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Undefeated Eumir Felix Marcial will figure in a pivotal eighth professional fight when he faces Omar Ulises Huerta on September 19 in the undercard of the Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz-Nestor Bravo main-event bout at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.

International dealmaker Sean Gibbons confirmed on Tuesday that Marcial’s World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight international belt and likely another vacant regional title will be on the line when they clash in a 10-round bout.

‘This is going to be the most important fight in his eighth professional career bout as he was never seen in USA television before. Everybody will be watching him closely so he must look absolutely good. It is going to be a big moment,’ Gibbons said.

For the first time ever, DAZN Worldwide and TNT will air Marcial’s fight in the US, which will usher in the main event between Cruz and Bravo, who will dispute the WBC super lightweight championship in the card promoted by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).

Marcial packs an unbeaten 7-0 record highlighted by four knockouts. His last pro bout was against Eddy Colmenares of Venezuela, whom he beat by majority decision 10 months ago at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

He represented the country at the 2025 Bangkok Southeast Asian Games last December, being the only Filipino among 13 boxers that won a gold.

Marcial expressed excitement and confidence in his return to the ring.

‘I am going for 8-0 on September 19, and I will make everyone know who I am inside the ring. This is the fight that I am longing for, a fight that will head me toward the promise land by next year,’ Marcial, 30, said.

For his part, Huerta, of San Diego, is holding a 15-1-1 win-loss-draw record with 13 knockouts.

‘This fight is going to be a war as both fighters are known for their high knockout prowess. I believe Eumir will treat this fight seriously as we are planning to give him another fight by December once he wins this one before heading for a world title next year,’ Gibbons said.

‘That is an opportunity he will not waste for sure

The Department of Justice is still reviewing a large volume of documents submitted by the United States in support of its request to extradite Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy, Malacañang said.

“The DOJ is currently examining, reviewing and assessing the large volume of documents submitted to them, and they are far from finished because there is so much to study,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in Filipino at a press briefing on Tuesday, August 25.

Castro said the DOJ is checking whether the extradition request meets legal requirements, including confirming Quiboloy’s identity and determining whether the alleged offenses satisfy the principle of dual criminality.

“Whether there is dual criminality, meaning whether the offenses he would face in the US are also punishable under Philippine law,” Castro said.

Castro said the DOJ is aware of the need to act on the request but is working through voluminous records submitted for its review.

“They said the documents they are currently reviewing are quite thick and voluminous,” she said.

US extradition request. The United States formally requested Quiboloy’s extradition earlier this month over charges stemming from a 2021 federal indictment in California.

Quiboloy was indicted on charges including conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of children, substantive sex trafficking, conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling.

The allegations remain pending, and Quiboloy has denied wrongdoing.

In the Philippines, Quiboloy remains detained while facing qualified human trafficking and child and sexual abuse cases.

He was arrested in September 2024 following a police operation at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City.

The family of acclaimed Filipino poet and screenwriter Jerry Gracio is seeking financial assistance from the public following his hospitalization after suffering a stroke.

In a statement appealing for help on Facebook, Gracio’s family said they are struggling with the growing costs of his medical treatment, including hospital bills, medication, laboratory procedures, and other expenses related to his continuing care.

‘Kami po ay kumakatok sa inyong mabubuting puso upang humingi ng tulong para sa aming minamahal na si Kuya Jerry Gracio, na kasalukuyang na-stroke at nangangailangan ng agarang gamutan at patuloy na pangangalaga,’ the family said.

They stressed that every contribution, regardless of the amount, would help ease the financial burden as Gracio continues his treatment and recovery.

The family is also appealing to those who cannot provide financial assistance to offer their prayers and share the fundraising appeal with others.

At 57, Gracio has built an extensive career as a poet, author, and screenwriter, earning recognition for his contributions to Philippine literature and cinema.

He is a multiple recipient of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards and was named Makata ng Taon by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino in 2017.

His screenwriting credits include films such as “Ligo Na Ü, Lapit Na Me,” “Isda,” “Emir” and “Balangiga: Howling Wilderness.” He has also worked on television programs including “The Greatest Love” and “A Soldier’s Heart.”

Beyond his work in the arts, Gracio has been involved in cultural and language advocacy. He previously served as a commissioner of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, representing the Samar-Leyte languages.

He has also been an outspoken advocate for Filipino writers and workers and has lent his voice to LGBTQIA+ issues.

