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PAGASA is monitoring a low-pressure area 360 km north-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, which may develop into tropical cyclone “Salome” within 24 hours.

In an advisory Wednesday morning, October 22, the state weather bureau said the disturbance can threaten the northernmost province with a possible landfall tonight or tomorrow morning.

The low-pressure area was last seen moving southwest toward Batanes, though PAGASA also warned that a strong northeastern wind flow is creating “high uncertainty” about its exact path and development.

PAGASA Weather Special Loriedin De La Cruz-Galicia said in a 5 a.m. forecast that the LPA could approach or make landfall in the Batanes area tonight or Thursday morning.

While the LPA currently has no direct effect on any part of the country, Batanes is already experiencing partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains from northeastern wind flow.

Conditions across the country

According to PAGASA’s forecasted weather conditions for the rest of the day, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is bringing cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms across Mindanao, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor, with PAGASA warning of possible flash floods and landslides during moderate to heavy downpours.

Easterlies are affecting the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Aurora, and Quezon, causing partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms that could trigger flash floods during severe thunderstorms.

PAGASA has raised warnings for rough seas in extreme Northern Luzon, with waves reaching 2.8 to 4 meters due to strong northeast winds. Northern Luzon faces moderate to rough seas with waves of 1.2 to 2.5 meters.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized weather systems.

The Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. said its revenues have dropped by 49% after e-wallet providers removed online gambling features from their platforms in August.

The House committee on games and amusements held a hearing on Wednesday, October 22, to discuss how online gambling has affected the country and what measures are being taken to curb it.

Several lawmakers, including Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon, 2nd District) and Rep. Chel Diokno (Akbayan Party-list), have filed bills that seek to either prohibit e-wallets from promoting online gambling, impose betting limits, or ban online gambling altogether.

During Diokno’s interpellation, PAGCOR Assistant Vice President Jessa Mariz Fernandez said the regulator’s monthly income declined to P2.9 billion in September from P5.7 billion in May.

She told lawmakers that the steep drop likely stemmed from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ move to have e-wallets and other payment platforms such as GCash and Maya remove links and icons that led users to gambling sites.

The central bank, which oversees financial institutions in the country, issued the order on August 14 after a Senate hearing seeking to legislate stricter regulations on online gambling or implement an outright ban.

Asked if the decline is expected to continue, Fernandez said PAGCOR will likely fall short of its earlier forecast of P60 billion in gross gaming revenue by the end of 2025, especially when 60% of their revenue comes from online gambling.

Fernandez explained that 30% of gross gaming revenues are remitted to the government, 25% to PAGCOR and 5% to the Bureau of Internal Revenue as franchise tax. Gaming operators keep the remaining 70%.

As of September, PAGCOR said it had generated a total gaming income of P40.57 billion for the year. Fernandez said the downward trend was most apparent in August following the BSP’s directive and the subsequent compliance of e-wallet providers.

She added that the regulator also noticed a slight decrease in the number of new online gambling players over the past few months.

How do e-wallets earn from gambling?

Lawmakers then turned to e-wallet platforms, asking them how they benefited from serving as payment channels for online gambling operators.

Maya Corporate Affairs Head Toff Rada said they treat PAGCOR-licensed gaming operators as merchants, which means they ‘get a certain percentage out of every transaction’ from top-ups made by account holders.

G-Xchange Inc. Head of Advocacy Mark Anthony Amurao confirmed that GCash had implemented the same measure. He clarified that no deductions were made from users’ accounts, as online gambling operators were the ones paying the agreed-upon rate.

Rafa said the ‘industry rate,’ to his knowledge, is around 2% to 3%. GCash declined to disclose its own rates, citing confidentiality under its agreements with operators.

The BSP told lawmakers it has drafted a circular outlining new rules for payment platforms, including restrictions on betting amounts, limited top-up windows for gaming accounts, and a ban on using online loans for gambling.

‘In other words, when you start to engage in online gambling, we require that the bank or the e-wallet or the e-money issuer would sever the link from the lending,’ BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan said.

Other planned features include pop-up alerts, account self-disabling tools for online gambling, and a blanket ban on ads and links in banking platforms.

Since e-wallets removed the in-app links to online gambling, reports have shown players shifting to illegal platforms, since these do not have minimum bets or limits on how they can top up their gaming accounts.

PAGCOR said 93% of the 13,399 illegal sites reported since 2022 have already been blocked by the National Telecommunications Commission.

Taking down heavyweights in their previous assignments have given Phoenix and Terrafirma a major shot in the arm moving forward in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.

The Fuel Masters stunned defending champion San Miguel Beer, 109-103, to improve to 1-1 and hand Willy Wilson his first victory at the coaching helm. Same with the Dyip of debutant mentor Ronald Tubid, who pulled the rug from under NLEX, 97-91, in their previous outing for a split of their first two games.

