Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) expressed support to the moves of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and other media groups to decriminalize libel.

Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr., PTFOMS executive director, said it is still necessary to have a libel law for the protection of citizens.

‘It’s okay that there is a libel law, but it should not be a criminal offense… (The work of journalists) is part of the exercise of freedom of expression and opinion,’ he said in a media safety training here on Thursday.

‘It is good and interesting to seriously study the decriminalization of libel,’ he added.

Torres noted that if libel will be decriminalized but the accused would not be able to pay the amount of, for instance P10 million, he or she should face a jail term.

He urged journalists to be more careful and responsible in carrying out their role, citing the need to be fair.

Brig. Gen. Samuel Yunque, commander of the 102nd ‘Igsoon Trooper’ Brigade, commended the media for being ‘partners in our journey.’ The brigade hosted the media safety training.

‘The military must respect the media’s independence. Our professions have different roles, but both demand courage, integrity and accountability to the Filipino people,’ he said.

‘As soldiers, we protect our people and secure our country. As journalists, you inform the public, seek the truth and help safeguard our democracy,’ he added.

Yunque was among the military officers who helped liberate Marawi City from the clutches of Islamic State-aligned militants during the 2017 siege.

Montenegro Shipping Lines Inc. has temporarily suspended its ferry trips from Odiongan town in Romblon, to Batangas on Friday (Nov. 6), according to a travel advisory.

The advisory did not specify the reason for the suspension.

Affected passengers were advised to contact Montenegro Shipping Lines directly to confirm the next sailing schedule and other travel arrangements before proceeding to the port.

Passengers were also urged to monitor official announcements for further updates.

The suspension may affect travelers planning to travel between Romblon and mainland Luzon through the Odiongan-Batangas route.

At least 250 pet owners have filed complaints against a pet crematorium based in Cavite province over the alleged mishandling of animal remains entrusted to the facility, the Philippine National Police said on Wednesday.

At a press briefing at Camp Crame, Col. Allen Rae Co, PNP spokesperson, said the complainants sought the police’s help following the discovery of dead dogs and cats dumped in Bulacan province last week.

Co said the ashes surrendered by pet owners to authorities in batches had been sent to the Cavite forensic group for examination.

Police in Bulacan and Cavite were also directed to coordinate with other law enforcement units in identifying those allegedly involved in the transport and dumping of the animal carcasses.

The dead pets, according to reports, were entrusted by their owners to Ahjay Paws Aftercare Pet Crematorium in Bacoor City, Cavite. However, animal remains from the crematorium were discovered inside sacks abandoned in a vacant lot in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, on Oct. 29.

Ash samples

In a video post on Facebook, Bacoor City Mayor Strike Revilla cited a report from Lt. Col. Alexie Desamito, city police chief, who said the police received complaints from 250 individuals against the crematorium.

Revilla said the first batch of complainants also turned over 20 urns containing ashes of their pets for forensic examination.

Co also said the Bacoor police had already reached out to the pet crematorium owner, identified as Jonathan Legaspi, but stressed that the investigation would continue regardless of the owner’s cooperation.

‘Based on the latest report, however, the crematorium’s owner, Jonathan Legaspi, is no longer cooperating with the investigation and has reportedly said he would simply wait for the charges to be filed against him,’ Revilla said in a social media post.

According to the PNP, those found responsible could face charges of estafa under the Revised Penal Code, as well as syndicated estafa. They may also be charged with violating the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, and the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

For its part, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) advised pet owners who had transacted with Ahjay Paws this year to seek assistance from the National Bureau of Investigation’s Environmental Crime Division for a forensic examination of ashes returned to them.

‘PAWS continues to stand with affected pet parents in their pursuit of truth, justice, and accountability,’ it said in an advisory on Wednesday.

At least 50 people have applied for Cabinet and other top-tier positions in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) headed by Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua.

Macacua created a panel vetting the applicants for competence, integrity, and leadership as the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament gears up to fulfill its mandate until June 30, 2031.

As of Monday, 22 of the applicants had been interviewed, Member of Parliament Naguib Sinarimbo, a member of the screening committee, said.

The search and screening committee held the interviews at Bajau Hall inside the Bangsamoro Government Center here.

Its chair, Jordan Bayam, said the panel assesses applicants and submits recommendations, while the chief minister will appoint.

‘The screening process is open to all qualified applicants regardless of political affiliations,’ Bayam told reporters.

