Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan will remain as Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s co-accused in a graft case linked to the flood control controversy.

The Sandiganbayan Second Division has affirmed its ruling denying prosecutors’ bid to drop Bonoan as a defendant.

Bonoan is accused of conspiring with Estrada to ensure that flood control projects in Bulacan were included in the 2025 national budget.

Estrada allegedly received P213.7 million in kickbacks.

In a separate plunder case involving Estrada, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division had dropped Bonoan as co-accused and released him from detention.

Bonoan is out on bail.

The ombudsman earlier asked the courts to drop the charges against Bonoan so he could be considered a state witness.

During pre-trial, Estrada’s lawyers said they will mark as evidence former Bulacan district engineer Brice Hernandez’s affidavit, which stated that Estrada lacked participation in the alleged kickback scheme.

Brice pleads not guilty

Hernandez and six others have pleaded not guilty to graft charges involving an alleged P77-million ghost flood control project in Balagtas, Bulacan.

Before the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, Hernandez and former public works officials Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domaig, Niño Morales, Juanito Mendoza, Floralyn Simbulan and Christina Pineda entered their not-guilty pleas.

Three others were not arraigned since they are still at large, namely former lawmaker and fugitive Zaldy Co and his staff members John Paul Estrada and Mark Tecsay.

The P77-million flood control project was declared 100 percent complete by May 2025 even though it only started in February 2025.

The structure did not exist, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Rep. Rivera suspended

Tarlac Rep. Noel Rivera has been suspended for 90 days over alleged conflict of interest in government infrastructure projects.

Facing two graft cases, Rivera is accused of maintaining financial interests in nine infrastructure projects awarded to Tarlac 3-G Construction and Development Corp. during his term as lawmaker from 2022 to 2025.

Rivera is one of the alleged ‘cong-tractors’ involved in the flood control scam.

Rivera allegedly owned a controlling stake in the firm, which won a P94.86-million contract in 2023 for a road project in San Narcisco, Zambales.

Sean Ramos mounted a late charge with two clutch birdies to salvage a three-under 67 on Wednesday (Manila time), keeping himself within striking distance despite falling five shots off the pace heading into the final round of the Asian Development Tour’s Egypt Golf Series 14.

Ramos recovered from an early setback on No. 2 by making three birdies over the next eight holes, then answered another miscue on the 11th with timely birdies on the par-5 13th and 17th.

The 22-year-old Filipino finished with a 35-32 card for a three-day total of nine-under 201 at the par-70 Madinaty Golf Club, leaving him five shots behind joint leaders Minhyeok Yang of Korea and India’s Pukhraj Singh Gill.

Yang and Gill both fired 65s to reach 14-under 196 and set up a final-round shootout for the title.

But Ramos remained firmly in the mix in what promises to be a wide-open finish.

American Henry Chung vaulted into solo third with a blistering 63 for 13-under 197, just one stroke behind the co-leaders, while England’s Ben Jones carded a 65 to move to 198.

The final round thus sets up a tense four-man chase at the top, with Ramos lurking five shots back and needing another inspired finish to mount a successful title defense of sorts.

Ramos is seeking to sweep the two-event Egypt series after breaking through for his first ADT victory last week at the same course. He closed with a sizzling 65 to edge Denmark’s August Høst by one stroke and claim his maiden title on the Asian Tour’s developmental circuit.

That victory placed Ramos alongside a growing list of Filipinos making their mark on the ADT.

Last year, cousins Aidric Chan and Carl Corpus swept the two ADT events in Morocco for their respective maiden victories on the circuit, further highlighting the Philippines’ rising presence on the developmental tour.

Ramos will now need another big finish to repeat that feat in Egypt.

Five shots off the lead, he will have to summon the form and fighting spirit that carried him to last week’s breakthrough victory – and hope the leaders give him an opening – to keep alive his bid for a second consecutive ADT title.

The Philippines’ Kinampay ube is on the rise as Japan’s next favorite, the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo said.

The embassy highlighted the growing potential of Kinampay ube during the Philippine-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA) 20th anniversary reception recently held at the Philippine ambassador’s official residence in Tokyo.

