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The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said the cause of the midnight explosion that occurred outside its main compound in Manila ahead of the State of the Nation Address (Sona) last Monday remains unknown, but assured that the premises remain secure.

The blast at the DOJ was one of two suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs) recovered near government sites hours before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth Sona.

‘What we can assure you is that the whole DOJ compound is secured and continually remains to be secured,’ Justice Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato said in a press briefing.

‘The PNP (Philippine National Police) has scoured the area and made sure that it remains safe and secure for everyone,’ he added.

The first device detonated near the DOJ entrance at 12:17 a.m. on Monday before evidence was retrieved that morning, while a second suspected IED was recovered near the Senate premises in Pasay City later that day.

On whether the two incidents were coordinated to disrupt the Sona, Dato noted that authorities have not yet established a link.

‘We will go where the investigation will lead us. Whether there is a connection or for whatever purpose the act was done-we don’t know yet,’ Dato said, stressing that the DOJ will continue its operations despite the recent incidents.

The Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) arrested two suspects for selling P6 million worth of supposedly fake gold discs to two foreign businessmen.

PNP-ACG Director Maj. Gen. Wilson Asueta said the two suspects were arrested last July 1 at a hotel in Pasay City.

He only identified the suspects by the aliases ‘Bud,’ a 52-year-old Davao City resident; and ‘Gal,’ a 56-year-old Valencia City, Bukidnon resident.

Asueta did not identify the victims, only describing them as businessmen involved in the precious metals trade.

According to the ACG chief, the victims bought an initial amount of gold discs from the suspects before placing another order.

‘The second order was not immediately completed because the victims had a large volume of gold they wanted to order,’ he said in Filipino.

‘Because they had an initial delivery, they noticed that what was delivered was fake… There was a switch, a very quick switch,’ he further detailed.

The two arrested suspects were taken into ACG custody and charged with estafa.

The National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Mimaropa (Mindoro Occidental, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) has identified the municipality of Baco as having the highest prevalence of child stunting in Oriental Mindoro, prompting the implementation of targeted and extensive nutrition intervention programs in priority communities.

Baco led the province’s top 10 towns with the highest stunting rates among children aged 0 to 59 months, with a 27.38 percent prevalence rate or 772 children categorized as stunted or severely stunted. This meant a child is too short for his or her age due to dietary factors.

The municipality of Gloria ranked second with 20.34 percent (660 children), followed by San Teodoro at 19.16 percent (283 children), Bulalacao at 18.37 percent, and Pinamalayan at 15.91 percent. The list also includes the municipalities of Bansud, Pola, Bongabong, Puerto Galera, and Victoria.

NNC officials said this data will serve as a guide for local governments and partner agencies to focus resources and programs where they are most needed.

‘The latest tally allows us to identify priority areas where interventions should be intensified,’ Nutrition Program Coordinator Ma. Eileen Bringas-Blanco said in a statement.

Bringas-Blanco emphasized that addressing stunting demands strengthened local nutrition governance and will requite nutrition services to reach the most vulnerable children and families.

‘Nutrition is a shared responsibility. Through stronger local planning, effective implementation of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs, and active community participation, we can significantly reduce stunting and improve the quality of life of Filipino children,’ she said.

Key interventions that are being scaled up include supplementary feeding, the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, more maternal nutrition services, a system for growth monitoring, micronutrient supplementation, nutrition education, food security projects, and water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives.

The NNC said that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life-from pregnancy up to age two-is the most critical window to prevent stunting, a condition linked to lifelong impacts on physical growth, learning ability, and productivity.

Baco has not yet responded to the NNC tally. INQ

An international team of scientists has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that accurately predicts cardiac index (CI), a measure of how effectively the heart pumps blood.

The team, led by Patricia Angela Abu of the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science at Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), developed the model using physiological indicators such as heart rate, stroke volume index and cardiac output. The data are collected through noninvasive sensor stickers placed on patients’ skin.

‘With a classification accuracy of 97.78%, the system demonstrates the potential for a simpler and more accessible approach to monitoring heart health,’ the ADMU Research Communications Section said.

The section said the model could offer an alternative to conventional monitoring procedures that require specialized hemodynamic analyzers, controlled clinical settings and specialized health care professionals.

