Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Sen. Loren Legarda admitted she was wrong to join the group led by now Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano when he snatched the Senate presidency after a leadership coup on May 11, according to Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

‘The last time we talked, she admitted that she made a mistake. I told her to forget about it, and that it’s over,’ Lacson said in an interview with radio dwIZ over the weekend.

Legarda also lamented that Senate Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III was not answering her messages when she tried to reach out to him.

Cayetano took over the Senate presidency on May 11 after his faction, composed mostly of Duterte allies, ousted Sotto after it attained a slim majority when Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, now a fugitive from an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, suddenly reappeared to support him after six months of hiding.

In an en banc resolution dated Aug. 26 but only released to the public recently, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging the legality of the Senate session on June 3 that installed Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President, and resulted in the ouster of then-Senate President Cayetano.

According to the Supreme Court, the petition filed by lawyers Valeriano Loon and Zigfred Diaz failed to sufficiently establish that the respondents committed grave abuse of discretion in holding the session.

The group of Cayetano, including Legarda, had also filed a petition before the high court to challenge the legitimacy of the Senate leadership of Gatchalian. But Cayetano’s media officer said the recent Supreme Court ruling did not cover the petition filed by the minority bloc.

Saddened

When Legarda joined the Cayetano bloc, Lacson admitted that her decision saddened him and caught him by surprise.

Lacson previously said that while they accepted ‘political reality,’ he felt sad that Legarda, one of the original members of the Sotto-led minority, and later majority, opted to join the Cayetano group without informing them first.

‘My sentiment, and I think my colleagues share this, it is sad that Sen. Legarda…did not inform us of her decision,’ he said in an earlier statement. ‘I am not taking anything away from her decision to join Sen. Cayetano, but we just hoped she would at least have told us, instead of surprising us.’

Lacson said he was able to discuss with some senators Legarda’s possible rejoining the majority.

‘We talked about it, not all of us, but a small group of us in the majority, she is welcome… she is welcome to come back,’ he said.

‘It’s her decision… but you know, there’s a British saying ‘[It ain’t over] ’till the fat lady sings’. Until it doesn’t happen, she’s not in the majority. … if this is news, this is a developing story,’ said Lacson.

Legarda’s spokesperson Tony La Viña earlier said he is not ruling out the possibility of the senator joining the majority bloc, saying shifting alliances is a regular character of the Senate’s fluid politics.

Legarda has been on a medical leave since Aug. 3. She is reportedly in France seeking treatment for a ‘serious’ lung-related illness, as other senators had also claimed. Legarda, however, has not publicly disclosed the details of her condition.

Preliminary investigation

The senator reportedly left the country on Aug. 2, only a few days after the Office of the Ombudsman announced that she and her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, would be subject to a preliminary investigation over P10 billion ‘ghost’ solar power projects.

Lacson advised Legarda to return home if her health permits.

‘I understand her condition. But if she can, if her health permits, I would encourage her to come home. First, the investigation against them is very preliminary. But that’s only my advice. It’s her decision actually. After all, at the end of the day, that’s her personal decision,’ he said.

Legarda’s absence also figured in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a 13-1 vote, the impeachment court earlier decided that the constitutional provision setting the conviction threshold at two-thirds of the senator-judges would apply only to those actually participating in the trial. The ruling effectively reduced the required number from 16 votes to 14 votes, if based on the 20 senator-judges currently in attendance.

There was a point during the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan when sports fans began railing against athletes who missed their opportunities to score medals for the Philippines.

The noise became loud enough that it prompted a reaction from national boxer Nesthy Petecio, who reasoned that there was no reason to bash non-medal athletes, who are even more disappointed by the result.

It also spurred several more opinions from other athletes, who used their social media clout to defend their fellow sports heroes.

The generated noise is proof of something positive: Filipinos have come to expect more from themselves in international arenas.

There was a time, it should be noted, that we were generous with participation praise in big events such as the Asian Games, World Championships, and the Olympics.

Not anymore.

We are, without doubt, in the golden age of Philippine sports-an era where we have not only ended our Olympic dry run but, in a span of three years, won three gold medals in two editions of the celebrated Summer Games.