He added that the panel also interviewed and evaluated sitting ministers seeking to stay in the Cabinet.

Bayam said the committee reviews applicants’ professional experience and also weighs whether they support the administration’s policy direction.

‘We consider their alignment with the Government of the Day’s agenda under the elected Chief Minister, as well as their commitment to implementing moral governance,’ he said.

Under the Office of the Chief Minister Memorandum Circular No. 0147, series of 2026, the committee is tasked with vetting nominees for the Cabinet that will make up the regular Bangsamoro Government.

The Bangsamoro transition government established in 2019 ended on Oct. 30 after the election of parliament members.

Sinarimbo called the vetting a ‘substantial process’ meant to ensure that the ministers and officials appointed are qualified and have the competence and integrity to serve.

The committee expects to finish the remaining interviews and give its recommendations to Macacua on or before Friday, Nov. 6.

The new Cabinet and other top regional government officials will be announced afterwards.

ONCEs, get ready: Nayeon is back and bringing a whole new edge. TWICE’s lead vocalist Nayeon, will make her third solo comeback on Nov. 20. She will release her single album, ‘NA-sty.’

JYP Entertainment announced the comeback across TWICE’s social media pages. This release marks her return after two years and five months. Her previous EP, NA, dropped in June 2024.

The album title is a clever double entendre. It blends the word ‘nasty’ with ‘Na.’ The syllable represents both her family name and the Korean word for ‘me.’ Therefore, fans can expect a distinct shift in her style. Nayeon earned a reputation as a ‘summer queen’ through bright hits. However, this fall release reveals a bolder, more candid side of the artist.

Teasers already highlight this visual evolution. For instance, an early animation labeled ‘CAPTIVATED MODE: ON’ displayed glowing halos and wing icons. Moreover, the single album includes the title track ‘Baby Angel.’ Nayeon teased fans on social media, writing: ‘You can’t escape from every angle.’

Meanwhile, expectations remain high for this return. Nayeon stands as the first female K-pop soloist to place two albums in the top 10 of the Billboard 200. Her 2022 debut IM NAYEON and her 2024 EP NA both entered the chart at No. 7.ous chart.

Adding to the excitement, Nov. 20 will bring a busy schedule for Nayeon. She drops ‘NA-sty’ at 2:00 p.m. KST (1:00 p.m. Philippine Standard Time). That same night, she performs at the 2026 MAMA Awards at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka.

Before the single officially drops, Pinoy ONCEs will see the star in person before the single drops. Nayeon visits the Philippines on Nov. 14 for the opening of a flagship store at Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City.

As the calendar closes in on Nov. 20, the K-pop industry is watching closely to see if Nayeon’s bold autumn reinvention with ‘NA-sty’ will be as infectious as her legendary summer anthems.

Brooke Van Sickle and the Nxled Chameleons turned an eight-point deficit into a stunning third-set escape, then finished off Choco Mucho to preserve their unbeaten run in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series on Tuesday night.

Trailing 14-22 in the third set, Van Sickle and MJ Phillips fueled an 11-1 closing run that gave Nxled a pivotal 25-23 set victory on the way to a 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17 triumph over the Flying Titans at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The comeback helped Nxled improve to 4-0, keeping the Chameleons tied with defending champion Creamline atop the standings.

Van Sickle, a three-time PVL conference MVP, finished with 19 points, 12 digs and 10 excellent receptions, delivering another all-around performance that proved crucial against a Choco Mucho side led by Eya Laure and Sisi Rondina-Rosales.

‘I’ll say Choco played really well. Definitely the first set, we were under a lot of pressure, and we felt it, and we had to calm ourselves down, try to stick together as much as possible throughout all the sets,’ Van Sickle said.

‘The third set, it’s not how it begins, it’s how it ends. So I’m really proud of the team for sticking through it,’ she added.

The Filipino-American spiker acknowledged the difficulty of containing Laure and Rondina-Rosales, two of Choco Mucho’s primary offensive weapons.

Rather than dwell on the points they surrendered, Van Sickle said the Chameleons concentrated on their own execution and refused to let their opponents’ attacks disrupt their composure.

‘Eya and Sisi are very good outside hitters, and they’re going to score points. That’s just what they do. So I think as a team, it’s like, how can we attempt to slow them down as much as possible and just stay calm,’ Van Sickle said.