A bank cannot compel a depositor to return funds withdrawn from an account under the principle of unjust enrichment when the loss resulted from the bank’s own gross negligence, the Supreme Court has ruled.

In a Feb. 12, 2026 decision penned by Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao, the high court’s Third Division denied a petition filed by BDO Unibank Inc., finding that the bank’s failure to follow its own check-clearing procedures amounted to gross negligence.

The case stemmed from a P151,200 check that depositor Cristina Barcellano placed in her savings account at BDO’s Lucena City branch. The check was issued by a Land Bank of the Philippines branch in Albay.

A BDO teller mistakenly processed the check as a local check rather than a regional one. This made the funds available in Barcellano’s account after three banking days instead of the seven-day clearing period required for regional checks.

Believing the funds had cleared and were available for withdrawal, Barcellano withdrew P76,000.

BDO later received a stop payment order on the check and demanded that Barcellano return the amount she had withdrawn. When she did not, BDO withheld the remaining balance in her account and filed an estafa complaint against her.

The Regional Trial Court acquitted Barcellano of estafa, finding no evidence of fraud or deceit and concluding that the premature withdrawal resulted from BDO’s oversight. The Court of Appeals later affirmed the ruling.

BDO then brought the civil aspect of the case before the Supreme Court, arguing that Barcellano remained liable under solutio indebiti, a legal principle requiring the return of something received by mistake, and that her refusal to return the money amounted to unjust enrichment.

Bank’s ‘multiple errors’

The Supreme Court rejected BDO’s arguments.

While the high court acknowledged that civil liability may exist independently of a criminal conviction under principles such as unjust enrichment, it found that BDO failed to show that Barcellano knowingly received a benefit to which she was not entitled.

The court noted that BDO did not explain why the stop payment order was issued or establish that Barcellano knew the check would not ultimately clear.

“From the foregoing, it is beyond cavil that BDO committed multiple errors. First, it credited the amount of the check deposited by Barcellano without clearing it with the drawee bank. Second, its bank teller improperly cleared the check as a local check instead of a regional one. Third, BDO failed to detect the erroneous clearing and did not even learn of it until it received a stop payment order. Taken altogether, these acts clearly constitute gross negligence on the part of BDO. Verily, BDO’s failure to observe basic safeguards against the risk of invalid checks led to the loss of a sum of money.”

The court instead found that the records indicated Barcellano withdrew the money in good faith after BDO made the funds available in her account.

“The reason for the stop payment order was neither established nor shown to have been known to Barcellano. It was not determined that her account had insufficient funds, had been closed, or had been affected by any other issue,” the Supreme Court said.

“Plain as day, BDO failed to demonstrate that Barcellano knowingly received a benefit to which she was not entitled when she withdrew the funds from her account,” it added.

‘Solutio indebiti’ does not apply. The high court said BDO’s own gross negligence caused the financial loss, pointing to its treatment of the regional check as a local one and its failure to follow safeguards designed to manage check-clearing risks.

It also rejected BDO’s reliance on solutio indebiti, ruling that the doctrine did not apply because the erroneous release of the funds resulted from the bank’s gross negligence rather than the kind of mistake contemplated under the principle.

“Finally, given that the factual milieu of the case does not give rise to unjust enrichment, there exists no constructive trust to compel the return of the amount to BDO,” the Supreme Court said.

Solutio indebiti applies when payment was made on the erroneous belief that such payment is due.

Cebu’s push to strengthen its digital infrastructure is gaining momentum as technology firms expand fiber-optic connectivity in vertical developments, seeking to meet rising demand from businesses and households for faster and more resilient internet services.

The partnership between Cebu Cable Internet and TechBridge will deploy a fiber-neutral hosting model that allows multiple internet service providers to use shared fiber infrastructure inside participating properties.

The initiative comes as internet connectivity becomes increasingly critical to Cebu’s economy, supporting cloud computing, remote work, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things applications, smart-city projects and digital government services.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has been pushing to treat internet access as a basic utility as the country accelerates its digital transformation.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data released in July 2025 showed that 48.8 percent of Philippine households, or 13.56 million, had internet access at home in 2024, up sharply from 17.7 percent in 2019.

Under the Cebu partnership, TechBridge will build and maintain carrier-neutral fiber infrastructure within participating properties, allowing internet service providers to use the network to connect their subscribers.

TechBridge President Adrian Yau Santos likened the model to a highway, with the company providing the underlying infrastructure while service providers use it to reach customers.

