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The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), the oldest human rights lawyers’ network in the country, has launched its anniversary book as a manifestation of its continued fight for justice and human rights.

With a title ‘Frontliners for Human Rights,’ FLAG’s book chronicles the group’s involvement in over 9,000 cases for 50 years, from representing the desaparecidos during martial law to challenges against the death penalty, petitions for the Writ of Amparo, and opposition to the anti-terrorism law.

The publication likewise honors the courage of lawyers and volunteers. It also issues a call to action for the next generation to uphold human rights in the country and beyond. During the book’s launch at the Malcolm Theater in the University of the Philippines (UP)’s College of Law on Friday, FLAG Interim National Chairperson Atty. Theodore Te said the book can be considered ‘a record of the much that has been done and a reminder of the much more that remains to be done.’

‘It has always been our view that the law to be meaningful, must remain an instrument of justice and that has been what the last 50 years have been about,’ Te said during the event, as cited in a press release on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Senior Associate Justice Marvic MVF Leonen, a former FLAG member who served as the keynote speaker of the launching event, noted that the book is a testament to the group’s legacy and a reflection of collective efforts over the course of history. ‘For those who have sought empowerment within and adjacent to the law, it is a source of accountability held against those of you who continue to walk alongside them,’ Leonen told FLAG members.

According to Sam Chittick, the country representative for The Asia Foundation, FLAG’s book is important to read to take lessons from the group’s fights for human rights that have taken place for over 50 years.

‘The global challenges of authoritarianism and the very real threats to democracy across many countries suggest that we can all benefit from the way in which the simple idea of free legal assistance has so often been the last line of defense for ordinary citizens,’ he said.

UP College of Law Dean Gwen Grecia-De Vera, on the other hand, recalled that FLAG was formed 50 years ago with the pursuit of defending victims of abuses under the martial law of dictator and former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s administration.

‘FLAG continues its vital work upholding the rule of law, protecting civil liberties, advocating for reforms, and ensuring that Senator Diokno’s mission to make justice a reality for the least fortunate endures,’ Grecia-De Vera said. The book launching event was attended by legal luminaries, the dean of the UP College of Law, partners from civil society and academia, and its former clients. Te said that as the book unfolds on FLAG’s anniversary, the group’s fight is not yet finished, emphasizing that at the present time after 50 years, ‘authoritarian temptations remain, disinformation corrodes trust, and fear still silences the weak.’

Tab Baldwin is right when he says that the second half of Ateneo games in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament cannot be defined as a letdown-the Blue Eagles are scoring more on average, after all, in the final two quarters than they are in the first half.

‘There wasn’t a letdown, just a lack of execution of the game plan,’ he said at Mall of Asia late Wednesday, after an 83-69 loss to defending champion University of the Philippines.

The Eagles aren’t fading in the second half. They’re just getting outplayed. In four of five games so far this season, they’re on the minus side in scoring in the second half, something that isn’t quite worrying considering the team owns a 4-1 (win-loss) record.

Ateneo has relied on its fast starts to churn out wins. UP took that away in the showdown between neighboring schools and ran away with the victory, the Maroons’ third straight after back-to-back losses to kick off their title defense.

‘I don’t think it’s a letdown on our part. It was just UP elevating their game while we were still lacking composure, without discipline,’ Baldwin said.

He’ll be searching for both as there will be no inches given when Ateneo hosts University of Santo Tomas at its Blue Eagle Gym in Katipunan, Quezon City.

The two teams square off after the 2 p.m. showdown between Adamson and University of the East and their clash is every bit like a litmus test for two teams chasing vastly different paths to victory.

For UST, it’s about pace, paint, and a little perimeter.

The Growling Tigers have been the gold standard on offense, leading the league in scoring at 90 points per game, fueled by a relentless interior attack and getting to the stripe the most in the UAAP. They are averaging 41.5 points in the paint and squeeze out nearly 20 second-chance points per outing, according to stats provided by Pong Ducanes and the UAAP Stats Group.

They rank second in fast break scoring and pace, averaging nearly 74 possessions per game. They own a top-ranked offensive rating (107.9), that’s enough to cushion surrendering a league-worst 42 paint points and are last in transition defense, giving up 15.5 fast break points.

Ateneo, meanwhile, is deliberate and efficient.

The Blue Eagles play at a deliberately slower tempo (69.0 possessions) and make each trip count. They lead the league in turnover control (just 11.4 per game), perimeter shooting volume (35.2 PPG), and three-point accuracy (31.5%).

