Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday urged parents to watch for behavioral changes among their children as he called for greater vigilance to prevent school violence following a series of incidents involving students.

The call came after school shooting incidents in Tacloban City, Zamboanga City, and South Cotabato that resulted in several deaths and injuries.

‘Bantayan po natin nang mabuti ang ating mga bata, ang ating mga anak. Bantayan po natin na hindi sila nasasama sa mga ganyang klaseng kagagawan. At ito po ay hindi madaling gawin, kailangan po nakabantay tayong lahat at sabay-sabay tayong lahat,’ Marcos said in his remarks after visiting Patul Elementary School in Santiago City, Isabela.

(We must closely watch over our children, our young people. We must make sure that they do not get involved in these kinds of acts. This is not easy to do-we all need to be vigilant and work together.)

‘Sabay-sabay, kasama ang mga magulang – siyempre kayo ang una na kailangan tingnan ninyo ‘yung mga kabataan kung nagbabago, magiging masyadong malungkot o masyadong galit o lahat na, basta kailangan bantayan,’ he continued.

(We must do this together, including the parents. Of course, you are the first ones who need to watch your children for changes in their behavior-if they become unusually sad, angry, or anything else. We simply need to keep a close eye on them.)

Marcos stressed that protecting young people is a shared responsibility among parents, teachers, and the government.

‘Pareho ‘yung national government pati local government, kailangan po tayong lahat ay magkaisa at tulungan natin at bantayan natin na tiyakin na ang mga bata, ang mga anak natin ay makapag-aral nang mabuti at sila ay ligtas at walang masamang pangyayari ang ating makikita muli,’ Marcos said.

(We need everyone-the national government and local governments-to work together and help ensure that our children can study well and remain safe, so that we do not see any more unfortunate incidents.)

On Wednesday, reports of a shooting incident at Isulan National High School in Sultan Kudarat province made rounds on social media, which Education Secretary Sonny Angara later tagged as a false alarm.

This was not the first time Marcos assured the public of government action on school violence. In a speech in Pasay City on Sept. 28, he said the government was committed to providing parents and communities with the knowledge and resources needed to prevent similar incidents.

‘Hindi katanggap-tanggap ‘yung mga pangyayari na nakita natin sa Tacloban, sa Zamboanga, sa South Cotabato. At ito talaga ay dumudugo ang puso, hindi lamang ng mga pamilya, kapamilya ng mga nasawi, kung hindi ang buong bansa,’ Marcos said in his speech.

(What happened in Tacloban, Zamboanga, and South Cotabato is unacceptable. It truly breaks our hearts, not only the families and relatives of those who died, but the entire country.)

Investors can buy into GCash operator Mynt Inc.’s initial public offering (IPO) at P6.60 per share, after the company set its final offer price 34 percent below the earlier P10 ceiling.

On Oct. 1, the company confirmed the price in a notice addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange.

At P6.60, the final offer price is P3.40 below the earlier ceiling.

COL Financial chief equity strategist April Lynn Tan earlier said investors should not automatically see a lower offer price as a warning sign about the company.

‘The market is really so weak, and if you want to raise capital, then, you know, you have to make the stock more attractive, so you price it at a cheaper price,’ she said.

She urged investors to look beyond the price adjustment and examine Mynt’s financial performance, particularly whether its profitability remains on an upward path.

GCash has 41.5 million monthly active users, equivalent to nearly 56 percent of the country’s adult population.

Its ecosystem serves 7.5 million active borrowers and includes 17.9 million savings accounts, 9.2 million investment fund accounts, and about 2 million local stock market accounts.

The Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) is considering cloud seeding to augment the city’s water supply as it prepares for the potentially worsening impact of the prevailing ‘Super El Niño.’

The Bureau of Soils and Water Management of the Department of Agriculture (DA-BSWM) had recommended cloud seeding following its initial assessment of the city’s water situation, said PPCWD General Manager Walter Laurel in a report from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) office in Palawan.

Laurel said the water district was considering the measure partly due to the high cost of hauling water to residents when supply levels drop.

PPCWD has spent about P6,000 in diesel fuel to load and transport 10 cubic meters of water from a lorry truck for distribution, he said.

The expense prompted the water district to explore other measures to augment supply, including cloud seeding.

However, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services local chief meteorological officer Sonny Pajarilla said cloud seeding would not guarantee rainfall over their intended areas.

Pajarilla said cloud-seeding operations generally have higher success rates when they can cover wider land areas. This could pose a challenge in Palawan, which is relatively narrow compared with larger areas such as Northern Luzon and Mindanao.

He also cited Puerto Princesa’s cloud-seeding operations in 2019, saying seeded clouds could move away from the target area because of prevailing winds.

