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Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. vowed to unmask the personalities behind the massive cache of ‘shabu’ (crystal meth) discovered in a private property in this town on Friday night.

Nartatez said the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were already ‘on track’ in identifying and pursuing the suspects who would be charged and subject to arrest warrants.

‘For sure, we have enough pieces of evidence, and we will pursue them-especially since they left traces, whether electronic or through witnesses who can identify where they came from,’ he said in a press briefing here Saturday.

PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez, who was in the same press briefing, said authorities would not rest ‘until we are able to account for all the persons responsible for these major drug operations.’

The two-day antidrug operations in Pangasinan led to the confiscation of 1,020 kilograms of shabu, estimated to be worth P6.8 billion, which were packed in tea cartons with Chinese markings and even had QR codes.

The discovery of the large amount of shabu was triggered by the arrest on Thursday of two drug dealers in Bugallon town-a 40-year-old Chinese national known by the alias ‘Monkey’ and his driver, alias ‘Gardo,’ 54, a resident of Mampang, Zamboanga City-who yielded 125 kilos of meth.

On Friday night, authorities raided a private property in this coastal town where they found 895 kilos of shabu already loaded in two vehicles, apparently bound for Metro Manila.

Nerez said the total volume of seized shabu-1,020 kilos-would still be verified to determine the precise weight, as the initial figure included several layers of plastic packaging.

New shipment

He said investigators were confident the shabu recovered in Bugallon came from the same warehouse in Labrador, noting the identical Chinese character markings on the packs.

He also clarified that the latest seizure was not connected to the 1.4 tons of shabu confiscated in Zambales last June, which was suspected to be intended for delivery to Pangasinan.

‘This is a new shipment,’ Nerez said.

The private property in Labrador that served as a warehouse was reportedly purchased only two months ago. Mayor Noel Uson said he had no information yet about the previous or current owners.

Nerez said the property would be forfeited in favor of the government ‘to serve as a lesson to those who harbor drug syndicates.’

The raid was carried out under a search warrant issued by Judge Vincent Lamug of the Regional Trial Court Branch 70 in Burgos town.

Nerez credited Police Regional Office Ilocos Region director Brig. Gen. Dindo Reyes and Pangasinan Provincial Police director Col. Arbel Mercullo with securing the warrant.

He noted that Pangasinan has become a ‘favorite dumping ground’ for illegal drugs because of its proximity to international smuggling routes along the high seas.

Dumping ground

Zambales and a province in Mindanao are also considered key entry points, he said.

Last June, floating packs of shabu were recovered off the coastal towns of Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte.

Nerez noted that the total volume of shabu seized during the Marcos administration has already surpassed that of all previous administrations combined. Nerez reiterated that the confiscated drugs would be destroyed immediately and expressed gratitude to the PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine Coast Guard for their close coordination in the government’s antidrug campaign. /cb

The magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu province on Sept. 30 has generated over 7,000 aftershocks, the state seismologist said Monday.

In its 8 a.m. update, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported a total of 7,027 aftershocks.

Of these, 1,375 were plotted while 31 were felt. The aftershocks ranged from magnitude 1 to 5.1.

Phivolcs initially recorded the earthquake at magnitude 6.7 before later upgrading it to 6.9. The quake occurred at 9:59 p.m. on Sept. 30, with its epicenter located 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu.

The agency also identified the fault that caused the earthquake. Its quick response team located the inland extension of the newly named Bogo Bay Fault in Sitio Looc, Barangay Nailon, Bogo City.

‘The team observed fault scraps, open cracks, and small pressure mounds within a 2-meter-wide deformation zone,’ Phivolcs said. /mcm

The Office of the Ombudsman has placed San Simon, Pampanga Mayor Abundio ‘JP’ Punsalan Jr. under preventive suspension for six months without pay in connection with two administrative complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The cases stem from an August 5 entrapment operation in which he allegedly accepted P30 million that he had demanded from a Chinese-Filipino businessman.

‘Based on the evidence on record, it is preliminarily established that the guilt of [Punsalan] is strong and the charges against him involve grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service,’ stated the Ombudsman’s order dated Sept. 30, and signed by acting Ombudsman Dante Vargas.

Vargas added that the penalty for such offenses is removal from service.

