Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Four centenarians in this city each received P50,000 in cash incentives and food packs from the Bukidnon provincial government on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, bringing the total number of registered provincial centenarian-beneficiaries to 56.

Gov. Rogelio Neil Roque handed the cash assistance and food packs to Julia Lacre, 100, of Kibalaan, Barangay Guinuyoran; Carmellina Villas (101) of Barangay Sugod; Patricia Sanjurjo, 103, of Barangay Batangan; and Alejandro Maghinay, 106, of Barangay Mabuhay.

Ellen Salumintao, Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) officer, said 34 of the 56 registered centenarians are currently living in the province.

The registry recorded 31 centenarians in 2024, 16 in 2025, and nine additions in 2026, with five individuals aged 106-three females and two males-currently recorded as Bukidnon’s oldest living centenarians.

Roque stated that the high number of centenarians reflects ‘Bukidnon’s healthy environment and living conditions,’ adding that the provincial government is happy to reciprocate the years of service these senior citizens have rendered to the community.

The local cash incentive is institutionalized under Provincial Ordinance No. 2022-010R, enacted by the 27th Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The provincial grant provides additional incentives and is separate from the P100,000 cash incentive granted by the national government under the Centenarians Act

June Mar Fajardo gave 13 years of his Hall of Fame career to Gilas Pilipinas, and last Sunday night, played his last game with the national squad, convinced that he left the team in capable hands.

The nine-time PBA MVP Fajardo tipped his heavily feathered cap to the young guns he leaves the team with, and said the future is bright for the youthful core of the national team.

And as heavy an assignment that Fajardo statement was, Dwight Ramos is up to prove his former center right.

‘For sure, to me, it’s motivation that he’s passing [the team onto] us,’ Ramos told the Inquirer. ‘We have to step up, and as the next generation, we need to bring this team forward.

‘We just have to let them know that [this is], kind of, the ‘golden generation.”

The Filipinos showed glimpses of that generation in the fourth window of the 2027 Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers after sweeping their two assignments-Jordan in overtime, 82-81, courtesy of the heroics of another young gun in Kevin Quiambao and Kai Sotto, and 68-56 over Iran.

After Quiambao and Sotto delivered the goods against the Jordanians, whom the Nationals also beat for the gold in the Asian Games in 2023, Juan Gomez de Liaño took his turn on offense and AJ Edu made a statement on the defensive end for the Philippines against the Iranians.

The twin kills were carved out without the help of a naturalized player, as Justin Brownlee sat it out because of an injury.

And that, according to Ramos, is a good indication that they’re well within striking distance of making this the ‘golden generation.’

‘You have Kai (Sotto), AJ (Edu), Carl (Tamayo), Juan (GDL), KQ (Quiambao) and me. We just have to keep improving because this is how the team will look moving forward,’ Ramos said.

‘We just have to keep improving and try to take this team to the next level, especially with the World Cup coming up.’

Gilas improved to a 4-4 record in Group E after the second round and would need another impressive performance in the next window to make the top three for a main draw slot for the Doha, Qatar showcase next year.

That slot is just a step away. And if achieved, it may just be the start of the generation Ramos is talking about.

The Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) coordinated closely with the 1st ID (1ID) on Wednesday in case any untoward incident arose from the military’s move to bar a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) convoy from entering Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte.

The police and military intercepted the MILF convoy involving some 200 individuals, half of whom were armed, due to a lack of coordination, causing fears and traffic delays along the highway. The MILF members were on the way to Munai, Lanao del Norte to attend a meeting. They agreed to be escorted back to Picong, Lanao del Sur after authorities talked with their leaders.

Col. Joe Patrick Martinez, 4ID spokesperson, said on Thursday that an inter-military command coordination happened during the incident. He said that while division territories are clearly marked, mission flexibility always takes precedence over territorial borders.

‘Kolambugan is part of 1ID’s area of responsibility (AOR). Usually, we secure adjacent boundaries of the two divisions to provide support,’ Martinez said.

He added: ‘But if the situation escalates, (the Eastern Mindanao Command) will task us to deploy units inside 1ID’s AOR to support them directly.

China’s WNBA star Li Yueru will miss the Fiba Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin after losing her passport in the mail.

‘Li Yueru’s passport was accidentally lost while being mailed in the United States,’ the Chinese Basketball Association said.

The document could not be found before the tournament’s registration deadline so Li was unable to travel to Germany, the association said.

The Women’s Basketball World Cup starts on Friday, with China meeting the United States in their first game.