‘Following the success of Philippine bananas, pineapples, mangoes and avocados, the Philippines is introducing Kinampay ube, with its distinctive flavor and vibrant purple hue, as another agricultural product with strong potential to appeal to Japanese consumers,’ the embassy said.

Kinampay ube is a premium, highly prized variety of purple yam (Dioscorea alata) from Bohol, widely regarded as the ‘Queen of Philippine Yams’ for its rich fragrance, sticky texture and deep natural purple color.

The embassy’s Agriculture Attaché Maria Alilia Maghirang presented the Philippine government’s efforts to expand ube production and develop the industry.

She also highlighted ube’s nutritional qualities and creative applications.

Ube is a source of dietary fiber, potassium and other nutrients, while its naturally occurring anthocyanins give it its characteristic deep violet color and have antioxidant properties. Its fiber and resistant starch content further add to its nutritional value.

Guests at the PJEPA anniversary reception experienced Kinampay ube in a special ube-flavored gelato, created through a collaboration between UBE. JP and renowned Roman gelateria Giolitti and prepared by chef Francesco Taglialatela.

The gelato offers an innovative take on Kinampay ube, pairing a distinctly Filipino ingredient with the world-renowned Italian gelato-making tradition.

JP Mercado, founder of UBE.JP, a Japan-based initiative that brings premium Philippine Kinampay ube to the Japanese market, shared with guests the distinctive characteristics of Kinampay ube, emphasizing that its flavor is unique from Japanese purple sweet potato.

Its naturally rich aroma and delicate, nuanced taste give Kinampay a distinctive culinary identity and make it suitable for a wide range of food applications, particularly in desserts and confectionery.

Mercado expressed confidence that Kinampay ube has significant potential to become another Philippine agricultural product embraced by the Japanese market, like Philippine bananas and pineapples, which have become familiar staples in Japanese households.

The embassy said the growing interest in ube among Japanese consumers is already opening opportunities for Philippine producers and food businesses.

Ube is becoming more visible on menus of specialty cafés in Tokyo and Hiroshima, where its distinctive color and flavor are being incorporated into desserts and beverages. These emerging applications provide pathways for ube to move beyond niche markets and reach a broader Japanese consumer base.

The embassy’s presentation of Kinampay ube forms part of its continuing efforts to promote Philippine agricultural products and support Filipino producers and exporters in seeking opportunities in the discerning Japanese market.

As the Philippines and Japan celebrate 20 years of PJEPA, the embassy continues to support partnerships that can bring more Philippine products to Japanese consumers and create new avenues for agricultural trade and business cooperation.

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake jolted Occidental Mindoro yesterday morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said the quake occurred at 9:34 a.m., with the epicenter located 23 kilometers southwest of Mamburao.

The temblor was tectonic in origin and was felt at Intensity 3 in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro and Lipa, Batangas.

Instrumental Intensity 4 was recorded in Mamburao and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro.

The quake was not expected to generate aftershocks or cause damage to property.

Meanwhile, a magnitude 4.7 quake struck Isabela, with its epicenter located about 39 kilometers north-northeast of Maconacon town.

Phivolcs said the quake occurred at 4:45 a.m. and was felt in some parts of northern Luzon.

Host-comedian Vhong Navarro will “continue putting his faith in the justice system” following news that model Deniece Cornejo and businessman Cedric Lee have been ordered released from detainment by the Court of Appeals (CA).

Lee and Cornejo were originally sentenced by Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 153 to reclusion perpetua, or up to 40 years in prison, after being convicted of serious illegal detention for ransom of the “It’s Showtime” host.

The CA Special Seventeenth Division later downgraded the offense to grave coercion and reduced the penalty to a minimum of six months to a maximum of three years, six months and 21 days.

The Bureau of Corrections, however, said it is still waiting for key court documents and must complete a final records check to formally proceed with any release.

