Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Jeepney driver Tatay Elmer, who was hospitalized after participating in a nationwide transport strike last September, has passed away, his social media handler confirmed in a post on Wednesday.

‘Our hearts are heavy as we let you know that Elmer Miralles Cordero also known by many as ‘Tatay Elmer’ has passed away peacefully on October 7, 2026,’ his page handler said in his Facebook account at around 7:45 p.m.

His family also confirmed in a social media post.

EMBED:

The 78-year-old driver was hospitalized at the Caloocan City Medical Center after he joined the first day of the two-day nationwide transport strike led by the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston).

‘He touched so many lives with his kindness and love,’ the post said.

It added that, ‘Details for the memorial service will be shared soon. We kindly ask for your thoughts and prayers for the family during this difficult time,’

Tatay Elmer was among the six Piston members detained in 2021 after staging public demonstrations at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, or Edsa, Monument over the loss of their livelihoods amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.ic.

Go Hotels Airport Road marked its 10th anniversary with a special thanksgiving celebration, bringing together its team members and guests for a meaningful occasion of gratitude, reflection, and togetherness.

A thanksgiving Mass was held at the property, where staff and guests gathered to give thanks for the hotel’s 10-year journey. The presence of guests during the celebration made the occasion even more meaningful, reflecting the continued trust and patronage that have been an important part of Go Hotels Airport Road’s story.

Reaching a decade is more than a milestone. It is a celebration of the people behind the property and the guests who have continued to make Go Hotels Airport Road part of their journeys. Through the years, the dedication of its team has remained at the heart of the hotel’s commitment to providing welcoming, reliable, and value-driven stays.

As Go Hotels Airport Road celebrates 10 years, it is also embracing a new chapter through its *’Go Better Stay’* campaign-an initiative focused on continuously improving the guest experience.

As part of the campaign, the hotel has refreshed its lobby, creating a more welcoming and engaging space for guests. The improved lobby now features several guest engagement activities and dedicated areas where guests can relax, connect, and enjoy their time at the property.

The hotel has also introduced *minor room improvements and enhancements* to provide guests with a more comfortable and pleasant stay. These improvements, together with the refreshed lobby and new guest engagement areas, reflect the hotel’s commitment to making meaningful enhancements that contribute to a better overall guest experience.

The ‘Go Better Stay’ campaign is a reflection of Go Hotels Airport Road’s belief that even small improvements can make a meaningful difference. As the property celebrates its 10-year milestone, it continues to listen to its guests and look for ways to make their stays more comfortable, enjoyable, and memorable.

‘Reaching 10 years is a milestone we are truly grateful for. This celebration is about the people who have been part of our journey-our dedicated team and our guests who have continued to trust and support us through the years. As we celebrate, we are also looking ahead and finding new ways to make every stay better through our Go Better Stay campaign,’ said Roselle Reyes, Director of Marketing and Communications of AHG Hotels and Resorts.

The anniversary celebration serves as both a thank-you and a fresh beginning. With an improved lobby, enhanced guest engagement spaces, minor room improvements, and a team committed to delivering warm and dependable service, Go Hotels Airport Road looks forward to welcoming guests for many more years.

Guests may book through the Go Hotels Reservations Team from Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., by calling 0917 1048 428 or book directly online at www.gohotels.

Mynt Inc., the parent company of the group behind GCash, opened its approximately P53-billion initial public offering (IPO) on Tuesday, with investors able to subscribe through the digital wallet’s GStocks PH platform.

The offer runs from Oct. 6 to Oct. 12 at P6.60 per share. Through GStocks PH, the minimum subscription is 100 shares, costing P660.

Mynt said the first 100 shares ordered through the platform on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 would receive real-time allocation, subject to availability.

GStocks PH, offered by AB Capital Securities Inc. within the GCash app, imposes no maximum order limit for the IPO. Allocations, however, depend on available shares.