The model is already being rolled out in condominium developments in Cebu and Mandaue cities, with additional properties expected to join in the coming months.

TechBridge is targeting more than 8,000 vertical properties nationwide that still lack fiber-optic infrastructure, Santos said. The company currently operates in Metro Manila, Tagaytay and Cebu and plans to expand into Iloilo, Pampanga and other markets.

For Cebu Cable Internet President and Chief Executive Officer Goering Paderanga Jr., the partnership opens access to vertical developments where infrastructure constraints have historically limited the entry of additional service providers.

Cebu Cable Internet, which traditionally focused on residential customers, has expanded into business-process management firms, technology companies, condominiums and other enterprises. Its network covers much of Cebu, while its Steadfast brand focuses on fiber internet.

‘Digital connectivity is no longer simply about having internet access. It is becoming fundamental to how businesses operate, how government delivers services and how communities participate in the economy,’ Paderanga said.

He said the partnership will support growing demand for cloud computing, remote work, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, smart-city initiatives and digital government services.

The companies said the shared infrastructure model is designed to make Cebu’s connectivity ecosystem more scalable and resilient, while allowing service providers to reach more customers without having to build separate fiber networks inside every property.

For Cebu, where vertical developments are becoming an increasingly important part of the urban economy, the expansion of neutral fiber infrastructure could help address one of the key constraints to further digital adoption- reliable connectivity where people live and work.

The government will make sure 6.5 million Filipinos from the middle class will not slide back into poverty by accelerating programs aimed at creating more jobs, raising incomes and lowering cost of living, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said yesterday.

Recto’s pronouncement came after the release of a recent survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showing poverty incidence dropping from 15.5 percent or 17.5 million in 2023 to 9.7 percent or 11 million in 2025.

‘That is the marching order of the President: support the middle class and prevent 6.5 million Filipinos from sliding back into the zone of poverty,’ Recto said.

‘The work goes on,’ he added as the Middle East crisis continues, posing risks to fuel and food prices, trade, employment and economic growth.

‘Then there are climate disruptions like the projected strong El Niño which is causing too much rainfall in Luzon but too little of it in Mindanao,’ he said.

‘Our next challenge is to ensure that their quality of life continues to improve… and more will be lifted out of poverty. And we will protect our middle class even more,’ he said.

The administration is pushing for the passage of measures designed to lower household expenses, increase disposable income, strengthen the middle class and spur consumption.

These include raising the personal income tax exemption of individuals to P350,000 annually, freeing up to P17,500 every year per worker, and converting tax payment to purchasing power.

Other priority bills of the administration are the exemption of small businesses from the Minimum Corporate Income Tax, a general tax amnesty and the abolition of the travel tax.

Marcos has also asked Congress to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act or EPIRA to bar distribution utilities and electric cooperatives from passing system loss charges to ordinary consumers.

He has also pushed for the passage of the Sariling Kuryente Act, which makes the installation of solar and battery systems simple, easy and cheap for households.

Recto said the administration would continue prioritizing price stability measures to keep food, fuel, electricity and other basic necessities affordable, while continuing targeted support for sectors most vulnerable to economic shocks.

Economists have challenged the PSA report on poverty alleviation, saying it is based on outdated metrics.

The latest survey on self-rated poverty conducted by pollster Social Weather Stations Inc. in June showed 49 percent of Filipino families rating themselves as poor.

PEB in Davao City

Meanwhile, the administration’s economic managers convened in Davao City yesterday for the Philippine Economic Briefing, where the country’s economic outlook, key reforms and investment priorities were highlighted while showcasing opportunities across Mindanao’s strategic sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, tourism, logistics and digital services.

‘Davao is an important part of the Philippine growth story. It is the economic center of Mindanao. The region has been connecting businesses, employees, capital and markets,’ Finance Secretary Frederick Go said in his keynote address.

Go emphasized the government’s role in creating the conditions for sustained growth to translate into more jobs, investments and opportunities for Filipinos.

He highlighted reforms aimed at reducing friction costs and making it easier for businesses to operate and expand, including lower registration fees at the Securities and Exchange Commission, longer importer accreditation validity at the Bureau of Customs and reduced Creditable Withholding Tax rates for local importers and manufacturers at the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Local miners have voiced their support for the government’s plan to create a national critical minerals framework to boost mining investments in the country.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) said it fully supports Executive Order (EO) 122, which establishes a national policy framework for critical minerals.