‘It is challenging to hit the target areas,’ Pajarilla said, explaining that a cloud enhanced through seeding could be carried by wind before producing rain over the intended location.

Pajarilla said a study of the benefits generated by the city’s previous cloud-seeding operations would be important in determining whether such intervention is feasible./coa

He nevertheless supported other possible measures to augment Puerto Princesa’s water supply, particularly if the effects of ‘Super El Niño’ intensify.

The PPCWD is looking at November or early December for a possible cloud-seeding operation, when it expects more seedable clouds.

Pajarilla, however, advised the water district to consider wind conditions during the planned period, noting that strong winds could push seeded clouds away from the target area.

The impression of former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV that he is ‘not welcome’ in the impeachment court is a ‘baseless assumption,’ Senate impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol said on Friday.

Trillanes, in a press conference, said that it is ‘clear’ that he is ‘not welcome’ at the Senate impeachment court after he was not issued a subpoena to testify on Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth.

‘Our impeachment court and senator-judges did not have that kind of impression on former Sen. Trillanes…,’ Tongol clarified.

‘The impeachment court did not show him anything like that. So, I think that would be a baseless assumption,’ he said.

Earlier in the week, presiding officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero turned down the House prosecution’s request to issue a subpoena to Trillanes to appear the day after.

House Prosecutor and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon did not list Trillanes as one of their witnesses for the week, so the court did not issue a subpoena for him yet.

Two days later, the prosecution withdrew its presentation of Trillanes.

In a post, the former lawmaker explained that he asked not to testify anymore as the House panel is supposedly facing ‘pressure.’

When Tongol had initially dismissed this accusation, Trillanes simply asked why he wasn’t issued a subpoena.

To answer this, Tongol explained that no subpoena was issued to Trillanes because the House prosecution panel did not declare him as a witness for that week.

‘The prosecution] requested it last week. But on Monday, the issuance of the subpoena [for Trillanes] was ready,’ Tongol recalled.

‘The presiding officer asked Cong. Ridon who they planned to present for this week. The name of former Sen. Trillanes was not mentioned,’ he pointed out.

Tongol believes, ‘It’s not the court’s fault.’

‘If they really wanted to sit, they should have announced former Sen. Trillanes’ name on Monday,’ he said, referring to the prosecution.

Injuries forced Ca itlin Clark to sit on the bench a year ago and watch her Fever teammates have their WNBA season ended by the Aces.

Clark was in the middle of the action this time, but the result was the same after Las Vegas eliminated Indiana 94-83 in Game 3 of the first round Thursday night.

‘I’m just proud of this group,’ Clark said. ‘We weathered a lot. There’s always so much outside noise, a microscope on how we perform every single day. A lot of really good moments. A lot of tough moments, too, where we felt we probably gave a lot of opportunities away. It’s what hurts a little bit. We could’ve put ourselves in a better spot going into the postseason.’

The Fever had the chance to possibly get home-court advantage in the first round, but went 4-4 to end the season and entered the playoffs with the sixth seed. That put them up against the third-seeded Aces, who have won three of the past four WNBA championships.

Even Las Vegas isn’t scrutinized as much as Indiana, mostly because of Clark’s presence. To many, she is the face of the league, even though the Aces’ A’ja Wilson likely will extend her record for MVPs to five.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver referred to Clark as a ‘political football’ in July, and many of her fans claim she gets officiated differently than other players, that opponents are free to be more physical with her.

Those fans could cite what happened in the fourth quarter as such an example when Clark suffered a bloody mouth after taking a shot to her face. She pleaded her case to the officials, but no foul was called, and Clark fiddled with what appeared to be a loose tooth in the postgame news conference.

‘Your guess would be as good as mine,’ Clark said on why there was no foul.

Now she and Fever head into the offseason.

Clark spoke before the game that expectations are for them to win the championship at some point, and she said she believed the Fever have the talent to accomplish that. She spoke afterward of the parity in the league and said any team in the playoffs can win the title.

The Fever came close to beating Las Vegas and maybe making a run at it, twice cutting the deficit to two points in the fourth quarter.

But after the Fever scored 31 points in the first quarter, they didn’t have more than 18 in any of the three remaining periods.

Clark scored 11 points in the opening quarter, making 4 of 7 shots that included 3 of 6 from 3-point range. After that period, she scored seven points while making 2 of 11 baskets and missing all six 3-point attempts.

SM Supermalls is reinforcing its commitment to making active lifestyles more accessible to Filipinos by investing P 1-Billion to build multi-sport facilities and active social hubs all over the country. These establishments will serve as additional spaces where communities can play, compete, connect, and embrace more active lifestyles.

