Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Police units across Mimaropa arrested 697 fugitives and seized about P45.7 million worth of illegal drugs and smuggled goods as the Police Regional Office in Mimaropa intensified its anti-criminality campaign from May 8 to Aug. 31.

The arrests included 204 Most Wanted Persons and 493 other wanted individuals, the MIMAROPA police said.

Police also conducted 139 anti-illegal drug operations that resulted in 157 arrests and the seizure of 680.82 grams of shabu, 80.53 grams of marijuana leaves, 5.4353 grams of marijuana kush, and 2,015.90 grams of cocaine. The drugs were estimated to be worth P15,330,062.12.

Meanwhile, 8 anti-smuggling operations resulted in the arrest of 22 suspects and the seizure of smuggled goods valued at about P30.4 million.

Combined, the two operations accounted for approximately P45.7 million worth of illegal drugs and smuggled goods seized during the period.

Mimaropa police also stepped up its campaign against loose firearms, conducting 171 operations and accounting for 177 firearms. Of these, 148 were voluntarily surrendered, 29 were confiscated, and one was captured.

Authorities turned over 89 firearms for safekeeping while two cases were filed in court, police said.

The campaign against illegal logging yielded 21,347 board feet of lumber and other forest products valued at about P1.47 million. Police conducted 46 operations, arrested 49 suspects, and filed 11 cases in court.

In its campaign against illegal gambling, PRO Mimaropa conducted 27 operations that led to the arrest of 97 people and the confiscation of cash and other items valued at P63,303.

‘Our personnel have to remain focused on the ground. We have to act on information, go after those involved in criminal activities, and prevent these threats from reaching our communities,’ said Police Brig. Gen. Dela Cruz, Mimaropa police regional director.

Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) is considering listing its international business in Hong Kong as the homegrown fast-food giant moves forward with plans to separate its overseas operations from its Philippine business.

On Tuesday, JFC said it was contemplating a separate listing of Jollibee Foods Corporation International (JFCI) on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX).

JFCI would hold the group’s existing international business.

The company chose Hong Kong after assessing which market would best suit JFCI’s geographic footprint, business profile and long-term ambitions.

JFC said HKEX would give the international unit access to a broad pool of global and regional investors.

JFCI sees Hong Kong as a natural fit, leveraging its Asia presence and brand recognition to support North American expansion.

The move advances JFC’s plan, first announced in January, to create two independently listed companies with separate strategic priorities and investment profiles.

Under the contemplated transaction, JFC will distribute JFCI shares to its existing shareholders based on their current interests in JFC as of a specified record date, while adhering to applicable taxes and legal and regulatory requirements.

Meanwhile, JFC will remain listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange and will retain the group’s Philippine operations and businesses.

The transaction remains subject to corporate restructuring and diligence, market conditions and required approvals, including clearance from HKEX’s listing committee.

JFC stressed that the final terms and timing-and whether the separation and listing will ultimately proceed-remain uncertain.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday formally placed the province under a state of calamity over damage caused by the southwest monsoon and by Tropical Depressions Maymay and Neneng.

The resolution was approved upon the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), chaired by Gov. Eduardo B. Gadiano.

According to the PDRRMC assessment, total damage across various sectors had reached P2.195 billion.

Infrastructure and agriculture were among the sectors hardest hit by prolonged rains, according to the provincial government.

The declaration will allow the provincial government and concerned agencies to mobilize resources and implement measures to assist affected communities and sectors.

The province is also seeking the allocation and utilization of P25.726 million in the Quick Response Fund (QRF) to address the immediate needs of residents affected by the calamity.

The state of calamity declaration comes as authorities continue to assess and respond to the damage caused by the adverse weather in Occidental Mindoro.

House leaders paid tribute to Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ G. Dy III on his 65th birthday on Tuesday, praising his ‘steady, inclusive, and results-driven leadership’ in strengthening and restoring public trust in the lower chamber.

In a surprise birthday activity organized by House officials and staff, Senior Deputy Speaker Rep. Ferdinand ‘Dinand’ Hernandez of South Cotabato praised Dy, saying: ‘I have always believed in your sincerity, determination, and unwavering commitment to introduce meaningful change in Congress, even when the decisions were difficult, and the challenges seemed overwhelming. You stood your ground, ushered in a new normal, and helped restore the public’s trust in the institution.’