Ateneo allows just 71.6 points (vs UST’s 81.5) and ranks first in opponent 3-point percentage (23.2%).While it may seem like a study of scoring contrasts, with UST leading in paint points and Ateneo ahead in three-point shooting, it is important to note that the Tigers are also second in that department with a 31.48% clip on fewer attempts.

Ateneo is expected to try to limit the pace of the game while hoping it can sustain the effort from start to finish against the Tigers, who rely on overwhelming opponents with firepower.

The siblings of a runner who died during the Mt. Magdiwata Ultra Trail Run (MMUT) 2025 on October 5-6 have blamed the organizers for failing to provide adequate medical assistance along the 50-kilometer course.

Both health workers, Sylver Joy Manatad Dinaya and Raquel Irish Manatad Ramientos-employees of the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital (DOPMH)-said their brother, Jessie James Manatad, 34, could have survived had there been doctors or nurses stationed along the trail.

‘This would not have happened if a doctor or even a nurse were readily available to attend to runners needing emergency medical attention,’ Dinaya said in an interview at the wake of her brother, who worked as a computer maintenance technologist at DOPMH. The sisters criticized the main organizer, the San Francisco Water District (SFWD), for its alleged lapses, including the absence of basic medical supplies such as a portable oxygen tank, ice packs, a spinal board, and a cradle to assist runners in distress.

Ramientos said these medical supplies are crucial for responding to runners showing symptoms of dehydration or heat stroke.

They claimed their brother struggled to breathe as rescuers boarded him on a motorcycle that navigated the rugged terrain to reach the nearest ambulance. Only oxygen mask

The sisters said they received photos and videos from friends and fellow runners during the wake at the Sr. San Elias Chapel in Barangay 4, San Francisco town, showing their brother only wearing an oxygen mask even as he was already in need of intubation.

‘It took them more than an hour to reach the nearest ambulance, and he was already unconscious without being intubated,’ Ramientos said, adding that her brother died from heat stroke and dehydration.

She also pointed out that rescuers from the San Francisco Emergency Response (SAFER) team of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office were trained only in Basic Life Support, unlike medical practitioners who undergo years of training in emergency response.

The victim’s cousin, Maria Glaiza Comendador, clarified that the family was not out to pin blame but wanted to raise awareness. ‘We only want to remind organizers and runners alike to be fully prepared for these kinds of events that could have been preventable,’ she said.

In a statement, the SFWD had defended its handling of the event, saying it had been ‘carefully planned and coordinated with concerned local authorities, medical teams, and support personnel to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.’

Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III said he is eyeing the removal of district engineers in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), citing the possibility of restructuring as the agency is hounded with corruption controversy in connection to the flood control mess.

Sotto said this in an interview over DWIZ on Saturday after he said that restructuring, not total abolition, may be the appropriate proposal first for the DPWH amidst scandal issues.

Earlier, Senator Sherwin ‘Win’ Gatchalian said that he personally believes that it would be better to abolish the DPWH and establish a new one, as he emphasized the gravity of corruption that marred the department.

‘Let’s study that proposal, I don’t know how big the implications will be. Maybe we can restructure it first,’ Sotto, speaking in Filipino, said when asked about the said statement of Gatchalian.

‘Because the initial thing that comes to my mind that I would propose is to remove the districts. District engineers, let’s remove them. Let’s put them in the region. Regional. The first thing that will happen there is that the power of the congressman there will be lost,’ he explained.

‘When it comes to districts, that’s his district, his own. ‘No, this is my district, don’t interfere,’ right? That’s why there’s something called sagasa, there’s parking,’ he further said.

The Senate president likewise noted that the idea of removing district engineers may be better because there is also the Regional Development Council for the regional engineering offices.

`No star there’

‘There is no star there who is just a congressman or mayor or governor. There are many of them. So that will be a mixed bag,’ Sotto said.

He, meanwhile, clarified that the said idea is still under study.

Nonetheless, the Senate president is positive that there would be accountability on the corruption issue being investigated, citing that the Filipino people are observing the government.

‘Something will definitely happen there. If nothing happens there, the government will be completely liable. Yes, something will happen there, 100 percent,’ he said.

Sotto likewise said the Senate blue ribbon committee will continue investigating the flood control controversies.

Recently, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said that 421 out of 8,000 inspected flood control projects nationwide were found to be ‘ghost projects.’

Dizon said the inspection was conducted by the Department of DPWH, together with the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police.

The DPWH secretary, meanwhile, earlier said it would be better for the agency to undergo structural reform instead of abolishment, adding that he still believes that there are still a lot of employees who are performing their roles with integrity.