‘More and more Filipinos are shifting to an active lifestyle. The SM Supermalls will be at the forefront and will lead this movement. We will make fitness and wellness be accessible and inclusive to all, whether you are just starting out or an advanced athlete. We will build the largest community in our malls where everyone can make active living part of everyday life, said Steven T. Tan, SM Supermalls President.

SM Supermalls’ new active hubs will feature tournament-grade sports facilities that meet international standards. These are designed to accommodate both recreational play and high-level tournaments. Enthusiasts and experienced players can enjoy a variety of sports programs and share their passion for play, health, and wellness.

The new facilities, spread across the country, will bring Filipinos closer to quality sports infrastructure, where they can create new memories with a thriving, active community.

SM Supermalls’ sports leadership

The P1-Billion investment is the mall operator’s latest sports and recreation initiative. Since the 1990s, SM Supermalls has built venues and hosted events to encourage active lifestyles. It has organized workshops and tournaments for all ages and skill levels, in its quest to make fitness inclusive for all.

This latest project fortifies SM Supermalls’ position as the country’s largest mall-based sports and active lifestyle network. It currently has 108 pickleball courts, 176 bowling lanes nationwide, and three Olympic-sized ice skating rinks, where professional athletes perfect their craft and where enthusiasts pursue their sports hobbies.

‘Active and wellness is not new to SM Supermalls. For over 30 years, we have continuously organized events and created spaces for Filipinos to stay connected through sports. We will continue this pledge by expanding our footprint to more communities,’ Tan said.

Every year, thousands of athletes, families, and barkadas head to SM Supermalls’ active facilities where they hone their skills and passions. These communities create meaningful active experiences in welcoming, inclusive spaces. Through regular training and mall-led events, they build skills, forge new connections, and become part of a community that stays active together.

As it moves forward, SM Supermalls will continue to partner with the Filipino active community in championing active lifestyles. Through this investment, it will empower more communities to engage in new experiences and reach their wellness goals.

The No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) will again be enforced on some Metro Manila roads starting Oct. 5, as announced by the local government units (LGUs) of Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Quezon City, San Juan and Valenzuela.

Under the policy, video and images taken by closed-circuit television and digital cameras are used to identify and apprehend traffic violators. The concerned LGUs issue traffic citation tickets and mail them directly to vehicle owners.

Those who fail to pay their fines within seven days will not be allowed to register their vehicles.

In August 2022, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO), stopping the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from implementing NCAP. Also covered were the Land Transportation Office and the LGUs in Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Parañaque and Muntinlupa.

This was based on consolidated petitions which claimed the NCAP violated due process as motorists were penalized without notice and stripped of a chance to contest their supposed violations.

In May 2025, the TRO was lifted for roads under the MMDA’s jurisdiction to ease severe vehicular congestion along major thoroughfares.

In June this year, the high tribunal lifted the TRO and dismissed the consolidated petitions challenging the legality of the ordinances implemented by the five LGUs.

It ruled that the issues raised by the petitioners had become moot because of the adoption of a new and uniform traffic enforcement framework under the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023.

The new framework institutionalized a uniform traffic adjudication system and standard citation procedures, among others.

Finally, a Klook alternative for eSIM packages has been unveiled. As someone who travels at least once a month on international trips, I’ve been looking for other alternatives to popular eSIM apps apart from eSIM.io and Klook. As a SMART subscriber for more than 10 years, I’ve been on the hunt for something closer to home, at more competitive prices. Because the holidays are kicking in soon, eSIM access has been a god-send for me as I can activate a new one without replacing my current physical SIM card.

Filipinos traveling abroad this holiday season can enjoy up to 40% off travel eSIM data packs through Smart Trave, Smart’s travel connectivity app that lets users stay connected across more than 100 destinations worldwide.

As a Smart-backed travel eSIM, Smart Trave gives travelers the convenience of an international eSIM, with the added reassurance of Smart’s local customer support. Unlike generic travel eSIM providers, Smart Trave users can call the Smart hotline should they need assistance while abroad.

Available in time for the busy end-of-year travel season, Smart Trave is making it easier and more affordable for Filipinos to stay connected wherever their journeys take them.

With the special offers on the Smart Trave app, travelers can now enjoy more data roaming credits for less. The 3GB pack is reduced to USD $5.75 from USD $10. For travelers who need more data throughout their trip, the 10GB pack is now only USD $12, down from USD $20. A 1GB data pack for casual browsing is also available for only $3.