The NBI, along with Real Steel Corporation representatives Irwin Chua and Melodie Arellano, filed the administrative cases after also charging Punsalan in the Sandiganbayan with robbery by means of extortion, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act following the entrapment operation.

Real Steel Corp. president Irwin Chua alleged that Punsalan lowered his demand from P155 million to P80 million and sought an initial payment of P30 million in exchange for allowing the corporation to continue operating in San Simon and for not interfering with the implementation of local tax incentive ordinances.

Vargas said there was ‘enough basis to conclude that his continued stay in office may prejudice the just, fair, and independent disposition of the present cases.’ The preventive suspension was issued in accordance with Republic Act No. 6770, or the Ombudsman Act of 1989.

Reached for comment, the mayor’s counsel, Atty. Raymond Viray, counsel for Punsalan, said: ‘We will reserve our arguments for the court. What is important is that the Mayor is cooperating fully and is committed to clearing his name.’/coa/abc

On National Teachers’ Day (NTD), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized that knowledge without integrity is useless and that the true measure of education’s success lies in the moral conviction of students.

During the NTD celebration at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Marcos paid tribute to the nation’s educators for their dedication to teaching and for serving as role models to their students.

He also believes that education is the best investment any nation can make in its people.

‘The true success of education lies not only in the intelligence of our youth but also in their goodness and moral conviction. For intelligence without integrity is meaningless, but goodness and wisdom-these will uphold our New Philippines,’ he said.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, you here are the guiding hands, and in your hands our nation’s progress is held. In your strength, in your wisdom, and in your courage, we find the assurance that our future is secure,’ he added.

Moreover, Marcos described teaching as a ‘partnership’ between students and teachers.

‘Teaching is a partnership-between teachers and learners, between generations, between those who dream and those who make dreams possible. And it is in this collaboration that the strength of our nation is built,’ he explained.

Marcos also cited some of his administration’s initiatives to support teachers, such as the signing of the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, which provides teachers with P10,000 to help cover classroom needs, and the issuance of Department of Education Order No. 005, which ensures fair teaching loads.

Teachers will also receive a P1,000 incentive in time for World Teachers’ Day in recognition of their service.

‘This administration is also preparing and investing for the long term. The Senate and Congress have already proposed the 2026 budget for DepEd,’ the chief executive said.

‘Meanwhile, we have allocated P26.55 billion for DepEd programs from the funds of the flood control projects, which we have deemed not to be viable,’ he told the audience.

‘These funds will be directed to increase funding for classrooms, child nutrition, teacher compensation, and technology in schools, because we believe that education is the best investment that any nation can make in its people,’ he added.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually on October 5 to honor teachers around the globe.

It marks the anniversary of the 1966 International Labour Organization/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which established key guidelines on teachers’ rights, responsibilities, and professional standards.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is expected to leave interest rates unchanged this week, pausing after three consecutive cuts as officials wait for clearer signals on the state of the economy and weigh the peso’s slide.

Ten out of 16 economists surveyed by the Inquirer last week projected that the Monetary Board (MB) will keep the overnight borrowing rate that banks use as a guide when pricing loans at 5 percent when the policymaking body meets on Oct. 9.

A decision to stand pat would mark a pause in an easing cycle that began in August last year, during which the central bank lowered rates by a total of 1.5-percentage points.

Softer inflation gave officials room to loosen policy to shore up growth, which has been strained by global headwinds amid higher US tariffs.

This time, though, analysts see risks that may prompt the central bank to slam the brakes on easing.

A separate Inquirer poll of 14 economists pegged inflation at 2 percent in September, a seven-month high but still within the 2- to 4-percent target range, largely on faster food price gains because of storms and a freeze on rice imports.

The peso’s slide to 58 against the dollar last week has added to the pressure.

Weaker currency levels could feed into inflation, particularly as the US Federal Reserve slows the pace of its own rate cuts.

‘A pause at the current level would also minimize the depreciation pressure on the peso since the BSP has eased more than the Fed so far this year,’ Alvin Arogo, economist and research division head at Philippine National Bank, said.

At its last August meeting, when the BSP cut by a quarter point, Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said monetary policy was in a ‘sweet spot’-neither too low to fuel inflation nor too high to choke growth.

