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Vice President Sara Duterte asserted that the deaths linked to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign were driven by the country’s rampant gun violence, claiming that hiring a gunman could only cost a person P5,000 per hit.

Sara made the remarks during a rally on Wednesday, held in front of the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention center in The Hague, Netherlands.

In her speech, she argued that the deaths caused by her father’s anti-drug campaign did not amount to crimes against humanity, as it remained unclear whether all those killed were victims of the drug war, citing the prevalence of gun violence in the Philippines.

‘I have a husband. My husband has a mistress. I can hire a gunman for 5,000 pesos to kill the mistress … that is how bad gun violence in the Philippines is. And that is, again, yes, EJK (extrajudicial killing),’ said Sara.

‘So how can you say that all your listed victims, all your listed complainants are supposed victims of the drug war? … how can they say now that all the victims there are victims of the drug war? That is supposed to be a crime against humanity?’ she added.

It should be noted, however, that official government records already showed that at least 6,000 people were killed during the bloody campaign against drugs of Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

Human rights groups’ records further showed that at least 30,000 were killed, including children as young as 3 years old.

Meanwhile, Duterte, in a separate statement, said her remarks on gun violence-which she used primarily to explain the deaths during her father’s bloody campaign against drugs in the interview-should not be ‘reduced to a passing remark.’

‘This is not merely a ‘Duterte and k*ll, k*ll, k*ll’ it reflects the daily reality faced by Filipinos on the streets wondering whether they can go home safely,’ she said.

According to Duterte, Filipinos have grown too accustomed to reports of shootings, killings and other violent crimes, with ‘too many’ having been victims of shootings, stabbings, kidnappings, sexual violence, and other crimes.

‘The reality is – Filipinos do not feel safe!’ said Duterte.

‘ICC controlled by Marcos, Trillanes’

Meanwhile, in the same speech, Sara also accused the ICC of being President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV’s ‘tuta’ or puppy.

Her source? The 18 alleged Marines, known as ‘maleta boys,’ who accused Trillanes of receiving two million dollars from resigned Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co to facilitate the entry into the country of ICC investigators and allegedly to bribe the international tribunal.

‘And so, how do we characterize Trillanes and Marcos in relation to ICC? Yes, they are traitors to the Filipino and to the country. But more than that, ang ICC, ay tuta ni Trillanes at ni Marcos,’ said Sara.

‘Because the ICC has no other case except for the case of [former] President Rodrigo Duterte. And they found what? And they found Marcos, Trillanes, and money in the Philippine case. We’re talking about suitcases here,’ she added.

Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing three counts of crimes against humanity, is set to face trial before the ICC on Nov. 30.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Thursday that it started deliberations of all pending fare hike petitions of several transport groups.

According to LTFRB Chairperson Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, the agency is already reviewing the appropriate fare adjustments for jeepneys, passenger buses, utility van express, taxis, and motorcycle taxis.

‘We are already reviewing and discussing all the pending petitions for fare hike and as per instruction by Secretary Banoy, we have to come up with the recommendation in the soonest possible time,’ Mendoza said in a statement, referring to acting Transport Secretary Giovanni Lopez.

Earlier, the LTFRB was tasked to recompute the appropriate adjustments based on the petition of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide to increase the minimum fare by P10.

The agency said it is also reviewing petitions filed by the other four groups, such as the Metro Comet Transport Service Cooperative, UV Express National Alliance of the Philippines, United Transportation Coalition of the Philippines, and Manibela.

All five of the transport groups raised concerns on the spike of their operational costs after a series of oil price increases brought by the renewed tensions in the Middle East, according to the LTFRB.

Last Tuesday, July 28, oil companies implemented an increase in petroleum product prices by as much as P7.30 per liter, driving prices of regular diesel to P93.60 per liter in Metro Manila.

Mendoza said that various factors are still being considered, such as the potential impact of the fare hike on the prices of basic goods, as well as the commuters’ capacity to adapt to the fare adjustments. He ensured that other stakeholders and government agencies are consulted during the deliberations.

‘We assure everybody that the LTFRB will always take the path of measures that recognizes the interest of the [public utility vehicle] sector but ensuring that the welfare of commuters and the general public are protected,’ Mendoza added.