Olympic triumph

We have a Filipinas football team that qualified to the World Cup-twice. The program has a World Cup win chalked up, too. EJ Obiena is the best pole vaulter in all of Asia, and the greatest track and field star the country has ever had, rising at one point to No. 2 in the world.

Carlos Yulo, owner of two of those Olympic golds, deserves a monument. So does Hidilyn Diaz, who opened the door to Philippine Olympic triumph.

And then there’s Alex Eala, the country’s fast-rising tennis GOAT who is arguably the most popular women’s tennis player in the world right now.

It is the heroics of these athletes that give us the ability to sneer at defeats in events that we feel we shouldn’t have lost.

But all that bristling can be distracting, too.

And in the Asian Games, where we long to protect and extend this period of unprecedented success in international sports, we must not only pick up lessons from those defeats.

We should not only search from the rubble of what we deem as results we could have done better in.

To extend this golden run, we should also look at the spaces where we expected victories-and got them.

We are already past building blueprints out of our shortcomings; we can now begin building off replicable success.

What can we learn from the gold medals in pole vault in gymnastics? That building teams around athletes to cater to their physical, mental, and emotional needs produces great results.

That we should find ways to fund scientific training no matter where we are based-Obiena trained abroad, Yulo has started camping out in the country.

Noise from defeats

What do we pick up from our gold in taekwondo? That maybe targeted funding is not the answer to our meager financial resources.

With the Los Angeles Olympics practically just around the corner, the Asian Games has to be dissected in terms of wins and losses and the stewards of the country’s national program must not react in a knee-jerk manner to diagnose and then address what went wrong.

There are defeats, after all, that bear no need for additional scrutiny because they can be remedied at the level of the athlete. There is, for example, no need to overthink Eala’s bronze medal. Being the No. 1 seed in the tournament was never a guarantee for gold.

Even in the Olympics, where the biggest tennis stars gun for their nation’s glory, only one of the last eight singles winners was the event’s top seed.

In Eala’s case, all it takes is to have an opponent playing on fire in the worst moment and you miss out on the target.

And the noise from defeats such as these can distract preparations for future events.

Spotlight on victories

The best way to build is to shine the spotlight on victories that the country collected in the Asiad. What worked? Of the processes that led to gold, or whatever unexpected success we encountered in Japan, what can be scaled to the grassroots so we can build a bigger pool of world conquerors?

What paths to victory are realistically replicable?

Our current run of success coincides with good news from the resources side. A recent court victory awarded the Philippine Sports Commission with billions in terms of sports funding.

A family in Barangay Loakan Proper here rescued a young eagle found in the garden of their rented home on Saturday, Oct. 3 and turned it over to authorities for assessment and rehabilitation.

Leticia Amoguis said her husband, Ed, found the bird around 10 a.m. in their garden in Purok Bubon, according to the Bauio City Public Information Office.

Recognizing the bird as a protected wildlife species, the family reported the sighting through Baguio 911 and, on advice, contacted Baguio City Police Station 4.

Police personnel took custody of the bird and turned it over to the appropriate authorities for care.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong commended the family, Baguio 911 and the police for their prompt response and efforts to protect the wildlife.

Authorities reminded the public not to handle, keep or attempt to care for wild animals on their own. Injured, stranded or displaced wild animals should be reported to the proper authorities for appropriate assessment and assistance.

A loaded caliber .45 pistol was found inside the motorcycle of a 17-year-old female student during a security inspection at Notre Dame of Matalam in North Cotabato on Thursday, police said.

Brig. Gen. Alan Manibog, Police Regional Office-12 director, said a school security guard found the firearm inside a black sling bag in the motorcycle’s compartment box. The motorcycle was driven by the Grade 12 student, identified by the alias ‘Ljem,’ in Barangay Poblacion, Matalam.

The firearm, a Model 1911 U.S. Army caliber .45 pistol, had a magazine containing eight rounds. Police personnel secured it and brought the student to the Matalam Municipal Police Station for assessment and intervention.

Police said the firearm allegedly belonged to the student’s father, who reportedly forgot to remove it from the motorcycle before his daughter drove it to school. Authorities are determining whether the firearm is licensed and whether the father is a licensed gun owner.

Lt. Col. Marvin Hugos, Matalam police chief, said the firearm and ammunition were secured for documentation, verification and disposition. Police said the investigation was being conducted cautiously to avoid causing further trauma to the student.