‘By allowing users to set up and fund their wallets in a matter of minutes, and be able to participate responsibly in the capital markets, we are proving that investing and building a stronger financial future is no longer out of reach for Filipinos,’ said Winsley Bangit, group head of new businesses at Mynt.

Orders exceeding the first 100 shares will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Order fulfillment starts Oct. 8, and investors can track their allocation status through the platform.

Should demand exceed AB Capital’s initial share allocation, investors may continue placing orders and await the results after the offer period. These subscriptions are not guaranteed, and unused funds will be refunded.

Philstocks Financial Inc. pegged Mynt’s target price at P9.10, representing a potential upside of 37.89 percent from the offer price.

Its valuation uses projected 2026 earnings per share of P0.29 and an average price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 31.16 times among selected global peers.

The brokerage forecasts revenue rising to P147.792 billion by 2030 from P79.843 billion in 2025, or average annual growth of 13.2 percent.

It projects net income reaching P33.435 billion from P17.249 billion over the same period, averaging 14.24 percent growth annually.

COL Financial Inc. likewise sees the offer price as a discount to regional peers, whose projected PE ratios stand at 33.3 times for 2026 and 24.2 times for 2027.

Mynt said it had secured its permit to sell from the Securities and Exchange Commission, with its registration statement taking effect on Oct. 5.

The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and northeasterly wind flow will bring rains in parts of the country on Wednesday, according to the state weather bureau.

In the 5 a.m. weather forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), weather specialist Chenel Dominguez said that the ITCZ, or the convergence of winds from the northern and southern hemispheres, will affect Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao. On the other hand, northeasterly windflow will prevail over the Extreme Northern Luzon.

Batanes and Cagayan will experience cloudy skies with rains due to the northeasterly wind flow. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will see fair weather with chances of localized thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.

Meanwhile, the ITCZ will bring rains in Palawan, and the whole Visayas and Mindanao. Dominguez then warned of possible flooding and landslides due to the prevailing rainshowers caused by the weather system.

‘Pinag-iingat po natin yung mga kababayan natin dahil ilang araw na silang nakakaranas ng pag-ulan kaya saturated na ang kalupaan at mataas na yung tyansa ng mga pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa,’ she said.

(Our fellow citizens must take precautionary measures as they have been experiencing rains for the past few days, soils have become saturated, which brings more chances of floods and landslides.)

Dominguez also noted that no low pressure areas and tropical cyclones are being monitored inside and outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

Pagasa earlier declared the end of southwest monsoon or habagat season, and observed strengthening of a high pressure system over East Asia and southward migration of the ITCZ.

Temperature forecast for the following areas:

Metro Manila: 25°C to 32°C

Tagaytay: 22°C to 31°C

Baguio: 17°C to 24°C

Laoag: 25°C to 32°C

Tuguegarao: 25°C to 34°C

Legazpi: 25°C to 31°C

Kalayaan Islands: 25°C to 33°C

Puerto Princesa: 25°C to 33°C

Iloilo: 25°C to 31°C

Cebu: 25°C to 31°C

Tacloban: 26°C to 33°C

Cagayan de Oro: 25°C to 32°C

Zamboanga: 25°C to 32°C

Authorities arrested four drug suspects and seized an estimated P81.6 million worth of suspected shabu at Batangas Port in Barangay Sta. Clara, Batangas City early Wednesday, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The PCG said its personnel, together with those from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), intercepted 12 kilograms of suspected shabu and arrested the four suspects, aged 18,29, 30 and 41 during a joint operation.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said four arrested suspects are residents of Malate, Manila, and Maluso, Basilan.

Authorities also recovered a vehicle, a cellular phone, identification cards, and several ATM cards during the joint operation.

The seized contraband and other items were turned over to the PDEA for proper disposition.

The arrested individuals will face appropriate fornal complaints.