Since then, markets have increasingly expected the easing cycle to near its end, though Remolona has left the door open to another reduction later this year if demand falters.

Waiting game

For analysts at Chinabank Research, the BSP may wait for firmer economic data before deciding whether another cut is warranted.

‘With the central bank describing the current policy rate as the ‘Goldilocks rate,’ policymakers may require a firmer justification for an immediate adjustment to monetary policy,’ they added.

Others remain convinced, however, that more easing is warranted.

Gareth Leather, senior Asia economist at Capital Economics, expects another quarter-point cut this week, arguing that ‘the economy could do with more support’ amid tighter fiscal policy and weaker exports. ‘But the main reason we are expecting further easing,’ Leather added, ‘is that price pressures are weak.’

Even if policymakers hold steady this week, most analysts believe the BSP still has space to reduce borrowing costs further.

‘While we have a 25-basis point rate cut in our fourth-quarter forecast profile, risks on the horizon lead us to believe the BSP will likely delay acting until December,’ said Deepali Bhargava, economist at ING Bank.

a content creator and former ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ housemate who competed with her twin Jai – is set to tie the knot with her American non-showbiz boyfriend, as she announced their engagement.

Agpangan took to her Instagram account on Saturday, Oct. 4, showing photos of herself accepting her partner Danny’s proposal in Austin, Texas.

‘He put a ring on it! From Tita Joj to Wifey Joj. Forever starts now with you, Danny. What a journey it has been – everything happened in God’s perfect timing. I feel so blessed to have a man who loves so deeply and fully. My soulmate, I love you so much!’ she wrote while adding a bible verse in the caption.

Agpangan also showed a closer look at her engagement ring, featuring a thin silver band, an oval-shaped diamond in the center, and two small diamonds ’embracing the center stone’ in a separate post.

‘My engagement ring means more than I can put into words. It tells a story – the two small diamonds that embrace the center stone honor the bond I share with my twin, Jai, a bond that has shaped who I am. No matter where life takes us, we’ll always be there for each other,’ she wrote.

The content creator also shared that her fiancé chose an engagement ring ‘that captured [her] dreams and gave it an even deeper meaning,’ which she is grateful for.

‘I once had a vision of the ring I dreamed of, but the love of my life chose one that captured that dream and gave it even deeper meaning. For that, I am forever grateful,’ she said. ‘I’m so thankful for a man who understands that Jai will always be a part of me as I step into this new chapter.’

Agpangan also opened up about her engagement with Danny on her vlog, saying their relationship is ‘very lowkey’ but is nonetheless blessed by their families and loved ones.

‘He’s really a great guy. He’s the best. I can’t wait to spend my whole life with him. it’s a lot to process because everything is [happening] so fast, it’s a rollercoaster ride. I’m still processing it but I’m getting there,’ she said.

Joj and Jai entered the ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ house during its ‘Teen Edition 4’ edition in 2012. They finished their journey in fourth place. Myrtle Sarrosa emerged as the season’s Big Winner.

One of the scariest things about graduating from college (aside from crippling unemployment rates) is the consequent difficulty in finding new relationships beyond university. As connections seem to flourish best due to proximity, the absence thereof can make socialization feel like quite a chore. I thought my introvert self would be exempt from this, but I ended up seeking third spaces-social surroundings other than your home or workplace-as early as a month before graduation.

Three months after I graduated, I could feel the increased importance of socializing with intent, and it seems like the metro has also seen the need for that. Whether you’re an introvert, an extrovert, or a mix of both, depending on the day, here are three social mixers I’ve personally tried, catered to different personalities and vibes.

For extroverts: Never Strangers

Singapore-based concept Never Strangers has found a second home in the Philippines, hosting numerous mixers at Yes Please in Bonifacio Global City. The mixer uses algorithm-powered Matchbox to match every registrant based on questions that cover everything from political preferences to romantic habits.

Never Strangers promises every guest a match based on their personalities and principles-categorizing their dating parties from their age (they have parties for people in their 20s to 30s vs. 30s to 40s) to their SOGIE identification through LGBTQIA+-first events.