And now the two squads get a chance to grab a share of the lead at 2-1 with Magnolia and TNT.

Phoenix seeks this objective as it battles the Road Warriors (1-1) at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Terrafirma eyes the same versus Converge (1-1), another squad bent on getting back on track, in the 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser.

Wilson’s youth-laden crew rocked the order last Oct. 12 when it sent mighty SMB to a 0-2 start and recorded its first win against their decorated opponents after 10 successive setbacks.

‘It’s very significant even without talking about the 10-game losing streak. It’s just knowing that we have the ability to beat a champion team like SMB,’ said Wilson.

Tubid is preaching essentially the same.

‘Sinasabi namin sa mga bata na kaya nilang manalo basta magtyaga lang,’ he said.

The goal, according to Wilson, is to build on this and keep improving.

‘No expectations as far as wins or losses. Let’s just play our best and let’s continue to grow. I don’t want us to be the same team that we were yesterday,’ said the Phoenix chief strategist.

Meanwhile, the FiberXers made some tweaks in roster ahead of today’s game, activating big man Larry Muyang, in his PBA comeback, as well as Archie Concepcion and John Lloyd Clemente.

Actor Raymart Santiago responded to claims by Estrella “Inday” Barretto, matriarch of the Barretto family, that he allegedly abused his ex-wife Claudine Barretto.

Inday was interviewed by Ogie Diaz on his YouTube channel where she accused Raymart of physically and emotionally hurting Claudine. She claimed that the former couple’s son Santino witnessed the supposed abuse, and that Raymart took the properties initially intended for their children.

Raymart fired back with the aid of legal representatives from Calleja Law in a statement which Ogie posted on his social media accounts.

“It is very unfortunate that Mrs. Barretto opted to resort to publicity to spread this untruthful and slanderous narrative,” Raymart’s statement said, adding that Claudine also “repeatedly exploited social media and sought recourse through trial by publicity” to discredit him.

According to Raymart’s lawyers, Inday’s frustrations stem from the conjugal land Claudine sold three years ago without Raymart’s knowledge. They further stated that Raymart does not want to take part in any dispute or irregularity that Claudine may have committed.

The lawyers reminded the Barrettos about a September 2023 gag order from a Mandaluyong City Family Court which Raymart “faithfully complied with, having kept peace all these years.”

They called on Claudine and her family to do the same out of respect for the rule of law and for the former couple’s children.

“Let this be a final warning that any utterances in contravention of the law shall be dealt with before the appropriate forum to protect our client’s rights and to preserve his interests,” the statement ended.

Claudine and Raymart married in 2006 but filed for annulment in 2013. Santino is their only biological child. Claudine later adopted kids Sabina, Quia, and Noah.

The Office of the Ombudsman has launched an investigation into Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana and his wife for their alleged involvement in several government projects through Olympus Mining Corp.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that a motu proprio probe is underway.

‘We’re still building our teams that will evaluate. The investigation into the COA building is ongoing,’ Remulla said on Monday.

Olympus Mining Corp. is a construction company headed by Lipana’s wife, Marilou Laurio Lipana, as president and general manager.

Remulla noted that the firm was reportedly involved in various public works and supply contracts, including the construction of the COA headquarters.

‘Not only government projects in DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) but also supply of fire trucks and other government stuff,’ he added.

Reports showed that Olympus Mining Corp. was awarded 22 DPWH contracts worth P1.89 billion from 2023 to 2025.

In 2021, the DPWH also awarded a P959-million contract for the new COA building to a joint venture between R.U. Aquino Construction and Development Corp. and Le Bron Construction, which was identified as a partner of Olympus.

Although Commissioner Lipana was not yet part of the commission when the COA headquarters contract was awarded, he was already a senior COA official at the time.

Up to 36,536 people intending to vote in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections applied on the first day of the resumption of voter registration for the BSKE, according to the Commission on Elections.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said that among regions, Calabarzon recorded the highest number of registrants with 8,290 followed by the National Capital Region with 4,637 and Central Luzon with 4,100.

The lowest number of registrants was recorded in the Cordilleras with 483 followed by Caraga with 670 and Mimaropa with 929.

The Comelec is targeting around 1.4 million applicants until the end of the seven-month voter registration period, which runs from Oct. 20 to May 18.

Applicants may register from Monday to Sunday at any satellite registration sites or at the office of the local election officer.

The registration will also process applications for transfer of voter’s records, change of name and status, correction of entries, reactivation and inclusion of records in the voters’ list.

The BSKE this December has again been postponed by a year, to November 2026.

Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC) is exploring plans to repurpose its 129-megawatt (MW) geothermal power plant in Leyte following the end of its economic lifespan.

EDC vice president Ryan Velasco said the company is set to conduct feasibility studies for the potential repurposing and redevelopment of the Upper Mahiao Power Plant site in the municipality of Kananga.

This follows EDC’s submission of a letter of intent to the Department of Energy for the phased decommissioning of Upper Mahiao, which has reached its maximum economic life.

The facility was also said to have become technically incapable of generating electricity.

According to Velasco, key components of the geothermal plant typically have an economic lifespan of just 15 to 20 years.

EDC plans to complete the first phase of the plant shutdown, involving two of the four units, by 2026, with the remaining units to be decommissioned by 2029.

The Upper Mahiao plant, commissioned in 1996, had reportedly been considered for major upgrades along with other geothermal facilities in Leyte.

Other EDC plants in Leyte include the 232.61-MW Malitbog, the 198.14-MW Mahanagdong and the 123-MW Tongonan, latest company data showed.

A subsidiary of First Gen Corp., EDC is the country’s largest geothermal player. It operates at least 13 geothermal plants with a combined capacity of about 1,200 MW, the largest portfolio of its kind in the country.

Aside from the Philippines, the company intends to develop geothermal plants in Indonesia as it actively explores growth opportunities in other countries.

Variable Unit-Linked (VUL) insurance gained popularity in the mid-2000s, surprising many with its dual benefits: life insurance coverage combined with an investment component.

What made it even more appealing was the promise of paying premiums for just around 10 years. Financial advisors widely promoted VUL as a smart, flexible solution for those seeking both protection and wealth growth in a single product.

When the pandemic hit, VUL earned a mixed reputation from Filipinos, with many policyholders expressing sentiments like, ‘Nalugi lang ako,’ ‘Hindi nag-grow ang investment’, or ‘Mas mabuti pa ang traditional or term insurance.’

The truth is, VUL is primarily a life insurance product with the added flexibility to potentially grow your money. It’s not a quick fix, nor is it a scam. Misunderstandings often arise when expectations are not clearly aligned, so thorough communication is key.

Here are five common concerns raised about VUL, and the things you should really know before deciding if it’s right for you.

1. ‘Nalugi lang ako sa VUL. Sabi nila investment ito, pero hindi nag-grow.’ (I lost money in my VUL. They said it was an investment, but it hasn’t grown.)

It’s understandable to feel frustrated. One major reason is that people may not be aware that VUL is designed as an insurance solution first, with an investment component built in. Knowing this can help set clearer expectations and guide better decisions.

The investment component of VUL is market-linked, which means your fund value can go up or down, depending on market conditions. It’s important to understand that the reason many VUL clients have seen a decline in their fund value is because these are typically invested in the local stock market, which has experienced minimal growth over the past decade.

If your VUL fund value didn’t grow during a market downturn, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it failed-the life insurance protection benefit remains intact, and that’s what matters more. The investment side can still recover and grow over the long term.

You can also ask your advisor to switch the investment funds, depending on your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.

2. ‘Ang sabi, 10 years to pay lang, pero pinagbayad pa rin ako nung pandemic kahit fully paid na.’ (I was told it’s 10 years to pay, but I still had to pay during the pandemic even after completing my payments.)

What people sometimes overlook-or perhaps are not informed about-is that VUL has flexible premium payments. You can design it for a limited pay period, but if the fund value drops (like during the pandemic), the policy may require additional payments to keep the insurance coverage active.

Technically, the investment component of the VUL continues to fund your insurance premiums even after the payment period ends, for as long as you live.

The advantage here is that you may pay for a limited time only, but your coverage continues for life. Compare this to term insurance, where you’ll need to keep paying premiums every year for as long as you want coverage, and at a higher premium as you get older.

With a well-funded VUL, you can enjoy lifetime protection without the worry of annual payments dragging on indefinitely.

3. ‘Mas okay sana kung traditional insurance na lang ang kinuha ko para mas maganda ang health benefits.’ (I should’ve just chosen traditional insurance instead, since the health benefits are better.)

Traditional life insurance and VUL serve different purposes. Traditional plans focus on fixed coverage, guaranteed endowment or health protection, while VULs give you flexibility-you can add riders for health, accident and critical illness benefit, while also having an investment component.

One isn’t better than the other; it always depends on your goals. If flexibility and long-term wealth, or legacy-building is more important to you, a VUL may be the right fit.

4. ‘Hindi naman pala guaranteed.’ (So it’s not guaranteed after all.)

Exactly-and that’s actually a good thing. If someone promises guaranteed high returns, that could be a red flag for a potential scam.

With a VUL, your investment portion is tied to market performance, which means it can grow over time, but it also comes with ups and downs. That’s the trade-off.