‘The PCG will sustain its coordination with PDEA to strengthen efforts against the transportation of illegal drugs through the country’s ports and maritime routes,’ the PCG said in a statement.

Tacloban City employees have asked Mayor Alfred Romualdez to temporarily suspend the city government’s weekly flag-raising ceremony due to extreme heat amid the prevailing El Niño.

In an endorsement dated Oct. 5 and received by the City Mayor’s Office on Oct. 6, the Government Association of Tacloban Employees (GATE) said unusually high temperatures and prolonged heat could pose health and safety risks to city government employees and other personnel who are required to stay outdoors during the ceremony.

The request was coursed through City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Department Head Ildebrando Bernadas.

GATE, headed by Eden Benusa-Reyes, said the temporary suspension of the flag-raising ceremony would protect government employees’ health and well-being, while allowing them to do their duties at the start of the workweek.

‘The unusually high temperatures and prolonged heat conditions may pose health and safety concerns,’ the employees’ group said in its letter.

The group acknowledged the flag-raising ceremony’s importance as a symbol of patriotism, unity, and commitment to public service.

However, it asked the city government to consider suspending the ceremony during periods of extreme heat or until weather conditions are better.

GATE also suggested that the city government consider alternative ways to observe the ceremony should the mayor find it appropriate.

The request comes as local government units across Eastern Visayas prepare for the possible effects of El Niño, which has raised concerns over prolonged dry conditions, water availability, agricultural losses and heat-related health risks.

The Department of Science and Technology in Eastern Visayas earlier warned of dry spell conditions in parts of Leyte and Northern Samar, with the possibility of drought as El Niño persists.

As fuel and transportation costs rise, port operators here are seeking higher handling tariffs, prompting business groups to warn of possible ripple effects on the cost of goods and services.

The Port of Cebu Association of Cargo Handling Operators Inc. (PCACHOI) has petitioned for a 25-percent increase in domestic port and cargo-handling fees.

But the Chambers in Cebu City and Mandaue City cautioned against its hasty implementation.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) supports an increase in cargo-handling tariffs, acknowledging that operators face higher labor, fuel, equipment and maintenance costs necessary to sustain safe and reliable port services.

But CCCI, the largest business-oriented organization outside Metro Manila, proposed a staggered implementation instead of a one-time 25 percent increase to give businesses more time to prepare.

‘Additonal pressure’

Cargo-handling fees are part of the overall cost of moving goods, meaning a sharp increase could put additional pressure on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and, eventually, consumers, CCCI explained.

‘A one-time 25 percent adjustment could put additional pressure on MSMEs and, eventually, on consumers,’ it said.

Under CCCI’s proposal, the first 10-percent increase would take effect in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Meanwhile, the remaining 15 percent would be implemented in the first quarter of 2027.

The Chambers also urged the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) and PCACHOI to provide businesses with advance notice before each tranche takes effect and consider transitional measures for MSMEs and cargoes that have already been booked.

It also called for greater transparency on the basis for the proposed adjustment, including the corresponding improvements in port services.

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), meanwhile, urged authorities to carefully examine whether the proposed 25 percent increase is necessary and timely, citing the difficult operating environment facing businesses.

Barbara ‘Bambi’ Gothong-Tan, MCCI president, said domestic cargo handling is particularly important to an archipelagic economy such as the Philippines because it facilitates inter-island freight and the distribution of goods nationwide.

But she said a substantial increase in cargo-handling costs could further strain businesses already dealing with weaker demand, rising wages, elevated fuel prices and other operating expenses.

‘An additional increase in logistics costs could put further pressure on businesses, particularly those in Mandaue and other highly industrialized and logistics-dependent areas,’ Gothong-Tan said.

Beyond port users

The impact, she added, could extend beyond companies that directly use port services.

Higher logistics costs could be passed along the supply chain, from manufacturers and traders to distributors and retailers, potentially resulting in higher consumer prices and weaker purchasing power.