Clinicians use CI ‘to evaluate heart function and guide treatment decisions,’ the section said.

Cardiovascular disease is becoming increasingly common among people ages 20 to 29, a trend the World Health Organization attributed to rising rates of metabolic conditions such as obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes among young populations worldwide.

Ischemic heart diseases were the leading cause of death in the Philippines last year, accounting for 100,958 deaths, or 19.8% of all deaths nationwide, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

RELATED STORY: PH records over 700,000 deaths in 2024; nearly half occur outside health facilities

More than 1 in 10 Filipino adults, or 13%, had elevated blood pressure, the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) found in its 2023 National Nutrition Survey.

About 27 million Filipinos are overweight or obese.

The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 4.7 million Filipino adults live with diabetes, up from 4 million in 2019. Studies have found that nearly 2.8 million more remain undiagnosed.

The ADMU Research Communications Section said advanced heart assessments that can aid early detection and treatment usually require high-tech diagnostic equipment and specialized care, which are often available only in major hospitals in large cities.

‘This makes detailed yet noninvasive heart monitoring difficult, particularly for at-risk individuals who could benefit from such evaluations,’ the section said, adding that the AI model could help overcome these barriers.

The section said the researchers use modern algorithms to analyze basic health data collected from noninvasive sensors, helping make advanced monitoring more practical and widely available even in health care settings that lack specialized equipment and expertise.

‘These findings point to a future in which advanced cardiovascular assessment is no longer confined to the walls of large hospitals and specialized clinics,’ it said. ‘They suggest that reliable cardiovascular assessment may not always require complex or resource-intensive procedures, as shown by the model’s strong performance with fewer inputs.’

The researchers published their study, ‘Robust Non-Invasive Cardiac Index Prediction via Feature Integration and Data-Augmented Neural Networks,’ in the April 2026 issue of the MDPI journal Bioengineering.

They plan to validate the approach in more diverse populations and are also exploring ways to further reduce the number of required measurements.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered the agency to strengthen its monitoring of supposed groups involved in the ‘online indoctrination’ of children to violence.

‘We in the PNP want nothing more than to ensure the safety of our children. As threats continue to evolve, we remain committed to protecting them from all forms of harm, particularly those facilitated through online platforms,’ Nartatez said in a statement on Wednesday.

‘I have instructed the Anti-Cybercrime Group to step up surveillance and intensify operations against groups behind the online indoctrination of children into extreme violence and radicalism,’ he added.

Added protection

The PNP chief’s statement came after President Marcos, in his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona), called for more protections for the youth against violence online.

This came after the fatal school shooting in Tacloban City, in which three students were killed and 20 others were injured by two minors supposedly influenced by social media and the game GoreBox.

‘We call on parents and guardians to help us in this fight by closely monitoring behavioral changes in children who may be victims of online manipulation that promotes violence,’ Nartatez stressed.

At the same time, he said authorities must implement ‘more proactive’ measures to ensure safety in the country’s schools.

‘We’re helping our officials with DepEd (Department of Education) and other training institutions. We’ve been doing that continuously,’ Nartatez added.

‘It’s just that we need to have some programs and activities that are more proactive and will properly deny the occurrence of violence and incidents in which our students are put in harm’s way,’ he said.

Social media ban defended

Nartatez, meanwhile, defended the PNP’s proposal to ban social media use for minors after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police (Aseanapol) recommended the measure to address school violence.

‘We’re not saying that’s the only solution,’ he said. ‘It’s one of the programs. It’s a holistic approach.’

The proposal to ban social media use for minors was discussed at the 44th Aseanapol conference hosted by the PNP in Pasay City last week.

According to PNP director for investigation and detective management Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay, the suggestion took inspiration from Australian legislation that banned social media for users younger than 16, which took effect last year.

Baccay explained that the conference took up the proposal upon discussing the Tacloban City school shooting.

Advocacy group Save the Children had opposed the proposal, arguing that the ban would shift the burden of online safety to children.

‘Peace and order is a joint responsibility of each and every one, not just the police. Of course, the police are there to keep everyone in order,’ Nartatez said.