‘It’s really unfortunate I can’t be with my sisters this time,’ the 27-year-old Li, who plays for the Dallas Wings, said on Chinese social media.

She thanked the association and embassies for helping with her search.

‘We’ve all been working hard together and exploring every possible solution, but maybe we were just a little short on luck this time,’ she said on Instagram.

The 6-foot-7 center joined the Dallas Wings in 2025 and represented China at the Paris Olympics in 2024, where she was the team’s top scorer.

She previously played for the Seattle Storm, the Los Angeles Sparks and the Chicago Sky, as well as Chinese teams in Inner Mongolia and Guangdong.

ORION, Bataan- Five people, including a jobless woman, were arrested by the Orion police after a buy-bust operation conducted at an undisclosed remote village here on Wednesday night.

The arrest of the suspects was undertaken after a week-long surveillance of the barangay where the rampant sale of shabu (crystal methamphetamine) had been going on, police said.

Authorities are set to conduct more operations are set to be conducted in the adjacent barangay where the five suspects were arrested.

Seized during the operation were 19.38 grams of shabu with a street value of P131,784 and the marked money used by police agents belonging to the Orion police drug enforcement unit.

The suspects are now detained at the Orion police custodial facility and are facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002

The Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) intensified its anti-smuggling campaign, confiscating at least P7.3 million worth of alleged illicit cigarettes in a series of operations across Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga City, and Pagadian City from August 31 to September 2.

Maj. Shellamie Chang, PRO-9 spokesperson, told the Inquirer that in Salug, Zamboanga del Norte, operatives arrested a 47-year-old driver from Zamboanga City after intercepting a multi-purpose vehicle (Nissan Livina) loaded with 1,049 reams of alleged illicit cigarettes during a checkpoint in Barangay Canawan on September 1.

Salug Municipal Police personnel seized the contraband valued at P4,133,060.

On August 31, police discovered an unattended minivan along the highway in Barangay Bolong, Zamboanga City. The vehicle contained 48 boxes of assorted suspected smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of P1,014,510. The items were turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) District Office 9.

In Pagadian City, police operatives confiscated 13 master cases of alleged smuggled cigarettes worth P744,900 from a motorized tricycle locally known as ‘bao-bao’ on September 1. Two suspects were arrested.

Meanwhile, on September 2, PRO 9’s Regional Intelligence Division and Regional Special Operations Unit recovered 25 master cases of smuggled cigarettes abandoned along the shoreline of Barangay Sinunuc, Zamboanga City. The haul was valued at P1,432,500.

All seized contraband and vehicles were placed under police custody and will be formally turned over to the BOC for proper disposition.

The arrested suspects face charges for alleged violations of Republic Act (RA) 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and RA 10643, or the Graphic Health Warnings Law.

Environment and police authorities are investigating suspected illegal treasure hunting inside the protected Mt. Matutum, South Cotabato’s landmark peak, following excavations in Polomolok town.

Engr. Agustin Valencia Jr., Polomolok Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) chief, said Wednesday that they first inspected the site in Purok Macarandan, Barangay Palkan, on Aug. 20, after a report of suspected treasure-hunting activities there.The operation was conducted with the Polomolok Municipal Police Station, Barangay Palkan peacekeepers, and forest guards. The area is within the Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape (MMPL).

READ: Legarda files bill to ban treasure hunting, protect cultural heritageDuring the inspection, authorities found diggings that could be linked to treasure hunting.Authorities documented the site, including the excavated areas and condition of the surrounding land, as part of the investigation.Valencia said that authorities returned to the area on Aug. 25 for a second inspection to determine whether there had been further digging or other changes since the initial visit.MENRO-FPWE conducted a follow-up probe with the Polomolok Bureau of Fire Protection Search and Rescue Force, a representative from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Protected Area Management Office-MMPL, and forest guards from Barangay Palkan.The team measured the width and depth of the excavated area and documented its condition for comparison with findings from the first inspection.The information gathered will be used for assessment and investigation to determine possible further action.Under Republic Act 11038, or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018, certain activities, including mineral exploration or extraction and searching for hidden treasure, are prohibited in protected areas.

READ: Concrete under uprooted tree triggers treasure hunt in Cotabato townRepublic Act 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, may also apply if the activity involves mineral extraction or prospecting.Authorities reminded the public that treasure hunting inside the MMPL without the required notice, permission and coordination with concerned agencies is prohibited and may result in charges under existing laws.

The House prosecution has received copies of the bank documents and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte, her husband Manases Carpio, and companies associated with the couple.