Gothong-Tan also said the timing of the proposed increase warrants careful consideration given the country’s current economic conditions.

‘At this stage, we would encourage the [CPA] and other stakeholders to assess whether the proposed adjustment is truly timely and necessary, and to consider its potential impact on business competitiveness, inflation, and the cost of doing business in Cebu,’ she said.

MCCI said it would review the proposal’s justification, cost structure and projected impact before taking a definitive position.

Troops of the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion (53IB) recovered an arms cache and war materiel in Barangay Dalapan, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, military officials reported.

The 53IB said the location of the hidden stash in Purok 3 was disclosed during a custodial debriefing with Florencio Sayamba, alias ‘Jay-R,’ ‘Bebot,’ and ‘Rico.’

Sayamba, a former commander of a militia unit under the defunct Guerrilla Front KARA of the New People’s Army’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee, was apprehended during pursuit operations in San Miguel town on June 18.

He is currently detained at the Pagadian City Jail in Barangay Lenienza, Pagadian City.

Recovered from the site were a carbine rifle, an Ingram submachine gun, a .38-caliber revolver, two hand grenades, a commercial radio with four antennas, and about 20 meters of detonating cord.

The confiscated weapons and equipment were brought to the 53IB headquarters in Guipos for documentation and proper disposition.

Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo Lazatin Jr. has asked the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to investigate the torture of a dog allegedly involving a private school official in Angeles City.

In an Oct. 7 letter to CHEd Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, the congressman asked the agency to determine the supposed involvement of a dean of Systems Plus College Foundation (SPCF) in the violent beating of a dog inside the campus on Oct. 5.

Lazatin earlier asked the Angeles City government, the Angeles City Police Office, and the SPCF administration to investigate the matter ‘to ensure that the perpetrators are meted with the corresponding penalty for this violent act.’

In a Facebook post, the lawmaker also cited a social media video showing the dog bleeding from the head and being stuffed inside an empty water drum to suffocate. It was not clear if the dog survived the beating.

The solon criticized the violence inflicted on the animal, saying there was no justifiable reason for such cruelty even if the dog was a stray that had accidentally wandered inside the school.

On Oct. 6, CHEd Region 3 Director Maura Cristobal wrote to SPCF President Lourdes Bustamante, requesting the school ‘to require the personnel allegedly involved in the incident to submit a written explanation addressing the allegations and the circumstances surrounding the incident.’

Cristobal also asked SPCF to inform the CHEd Central Luzon office of the school administration’s actions and submit an initial report on the incident.

The CHEd regional director gave SPCF only three days to submit the written explanation and the requested information.

An SPCF student who claimed to have witnessed the beating said on social media that she and other students tried to look for the dog or its remains inside the campus but failed to find it.

SPCF has posted an official statement on its Facebook page saying that ‘an appropriate inquiry has been initiated to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.’

In a Facebook post on Oct. 6, the SPCF Supreme Student Council said:

Anti-narcotics operatives arrested three individuals in separate buy-bust operations here on Tuesday, seizing suspected shabu with an estimated street value of at least P218,000.The first operation was conducted at around 1:48 p.m. in Purok 3, Barangay Lumbo, netting two suspects identified as alias ‘Edwin,’ 36, a driver from Barangay Bayabason, Maramag; and alias ‘Renalyn,’ 46, jobless, from Purok 2B, Barangay Kinura, Kalilangan.Authorities recovered suspected shabu with an estimated street drug price of P176,120 from the duo.

Seized from her possession was suspected shabu valued at approximately P42,840.The Bukidnon Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Valencia City Police Station, Bukidnon Provincial Intelligence Unit, and the City Anti-Drugs Special Unit Team (CADSUT) carried out the operations.Lt. Col. Hope Mark L. Orbuda, officer-in-charge of the Valencia City Police Station, confirmed that police have taken custody of all three suspects now facing formal charges.