Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The government has not yet made any contingency plan in the event that arrest warrants are issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday.

‘We have yet to talk about it. I do not think they want to leave the country. We will cross the bridge when we get there,’ Remulla told reporters.

Remulla made the statement after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV revealed that arrests warrants against Senators Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa and Christopher ‘Bong’ Go may be issued early next year.

Trillanes recently returned to the country from The Hague after attending the 10th Seminar on Cooperation last September 16 to 18 at the ICC.

He is among the first to initiate the case for crimes against humanity against the former President.

The 80-year-old Duterte is currently in ICC custody after he was arrested in Manila last March on charges of crimes against humanity stemming from the brutal crackdown on illegal drugs.

The government said more than 6 000 people were killed in Duterte’s anti-drug war , though local and international human rights groups have a higher figure.

RJ Abarrientos and Ange Kouame joined Quentin Millora-Brown as new additions to the Gilas Pilipinas pool of coach Tim Cone.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas made the announcement on Tuesday as the pool was expanded to a total of 16 for the 2027 Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers, which start late next month. Gilas will be facing Guam twice in the first window of the first qualification phase.

Kai Sotto is also part of the pool, and could likely see action for the November window if he fully recovers from an ACL injury.

Cone has retained the 12 players he had during the Fiba Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia, namely naturalized player Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo and Carl Tamayo. Millora-Brown was confirmed by Cone to be available for his Gilas debut after his appeal to be a local player was approved by Fiba.

Kouame will be a second option as naturalized player in case Brownlee isn’t available, while Abarrientos was among those cut from the Asia Cup pool.

Gilas will have a longer preparation for the upcoming window after the PBA decided not to hold games in the Philippine Cup for the period of Nov. 17 to Dec. 4.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said it would provide emergency loans to members and pensioners in Cebu, after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the province this week, damaging buildings and disrupting daily life.

The GSIS Emergency Loan Program will be opened to qualified members and pensioners residing or working in Cebu, the pension fund said. Eligible members and pensioners may borrow up to P40,000 if they have an existing emergency loan, or up to P20,000 if they have no outstanding balance.

The loan is payable in 36 months at an interest rate of 6 percent per annum, with the first monthly amortization due after three months.

Loan proceeds will be credited electronically through the borrowers’ ATM cards, ensuring fast and safe release of funds.

Members may apply via the GSIS Touch mobile app, GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System kiosks, or through the GSIS e-service portals.

Romeo Migabon survived ‘Yolanda’ in 2013 but may now have to deal yet again with losing his home, one that was built for the victims of the supertyphoon.

Migabon looked despondently at his house, or what was left of it, after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu province on Tuesday night.

But the Bogo City resident said he was still grateful to see all his family members merely sustaining injuries during the quake.

‘We can’t do anything about it; I’m just thankful we only got wounded. We can probably recover from this,’ said Migabon, one of the hundreds of villagers at Barangay Pulambato who were rendered homeless.

Their houses at Pulambato were part of the resettlement projects for Yolanda victims in the city.

Elsewhere in Bogo, responders as of this writing were trying to reach at least three bodies from the collapsed Condor Pension House in Barangay Gairan.

Erwin Castañeda of the local fire department identified the three victims as receptionists Mercedita Balleta and Gemma Gilig, and Gemma’s 4-year-old son.

‘We can see them from under the rubble, but they [are] covered by debris and we can’t get near,’ Castañeda told the Inquirer when contacted on the phone around 6 p.m.

Most of the confirmed quake fatalities in Cebu as of press time were in Bogo City (30), followed by the towns of San Remigio (22), Medellin (10), Tabogon (5), and one each in Sogod and Tabuelan, according to the Office of Civil Defense.

Many of the victims were crushed to death as they slept.

The local government of Zamboanga City sent off a 19-member team for a humanitarian mission to quake-hit Cebu on Wednesday.

Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Olaso said the team was composed of personnel from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the City Health Office, and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDP), to provide medical assistance and help in the relief, search, and rescue operations in the province.

The team left Zamboanga City on Wednesday evening and expected to arrive in Cebu on Thursday, bringing along 1,000 sacks of rice, 1,000 boxes of canned goods, and 1,000 jerry cans with water.

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Cebu province around 10 p.m. on September 30, killing more than 70 people, mostly from badly-hit Bogo City.