Downloadable on Google Play Store or Apple App Store, Smart Trave enables Filipino travelers to worry less about connectivity costs and focus more on creating memorable experiences – whether experiencing winter in Japan, taking in the festive lights of Hong Kong, exploring Europe’s Christmas markets, or enjoying a tropical escape to Thailand, Vietnam, or Singapore.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is investigating the source of a ‘fake report’ alleging a mass shooting at De La Salle University-Dasmariñas in Cavite on Thursday.

PNP chief Police Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Friday that the probe would determine who was behind the report and whether it was deliberately fabricated.

The report apparently circulated on social media and in group chats, he said.

‘Those who deliberately create or spread false information that causes public alarm may face appropriate legal consequences,’ he said.

‘Freedom of expression must be exercised responsibly and should never be used to mislead the public,’ he added.

Nartatez also directed the Dasmariñas City police to maintain police visibility and intensify cyber patrols while identifying those responsible.

Shortly before noon Thursday, the Dasmariñas City police dismissed the alleged mass shooting report, saying their investigation found ‘no factual basis to substantiate the reported incident.’

Police also warned against linking the report to the death of a 24-year-old man whose body was found Wednesday evening inside a vehicle within the premises of the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute in Barangay Burol Main.

Police recorded the case as an alleged suicide and said the man had a history of mental health problems and was reportedly undergoing treatment.

Nartatez urged the public to verify information before sharing it on social media.

Philippine social media has been inundated with posts and comments fueling speculation that Defense Secretary Gilberto ‘Gibo’ Teodoro Jr. is preparing a bid for the presidency in 2028. If indeed he eventually seeks the presidency, he will enter the race with substantial credentials in national defense and security.

Teodoro’s tenure as defense secretary has positioned him as the most visible voice on territorial sovereignty and maritime security. Yet, his strong position on China may not provide a sufficient foundation for a successful presidential campaign.

This is not because Filipinos oppose the defense of national sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. Rather, it reflects a reality of Philippine politics that presidential elections are decided by a much broader set of political, economic, and social considerations.

Teodoro has consistently advocated a firmer response to China’s assertive actions at sea. His position reflects legitimate national security concerns and resonates with Filipinos who view China’s maritime activities as offensive.

However, what strengthens a leader’s standing in national security does not automatically translate into solid electoral success. Filipino voters have traditionally prioritized issues that directly affect their daily lives. Inflation, food prices, employment, wages, health care, education, transportation, housing, public safety, and corruption consistently rank among the electorate’s principal concerns.

While foreign policy can influence public opinion, it rarely determines electoral outcomes. Candidates are ultimately judged on their perceived ability to improve the country’s economic conditions and address everyday challenges of Filipinos.

This creates a political challenge for Teodoro. His public image has become increasingly associated with strategic competition with Beijing. Such a profile may enhance his credibility as a defense leader but may narrow his political identity when voters are searching for solutions to a wider range of national problems. Presidential candidates must demonstrate competence not only in protecting sovereignty but also in generating jobs, reducing poverty, and improving governance.

The Philippines regards China as a competitor in the maritime domain. Yet, China continues to play a significant role in trade, investment, manufacturing, tourism, and infrastructure development. Many Filipinos therefore support a firm defense of Philippine maritime rights while recognizing the importance of productive economic engagements with China.

The 2026 Pew Research Survey revealed that Filipinos aged 18 to 34 expressed favorable views of China. It also found that a large majority of Filipinos regarded China as the country’s principal external threat. These findings suggest not a pro-China electorate but a population capable of separating security concerns from economic and diplomatic engagements.

Public attitudes of Filipinos toward foreign policy rarely determine voting behavior. Nonetheless, the data indicate that many younger Filipinos approach China through a more nuanced lens. They may support defending Philippine sovereignty while also favoring economic cooperation with China.

Former Sen. Francis Tolentino, for instance, became one of the country’s most ardent advocates of a tougher stance on Chinese activities in West Philippine Sea. Yet, he failed to secure reelection in 2025. His experience strongly demonstrates that even a credible position on sea disputes is not, by itself, a guarantee of electoral victory.

Younger Filipino voters constitute an increasingly influential segment of the electorate. Their priorities often revolve around employment opportunities, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, affordability, and upward mobility.

Foreign and security policy issues can strengthen a campaign narrative, but they rarely provide a sufficient basis for winning a national election. Voters generally look for leaders who can integrate foreign policy, economic management, social development, and governance reform into a coherent national vision.

This is not an argument against Teodoro’s national security positions. The question is whether a presidential campaign can be built principally around security issues when voters continue to prioritize socioeconomic development and better governance.

Teodoro’s challenge therefore is not China itself. It is persuading voters that his vision extends beyond the China question. His victory in 2028 will depend less on his ability to challenge China but more on his ability to convince Filipinos that he offers a comprehensive agenda for the country’s future.