That’s why we continuously engage our community stakeholders,’ he added

One person was killed, and two others were wounded after being allegedly caught in the crossfire in the clash between members of the 108th Base Command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and armed farmers in Barangay Estado, Matalam, Cotabato on Wednesday afternoon, a military official said.

The hostilities also displaced at least 100 families who have sought shelter in the village covered court and in the same facility in nearby Barangay San Roque in this city.

They were given food relief and tents for their temporary shelters.

2nd Lt. Jewel Mae Bureros, 40th Infantry Battalion Civil-Military Operation acting officer, said the encounter took place at around 1:40 pm.

She added that they are still verifying which group initiated the gunfight.

The military official said they are also investigating if the fatality and those wounded are members of the two warring groups.

Bureros said military personnel and members of the Matalam police have been deployed in the area to conduct clearing operations and ensure the safety of the community as the residents left their homes and farm animals.

This was not the first time an encounter took place in Barangay Estado. In past harvests, armed men attacked farmers and confiscated their produce, prompting them to take up arms for protection.

Authorities are eyeing land conflict as the motive of the attacks, as both the MILF members and the farmers tending the lands are claiming ownership of a parcel of land.

The Local Government Unit of Matalam has held dialogues among the warring groups, but there has been no clear resolution

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is eyeing partial operations of the Unified Grand Central Station, or Common Station, by the first quarter of 2028, its Secretary Giovanni Lopez said on Thursday.

According to Lopez, the Economy and Development Council recently approved the variation order for the project. He said that after the DOTr terminated the contract, it asked Light Rail Manila Corporation if it could continue the project through a variation order.

‘We will begin its operations, at least the partial operations, in the first quarter of 2028,’ Lopez said in Filipino in an interview with True FM.

The Common Station aims to connect the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3), MRT-7, Light Rail Transit 1, and the Metro Manila Subway Project as it straddles two major malls in Quezon City, the SM North Edsa and Trinoma.

‘What we will do is ensure that once the North Avenue and MRT-7 are functional, commuters can use the concourse and platform. We also talked to Trinoma, and they will provide an access road or access way going to MRT-3. In that way, commuters will not have to walk on the road,’ Lopez explained in Filipino.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his fifth State of the Nation Address, vowed that the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and MRT-7 will be operational by 2027. He noted that the 12 stations of the MRT-7 will begin operations next year.

Lopez said the Valenzuela-to-Malolos segment of the NSCR will open by the last quarter of 2027. However, he said they are facing right-of-way acquisition issues for the Clark segment of the project.

The NSCR is a 147-kilometer railway project that aims to connect Metro Manila to Pampanga and Laguna.

He also shared that the 12 stations of the MRT-7 are ‘87% ready’ and will be partially operational by the second quarter of next year. The 22-kilometer railway project consists of 14 stations spanning from North Avenue to San Jose del Monte station.

Actor Joross Gamboa said he has no plans to become a pastor a year after earning a degree in biblical studies.

Gamboa spoke to reporters during an endorsement event for an AI-powered energy storage brand on Wednesday, July 29, where he was asked about his plans after completing his studies in theology.

‘Nag-aral akong theology. Pero, on the side, more on, as long as you fully understand the word of God, and then you share it with gentleness and kindness,’ he said.

When asked if he eventually wants to become a pastor, Gamboa said that is not the path he sees for himself.

‘Actually, hindi. Sa ngayon lang, maraming mayroong mga church na kinukuha ko as pastor. Pero, sinasabi ko, hindi ‘yun ‘yung calling ko,’ he said.

The actor said he wants to focus on evangelizing those around him, including his family and colleagues in show business.

‘Sa akin lang is, mag-evangelize sa show biz, syempre, una ‘yung ministry ko, ‘yung family ko, and then ‘yung mga friends ko, and then, eto, sa industriya,’ he added.

Gamboa graduated from Global Life University with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies in June 2025.

Aside from his academic achievement, Gamboa is known for appearing in several box-office hits, including ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye,’ ‘Hello, Love, Again,’ ‘Rewind’ and ‘The Hows of Us.’

His string of successful films earned him the nickname ‘Box Office Lucky Charm,’ although he has previously described his involvement in those projects as a blessing in his career.