Members of the transport groups held a two-day protest at the Petron station along Quezon City last July 22, calling out the Department of Energy’s failure to ‘protect the public interest and failure to implement fare increase.’

Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos on Thursday assured city and municipal officials that Malacañang is always open to everyone, regardless of their political affiliation.

Abalos said the Marcos administration is committed to working closely with local leaders, especially councilors of local government units across the country, in addressing the needs of their communities.

‘Malacañang is always open to everyone. My office is always open to everyone,’ Abalos told members of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) during their second quarterly Continuing Local Legislative Education Program (CLLEP) in Iloilo City on Wednesday.

‘We still have a lot of work to do. We will listen to you. And most importantly, we will deliver on our commitments; we will take action,’ he added.

According to Abalos, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. entrusted him with the responsibility of serving as cabinet secretary to ensure that the concerns of local governments, the private sector, and the Filipino people are heard, coordinated across agencies, and translated into concrete government action.

In his speech, Abalos acknowledged the indispensable role of city and municipal councilors in shaping development at the grassroots level.

‘All worthwhile projects begin with an ordinance,’ Abalos said.

He noted that effective local legislation lays the foundation for meaningful and lasting progress.

He urged local legislators to emulate successful initiatives implemented by other LGUs, such as Iloilo City’s rehabilitation of the Iloilo River into one of the country’s cleanest waterways. He cited it as an example of how sound policies and sustained leadership can transform communities.

Abalos also pointed to the Bataan provincial government’s solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations installed in gymnasiums as an innovative best practice that supports motorists while advancing renewable energy and sustainability.

He also encouraged local officials to maximize the use of the eGov PH app to make government services faster, more efficient, and more accessible to every Filipino.

Two individuals were arrested and P510 million worth of suspected shabu (crystal meth) was confiscated during an interdiction operation at the Batangas Port on Thursday morning, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

In a statement, PDEA identified the arrested individuals by the aliases ‘Hasad,’ a 22-year-old male student, and ‘Judelyn,’ a 27-year-old woman.

The agency noted that the two suspects were accompanied by a 17-year-old boy.

Seventy-five foil packs containing 75,000 grams of suspected shabu were recovered during the interdiction operation and will be turned over to the PDEA’s Laboratory Service for forensic examination, according to the agency.

‘The arrested suspects will face charges for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,’ PDEA explained.

‘The minor will be properly turned over to local social welfare services to [undergo] appropriate interventions,’ it added.

Yuchengco-led Maibarara Geothermal Inc. (MGI) is slated to accelerate its exploration activities for potential geothermal resources across the provinces of Batangas and Laguna, as it tapped Lopez group’s ThermaPrime Drilling Corp. (TDC).

The contract with TDC covers its 2026 to 2027 exploratory drilling campaign, with MGI hoping this could pave the way for a new geothermal generation facility.

MGI is a joint venture between Yuchengco-led PetroGreen Energy Corp., ACEN Corp.,and PNOC Renewables Corp.

PetroGreen Energy holds the largest share at 65 percent.

‘The country needs more geothermal power for its baseload generation, weather-indifferent availability, and its clean and renewable nature. But building new geothermal plants requires large upfront costs, long lead times, and various technical risks,’ said Maria Victoria Olivar, executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) of MGI.

‘We are, thus, pleased to tap ThermaPrime with its highly-skilled and experienced workforce and well-maintained rig and equipment in our drilling campaign where some of the initial and most complicated risks in geothermal energy development are often encountered,’ she said in a statement.

TDC will drill wells at planned depths of 2,100 to 3,000 meters in accordance with international safety and operational standards.

The rig operator is eyeing to begin in September. It seeks to complete the project by May 2027.

‘We are delighted to be part of this important project not only because it is crucial to MGI’s expansion goals but our collaborative efforts are consistent with our own Group’s core purpose, that is-forging collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future,’ TDC president and COO said Antonio Mabasa, president and COO of TDC.

Active since 2010, TDC has been engaged in geothermal well drilling services. The firm has drilled as deep as 3,600 meters for geothermal energy. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Balfour Inc., a member of the Lopez Group of Companies

Some 100 families in Barangay Labangal here, who are still reeling from the powerful June 8 earthquake, are now facing another hardship after flooding damaged their homes anew.