Navarro’s lawyer, Alma Mallonga, issued a statement on behalf of her client to “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” following the circulation of the CA’s release order. They noted that Navarro has always chosen to keep faith in the Philippine justice system. “Naniwala siya, noon tulad ngayon, na sa kabila ng mga malinaw na pagkukulang at kahinaan nito, mananaig ang katotohanan at ang kanyang mahaba at mahirap na pakikibaka upang itama ang kriminal na pagkakamali na ginawa sa kanya ay hahantong sa isang makatarungang konklusyon,” she said.

The counsel said that they will continue to pursue all available legal remedies and are prepared to fully accept the result of these processes.

Mallonga acknowledged that whether the period either accused have spent in prison “is sufficient… is a matter of law which everyone is bound to respect.”

The statement ended with Mallonga reiterating that Navarro will continuing to “trust in the process and abide by whatever that requires.”

Across the country, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are showcasing the excellence and ingenuity of 100% Filipino-grown and handcrafted products, whether in food, fashion or retail.

Yet a strong product and meaningful local ties may face barriers to participating in the digital economy. Moving online can involve learning how to manage an online storefront, finding reliable logistics and securing the time or capital needed to sustain growth.

Take, for example, the experiences of three Iloilo City-based entrepreneurs Paul Kaldi Coffee founder Paul Dayanan, Modern Ilongga founder Maggerose Carado and Iloilo Capiz Shell Flowers and Antiques owner Janice Saladan.

Established in 2021 by Paul Dayanan to help coffee farmers recover from the pandemic, Paul Kaldi Coffee today supplies 15 independent cafes and several well-known brands across Iloilo.

‘All our beans are locally sourced in the Philippines,’ Dayanan shared. ‘The company sources not just from farms in Iloilo and as far as Batangas, Davao del Sur and Sultan Kudarat. As a graduate of BS Applied Mathematics at West Visayas State University, Dayanan embraces digital tools to improve his business, utilizing a digital point-of-sale (POS) system to track Paul Kaldi’s cash flow, transactions and inventory.

‘Digitalization is very important when it comes to growth for startups like us,’ he notes.

But digital tools do not address every challenge that comes with growth. One of Dayanan’s concerns is finding a reliable partner that can ship Paul Kaldi coffee beans nationwide at rates that work for a growing business.

Modern Ilongga, meanwhile, is a social enterprise that transforms traditional hablon textiles into contemporary wear.

Carado explained that, with access to more capital, she could hire dedicated staff to manage an online shop. At present, she handles most of Modern Ilongga’s operations, from creative direction to supply chain, while continuing to rely mainly on social media for sales and transactions.

Businesses like Carado’s Modern Ilongga have also been a lifeline for many rural weavers, helping sustain the livelihoods of seven weaving communities in the towns of Oton and Miagao in Iloilo province, as well as in neighboring Antique. Depending on order volume, one weaver can earn between P2,000 to P4,000 a week.

At Iloilo Capiz Shell Flowers and Antiques, owner Saladan illustrates what wider digital reach can make possible.

Saladan began selling wearable accessories made from capiz shell flowers on Shopee about two years ago. Around 70% of the business’s sales now come from these accessories, which are sold through Shopee and at trade fairs.

‘Malaking tulong po talaga ang Shopee kasi ang dami-daming umu-order kahit saang part ng Philippines. Talagang passive income po ang Shopee (shop) namin (Shopee has really been a big help because there are so many orders coming in from all over the Philippines. Our Shopee shop has become an additional source of income),’ she explained.

The wider reach has allowed Saladan to continue working with local communities, including fishermen, single mothers, senior citizens and persons deprived of liberty, who help source materials and create her products.

Taken together, the three different businesses reflect different ways MSMEs can approach digitalization.

The three stories point to a wider question facing regional MSMEs: how can an online channel complement a business’s existing operations and sales channels?

Some MSMEs may have built their businesses through physical stores, trade fairs, or social media, while still exploring how e-commerce can help them reach customers beyond their immediate communities. For these entrepreneurs, the question is not only how to get online, but how an online channel fits into their existing operations and growth plans.

