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The Cebu City Council has appealed to the Supreme Court (SC) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter (IBP-CCC) to begin constructing a judiciary complex on a lot donated by the city government at the South Road Properties (SRP).

The appeal was made through a resolution approved by the council following a privilege speech by Councilor Sisinio Andales, himself a lawyer. His speech came a day after a joint inspection by the city government found the Qimonda IT Center-which currently houses the city’s courts-unsafe for occupancy.

A joint team from the Office of the Building Official (OBO), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), and structural engineers from the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) assessed that the building poses serious risks to both the public and its employees, recommending its immediate evacuation.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, along with other court officials, also inspected the Qimonda IT Center on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

The structure sustained severe damage from the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu on September 30.

In his speech, Andales recalled that the Marcelo Fernan Palace of Justice at the Capitol compound was also declared unsafe after the 2013 earthquake. This forced the transfer of all 30 Cebu City trial courts to the privately owned Qimonda IT Center, for which the SC has reportedly been paying around P1.2 million in monthly rent.

‘Although functional, it was far from being an ideal one,’ Andales said.

He added that the Supreme Court had long expressed its intention to build a dedicated judiciary complex equipped with modern and comfortable courtrooms in Cebu. In 2019, then-mayor Tomas Osmeña, representing the Cebu City Government, and Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez signed a deed of donation for a 1.5-hectare lot at the SRP for the project, which was envisioned to house all courts in Cebu City, including the Court of Appeals.

However, despite the urgent need for improved court facilities, Andales said the plan has remained unimplemented, leaving the courts still operating in Qimonda. He added that the monthly rent has since increased to at least P1.4 million.

‘The dream of a judiciary complex-secure, accessible, and dignified-remains only on paper,’ he said.

In his appeal, Andales urged the Supreme Court to coordinate with the IBP-Cebu Chapter, the Executive Judge, and the Office of Mayor Nestor Archival to begin utilizing the donated SRP lot and start the construction of the judiciary building.

He also proposed redirecting the monthly rental payments for the Qimonda IT Center toward funding the project’s initial construction phase.

‘Let us show the people of Cebu that justice is not only served-it is housed in a place that reflects its importance,’ Andales said.

‘This is not merely a matter of infrastructure; it is a matter of institutional respect. Our judges, our lawyers, our litigants, and our citizens deserve a space that honors the gravity of law and the sanctity of due process,’ he added.

Following his appeal, the council approved Andales’ motion calling on the Supreme Court and the IBP-Cebu Chapter, among others, to begin constructing the judiciary complex.

The IBP-Cebu City Chapter already passed a resolution appealing to the SC to expedite the construction of the long-awaited judiciary complex at the SRP.

‘A purpose-built, secure, and properly managed court facility is indispensable to the efficient administration of justice and aligns squarely with the goals of the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), particularly its pillars of judicial efficiency, access, and innovation,’ the IBP-CCC statement read.

It was earlier reported that in 2010, the city’s legislative body passed a resolution approving the donation of a 7,123-square-meter lot at the northeast side of the SRP for the Court of Appeals-Cebu Station building. Both the Supreme Court and the city government formalized this through a Memorandum of Agreement that same year.

The 15,000-square-meter property designated for the judiciary complex is located at the southwest portion of the SRP, identified as Lot 9 of the Consolidated Subdivision Plan.

Back to square one.

It came to be after the Premier Volleyball League ordered a replay of the Reinforced Conference opening matches that pitted ZUS Coffee with Akari and Choco Mucho with Capital1 Tuesday at the Ynares Center Montalban.

The decision was made after the pro league finally received yesterday the International Transfer Certificates of all its imports and Fil-foreign players, who all can now play for their respective squads starting today.

The league re-start features Galeries Tower battling Petro Gazz at 4 p.m. and Farm Fresh tackling Nxled at 6:30 p.m. at the City of Dasmariñas.

Without the ITCs the day before, the PVL was forced to push through with its opening-day schedule minus the international players.

It ended with ZUS and Choco Mucho ending up as winners.

But all of that will be stricken off the books following the recent developments.

British singer Louis Tomlinson honored his late fellow One Direction member Liam Payne ahead of the latter’s first death anniversary, saying he and other band members looked up to him during their time together.

Liam died last October 16 after falling from a window in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31 years old.

Louis told The Rolling Stone UK he found it “really, really, impossibly difficult” with Liam’s passing.

“Naively, I thought that because at this point, I’m relatively well versed in grief for my age, that it might soften the blow,” Louis said. “[That was] super-naive. It’s very different. I’e never lost a friend before.”