In a mixer I joined, guests were divided into tables and had a deck of cards for icebreakers, where they were asked to reveal their camera rolls and search histories. There was even a game of two truths and a lie. Human bingo was also part of the mixer activity roster, asking for anyone who could speak more than seven languages or people who had twins.

If you’re not looking for ‘The One,’ Never Strangers also hosts what they call Friends Mixers, which match people up platonically. Regardless of romantic or platonic intentions, a Never Strangers event seems to best fit extroverts, as one can expect a night of partying and putting oneself out there.

For ambiverts: Timeleft

Timeleft is not a dating app, but its algorithm-based matching understandably has people thinking otherwise. Through comprehensive questions similar to Never Strangers’ Matchbox algorithm, Timeleft would put you in a table for five at a restaurant in your chosen city. The twist? You only find out about your restaurant the morning of your dinner, and you only get hints of the ages and jobs of your tablemates the night before it. Dinners happen every Wednesday in key locations such as Pasig, Makati, Taguig, Ortigas, and Quezon City.

Unlike Never Strangers, where key social activities were facilitated by a team of organizers, Timeleft leaves the social activities up to the table’s discretion. While there was a card game available on the app for icebreakers, tables like mine opted for more free-flowing conversations over dinner instead.

With Timeleft, you can expect a more intimate social setup due to their five-per-table quota. Smaller groups strike a balance for extroverts who are comfortable with taking charge of the conversation and introverts who want to try chiming in. The elements of mystery leading up to a dinner also add some allure, which makes Timeleft a prime choice for ambiverts.

For introverts: Sinag Muse

A digital-first community can be found in Sinag Muse: a collective that doubles as a newsletter and event organizer. Seeking to provide a safe space for people to feel less alone, Sinag Muse allows their audience to meet like-minded individuals with shared tastes and the overall desire for a creative community. Their newsletter dishes no-BS advice and sharp insight, packaged in aesthetically pleasing visuals, reminiscent of the internet’s early days, and this energy is made to feel warmer during their onsite events.

Events with Sinag Muse are hosted at the Sinag House, a condominium unit with a cozy and welcoming ambience conducive to a plethora of activities. From pizza-making to PowerPoint nights about exes, Sinag Muse embraces quirks and niches like they’re second nature. A personal recommendation, however, would be their Bare Minimum Book Club. For 90 uninterrupted minutes, Sinag Muse invites you to read a book of your choice-or borrow one from their selection. After your reading time, you’re invited to talk as much (or as little) about your book in a casual group sharing session.

And did we mention that you get complimentary snacks and free-flowing wine, too?

Sinag Muse’s commitment to fostering a very specific kind of vibe has been highly encouraging for people to take part in their community, online or offline. In particular, the collective’s penchant for low-commitment, ‘bare minimum’ events allows its audience to quickly get comfortable with finding a place for themselves in the community. While socialization is inherent, Sinag Muse operates in a way that enables each guest to stay in touch with their individual perceptions and behaviors during their events, providing an ideal avenue for introverts who want to try something new.

Try and try until you succeed

As more of us crave organic ways to socialize, it’s still important to manage expectations when going to events like this. You probably won’t find a friend group that rivals those of ‘Friends’ and ‘Sex and the City,’ nor will you likely meet your soulmate at first try, but that’s par for the course, and frankly, completely fine.

After all, we meet everyone for a reason, and weak ties-the relationships we have with acquaintances and casual friends-are instrumental to discovering new information or opportunities we wouldn’t have had access to otherwise.

Looks like it’s the Insurance Commission’s (IC) turn to weed out or sanction bad actors within its sphere of influence.

This, after the ever-widening investigation into the extent of the corruption in flood control projects revealed that even nonlife insurance companies are involved.

As the Senate hearings have revealed, only a handful of closely related non-life firms wrote the insurance policies that were supposed to cover the risk of infrastructure projects not being completed on time and according to the agreed specifications.

Over the past several years, these firms were able to earn piles of money as these policies had never been activated since the projects themselves were certified as completed, even if they weren’t.

That assurance that the policies would not be used supposedly allowed these insurance companies to give ‘massive’ kickbacks-to the tune of 70 percent of the premiums-to those who went for their companies rather than competing nonlife insurance companies who could not penetrate the market for the construction bonds covering projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), including flood control projects.