‘You have quietly and steadily done the job, never seeking the spotlight, and let the results speak for themselves – Congress has delivered a remarkable performance and continues to do so under your watch,’ Hernandez added.

Hernandez also thanked Dy for the trust and friendship they developed in Congress.

‘I’m proud to call you my Speaker, my boss, my mentor, and most importantly, my friend. I will always be grateful for your friendship, guidance, and most of all, the trust you have placed in me. God bless you always! Together with my constituents from the 2nd District and the Province of South Cotabato, we wish you a happy birthday, Boss Bojie!’ he added.

Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander ‘Sandro’ Marcos of Ilocos Norte also thanked Dy for his leadership and for helping him fulfill his responsibilities.

Marcos credited the speaker for rallying members of the House and keeping the chamber united and focused on performing its constitutional mandate for the people.

For Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, Dy’s ability to work with lawmakers across political lines is rooted in both his character and his long experience in public service.

‘Napakabuting tao,’ Libanan said of Dy.

(‘A very good person.’)

Libanan noted Dy’s being in public service for four decades, beginning as a barangay chair and eventually rising to become House speaker, attributing his longevity to ‘competence, hard work, and humility.’

He also credited Dy with taking the helm of the House at a difficult period when public ratings of the institution had declined, and successfully steering the chamber toward improved public trust and approval ratings.

Meanwhile, House Secretary General Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil called Dy ‘the best Speaker in the history of the House,’ citing in particular his genuine concern for the welfare of House employees.

Visibly moved by the surprise celebration, Dy thanked his House colleagues and staff for their support, saying: ‘Sa amin sa probinsya, laging pinagmamalaki namin yung unity – pagkakaisa natin – regardless kung ano yung paniniwala natin, kung ano yung ating posisyon sa buhay… pero pagdating sa trabaho, pagdating sa kabutihan ng mas nakakarami, nagsasama-sama tayo para diyan.’

(‘In our province [Isabela], we’ve always been proud of unity – our unity – regardless of what we believe, of what our station in life is… but when it comes to work, when it comes to what’s good for the majority, we joined together for that.’)

‘Palakasin pa natin yung ating paniniwala na kayang-kaya nating ibangon ang Bagong Kongreso,’ he added.

(‘Let us strengthen our trust that we can easily raise the Bagong Kongreso [New Congress],’)

Flood control measures in Central Luzon, including an ongoing river dredging program for the past seven years and the construction of flood control structures along major waterways, have proved ineffective in the past days against flooding caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon or ‘habagat.’

Thousands of families were again forced to evacuate as the death toll in the region from the effects of the monsoon rose to 31 as of Monday, with most of the fatalities from Zambales and Bulacan.

Damage estimate

The Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that 710 families, or 14,052 people, had so far been evacuated. Of these, 552 families, or 10,242 people, were in evacuation centers as of Aug. 30.

Botolan recorded the highest number of evacuees in shelters with 3,491 people, followed by Cabangan with 1,938.

Agricultural damage and losses, on the other hand, reached P37.55 million, according to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist. Rice accounted for P21.58 million, affecting 1,069.42 hectares and 1,267 farmers.

A state of calamity was earlier declared in Zambales following widespread flooding and damage from successive days of heavy rains.

‘Ground zero’

In Bulacan, the so-called ‘ground zero’ of the flood control controversy, at least 15 people have died and three others injured since Aug. 10 amid heavy rains and widespread flooding.

The province also remains under a state of calamity, with all 23 towns and cities affected by floods as high as 1.8 meters (6 feet) in some areas.

Fed up with the situation, at least 34 people’s organizations staged an anti-corruption rally in Bulacan on Monday, demanding an end to reclamation projects and calling for accountability among officials linked to the flood control scandal.

The groups, under the banner of Kilos Bulacan, also called for comprehensive environmental and flood control measures, compensation for flood victims, and stronger action on climate change.

The protesters first gathered at Malolos City Hall Amphitheater and near MacArthur Highway before proceeding to the provincial capitol to hold a short program.