To make the most out of your VUL, it’s important to align your policy with your risk tolerance and long-term financial goals. One practical tip: consider allocating a manageable portion of your monthly income towards premiums. This helps ensure that your policy is well-funded, which can support the insurance charges even during market downturns.

5. ‘Ang dami palang dapat intindihin. Nakaka-overwhelm.’ (There’s so much to understand. It feels overwhelming.)

It is true that VULs can feel complex, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. A Sun Life advisor can help you understand your options, manage your expectations and build a plan that fits your unique life goals.

With the right partner, a VUL becomes less intimidating and more empowering. It’s a long-term financial tool designed to protect first and grow second. By understanding how it really works, you can make a confident choice for yourself and your family.

Sun Life offers a wide range of financial solutions designed to meet different needs and life goals. Whether you are securing your family’s future, planning for retirement or growing your wealth, there is a Sun Life plan that is right for you.

A Manila court has forfeited the multimillion- peso assets of self-confessed drug dealer Mayor Kerwin Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte, believed acquired through money laundering and years of illegal drug trafficking.

This is the largest court-ordered forfeiture of assets in the history of law enforcement against illegal drugs in the country, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Aside from Espinosa, the court also ordered the seizure of the assets of international drug financier Sally Ang Nina, who uses the aliases Sharon Xia Lim, Xie Ming Fen, Xie Mei Rong, Tian Gang Shi, Sarah Lee Jessica and Evelyn See Ting.

The court ruling was an offshoot of a multi-agency, intelligence-driven collaboration among the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the PDEA, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The money and properties Espinosa reportedly laundered and amassed from illegal drug activities had been subjected to court forfeiture proceedings.

Among Espinosa’s assets seized by the court are six real estate property located in Albuera and Ormoc in Leyte as well as in Misamis Oriental, 13 vehicles, several bank accounts, watercraft including jetskis and a boat, and firearms.

The court said the assets were acquired through years of illegal drug and money laundering activities, and were hidden under the names of proxy owners identified as Grace Caparoso, Rogelio Caparoso Artemio Magno, Sherlita Pelicano and Laura Yu.

Among Nina’s forfeited assets are P51 million in cash deposited in various banks, investment funds, trust funds and several vehicles.

In 2016 during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Espinosa was arrested and confessed his participation in drug trafficking.

When Duterte’s term ended, Espinosa recanted his statement.

Between 2020 and 2024, Espinosa has been acquitted of several drug cases by regional trial courts in Manila, Makati and Baybay City, Leyte. Two of the cases have been revived by the Court of Appeals.

Espinosa ran and won as mayor of Albuera in May this year.

In one of the campaign rallies of his party in April, Espinosa was shot, but survived.

Forfeiture despite acquittal explained

Legal experts explained that the requirement for ‘preponderance’ of evidence in a civil forfeiture case is lighter than in a criminal case where guilt beyond reasonable doubt must be established. Civil forfeiture can therefore still be pursued despite acquittal in a criminal case.

AMLC executive director Matthew David lauded the information exchange among concerned government agencies, which he said strengthened the cases against Espinosa and Nina.

PDEA chief Isagani Nerez said the ruling not only seized the illegal assets of organized crime syndicates, but also stopped their influence and operations.

ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas is set to attend the crucial World Boxing Congress in Rome on Nov. 23 when the elections for president, vice president and two board seats will be held. WB president Boris van der Vorst will not run for another term, leaving the position wide open with Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan, Vladimir Klitschko of Ukraine and Haris Mariolis of Greece rumored to be leading candidates. Aside from the elections, the Congress will take up a series of other votes pertinent to the organization’s business.

There is talk that Klitschko will withdraw from the race to support Golovkin, an Olympic medalist and former world middleweight champion. Golovkin, 43, is the Kazakhstan Olympic Committee president.

Vargas is a member of the WB Board and will serve two more years on his term. ‘Boris will not run for reelection,’ confirmed Vargas. ‘I will stay in the Board as I have a four-year term, having garnered the highest number of votes in the last elections so two more years to go.’ Vargas said the candidates for president have not been officially announced as WB will reveal the candidates 30 days before the polls after a vetting process. ‘Definitely, the next president will impact the Olympic supervision,’ noted the Executive Board member of WB affiliate Asian Boxing. A candidate for WB vice president is Thailand Boxing Association secretary-general Khun Chaiwat.

Under Van der Vorst’s administration, WB’s membership has grown to 125 national federations in two years since its inception in 2023. The Philippines was the first Asian country to align with WB and led the region’s affiliation. Last February, IOC granted provisional recognition to WB as the international federation within the Olympic movement, reinstating boxing in the LA calendar.