‘We can’t be like, ‘Oh, shoot,’ and be frowning and stuff when they make an excellent kill. That’s just what they do. So I think that’s the thing: we had to focus on ourselves and execute what we need to do and make our own points to get that win against Choco.’

Laure finished with 18 points, while Rondina-Rosales contributed 14 as the Flying Titans dropped to 3-2 but remained alone in third place.

Beyond the competition, Van Sickle said the conference’s all-to-play format has presented a different physical and mental challenge, forcing players to adjust and stay ready throughout matches.

‘This is the first time I’ve ever been in a conference like this,’ Van Sickle said.

Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) has named Ramon Alikpala as its next president and chief executive officer effective Jan. 1, 2027, succeeding Ramoncito Fernandez, who will step down at the end of December.

In a regulatory filing on Thursday, the water utility said Alikpala boasts a solid background in the water industry, having served as the executive director of the National Water Resources Board and the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

Apart from being an active member of the Stockholm-based Global Water Partnership’s International Steering Committee, Alikpala has also been actively engaging in regional, international, and non-government water sector organizations, holding lead roles in the Asean Working Group on Water Resources Management and the Philippine Water Partnership.

He has also provided advisory and consulting services to development institutions, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), on water security, climate resilience, institutional reform, utility performance, and water and sanitation projects.

In the same filing, Maynilad said its board of directors had acknowledged Fernandez’s retirement after a decade at the helm.

Before taking over Maynilad, Fernandez built his career in major industries, including telecommunications, tollways, infrastructure, and water.

‘Among the significant milestones achieved during Mr. Fernandez’s tenure were the execution of the Revised Concession Agreement, which placed the company’s operations and investment program on a renewed long-term footing; the grant of a 25-year legislative franchise… and [its] successful initial public offering,’ Maynilad said.

Maynilad went public in November last year, raising about P34.3 billion with the backing of 12 cornerstone investors.

The Medical City Clinic (TMC Clinic) is making breast health screening more accessible with its TriNoma and SM Mall of Asia (MOA) branches now accredited to provide digital mammography under PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP).

The accreditation gives eligible PhilHealth members access to the service at two convenient mall locations, subject to applicable eligibility requirements and program guidelines.

Digital mammography uses X-ray imaging to help identify changes in breast tissue, including abnormalities that may be too small to feel during a physical examination. As a breast cancer screening tool, it can help detect signs of disease before symptoms appear and guide further medical evaluation when needed.

TMC Clinic encourages women to speak with their healthcare providers about when to begin screening and how often to undergo it. Recommendations depend on each patient’s age, medical history, risk factors, and any breast-related symptoms or concerns.

The accreditation supports TMC Clinic’s commitment to bringing quality outpatient care closer to Filipino communities. By expanding access to breast screening, the clinic network aims to help more patients take timely steps to protect their health.

Patients are encouraged to contact their preferred branch before visiting to confirm eligibility, documentary and referral requirements, and appointment availability.

The northeast monsoon may continue to affect Northern Luzon, while the easterlies may prevail over the rest of the country on Friday, Nov. 6, the state weather bureau said.

In its 4 p.m. weather advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that the northeast monsoon, or amihan, may continue to bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley.

Pagasa said that no significant impact is expected during these weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the easterlies, or winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, may cause cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas and Caraga.

Likewise, Metro Manila and the rest of the country may also experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the easterlies.

Possible flash floods or landslides may occur in the affected areas during moderate to at times heavy rains.

As of 2 p.m., no low pressure areas are being monitored inside the Philippine area of responsibility, according to the weather bureau.

Cases of animal neglect that have recently drawn public attention – from the abandonment of pet remains entrusted to crematoriums to recurring incidents of animal abuse – underscore the need to strengthen the country’s animal welfare mechanisms.

This was the assessment of Dr. Alicor Panao, an Inquirer data scientist and associate professor at the University of the Philippines, who said recent reports that shocked the public have renewed concerns over how the government protects animals, including pets increasingly regarded as members of the family.

‘These incidents bring into focus the need to strengthen the country’s animal welfare framework, not only by penalizing cruelty but also by ensuring that institutions have the capacity to enforce the law and provide basic services,’ he said as he released a new analysis of animal welfare bills filed in Congress.

Republic Act No. 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended by RA 10631 in 2013, provides the legal foundation for animal protection in the country.

However, Panao raised the question: ‘What has Congress done to address its gaps?’