This has prompted the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fast-track plans for long-term flood-control measures in the area.

Mindanao quake altered rivers, ruined P2.3-B infraMany of the 92 families or 414 individuals displaced by the July 24 flooding were among the households whose homes were damaged by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck General Santos City and nearby areas in June, according to barangay officials.For many residents, the flooding came before they had fully recovered from the earthquake, forcing them to evacuate once again after floodwaters inundated low-lying communities in Purok Balunto and nearby areas.On Wednesday, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon inspected the flood-hit Makar Bridge and a nearby damaged dike in Purok Balunto, accompanied by city and barangay officials.Dizon ordered DPWH engineers to immediately evaluate long-term solutions to reduce flooding in the area, including improving drainage systems, strengthening flood-control structures, and protecting critical transport infrastructure.

GenSan imposes forced evacuation due to flash floodsHe also directed engineers to study dredging the river channel toward the sea to improve water flow during heavy rains and prevent floodwaters from spilling into nearby communities.During the inspection, Dizon noted that the bridge had slightly sunk following the recent disasters, making it vulnerable during future floods if permanent interventions are not carried out.

He also checked the emergency sandbagging works by DPWH and other volunteers after portions of the dike were damaged.The Makar Bridge and adjoining dike were among the infrastructure affected by the June 8 earthquake. Heavy rains brought by a tropical depression last week sent a surge of water from the uplands, worsening the damage and causing floodwaters to overflow into nearby neighborhoods.Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao said the city government is preparing a temporary shelter site for residents living near the damaged dike, particularly those whose homes remain at risk from future flooding.The DPWH inspection came as the national government stepped up efforts to strengthen disaster-resilient infrastructure in vulnerable communities under the administration’s flood-control program.

Building a successful business takes more than one good idea. As industries evolve, customer needs become more diverse, and unexpected challenges arise, business owners are often pushed to rethink how they grow.

For Christopher Bautista of Tech Smart Philippines and Jennalyn Indigado of Samara Baby and Kids, growing an MSME on Shopee has been a continuous process of learning, adapting, and responding to customers’ changing needs.

Their stories show how Shopee supports MSMEs beyond providing a place to sell. Through seller education, platform tools, campaign opportunities, and account management support, the platform helps entrepreneurs keep learning as their businesses grow.

Reinventing after uncertainty

For Jennalyn Indigado, that journey began with learning an entirely new industry.

Before founding Samara Baby and Kids, her family ran a hog-raising business for five decades as their primary source of income. When African Swine Fever (ASF) disrupted the industry in 2019, they were forced to start over.

Looking for a new source of income, Jennalyn turned to Shopee. Initially, she just wanted to find tie-sides for her baby daughter, Samara, the namesake of the brand. She soon realized she could provide these products to moms like herself.

Jennalyn knew that e-commerce was vastly different from agriculture.

‘Coming from agriculture, we had very little knowledge about garments, e-commerce, or digital marketing. That was all new to us,’ she said.

What helped her business grow was embracing the learning opportunities available through Shopee’s seller programs. Beyond helping her sell online, the platform introduced her to the fundamentals of running an e-commerce business, from sales and marketing to inventory management, customer insights and even financial management. These equipped her with the skills to confidently grow the business.

‘Kinaya namin ‘yung journey kasi Shopee made it possible,’ Jennalyn said. ‘Para siyang nag-create ng blueprint na susundan ko na lang siya step-by-step.’

With Shopee’s support, what began as an alternative source of income grew into a business with 700 products, 1.7 million followers, and around 400 employees.

Jennalyn also credited Shopee’s account managers for guiding Samara Baby and Kids as it scaled, from encouraging participation in campaigns and new opportunities to conducting regular business reviews that looked at shop performance and day-to-day operations.

‘Nakikita namin na naaalagaan kami ng platform,’ she added. ‘You will never feel alone.’

Seven years into Shopee, what started as a small selection of baby clothes and newborn essentials has grown into one of Shopee’s established children’s brands. Samara Baby and Kids expanded from a handful of listings to hundreds of products while steadily building a loyal customer base driven by its mission: to create jobs and provide quality, affordable products for Filipino families, especially moms.