It should come as no surprise then, that not one of the largest nonlife insurance companies in the country are involved in the questionable projects.

Biz Buzz sources said the IC is now poring over the records of the involved companies to determine liability.

And in the meantime, since the policies have actually been written, perhaps local government units or even the DPWH itself under the new leadership may consider making a claim, if only to recover something from these questionable projects. -Tina Arceo-Dumlao

BCDA turns to rugby to help youth

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has joined forces with the Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) and the country’s rugby team, the Philippine Volcanoes, to promote youth empowerment through rugby.

A recently held rugby clinic gathered about 30 youths from Bamban and Capas towns in Tarlac to introduce the basic of the sport and instill the importance of teamwork, discipline and resilience.

BCDA also took the opportunity to introduce its community development initiatives, particularly the Ayta Ethno Botanical Center (AEBC) in New Clark City.

‘The collaboration between PRFU and BCDA underscores their shared vision to foster sports development and community empowerment, while celebrating the rich heritage of the indigenous peoples of Tarlac,’ the state-run firm said.

The timing of this collaboration could not have been better, as the Philippine Volcanoes are gearing up for the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series, an annual series of regional rugby sevens tournaments in the region.

Who knows? The next rugby superstar might come from this part of the country. -Jordeene B. Lagare INQ

The government’s debt service burden more than tripled in August, driven by higher amortization payments following a mammoth settlement of maturing bonds.

Debt payments surged by 257 percent year-on-year to P664.7 billion, according to the latest cash operation report of the Bureau of the Treasury.

This brought the eight-month tally to P1.54 trillion, nearly flat from the comparable period last year. The amount accounted for 73 percent of the P2.1 trillion that the Marcos administration targeted to spend this year on debt servicing.

Amortization costs accounted for the surge. Payments ballooned 350 percent to P601.6 billion in August, though the year-to-date figure slipped 8 percent to P956.7 billion.

The Treasury said the state settled P597 billion in principal payments it owed to domestic creditors, nearly five times more than last year. This included the full settlement of P516.34 billion in maturing peso bonds, the largest repayment this year.

From January through August, principal payments to local lenders totaled P768.5 billion, down 13 percent.

Interest up, too

Payments to foreign creditors plunged 67 percent in August to P3.7 billion, though the year-to-date amount rose 17 percent to P188.2 billion.

Interest expenses also climbed. The government spent P63 billion in August, up 20 percent from a year earlier.

That was part of the state’s total expenditures during the month, which edged down by 0.74 percent to P437.3 billion. Under current rules, only interest payments are booked as part of expenditures, while principal repayments are treated as off-budget items recorded in financial accounts.

Since the beginning of the year, interest expense has reached P584 billion, 15 percent bigger year-on-year.

The Treasury reported that domestic creditors received P46 billion in August, 18 percent higher than last year, bringing the eight-month tally to P429 billion. Interest on foreign borrowings grew 25 percent to P16.7 billion, putting the total so far at P155 billion, up 6 percent.

This year, the government plans to borrow P2.6 trillion from lenders to plug a projected budget deficit of P1.6 trillion, equivalent to 5.5 percent of gross domestic product. The drive is expected to push the debt stock to P17.36 trillion by year’s end.

Fiscal planners say they will continue to favor onshore borrowing to limit exposure to foreign exchange risks. The Marcos administration has also made clear it is seeking an upgrade to an A-level credit rating, a distinction it hopes to achieve by keeping debt metrics in check while sustaining economic growth. -Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral INQ

Alex Eala reached a new career high in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings.

The Filipino tennis ace climbed to World No. 54, up four spots from her previous rank despite coming off an early exit at the Wuhan Open.

Eala bowed out in the first round of the Wuhan Open qualifiers, falling to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, on Saturday.

‘Some crazy matches this week back to the drawing board with a bit more experience and a lot of sweat lost????,’ Eala wrote on Instagram on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Eala was coming off a hectic September that began with a maiden WTA title win at the Guadalajara 125 Open.

Eala, however, hasn’t been able to get over the hump since then.

The Rafa Nadal Academy graduate suffered a quarterfinal exit at the Sao Paolo Open before getting the boot in the Jingshan Open semifinal. She also lost in the quarterfinal at the Suzhou Open on Friday.