjay Castañeda, all connected to the Cayetanos of Taguig,’ Lacson said, adding he has yet to hear an explanation, much less a denial, from Taguig officials.

The Inquirer also sought Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s comment but has yet to receive a response.

Sometime this month, the first of the migratory birds will come down over Candaba. They have been doing it for longer than anyone has kept records: ducks, herons and shorebirds flying in from northern Asia to spend the dry months on the wetlands of Pampanga. They come because, for a few months every year, Candaba is water.

We tend to forget that. On the map, Candaba is a town, a stretch of rice land, a viaduct that motorists cross without looking down. To the river system of Central Luzon, it is something else: a basin. For centuries the overflow of the Pampanga River and its tributaries spread out across this low ground in the wet season, sat there, and drained away slowly when the rains stopped. The swamp was not wasted land. It was the region’s sponge.

At the end of August, the sponge was full. A river wall in San Simon gave way, and water ran downhill from about five metres of elevation toward ground that sits a metre or two above the sea. More than 540 hectares went under. We have spent a month arguing about which wall failed and whose road it was. We have spent almost no time asking where the water was trying to go.

It was trying to go where it always went.

A floodplain is not a place that floods by accident. Flooding is its job. The seasonal rise of the water is what renews the soil, feeds the fish, and brings the birds back every October. Farmers in Candaba have known this for generations.

What has changed is how much of that basin we have taken away. Every hectare raised, paved, walled or permanently drained is a hectare that can no longer hold floodwater. It goes to the next lowest place, which is increasingly a barangay, a market road, or a highway. We have been shrinking the sponge and acting surprised when it overflows.

Before we pour another metre of concrete, we should ask what this low ground was doing before we took it.

The birds will be back over the swamp in a few weeks. They will find it, as they always do, because the water is still there. The question is whether we will still be able to say the same thing in twenty years, and whether the towns around it will be dry enough to watch them arrive.