Jennalyn’s experience shows that growing an MSME sometimes begins with learning an entirely new way of doing business – and continuing to build on that knowledge over time.

Building around a problem worth solving

Christopher Bautista’s journey highlights another side of long-term business growth: continuously understanding what customers need.

When Christopher listed his very first product, a power bank on an online marketplace, he wasn’t following a detailed business plan.

‘I started kung ano talaga ‘yung gusto ko personally, technology, gaming, and electronics,’ he shared.

What began as a personal interest soon became a business opportunity. As a gadget enthusiast, Christopher often searched for electronic accessories that were difficult to find in the Philippines. Recognizing that many consumers faced the same challenge, he built Tech Smart Philippines around making these products more accessible.

Over the past eight years on Shopee, Tech Smart Philippines has grown by continuously listening to customers and adapting as e-commerce evolved.

As the business expanded, Christopher relied on Shopee’s learning resources and seller tools to support its growth. Shopee University helped him better understand pricing and new platform features, while initiatives such as Free Shipping, Mega Vouchers, and Shopee Ads helped the business reach more customers. Christopher said Shopee University was useful because the resources were easy to understand and practical for everyday business decisions, including pricing.

‘It is one of the good resources they offer,’ he said. ‘Good ito na (seller education) hub kasi kapag binabasa ko siya, even without (proper) training, naiintindihan ko agad. For example, they provide computation for pricing, that’s what I refer to in terms of aligning our products to be fair with our customers.’

For him, earning customer trust is a value every aspiring MSME should prioritize from the start. Trusted businesses are more likely to build loyal customers who keep coming back and recommend them to others.

‘Focus on building your brand while delivering excellent customer service,’ he added. ‘Because when you have a good reputation, customers will come back to you even if you’re priced slightly higher than others.’

Today, Tech Smart maintains a 4.9 customer rating and a 100% chat response rate on Shopee, reflecting its focus on building customer trust over time.

Different businesses, shared mindset

While Christopher serves technology enthusiasts and Jennalyn supports parents and young families, their journeys point to the same lesson: growing an MSME in e-commerce is rarely the result of one successful product or one good business idea.

Long-term growth comes from continuous learning, responding to customers, and adapting as markets evolve. For aspiring MSMEs, both founders encourage starting with a genuine understanding of the problem they want to solve while remaining open to learning along the way.

Their journeys show that lasting growth in e-commerce is built not only by selling more but also by continuously learning, listening to customers, and improving how the business is run.

A fuel truck driver was arrested after he allegedly admitted to stealing diesel fuel from a construction company’s delivery truck, police said.The suspect was apprehended at around 11:20 p.m. last Monday, July 27, after a company executive sought police assistance following the driver’s alleged confession.The complainant, an executive of a construction firm based here, told police that the company discovered a shortage after unloading fuel from a tanker truck at its field office in Magpet, Cotabato.

13 arrested in Lucena City for alleged fuel, LPG theftBased on delivery records, the truck had carried 3,880 liters of diesel. After delivering 2,005 liters, 1,875 liters were expected to remain. However, only 1,490 liters were measured, leaving an unexplained shortage of 385 liters.The company executive then confronted the 29-year-old driver, a resident of Koronadal City, in the presence of a company security guard.According to the police report, the driver admitted taking 163 liters of diesel fuel and selling it to a customer at a vulcanizing shop in Makilala town for P8,750, or P1,750.00 per 30-liter container.Following the alleged admission, the company executive and the security guard restrained the driver and called the Koronadal City Police Station for assistance.Responding officers arrested the suspect after informing him of the reason for his arrest and reading him his constitutional rights in a language he understood.The suspect was taken to the city police station for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges.Police are continuing their investigation to determine the cause of the remaining discrepancy between the reported 385-liter fuel shortage and the driver’s alleged admission that he stole only 163 liters of diesel

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested seven individuals who allegedly posed as property owners and lawyers to swindle victims out of millions of pesos, leading to the dismantling of a ‘sangla-kolekta’ (pawn-and-collect) syndicate in Taguig City.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, NBI spokesperson lawyer Palmer Mallari said NBI agents nabbed the suspects in an entrapment operation inside a bogus law office in Barangay West Rembo.