Providing young basketball players with a more professional environment to compete, develop their skills and gain exposure will be the focus of a grassroots showcase set for Sunday in Quezon City (QC).

The HTG Sports Showcase Game will bring together youth programs from across Metro Manila in four age divisions at the MRB QC District 2 Gymnasium, with organizers hoping the event can help raise playing and operational standards at the grassroots level.

Games will be played in the 12-under, 13-under, 14-under and 15-under divisions from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with San Beda, Diligent Basketball, R3R and Jubilee Christian Academy among the participating programs.

Beyond providing competition, the showcase is designed to give young players an environment that more closely resembles higher-level basketball, with experienced officiating, game broadcasts and media coverage.

‘The core purpose of the Showcase Game is to demonstrate HTG Sports’ commitment to raising operational and production standards in local youth sports,’ founder Miggy Al-Alawy said.

‘The event provides a platform where young players can compete, develop and showcase their skills under professional conditions, while acknowledging everyone involved in the ecosystem-from coaches and referees to event staff and families.’

The local government and African swine fever (ASF) task force of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, have intensified the crackdown on the unauthorized entry of live pigs amid efforts to protect local hog raisers from the effects of the disease.

Authorities intercepted a group of pig transporters in Barangay Burgos on Saturday, Oct. 3, for allegedly violating Executive Order No. 63-B, which regulates the movement of live pigs into Sablayan and Occidental Mindoro, the municipal government said.

The local government said the regulation serves as a biosecurity measure to protect Sablayan’s hog population, estimated at more than 6,006 heads, from ASF and other animal diseases.

‘The indiscriminate entry of pigs without proper authorization directly puts at risk the livelihood of our local hog raisers and the food security of our community,’ the municipal government said.

It warned pig transporters and operators that unauthorized entry could result in penalties and legal action.

The municipality urged residents, hog raisers and transporters to cooperate with authorities in enforcing biosecurity measures and preventing the spread of ASF.

ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs but does not infect humans. Outbreaks can cause losses to hog raisers and disrupt pork supplies.

Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon responded on Sunday to the Palace’s concern that withdrawing an impeachment article might ‘shortchange’ the public, saying that evidence has already been presented with the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.

In a statement, Ridon said he respects Palace press officer Claire Castro’s remark, as he noted that evidence of alleged wrongdoing against Vice President Sara Duterte has been laid out already to the Senate, which has televised the proceedings since July.

‘We respect the view of the President’s spokesperson on this matter,’ he said in Filipino.

‘However, the previous and current impeachment articles have already been brought before the Senate Impeachment Court, and the decision now rests with the Court based on the evidence presented in the trial,’ he added.

Ridon’s remark comes after Manila Rep. Joel Chua revealed early Sunday that the prosecution team will drop the bribery charge against Duterte, a development Castro said could deprive Filipinos of the chance to know the ‘whole truth.’

‘If they withdraw the bribery allegation against the vice president, wouldn’t that shortchange or disadvantage Filipinos who want to know the whole truth about this?’ Castro said in a message to reporters.

The decision to abandon the bribery count against Duterte comes as her trial enters its 14th week.

In September, prosecutors said they were studying whether to pursue the allegation that the vice president bribed officials to persuade Department of Education (DepEd) officials to bypass procurement rules in her stint as education secretary.

The prosecution team had already presented two impeachment articles: that Duterte allegedly threatened President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the First Lady and a former House speaker; and that she misused P612.5 million in confidential funds.

The allegations that Duterte amassed unexplained wealth and misstated her asset disclosures are now being heard in the trial.

La Salle snapped a two-game losing streak, routing University of the East, 112-87, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at Philsports Arena.

The Green Archers returned to the win column with a 2-2 record and kept the Red Warriors winless after five games.

‘This is going to make every game very interesting,’ coach Topex Robinson said, referring to the team standings. ‘We came from back-to-back losses, which are big, but with us it’s more about focusing on ourselves. We want to make sure we get better as a group.’

UE showed little resistance early, trailing 31-19 at the end of the opening period.

By the intermission, the Green Archers had already built a 61-42 advantage that proved insurmountable for the struggling Warriors.

Mason Amos scored a season-best 19 points that went with five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Jacob Cortez chipped in 15 points and four assists while his younger brother, Mikey, contributed 11 points.