Kilos Bulacan leader Obet Rodrigo said many of Bulacan’s rivers remain swollen, while Leonides Laderas of Hagonoy said the Aug. 31 rally was only the first in a series of planned street protests.

Heavy traffic on NLEx

In Pampanga, motorists traveling on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) on Sunday were stuck in traffic for hours because of floodwaters ranging from knee to waist-deep in the San Simon and Tulaoc areas.

‘Five hours hardly moving, with nowhere to go and no way to get off the expressway,’ Kalookan Bishop Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David said of his ‘miserable’ experience in a Facebook post on Monday.

Ironically, the Tulaoc overpass bridge had been raised by 0.7 meters three years ago to help prevent flooding in the area. It was also the first time the San Simon Interchange ended up underwater.

The flooded portions along NLEx resulted in a long line of vehicles stretching about 8 km on the northbound side and roughly 6 km on the southbound side, NLEx Corp. assistant vice president for traffic operations Robin Ignacio said in a television interview.

For David, the ordeal was particularly ‘frustrating’ because flooding in San Simon was hardly a surprise while NLEx Corp., which had access to real-time traffic information, knew which sections were flood-prone.

‘We pay substantial toll fees precisely because we expect a toll expressway to provide a reasonably safe, properly maintained and efficiently managed facility,’ he said.

Monthlong death toll

Successive tropical cyclones, combined with the enhanced habagat, have caused widespread flooding in many parts of the country since Aug. 1, leaving 33 dead.

The Office of Civil Defense said on Monday that it is verifying reports about 14 additional fatalities.

Eleven of the fatalities are still under verification, supposedly drowned-nine in San Marcelino, Zambales; and one each in Olongapo City and Capas town in Tarlac. The remaining three were killed in landslides – two in Zambales and the third in Porac, Pampanga. OCD Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro IV said that four other individuals were missing after the collapse of the Agana Bridge in Tarlac City. This was on top of the three previously reported.

The death toll of 33 was reported earlier in the day by OCD Director Vicente Gregorio Tomas in a press briefing. He said that 19 others had suffered injuries, while the monsoon has so far affected a total of 8.8 million people nationwide

PNB Holdings Corp. saw its first-half profit surge by 85.3 percent as higher revenues from its property portfolio boosted its earnings ahead of a planned stock market listing.

The LT Group’s property company reported a net income of P209.9 million in H1 2026, with revenue up 26% to P634.3 million from P502.7 million the previous year.

PNB Financial Center and PNB Makati Center remained the biggest revenue contributors, accounting for 67 percent and 26 percent of the total, respectively.

Gross profit likewise jumped by 58.5 percent to P326.9 million, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization grew by 40.3 percent to P336.5 million.

‘We are encouraged by our first-half results as they demonstrate a growing and resilient revenue base, stronger profitability, and robust liquidity,’ said Ponciano S. Carreon Jr., chief financial officer of PNB Holdings.

‘As we approach our planned listing by way of introduction, the company is well positioned to pursue growth opportunities with financial flexibility, capital discipline and a clear focus on long-term shareholder value,’ Carreon added.

In addition, the company attributed its performance partly to the repositioning of its properties into integrated workplace ecosystems.

Likewise, these combine traditional offices with flexible coworking spaces, food and beverage concepts and health and wellness offerings.

Meanwhile, PNB Holdings also continued to retain and expand existing tenants while optimizing its leasable portfolio.

Moreover, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls at PNB Financial Center boosted activity on the 10-hectare property.

Carreon said the company’s working capital and low leverage give it room to pursue value-accretive redevelopment and acquisition opportunities when appropriate.

Haze blanketed parts of Bohol province on Tuesday, obscuring views of Panglao Island and the mountains of Maribojoc town as authorities warned residents to take precautions.

Residents in Tagbilaran City and nearby towns woke up to hazy skies, with some reporting that the haze had already been visible since Monday.

Mel Micayabas, 34, of Dauis town, said Panglao Island appeared to be covered in smoke when viewed from a distance.

‘The haze was already visible on Monday,’ Micayabas recalled.

From Tagbilaran, neighboring Cebu Island, which is usually visible across the Bohol Strait, was also barely visible because of the thick haze.

The mountains of Maribojoc were likewise completely obscured.