In Pagadian City, Mayor Samuel Co is still coordinating with the Cebu local government to determine the unmet immediate needs of the people not covered by the assistance that has been pouring into the province.

Co, who also serves as vice president for Mindanao in the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), said that he is coordinating with members to send more assistance to Cebu.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday personally visited victims of the devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu province to oversee relief efforts and extend immediate assistance to affected residents.

President Marcos arrived in Bogo City, the epicenter of the Sept. 30 powerful earthquake, where he inspected some of the badly damaged structures and interacted with victims.

The President, along with local officials of Cebu province led by Governor Pamela Baricuatro, inspected the collapsed housing units at SM Cares Village in Barangay Polambato, which was established by SM Supermalls in November 2014 as a relocation site for survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Reports indicate that eight bodies have been recovered from collapsed houses in the area.

Marcos afterwards visited the Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish Church of St. Vicente Ferrer in Barangay Bungtod, as the church sustained heavy damage during the earthquake.

The President then went to the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy in Barangay Cogon, a public school heavily damaged during the earthquake.

He also inspected the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Barangay Taytayan, where he assured patients of immediate relief assistance. The hospital staff have put up makeshift wards at the parking lot to attend to the influx of patients.

The President gave instructions on relief operations to the Cabinet officials who accompanied him, including Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Cristina Frasco, and Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.

According to the latest report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the death toll of the earthquake has climbed to 72, of which 30 were from Bogo.

At least 294 are reported injured, all in the Central Visayas region.

The NDRRMC has yet to determine damage to infrastructure and agriculture as of this posting.

Boxes of alleged smuggled cigarettes valued at P9.5 million were confiscated by authorities in Maguindanao del Norte, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

The products were seized after the Datu Odin Sinsuat municipal police flagged a white closed van and a gas tanker at a checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion early Thursday morning, the PNP detailed in a statement.

‘The operation led to the confiscation of 266 boxes of smuggled cigarettes. marked ‘for export only.’ It also resulted in the arrest of two male suspects, aged 22 and 26, who attempted to transport the contraband,’ the police said.

The PNP did not identify the two suspects arrested.

However, it did state that the suspects were taken into custody by the municipal police to face charges for violating Republic Act No. 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

‘They’re probably still waiting for me,’ he quipped in jest during the launch of Titan’s adidas Gilas Pilipinas jersey customization at Bonifacio Global City. The joke landed, but the admiration behind it was genuine.

Now retired from the court, Pingris is best remembered as a cornerstone of the Gilas Pilipinas team that ended the ‘Korean curse’ in 2013. And the former national team enforcer knows exactly what wearing the flag means-and what it takes to win with it.

‘Their lineup now is really different from ours before,’ Pingris said. ‘I think [the current team has] a stronger lineup now. We just looked more solid [before] because of our bond. That’s something this team should have.’

It’s not a criticism, just perspective. The current Gilas squad, coached by Tim Cone, is brimming with talent. But with key players like Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, and Kevin Quiambao scattered across overseas and domestic leagues, forging chemistry has become a race against time.

Cone barely had a full roster during preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup, where the team placed eighth. Stars like June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez were tied up with the PBA Finals. Training was limited to a single complete week.

‘For me, the lineup is okay. They’re really strong,’ Pingris said. ‘But they lack the time to really get to know each other.’

Still, what he sees in the fight the current crop of Gilas players displays regularly on the floor gives him hope.

‘That’s always been our weapon,’ he said. ‘It’s not about talent. It’s all about our big hearts.’

Pingris knows what kind of leadership that heart needs, and he’s convinced Cone is the right man to provide it. He should know. He captained Cone’s San Mig Super Coffee squad to a rare Grand Slam in 2014.

‘Let’s just give him more time,’ Pingris said. ‘It’s better for us to see coach Tim run his plays.’

The triangle offense that Cone perfected in the PBA isn’t a quick fix. It demands trust, discipline, and-yes-time.

‘He won the Grand Slam because of the triangle,’ Pingris added. ‘He can teach that to the team. It’s up to them to apply it.’

Cone is currently back with Barangay Ginebra duties as the PBA’s 50th season kicks off, but the Gilas program resumes in two months for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Until then, Pingris remains hopeful.