The two formed One Direction with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik (who departed the group a year before One Direction’s 2016 hiatus) and last July marked the boy band’s 15th anniversary but the first without Liam.

The milestone was “really uncomfortable” for Louis but still found it “more important than ever” to recognize it on behalf of his late friend.

He admitted that previous anniversaries made him “sick of nostalgia” though the most recent one hit differently with Liam gone.

“You know, there’s still a level in my head [where it feels] unjust and frustrating that he’s not with us anymore,” Louis continued. “So, it just brought up those feelings, although I’m still living with them anyway.”

Louis said Liam had the “safest pair of hands” among the One Direction members as the latter had some entertainment experience already.

“None of us would have admitted it at the time, because you have a lot of pride as a young lad, but we all looked up to him like that,” Louis added.

Meanwhile, on the “Diary of a CEO” podcast, Louis shared that he learned of Liam’s passing through a phone call from Niall.

Louis compared knowing the news to the death of his teenage sister Félicité back in 2019, “I think anyone has this when they’re around someone who’s struggling – my 150% wasn’t nearly enough.”

“And that’s when it’s my own arrogance thinking that I could have helped really, because it was so much deeper than what I could have done for him,” Louis continued.

“He was definitely struggling at that time in his life.”

The singer recalled the tribute post he made for Liam following his passing, explaining he wanted Liam to be remembered “the way that he should be remembered.”

“I could just go on and talk all day about how amazing he was, but I think we all looked up to him,” he reiterated. “I don’t think we would have been brave enough to say at that age when I was in the band, I think I would’ve had too much pride, but we all looked up to him massively.”

Liam’s funeral brought back all members of One Direction, including Zayn, together for the first time since the group went on hiatus.

Louis is set to release his third album “How Did I Get Here?” and promote it with a world tour, and will reunite with Zayn for a Netflix roadtrip documentary series.

Perpetual Help sustained its hot start in NCAA Season 101 basketballl tournament, stunning title-holder Mapua, 75-65, at the Filoil EcoOil Arena yesterday.

It was the third win in a row for UPHSD that put the team on top in Group A.

But despite their early success, UPHSD coach Olsen Racela was quick to caution his players that they still have a long way to go.

‘It’s a big victory but the league is just starting and anything can happen,’ said Racela.

The Altas did it with defense as they held former league MVP Clint Escamis to just six points while completely shutting down the Cardinals in the last five and a half minutes to steal the win.

During that scintillating stretch of defensive brilliance, UPHSD managed to score 10 points, half of which came from JP Boral, who ended up with a team-best 15 points.

In the other game, St. Benilde clobbered Letran, 95-80, to improve to 2-1. The Knights dropped to 0-3.

Host Centro Escolar U hopes to make the opening of the PG Flex-Universities and Colleges Athletic League Season 8 memorable as it defends its street dance title today at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

After the short opening ceremony starting at 11 a.m., all nine member schools are to showcase their dazzling footwork, creativity and style in the street dance competition serving as the highlight of the traditional opening-day show.

But all eyes will be on the Scorpions who have prepared long and hard for a chance to win a second straight title and set in motion their campaign in other events including the centerpiece basketball competition after a failed three-peat bid last season.

The San Beda Lions program has tirelessly searched abroad for one talent they hope would end up as the key to unlocking their NCAA championship aspirations.

They found one in the Bay Area, California in athletic wing Janti Miller.

Miller has been carrying most of the load for San Beda in its first two wins, and he is expected to do more when they battle an unpredictable Jose Rizal University in NCAA Season 101 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

With the 21-year-old, 6-foot-4 Miller doing most of the damage, the Lions have bested a pair of contenders in the College of St. Benilde Blazers and the Letran Knights and should remain unbeaten and atop Group B with another win over the Bombers (1-1) in their 2:30 p.m. duel.

Miller was nothing less than spellbinding in his first two outings, where he averaged a team-high 19 points.

And what’s more impressive was he had done all that off the bench.

‘I’m very impressed that despite his talent and caliber, he has accepted the role,’ said San Beda coach Yuri Escueta of Miller.

The Bombers aren’t one to just back away that easily as they’ve shown ability to pull the rug from fancied teams as evidenced by their shock triumph over the Letran Knights.

Also seeing action at 12 p.m. are Lyceum of the Philippines University (0-2) and San Sebastian (0-2).

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the release of P716.15 million to help replenish the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) disaster response funds.

The funds will replenish the DSWD’s Quick Response Fund (QRF) specifically, which is meant to be used for emergency situations such as the recent earthquake in Cebu.