The EO also seeks to strengthen the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) through reorganization, and streamlines mining permit approval.

‘EO 122 recognizes that critical minerals are essential to national industrialization, energy security, economic resilience and the global green transition,’ the group said.

The chamber added that it backs the order’s emphasis on policy stability, regulatory consistency and transparency.

‘Securing long-term capital for exploration, mine development and mineral processing requires a predictable environment that builds investor confidence,’ COMP said.

The order, signed by President Marcos on Aug. 21, establishes the Unified National Policy Framework for Developing the Critical Minerals Industry, amid the country’s push to improve the mining sector.

The mandate empowers the government to advance the development and use of critical minerals while also supporting downstream processing.

The order also seeks to ensure that local mineral resources contribute not only to the global energy transition but also to domestic industrial needs, such as clean energy technologies, digital infrastructure and major public projects.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau said it had identified about nine million hectares of land that could potentially host critical mineral resources.

COMP said economic growth must also align with sound stewardship and social responsibility, noting that EO 122 prioritizes the rights, welfare and culture of host communities and Indigenous Peoples.

‘The industry’s expansion will remain anchored in high environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, rigorous environmental management and meaningful community partnership,’ the chamber said.

The group also commended the order’s focus on inter-agency coordination and process digitalization.

It stressed that streamlining mining requirements eliminates unnecessary delays while preserving vital safeguards, ‘positioning the Philippines as a globally competitive investment hub without compromising environmental or social standards.’

COMP said that it stands ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to implement EO 122.

‘Together, we can build a competitive, responsible and sustainable critical minerals sector, one that creates lasting value, protects local ecosystems and drives inclusive national development,’ it added.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has asked Congress for separate funding to address school safety and learner protection measures, as the House of Representatives began deliberating on the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara yesterday said DepEd is coordinating with legislators to establish a distinct budget line item in future national appropriations to ensure these funds are restricted to the protection of learners, teachers and school personnel.

Meanwhile, Angara also announced that today’s nationwide simultaneous active school shooting drills have been postponed following opposition from psychiatric associations.

Although the agency has yet to announce how much budget it is asking for, the funds will explicitly cover vital physical security assets and support roles, including security guards, school counselor associates, closed-circuit television systems, perimeter fences and walk-through and handheld metal detectors.

At the same time, DepEd asked local government units (LGUs) to complement these line-item allocations by utilizing Special Education Funds for immediate security needs.

Angara explained that while existing Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) cover general school requirements, funds are frequently absorbed by utility bills, instructional supplies and administrative upkeep, leaving insufficient budget for physical security hardware or specialized personnel.

‘Presently, most schools rely on MOOE. Since MOOE varies depending on the size of the school, the capacity to implement security will be unequal. If this becomes a line item, we will be able to address the security needs of every school faster and more organized,’ he explained.

DepEd said the proposal stems from a nationwide school safety audit that identified recurring security gaps and safety risks across basic education institutions.

The Department of Budget and Management has so far approved P976 billion for DepEd for 2027.

Safety drills postponed

In an interview with radio dzMM, Angara said the deferment of the ‘Nationwide Simultaneous School Safety Drill for Active Attack Incidents’ is meant to get the inputs of the experts.

‘Yes, we will postpone it. It can wait. We listen to the experts. We respect their views and we will definitely incorporate their comments,’ he said.

In a joint statement, the Philippine Psychiatric Association and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry opposed the holding of the shooting drills, warning that these can inflict lasting psychological harm on children without evidence that these are effective in saving lives.

‘We have nothing to lose if we wait a little longer. This is our first time doing it nationwide, although we conducted it at Manila Science High School. We are postponing it for now so that we can do it in the future, more in line with what they (experts) are saying,’ Angara added.

The holding of the nationwide simultaneous active shooting drills came after last week’s Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus shooting.

‘What we are saying is that it is a bit complicated. In Tacloban, there was a learner who was not injured (during the shooting incident) but he can no longer study because of the trauma. This is not our expertise, so we should listen to the experts so that we make sure what we are implementing is based on science,’ Angara said.

In a separate advisory, DepEd said the nationwide active shooting drills will be rescheduled to the first week of September.

DICT, telcos blocking NVE sites

To combat nihilistic violent extremism (NVE) and harmful online content, the Department of Information and Communications Technology and major telecom providers are stepping up network-level blocking.