‘They may be smaller, but they fight,’ he said. ‘Their games are improving. The Gilas program is doing well.’

And if they ever do call on him again?

The original image, taken Monday at Saint Laurent’s spring-summer 2026 fashion show, featured Rose alongside singer Charli XCX, model Hailey Bieber and actor Zoe Kravitz. However, in Elle UK’s version, the Korean singer, who is also a global brand ambassador for Yves Saint Laurent, was left missing. The edit was noticed after W Magazine shared the full photo. Elle UK’s comment section quickly filled with accusations of racism, with users asking, ‘Why did you cut her out?’

The controversy deepened when Charli XCX also posted a picture where Rose was barely visible, obscured in a shadow.

A picture shows a less visible Rose (right), posted by Charli XCX. (Charli XCX’s Instagram)

Following the backlash, the Elle UK account uploaded individual photos of Rose on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Rose and Bruno Mars won for song of the year at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards for her breakout solo single ‘Apt.,’ making her the first Korean artist to win the award. This achievement marked a historic moment for K-pop, surpassing even BTS, which has never scored a victory in the category despite its global success.

People of a certain age can still vividly recall the legendary bout between bitter rivals and boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier that was held on Oct. 1, 1975, at Araneta Coliseum.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest fights of all time, the duel that saw Muhammad Ali coming out on top brought international attention to the Philippines and cemented The Big Dome’s legacy as a world-class venue Fifty years later, Araneta Coliseum remains one of Asia’s largest indoor arenas and one of the world’s largest clear span domes, with a maximum seating capacity of 20,000.

Since opening in 1960-a brainchild of Araneta Group visionary J. Amado Araneta-the coliseum has hosted various world-class events, from world-title boxing matches to international concerts and a whole slew of sporting events.

Thus, it is but right that Araneta City has been chosen as the centerpiece venue for the nationwide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the iconic Thrilla in Manila, a commemoration led by the Philippine Sports Commission. Araneta City will mark the special occasion by holding immersive exhibits in the Big Dome lobby and hosting live boxing exhibitions on Oct 29 featuring top fighters from around the world, in a bid to bring back the spirit of the original ‘Thrilla,’ the group said.

‘This year is really special for us,’ said Irene Jose, COO of Uniprom Inc., the entertainment arm of Araneta City. ‘The Smart Araneta Coliseum has been part of so many unforgettable stories, from legendary concerts to historic fights. We’re proud to be the venue where the Thrilla in Manila happened, and we’re honored to be at the heart of its 50th anniversary celebration.’ -Tina Arceo-Dumlao

McDo deals with Cebu quake

Updated on Oct. 2, 2025 at 8 a.m.

The 6.9-magnitude earthquake that devastated Cebu on Tuesday has led to the closure of a few of McDonald’s branches.

In a statement on Wednesday, the fast-food chain said McDonald’s Bogo sustained ‘major damage’ and remained closed, while other stores (JY Square, North Reclamation and Jones) had resumed operations after minor repairs.

The Il Corso branch remained safe and also opened its doors again after safety checks were conducted.

Only two stores – Bogo and Carcar – remained close as of Wednesday afternoon.

‘All other McDonald’s stores in Cebu are open and continue to serve customers and communities,’ the company said in a statement.

McDonald’s, which has 36 branches across Cebu, is also serving hot meals to frontliners and communities affected by the earthquake. -Meg J. Adonis There’s an imposter lurking among us, and it’s impersonating the operator of the local bourse-during a challenging time for the market at that!

The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) on Tuesday issued a memorandum warning against a fraudulent website shown to be using the company’s name, logo and its officers to supposedly promote a trading platform.

According to PSE, thepseinc.com was also offering market analysis and investment guides, along with an investment portal that ‘lures people’ to create their own accounts.

Users are supposedly asked to provide their personal information and register for a subscription to a sham investment tool and other offerings.

‘We would like to inform the public that such a website is clearly fake and unauthorized by the PSE,’ it said.

For regular visitors of the actual PSE website-www.pse.com.ph-they can clearly see that it does not operate an investment portal nor does it solicit subscriptions.

Naturally, PSE also encouraged the public to be cautious and verify the legitimacy of anything they may see online that claim to be affiliated with the company.