‘Technology can be transformative when it brings opportunities within reach of more businesses. At Shopee, we see e-commerce as a way to connect Filipino entrepreneurs with a wider community of buyers and sellers,’ Jack Ng, head of Commercial at Shopee Philippines, said.

‘Through Tatak Pinoy, we want to bring that opportunity closer to regional MSMEs, particularly in areas where access to digital training may be more limited, and create a space for them to learn more about how online selling works,’ Ng continued.

Shopee Philippines saw these differences in readiness firsthand through the Shopee Tatak Pinoy MSME Roadshow, organized with local governments across the country. After engaging more than 1,200 entrepreneurs across 20 cities and municipalities, Shopee found that simply onboarding businesses onto a digital marketplace was not enough.

Some entrepreneurs still needed help opening and managing an online store, while others needed support in logistics, financing and sustaining growth after onboarding.

These insights shaped the direction of Shopee’s Tatak Pinoy program as it entered its second year. Building on practical seller education offered during the Roadshow’s first year, Shopee is continuing its grassroots approach with more targeted learning support and stronger follow-up for MSMEs at different stages of digital readiness.

The next phase was launched in Iloilo City last July, when the Roadshow was held alongside the first-ever Iloilo City MSME Summit. The event marked the culmination of the Roadshow’s first year, welcomed nearly 200 Ilonggo MSMEs, and began a sustained partnership between Shopee and the city.

Dayanan, Carado and Saladan were among the entrepreneurs who took part.

“Iloilo City itself has a strong foundation for helping small businesses. We are happy to partner with the LGU and Mayor Raisa Treñas, and to continue the conversation beyond the Roadshow as local MSMEs consider how digital tools may fit into their businesses,” Ng said.

Under the partnership, MSMEs will receive quarterly coaching integrated into the Iloilo City government’s SIGE Asenso Program. Eligible graduates who begin selling on Shopee will also receive six months of onboarding support.

Through the training, MSMEs learn about tools and services available on Shopee and within its broader ecosystem. It also covers some of the practical considerations involved in running and growing an online business, including storefront management, fulfillment and logistics and access to financing options.

How scaling can help sustain communities For these entrepreneurs, their plans for growth extend beyond their own sales.

Dayanan dreams of opening a flagship café that will house the company’s beans, roastery, merchandise and more.

Carado, meanwhile, is developing a textile recovery project that would collect discarded fabrics from the city’s flour mills, which would be shreded and spun into new threads. Weavers could use the repurposed thread to make new textiles or pieces of clothing, creating a more circular business model.

Saladan’s wider customer base allows her to continue working with local communities to source materials and create her products.

The ambitions of these entrepreneurs are different, but they share a common thread: digital tools and access to wider markets can be useful when they fit the realities of a business and the community it supports. And the possibilities extend beyond the storefront to the businesses and communities built around Filipino-made products. – WITH REPORTS FROM EUDEN VALDEZ

A 69-year-old American has been arrested in Pampanga for allegedly showing racist behavior against Filipinos, according to the Bureau of Immigration.

BI intelligence division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said Ndukwuegbulam Obison harassed and called a Filipina ‘animal’ in a mall.

Obison is facing deportation for being an undesirable alien as well as charges for causing disturbance, disrupting public peace and harassing local citizens.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the suspect was found to have violated the Alien Registration Act of 1950, which requires foreign nationals living in the country to register and submit their personal details to the government.

Obison will remain at the BI Warden’s Facility in Bicutan, Taguig while waiting for his deportation.

Viado reminded foreign nationals to respect Filipinos, maintain peaceful relations with local communities and keep their registration records accurate and updated including reporting change of residence.

Local leaders have urged two rival factions in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur to leave the municipality after exchanging shots on Wednesday, September 30, that left a Grade 5 pupil dead and caused the displacement of hundreds of poor families.

Officials of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region confirmed on Thursday that the hostilities involved two groups, from the MILF’s self-styled 105th and 118th Base Commands, both armed with combat rifles, grenade and anti-tank rocket launchers, squabbling for control of strategic patches of land in Shariff Aguak’s adjoining Barangays Lapok, Bialong and Malingao.