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda announced that internet service providers, including Globe Telecom Inc., PLDT Inc., Smart Communications Inc. and Converge ICT Solutions Inc., are voluntarily expanding site-blocking efforts against platforms hosting real-world violence, school shooting videos and child abuse material.

The government’s crackdown runs alongside active digital forensics conducted by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center. Aguda confirmed that gaming platform Roblox is actively assisting law enforcement.

Moody’s Ratings has affirmed the Philippines’ investment-grade credit rating at Baa2 with a stable outlook, but warned that weaker economic growth, deteriorating debt affordability and rising political uncertainty could test the country’s fiscal consolidation efforts.

The debt watcher said the rating affirmation reflects expectations that the country’s fiscal metrics would stabilize over the next two years as economic growth gradually recovers from the current slowdown and the government remains committed to reducing its budget deficit.

It noted that the Philippines continues to benefit from strong access to domestic and international funding markets, as well as sufficient foreign exchange reserves to weather volatility in global capital flows.

However, these strengths are being weighed against weakening debt affordability, institutional constraints, relatively low income levels and the country’s high exposure to physical climate risks.

Moody’s expects Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth to slow to around 3.6 percent this year, well below the economy’s medium-term potential, before accelerating to about 5.3 percent in 2027.

The forecast reflects the impact of higher food and energy prices following the conflict in the Middle East, as well as a sharp contraction in public investment after the probe into flood-control projects.

On the external front, the rating agency expects the current account deficit to widen to around four percent of GDP this year due to higher energy imports and the peso’s depreciation before narrowing as energy prices ease and export demand improves.

Moody’s also affirmed the Baa2 rating of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, saying the central bank’s credit quality remains closely aligned with that of the national government. The BSP’s outlook remains stable.

The administration of Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has placed the stalled Super Health Center (SHC) in Barangay Labangon under legal review after discovering that the facility, inaugurated in May 2025, was constructed without a building permit or supporting documentation.

The City Legal Office (CLO) is still scrutinizing how the Department of Health (DOH) can turn over the facility to the city government despite the absence of the required papers and whether remedies can be pursued to regularize the project.

Kenneth Siasar, Archival’s chief of staff, stressed the legal bottleneck in a press briefing yesterday.

‘Wala pa’y tubag ang Legal ana… Kung unsa’y buhaton nato tungod kay wala man gud tay kapasikaran nga dawaton nato nga wala pa tay mga dokumento ana niya,’ he said.

Without permits, the Office of the Building Official cannot issue a certificate of occupancy, leaving the completed structure unusable.

Siasar explained that while the DOH funded the construction and provided the contractor, the city was expected to secure permits.

‘Nagpadayon ang construction nga walay klarong papeles. Karon nga naningil na, i turnover na, pero maglisod og turnover ang DOH tungod kay wala may kapakikitang dokumento ang Cebu City Government,’ he added.

Archival himself visited both the Apas and Labangon SHCs upon assuming office.

While Apas was able to collate and submit its documents, Labangon remains in limbo.

‘Ang Apas, nag start sila og collect and collate sa ilang documents, unya nakompleto sila. But ang kining Labangon, until now, di pa man ka issue man gud… wala siyay building permit,’ Siasar said.

The mayor has tasked the CLO to determine how the project can be made functional, stressing that the facility is crucial to decongesting hospitals by serving as a ‘middle tier’ between barangay health centers and the Cebu City Medical Center.

‘Ganahan si mayor ug sa barangay captain ngadto nga make it functional aron nga ma decongest ang atong hospital. Naay modawat ngadto. In between man gud na siya: Barangay Health Center, unya CCMC… mao ni’y in between,’ Siasar noted.

The Labangon SHC was envisioned to provide laboratory services, X ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), ultrasound, dental care, birthing facilities, mental health support, and pharmacy services.

Former mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia had targeted June 2025 for the facility to begin operations, but regulatory lapses stalled its activation. Garcia lost to Archival in the mayoral race in the last elections.

The issue comes amid a nationwide audit of SHCs.

Last month, the DOH confirmed that around 300 SHCs nationwide were unfinished, abandoned, or non operational despite reports of completion.

A nationwide audit of SHCs was ordered in July 2026 by then health secretary Jose ‘Brix’ Pujalte Jr. Following his resignation, current Health Secretary Dr. Edwin Mercado has assumed leadership of the DOH and is expected to carry on the initiative.