House prosecutor Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said the records were turned over to the prosecution panel Wednesday afternoon. The team is now reviewing the documents in preparation for Impeachment Article II, which deals with unexplained wealth.

‘So, in the coming days, we will study and scrutinize all of these documents. These constitute the last important pillar of the evidence that will be used for the unexplained wealth article,’ Ridon said.

The House committee on justice previously examined the bank accounts of the Duterte-Carpio couple but was unable to review the tax records because of questions about the circumstances under which they could be disclosed.

Ridon said the prosecution panel is still evaluating whether to proceed with the presentation of Impeachment Article III, which deals with bribery and procurement irregularities involving Department of Education officials.

If the panel decides to forgo the presentation of Article III, Ridon said, it would proceed directly to Article II.

‘The unexplained wealth team is also preparing for the presentation of our article, and we also acknowledge that there are discussions about whether to proceed with the bribery article or to go directly to the unexplained wealth article,’ Ridon said.

The prosecution panel has expressed confidence that it has already presented a strong case under Impeachment Articles IV and I, which deal with grave threats and inciting to sedition, and misuse of confidential funds, respectively.

Ridon, who is in charge of presenting Article II at the trial, said the team is looking for ways to expedite the proceedings, especially now that it has presented strong cases under Articles IV and I.

‘It is important to the public and to us that we finish the presentation of evidence as soon as possible and make the necessary decision on which articles are the most compelling as of today,’ Ridon said.

The Philippine team trio in the 31st Nomura Cup all struggled in the second round, but being 10 shots down has only lit a fire in all of them as they begin chasing down Hong Kong-China and Japan starting Thursday.

‘The putter was cold out there,’ said Shinichi Suzuki, who missed just four greens on Wednesday but had to settle for a level-par 72 as the Filipinos tallied 146 to drop to third overall at 288. ‘Today wasn’t our day, but there’s still so much golf to be played.’

Jet Hernandez had a ‘weird day with drives going everywhere’ but still ground out a courageous 74 for the second PH score, even as Rolando Bregente, who led scoring for the Filipinos with a 69 on Tuesday, failed to count after submitting a 75.

‘My irons got a little cold during the second nine, speed of the putts was a little off,’ Hernandez told the Inquirer in recounting his round at Bayhood No. 9 in Beijing, China, where Hong Kong-China padded its lead over Japan to six after a 138 for 278. ‘I just tried to work with what I had today and produce the lowest possible number.’

Bregente, meanwhile, triple-bogeyed the par-3 fourth hole, which practically threw away a round he tried to save even after a very cold start. Still, his struggles-and after learning those of his teammates-gave the 24-year-old more confidence heading into the third round.

‘We still haven’t played our best yet, and I am sure we are due for that,’ Bregente told the Inquirer in Filipino in a separate interview.

Hernandez, the 21-year-old who is an incoming psychology senior at University of Denver, shares Bregente’s views and is not about to throw in the towel.

‘We talked about the deficit and we’re pretty confident that we can still make something happen,’ he said. ‘Ten shots in two days is very doable [in team play], and I don’t think any of us have played to what we know we’re capable of yet.’

‘We just have to keep on plugging away and win the little things and we have a good shot.’

Hong Kong-China fired a 138 boosted by the 67 of Ethan Tian as it takes a 278 aggregate into the third round, 10-under over the tough layout. Japan submitted a second straight 142 for 284.

A month-long dragnet operation across Northern Mindanao led to the arrest of 286 fugitives in August, including dozens of high-profile suspects who had long been hunted by authorities.

Data from the Police Regional Office 10 (PRO-10) showed that of the total arrests made between Aug. 1 and 31, 2026, 72 were tagged as ‘Most Wanted Persons’ (MWPs), while 214 fell under the category of other wanted persons.

Among the top-tier suspects arrested, 10 were listed at the regional level, 36 at the provincial and city levels, and 26 at the municipal level.

Bukidnon accounted for the largest share of the haul with 84 arrests, followed by Misamis Oriental with 49, Cagayan de Oro City with 44, and Misamis Occidental with 41. Rounding out the regional tally were Iligan City with 37, Lanao del Norte with 27, and Camiguin with four.

Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr., PRO-10 director, said the operations were carried out under the directives of the leaderships of the Philippine National Police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which prioritize the service of warrants on high-profile fugitives.

‘There will be no let-up in our manhunt operations,’ Babagay said, pointing out that police units will maximize intelligence resources and strengthen coordination while keeping all operations within legal bounds.