Once an agency’s QRF falls below a 50% threshold, it can be replenished.

‘This replenishment helps guarantee the DSWD can continue to provide food, shelter, and cash aid to families when they need it most,’ said DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in a statement.

The DBM said the additional QRFs will fund the DSWD’s procurement of food packs and non-food items, which can support up to 424,681 families.

The replenishment will also help fund emergency cash transfers to 41,502 families affected by the recent cyclones that hit the country.

The additional funds will also help cover logistical costs, the DBM added.

The amount will be charged against the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund for 2025.

When the magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu in September, the DBM said that there was still around P8 billion in the NDRRM fund that agencies could replenish their QRFs from.

Instead of delivering it on the dot, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival opted to make his first 100 days in office report on October 16, 2025, with only members of the media invited as guests at City Hall.

The Cebu City Information Office confirmed the schedule, noting that while other local chief executives traditionally deliver their 100-day accomplishment reports on time through a State of the City Address (SOCA), Archival saved it for a later date to provide a more comprehensive update on the city’s affairs since assuming office.

The report is expected to highlight Archival administration’s progress on his campaign promises and the programs he outlined when he took office as the city’s top official.

A look back at Archival’s campaign promises

Upon winning the mayoralty race during the May 2025 elections, Archival pledged to fulfill several campaign promises within his first 100 days in office.

Among his top priorities is finding ways to increase Cebu City’s revenue-not by raising taxes, but by improving collection efficiency, which he said is vital for sustaining City Hall’s operations.

He also vowed to streamline City Hall processes to shorten the turnaround time for frontline services, including the implementation of a system allowing business permits to be issued within the same day.

Regarding the highly disputed Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), Archival promised to complete the facility within one year to expand its services and coverage. He emphasized the need for coordination among contractors and consultants and underscored the importance of a construction audit.

Another initiative included in his first 100 days is the installation of public drinking water fountains across the city, part of his campaign to promote the use of refillable tumblers over bottled water. The measure aligns with his environmental advocacy to reduce plastic waste and curb the rising costs associated with disposable bottles.

When he took his oath of office, Archival vowed to make Cebu City ‘number one again.’ In line with this goal, he outlined several priority programs to realize that vision.

Among them is the reopening of the Cebu City Library for 24/7 operations, a project initiated by then-Mayor, now Vice Mayor, Tomas Osmeña during his previous term.

Archival’s administration also plans to open the road network from IT Park to Banilad, in coordination with Cebu Provincial Governor Pamela Baricuatro. With the onset of heavy rains, Archival has directed the Department of Public Services (DPS) to desilt the city’s rivers.

He also aims to address the city’s long-standing garbage collection woes, noting that Cebu City spends around P600 million annually on garbage collection while earning only P100 million in revenue-resulting in a major budget deficit.

To curb this, Archival intends to reduce landfill waste by converting garbage into fertilizer and promoting recycling to lower costs. He said City Hall will serve as the benchmark for segregation and that a cement company has expressed interest in purchasing the city’s recyclable waste. Barangay officials will also be mobilized to enforce segregation policies at the community level.

Archival further plans to promote local food production, pointing out that 60 percent of Cebu City’s food supply comes from outside the city and is mostly imported. He vowed to promote sustainable farming to boost self-sufficiency.

Additionally, Archival wants to expand the city’s scholarship system, shifting from exam-based selection to automatic scholarship grants for all high school graduates.

On October 16, Archival is expected to present updates on these initiatives-highlighting both accomplishments and challenges encountered in the first 100 days of his term.

When the Philippine Basketball League turned a quarter of a century at the turn of the century, it honored 25 greatest players in symbolic representation of the number of years it thrilled and entertained the basketball nation.

Listed were Johnny Abarrientos, the short point guard with the tallest chance at the world s premiere basketball league, Bogs Adornado, Ato Agustin, Francis Arnaiz, Ricardo Brown, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, Jerry Codi era, Kenneth Duremdes, Bernie Fabiosa, Ramon Fernandez, Danny Florencio, Abet Guidaben, Freddie Hubalde, Robert Jaworski Sr., Jojo Lastimosa, Lim Eng Beng, Samboy Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc, Vergel Meneses, Manny Paner, Alvin Patrimonio and Benjie Paras. Period.

In statutory construction, it is called expressio unius est exclusio alterius or those who are not included are excluded on purpose. The list is exclusive. But when the country s premiere basketball league turned middle-age in 2015, it added 15 more to make it 40. Danny Ildefonso, Willie Miller, James Yap, Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, Kelly Williams, Jayjay Helterbrand, Jimmy Alapag, Mark Caguioa, Arwind Santos, Jayson Castro, Marc Pingris, Kerby Raymundo, Chito Loyzaga, and Marlou Aquino.