Gamboa also appeared in the romantic comedy films ‘A Very Special Love,’ ‘You Changed My Life’ and ‘It Takes a Man and a Woman,’ starring Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz.

The 41-year-old actor is set to appear next in the upcoming Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes film ‘Remember.’

Former Rep. Mike Defensor and businessman Joseph Espiritu have filed a petition for bail before the Sandiganbayan Third Division for their plunder case stemming from their campaign donation to their co-accused Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.

Defensor and Espiritu filed the bail petition on Wednesday, weeks after manifesting before the Third Division open court that they will not file such a measure.

In a five-page petition furnished to the media on Thursday, Defensor and Espiritu said they are entitled to bail on the ground that the evidence of their guilt is not strong.

‘The evidence against accused Defensor and Espiritu is not strong,’ the petition stated.

‘Accused Michael T. Defensor and Joseph V. Espiritu respectfully pray that the Honorable Court immediately admit them to bail in such amount as the Honorable court may fix and order their release upon posting of the bail,’ it added.

Plunder is a non-bailable offense and carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Under the law, bail may only be granted if the court finds that the evidence of guilt is not strong.

Defensor, Espiritu and another businessman, Aristotle Viray, donated a P75 million campaign donation to Marcoleta when the senator was still a sitting party-list lawmaker, which, according to state prosecutors, was not declared in his financial and campaign disclosures.

Defensor allegedly donated P30 million, Viray P25 million, and Espiritu P20 million for Marcoleta’s senatorial bid in the 2025 elections.

The petition said there is no strong evidence that Defensor and Espiritu’s donation is ‘by reason of Marcoleta’s office or position.’

It also said there is no strong evidence that Defensor and Espiritu ‘conspire with each other or with accused Marcoleta and/or Viray in order that accused Marcoleta may amass, accumulate, or acquire ill-gotten wealth’ worth P75 million.

After the filing of a petition, the court is expected to conduct a bail hearing.

‘There will be bail hearings for the reception of evidence,’ their lawyer Laurence Arroyo told Inquirer in a text message.

‘The burden is on the prosecution to establish that evidence of guilt is not strong.’

For his part, Marcoleta’s camp said they will file a petition for bail, but the senator still has a pending motion to quash or junk his plunder case before the court.

Associate Justice Karl Miranda, Third Division chairperson, said the court will first resolve the senator’s motion before setting the bail hearing.

The public should monitor the next Senate blue ribbon committee hearing if they want to know more about the ‘delicious’ controversy surrounding allegedly anomalous infrastructure projects in Taguig City, Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson said on Wednesday.

He made the statement on X after Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano called Lacson’s claims about the ‘ghost’ projects as ‘malicious,’ quipping that ‘malicious’ meant ‘mali’ or wrong but ‘delicious’ because it sounded good.

‘Malicious pero delicious’-bumigay na yata. Kung anu-ano na pinagsasabi, (Malicious but delicious-he’s showing his slip. He’s saying all sorts of things),’ Lacson said.

‘The public may partake of the ‘delicious’ part if they watch the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings where the details of the truth behind the [five] Taguig case studies that we submitted to the Ombudsman will be exposed,’ he added.

Turnover of evidence

On Tuesday, Lacson announced that his office had turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman all the documentary and testimonial evidence they had gathered to support cases for plunder, malversation and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against those responsible.

He revealed that his office’s investigation into infrastructure projects in Taguig City, Cayetano’s political bailiwick, uncovered irregularities, including ghost projects, double appropriations and recycled photos from previously completed contracts used to bill and collect for new ones.

Lacson’s probe was prompted by an escalating feud between him and Cayetano.

Cayetano, for his part, denied the allegations and described Lacson’s accusations as ‘general’ and ‘sweeping.’

He also said he was prepared to answer the accusations against him and that the public deserved to know the ‘whole truth’ through the proper process.

Senate blue ribbon committee chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo earlier said he was considering the resumption of hearings on alleged anomalies in flood control projects next week.

Tulfo, however, said that members of the Senate minority bloc were trying to prevent the committee from proceeding with the investigation.

When asked to name names, he replied: ‘Obvious. Who is being investigated? Who is Senator Lacson targeting?