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Visayas confirmed the presence of haze in Bohol and other parts of the region, saying it was likely caused by smoke from forest fires in Indonesia.

As of 6 a.m. Tuesday, PM2.5 levels recorded at the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) in Talisay City, Cebu reached an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 152, classified as ‘Very Unhealthy.’

Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado urged residents to wear masks when outdoors and avoid unnecessary exposure to the haze.

‘If possible, wear a mask when going outside and avoid staying outdoors unnecessarily,’ Aumentado said in a social media post.

Naomi Osaka channelled NBA fashion trailblazer Allen Iverson on Monday as she battled into the second round of the US Open.

The Japanese 13th seed, US Open champion in 2018 and 2020, was made to work hard by Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova before winning 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/3) in just over two hours on the Arthur Ashe Stadium show court.

As ever, Osaka’s entrance on court grabbed the headlines, with the 28-year-old walking out in a billowy custom-made gown which contained sewn-in news clippings detailing her career.

The four-time Grand Slam champion also had her hair braided in the style of former Philadelphia 76ers star Iverson, the NBA icon who is often credited with helping bring street culture and style to basketball.

Osaka had paid tribute to Iverson in her pre-tournament press conference last week, wearing a T-shirt depicting the NBA star as she spoke to reporters.

‘For me he’s a trailblazer,’ Osaka said. ‘He’s kind of like done a lot in fashion, whether it’s on purpose or not, but he’s shifted the way that NBA players dress.

‘I also think the whole conversation around clothes in sports and also just expressing yourself through style, I feel like he’s someone that I look up to in that regard.’

Osaka needed to emulate Iverson’s famously fierce competitiveness to finally subdue Zakharova.

She looked to be cruising to a routine first-round win after going 5-2 up in the opening set before Zakharova hit back to force a tiebreak.

Osaka recovered, though, to close out the set.

Another erratic second set from Osaka saw Zakharova recover from 5-3 down to level at 5-5, before holding for a 6-5 lead.

Osaka’s powerful service game proved the difference, though, and she held to love before overwhelming Zakharova in the tiebreak.

The Lasallian community is getting some heavyweight help as it expands its campuses, with the Consunji and Wenceslao families both lending their names and expertise to new projects.

The Consunjis and Wenceslaos have separately thrown their weight behind major expansion projects involving La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Over at LSGH, the Consunji family’s DMCI is building a new Senior High School, International Baccalaureate and Performing Arts Building, which topped off last May and is on track for completion in October.

DMCI president and CEO Jorge Consunji himself joined LSGH officials for the milestone, with construction now shifting to interior works.

Meanwhile, another prominent business family is helping expand the Lasallian footprint farther south.

Last November, the Wenceslao family joined Benilde officials in breaking ground on the Delfin J. Wenceslao Jr. Campus in Aseana City, Parañaque, named after the late real estate tycoon and former president and chair of D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc.

The roughly 3,845-square-meter campus will house programs spanning architecture, fashion, industrial design, cybersecurity and game development, among others. It is expected to welcome students beginning Academic Year 2027-2028.

For the Wenceslaos, the project also brings a major educational institution into Aseana City, the family’s flagship 204-hectare development. For two families accustomed to building big, their latest projects are taking them straight back to school.

The Philippine peso fell to a fresh record low on Tuesday, weakening further past the 62-per-dollar level as higher oil prices, geopolitical risks, and a stronger dollar pressured the currency.

The peso declined 13 centavos to close at 62.40 per dollar, according to data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines. The move surpassed the previous record closing low of 62.27 set Aug. 28.

Market activity eased, with trading volume falling to $1.3 billion from nearly $2 billion in the previous session.

The Philippine peso remains Asia’s ‘weakest link,’ MUFG Bank Ltd. earlier said, despite the central bank’s recent rate hike, as policymakers balance inflation control with weak economic growth.

For Asian currencies, in a noted released on Monday, it added that the key question is increasingly whether inflation will remain persistent enough to warrant further monetary tightening.

On Friday, the Philippine peso fell to a record low, dropping below 62 per dollar for the first time, as rising oil prices and a stronger US dollar outweighed the effects of the central bank’s recent interest-rate hike.