As the league turns gold this year, it included 10 more to complete the symbolic 50. Nelson Asaytono, Jeffrey Cariaso, June Mar Fajardo, Bong Hawkins, Abe King, Danny Siegle, Scottie Thompson, Arnie Tuadles, Elpidio Villamin, and Manuel Victorino made the cut.

The list is not exclusive after all. It was just a matter of time before those who did not make the first or second cut could be finally recognized. But this is not ejusdem generis either, where the law enumerates specific persons followed by a general term to include those persons of the same class or category.

The elite list loses prestige had the first 25, 40 and 50 ended with a catch-all phrase to include all others. Exactly why it is exclusive. In this context, inclusivity is not welcome, greatness is a rarity. The tricky part however is it grows. Others may be omitted now and included later.

It must be beyond difficult to pick the 50 greatest, the wisdom of choice will always be scrutinized. Curiously though, what if another player did not make the first cut but finally made it to finest cut of a diamond celebration? It may be too late. In law, it is called amendment by addition, but definitely not budget insertion. The first is afterthought, the second evil thought.

He is a graft-buster of the entire country and not just of certain groups, Malacañang said yesterday of former justice chief Jesus Crispin Remulla, whose appointment as ombudsman has drawn flak from critics doubting his impartiality.

‘The work of Ombudsman Remulla is for the entire country, not just for one sector or a group of Filipinos,’ Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a Palace briefing. Remulla is set to take his oath today as ombudsman.

Asked whether Remulla has direct orders from President Marcos to investigate the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of former administration ally-turned-arch critic Vice President Sara Duterte, Castro replied: ‘The work of the ombudsman is for the whole country. Whatever needs to be investigated should be investigated. It should neither be ignored nor neglected,’ she said, adding, ‘What needs to be known by the public should be investigated by the ombudsman.’

Critics and political foes of the administration have assailed Remulla’s appointment, claiming it was meant to pin down the Vice President and her allies.

Malacañang has brushed aside the allegation and expressed optimism that Remulla would be impartial in his investigations.

Castro also denied reports she was being eyed as the next secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

‘First of all, we don’t know where that report started, so there’s no truth to that,’ Castro told a press briefing in Filipino.

Asked whether she would accept the post should President Marcos offer it to her, Castro answered, ‘Hypothetical question, I cannot answer.’

She said the President has no shortlist yet for the next DOJ chief. ‘As of the moment, we have no details regarding that,’ Castro said.

Malacañang earlier designated DOJ Undersecretary Fredderick Vida as officer-in-charge.

Remulla, who was appointed DOJ chief in June 2022, replaced Samuel Martires, who retired in July.

Sara’s case for review

After Malacañang’s announcement of his appointment late Tuesday, Remulla said his office is set to review the pending complaints against the Vice President regarding her alleged misuse of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

‘Actually, the reports are already there at the ombudsman. We will review them, study them and we will confer with those who are currently handling the cases,’ Remulla said in English and Filipino at a press conference.

Duterte and nine other officials are accused of misuse of P500 million and P112.5 million in confidential funds of the OVP and DepEd, respectively, from 2022 to 2024.

Duterte concurrently served as secretary of DepEd in July 2022 until she resigned in July 2024.

It was revealed during House hearings that P125 million in confidential funds of the OVP in 2022 was spent in just 11 days.

In an interview yesterday, Remulla said he is also seeking a dialogue with the Sandiganbayan to coordinate swifter and ‘continuous’ trial of cases.

Remulla also made it clear he would not tolerate delaying tactics, particularly by those being accused of misdeeds.

He emphasized that the justice system is a dual responsibility, not just of the Office of the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice but also of courts.

Remulla also said he intends to adopt a policy on preliminary case evaluation being practiced in the DOJ to ‘weed out nuisance’ complaints. Such policy, he earlier told the Judicial and Bar Council, recognizes the preeminence of ‘reasonable certainty of conviction’ over prima facie evidence.

SALN access

The appointment of Remulla has been widely welcomed with retired Supreme Court (SC) senior associate justice Antonio Carpio urging him to take this as an opportunity to open the SALN of government officials to the public.

He, however, said private information that do not involve assets or liabilities – such as their residence, the names of their children – should be redacted.

‘The people have lost faith in all institutions of government. They have lost faith in the executive, legislative and even in the judiciary. The Office of the Ombudsman, I call it the second most powerful office of government, could turn the tide,’ Carpio said over radio dzBB.