UE guard Toper Lagat fired a game-high 30 points. Mo Tañedo added 14 points and nine assists, while Gene Carillo and Kean Dungca had 12 points apiece.

The Diocese of Kalibo in Aklan has raised concerns over the recent opening of a casino in Boracay as it reiterated its opposition to gambling and its implications to the lives of many Filipinos.

The opposition was made after a six-story casino hub opened at Station 0 in Barangay Yapak, Boracay Island.

The diocese said does not want to promote hostility towards anyone, but to uphold the dignity of every individual, particularly the welfare of families.

The diocese cited a Catholic Church teaching that while games and chances are not contrary to justice, ‘gambling becomes morally unacceptable when it deprives a person of what is necessary for his or her own needs or for the needs of others.’

It added that the teaching must serve as a reminder that money shall be used for basic necessities, such as education, food, shelter, and livelihood and not for gambling and easy money.

‘Our concern is also about the concrete consequences that gambling can bring to individuals, families, and society. Gambling can lead to financial distress and debt. It can consume resources intended for basic family needs. It can contribute to conflict between spouses, broken relationships, and neglect of children, and in serious cases, to other forms of social harm,’ it said in a pastoral statement.

While it recognizes economic benefits a casino may bring, it then raised the following questions: ‘What happens when a family’s savings are lost to gambling? What happens when money meant for food, education, or medicine is gambled away? What happens when a parent becomes enslaved by the hope of winning back what has already been lost?’

With this, it called on the provincial government of Aklan, municipality of Malay, and other concerned government agencies to consider the welfare of the people and exercise their responsibilities.

It then urged the faithful to not be deceived by easy money that can weaken hardship, sacrifices, and family solidarity.

It also advised the public to treat those already struggling with gambling addiction with compassion, understanding, and concrete help.

Actor-politician Mark Lapid took up the cudgels for his father, Senator Lito Lapid, amid criticisms that he underperformed as a lawmaker, and mocked for supposedly being a member of the Senate ‘committee on silence.’

Speaking to the entertainment press, Mark got candid when asked about how the elder Lapid, known for being reticent on the Senate floor, was really taking the bashing over the years.

The ‘Sigabo’ actor said that he and his siblings also feel hurt when they read about it on social media, but that as public servants they shouldn’t be too onion-skinned when it comes to criticisms. As seasoned politicians, Mark said that they have learned to take the criticisms in stride.

‘Of course masakit yan, bilang isang anak. But we’re here, nandito kami sa trabahong ito, so we just have to accept all criticisms as a learning stage, and we all know na hindi naman totoo,’ Mark said of his father, who is now on his last term as senator.

‘Nasasaktan yan (Lito). Syempre tao naman tayong pare-pareho. Kasi if we will balat-sibuyas, hindi kami dapat dito. Wala kaming karapatan na magsilbi kung di kami tumatanggap ng kritisismo. Kasi hindi naman kami perpektong tao e… It’s part of our job to be criticized,’ he further said.

Mark said his father is naturally quiet and not given to grandstanding, that’s why people often equate his silence to nonperformance. In truth, he said, his father was more of an action man, who has already passed hundreds of bills into law.

”Di namin kelangang i-brag, but the records are there to prove that he has done his job even though he is not loud… There are some issues kase where he doesn’t need to talk or say something to be relevant. So ganun lang yon. Ang kanya, kung kelan sya kelangang maging relevant, dun sya nagsasalita,’ he further said.

Mark said the bad perception about his father may be due to the fact that people still look down on his father, who is just a high school graduate and actor before joining politics.

With the presence of social media, they are hopeful that more people would be more aware of his father’s achievements.

‘Hndi lang nya binibida, hindi alam na sa kanya, dahil siguro tingin pa rin sa kanya hindi sya nakapagtapos, high school graduatuate sya, so medyo mababa ang tingin, artista lang sya. May mga ganyang factors siguro. We hope with all the records out there, sana ma appreciate na sya,’ he added.

Mark is currently the chief operating officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), an attached agency under the Department of Tourism in charge of tourism infrastructure. Prior to this post, he was the general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority, the precursor of Tieza, after serving as governor of Pampanga from 2004 to 2007.