‘If it turns out that every district or regional director has done wrong, so be it. But many honest people remain in this department, and we will prove that through genuine change,’ Dizon said. /mr

No lucky bettors won the jackpot prizes for the Grand Lotto 6/55 and Lotto 6/42, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said on Saturday. Based on PCSO’s 9 p.m. draw, the P29.7 million jackpot prize for Grand Lotto 6/55 is still up for grabs. No one guessed the winning combination 15-37-17-26-06-40.

No bettor also won in the Lotto 6/42 draw, where the jackpot prize now amounts to P19,051,981.20.

The lucky combination was 01-04-30-09-06-37.

The Grand Lotto 6/55 is drawn every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, while the Lotto 6/42 is every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. /cb

Jak Roberto addressed the speculations of brewing romance between him and Kylie Padilla, clarifying he is not yet courting her and that he considers her as his ‘girl best friend.’

Roberto opened up about their closeness in an interview on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda’ Friday, Oct. 11, admitting they did not expect that his and Padilla’s chemistry on the TV series ‘My Father’s Wife’ would earn praises from viewers.

‘Nililigawan mo ba si Kylie? (Are you courting Kylie?)’ Abunda asked, to which the actor replied, ‘Hindi po.’ (No.)

‘We’re so comfortable with each other po kasi,’ he continued, even sharing that he bought toys for the actress’ kids Alas and Axl.

The show host further expressed curiosity over the co-actors’ relationship as he asked if there is a ‘chance’ Roberto will court Padilla.

With a broad smile, Roberto said, ‘Tito Boy, hindi siya mahirap mahalin. Napaka-open, genuine at napakatalino niyang kausap. For me, wala naman sigurong guy na hindi mai-in love sa kanya kasi gano’n siya ka-genuine na tao.’

(It’s not hard to love her, Tito Boy. She’s so open, genuine and smart. For me, any guy would fall in love with her because of her genuineness.)

‘And kung bibigyan ako ng chance, siguro hindi pa ngayon kasi gusto kong ingatan kung anong meron kami bilang close na magkaibigan,’ he explained. ‘First time ko kasi magkakaroon ng girl best friend. Parang gano’n na ‘yung treatment ko sa kanya.’

(And if I would be given a chance, maybe I would not risk it now because I want to preserve the friendship we have now. It’s my first time to have a girl best friend. I treat her like that.)

Meanwhile, during the interview, Roberto also talked about his previous relationship with Barbie Forteza, saying it molded him into the man he is now

Heading into his highly anticipated homecoming at Ateneo, University of Santo Tomas guard Forthsky Padrigao knew he had to keep his focus and his emotions in check.

He did just that and it showed, helping the Growling Tigers survive a grueling battle that saw three overtimes at his old stomping ground at Blue Eagle Gym. ‘I just needed to do my job and role with the team. Nothing personal for me. I treated this game as a regular game. I didn’t do anything special [coming into the game],’ said Padrigao, who played two seasons with Ateneo and won a title in Season 85, during the post-game presser following the heartstopping 98-89 victory.

He wasn’t anticipating a hostile crowd either.

‘No, coming into this game. I wasn’t expecting any boos. I have good friends here in Ateneo. They watched, they even asked tickets from me,’ he said. In a gesture of respect, Padrigao touched the center court at the Blue Eagle Gym, which staged a UAAP men’s basketball doubleheader for the first time in 20 years. Padrigao finished with 20 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with 39.9 ticks to go in regulation to force OT.

‘We were all tired. All we needed to do was show our heart and grit and it paid off in the end,’ said the graduating guard.

All national roads in the Davao Region are passable even after two consecutive major earthquakes struck Davao Oriental on Friday, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

In a statement on Saturday, DPWH said that based on its initial assessment, the public can pass by all national roads in the Davao Region. ‘The damage seen was on local roads caused by several landslides following the earthquake,’ the agency added.

According to DPWH, it will hand over some of its quick response assets to the provincial government to expedite their clearing operations.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, along with Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, and Mindanao Development Authority Chair Leo Magno, went to Davao Oriental to visit residents affected by the earthquakes. ‘We’re going to give everything that we can provide, especially the immediate relief to the province and the municipalities that were affected, because that is the number one priority of our president,’ Dizon said in Filipino.

On Friday, two major quakes struck Manay, Davao Oriental-the first was the magnitude 7.4 at 9:43 a.m. and the second was the magnitude 6.8 tremor at 7:12 p.m.

Seven individuals died, and more than 8,000 others were affected by the earthquakes, according to the initial situational report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council this Saturday. /mr