Mallari said four of the suspects pretended to be property owners and agents, while three acted as lawyers who signed mortgage documents to scam victims.

‘When you believe the [scammers], they will mortgage the property to you, and you will start to expect profit. But only for you to discover that the ones who actually transacted with you are not really the owners or not really agents, but only assumed the names,’ he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The suspects are facing criminal charges of estafa, concealing true identities, falsification of public documents, and possession of instruments used in committing falsification, he said.

According to Mallari, the suspects allegedly preyed on individuals looking for passive income through a pawn-and-collect scheme promoted on social media.

Under this setup, victims are offered the mortgage of a residential property. In exchange for their cash investment, they are promised monthly rental income collected from the property’s supposed tenants.

The suspects would show victims the first two pages of a Transfer Certificate of Title to claim ownership, omitting the page showing that the property is already encumbered or mortgaged to someone else. They would also forge the same documents, Mallari said.

The spokesperson added that the alleged scammers went to extreme lengths to legitimize the scheme, even hiring actors to pose as tenants inside the properties being canvassed by victims.

‘The fake tenants will tell the victim, ‘Since the property is mortgaged to you, we will direct our next rental payments to you,” Mallari said.

He warned that individuals most prone to the scam are those who cannot afford to buy an entire property but are willing to accept a mortgage at a lower price.

He also noted that this modus is an ‘evolution’ of an older scam in which syndicates would use forged duplicate titles to outright sell properties they do not own.

‘This type of modus operandi evolved because scammers saw that not every potential victim is willing to buy. Some are just willing to accept mortgages,’ Mallari said.

Inheritance lost

For a 48-year-old victim, the suspects’ ruse cost him money intended for his four children’s education.

The complainant, who requested anonymity for his protection, told reporters he sold a parcel of inherited land in Bulacan to invest in the scheme in 2024.

He claimed he was promised a P45,000 monthly return on his P500,000 investment in a supposed residential property in Barangay West Rembo, but the alleged scammers only paid him rental income for the first two months before cutting off contact.

He said the suspects, whom he met on Facebook, toured him around the property to convince him.

‘During my first visit, there were tenants. They were oriented. They were actors. They were all accomplices, even the ones notarizing,’ he said in Filipino.

He later discovered that the documents shown to him were falsified.

‘I treated that money as an investment for my kids’ education because I thought there would be profit in the long run,’ he said. ‘It’s hard because we were all looking forward to that.’

He soon joined a group of 34 other victims-some of whom he said lost up to P4 million in the same scheme-to seek justice against the suspects.

A ‘big scam’

Mallari said the NBI is scouring its database for similar complaints over the past three years to establish possible links to the arrested suspects.

‘We are actually conducting a continuing investigation because we suspect that, potentially, other suspects are actually involved in this big scam,’ he said.

The suspects may face additional charges if evidence shows they are linked to similar cases, the spokesperson added.

The complainant urged his fellow victims to come forward at the NBI headquarters in Pasay City to help pin down the suspects.

‘I went here to let [the NBI] know more of us were scammed. More will come here to implicate [the suspects] so they cannot post bail,’ he said.

Because what usually happens is they get jailed, post bail, and repeat their crimes. I feel sorry for the people they scam,’ he added

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a talent manager for alleged human trafficking involving female talents and politician clients.

According to the NBI, the talent manager offers the ‘artists’ to various customers, including politicians for around P100,000 in exchange for sexual services.

Customers could also allegedly choose to only date an artist, without sex, for P25,000 per hour.

The NBI’s National Capital Region agents conducted a surveillance operation last Monday and an entrapment operation on Tuesday after receiving intelligence information about the suspect’s activities.

During the operation, an agent posed as a customer and negotiated with the talent manager.

They then agreed to meet on Tuesday at a five-star hotel in Malate, Manila, after booking five female artists for P110,000 each.

After the talent manager received the marked money, NBI agents arrested him and rescued the five women.

A qualified human trafficking case has already been filed against the talent manager, who is now under the custody of the NBI.

The investigation into the human trafficking case is ongoing, tracking the extension of the supposed modus operandi..