Shariff Aguak Vice Mayor Datu Oping Ampatuan and his constituent community leaders separately urged on Thursday the leaders of the two large MILF blocs to settle amicably the deadly conflict between the two groups from both sides, now locked in A standoff in Barangays Lapok, Bialong and Malingao after Wednesday’s firefights in the three barangays.

Officials of the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and members of the multi-sector Shariff Aguak Municipal Peace and Order Council had separately told reporters that an 11-year-old boy was killed and a 23-year-old Moro farmer was wounded as the two feudal MILF groups traded shots that caused panic among villagers.

‘The death of that boy who has nothing to do with that conflict broke out hearts,’ lamented Ampatuan, who, as vice mayor, is also presiding officer of Shariff Aguak’s Sangguniang Bayan, whose members had also appealed to MILF leaders in the province to resolve the conflict.

Senior officials of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office had told reporters that they want the animosity between the two MILF groups settled immediately via measures set by the front and the government based on the modalities of the final peace compact that negotiators of both sides had crafted in 2019.

Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, acting commander of 6th ID, said their units in Shariff Aguak and nearby towns are on alert, ready for deployment as peacekeepers in the conflict-stricken Barangays Lapok, Bialong and Malingao if the enemy MILF forces return and clash again.

Tension in the three areas has waned but displaced villagers now in evacuation sites near the town center of Shariff Aguak are reluctant to return, worried of a repeat of Wednesday’s gunfights that forced them to evacuate to neutral grounds.

Bunayog said officials of their units in Shariff Aguak, personnel of the municipal government and civilian emergency responders from the Maguindanao del Sur governor’s office are together attending to the needs of the evacuees.

Zobel-led ACEN Corp. is partnering with Netherlands-based Diamond India Renewables One B.V. (DIRO) for yet another solar power project in India.

The listed energy platform of the Ayala Group disclosed plans to sell up to a 49-percent stake in Ijya Five Renewables Pte. Ltd. to DIRO, marking the fourth announced partnership between the two companies.

ACEN unit Unlimited Renewables Holdings B.V. and DIRO executed a securities subscription and purchase agreement and a shareholders’ agreement on Sept. 29, a stock exchange filing showed yesterday.

The deal is expected to close in stages, with DIRO acquiring an initial 10-percent voting interest in Ijya Five. Financial details were not disclosed.

The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of agreed contractual and customary conditions precedent.

Ijya Five is currently developing a 50-megawatt-alternating current (MWac) solar farm in Rajasthan, India.

Just last week, DIRO sealed its entry into ACEN’s Tejorupa Renewables India Project Pte. Ltd., the developer of a 250-MWac solar project in Rajasthan.

ACEN had previously disclosed plans to divest up to a 49-percent stake in Tejorupa.

The energy firm is also working on the divestment of up to 49-percent interests in two wind projects totaling 120 MW in Karnataka, India.

As of June, the India market accounted for around 20 percent of ACEN’s total attributable renewables capacity, based on the latest company data.

In the Philippines, ACEN ranks as the fourth-largest power producer with a 6.91-percent national market share, according to the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Through ACEN RES, the company is also the country’s leading green energy retailer, accounting for around 65 percent of the market

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has formally expanded the authority of Acting City Administrator Atty. Briccio Joseph Boholst, granting him significant responsibilities over financial management and disbursements at City Hall.

In Memorandum No. 2026-00438, dated September 28, 2026, Archival authorized Boholst to sign checks as well as approve disbursement vouchers, payrolls, and obligation requests across a wide range of transactions.

The directive empowers Boholst to approve disbursements up to P10 million for the procurement of goods, services, infrastructure, and consulting projects.

It also allows him to sign checks of any amount for salaries, utilities, government premiums, subsidies, and social assistance programs.

His authority extends to cash advances for confidential funds, burial assistance, honoraria for barangay workers, subsidies to special accounts, and reimbursements for medical assistance.

By consolidating these functions under the acting administrator, Archival emphasized the need for continuity and efficiency in city operations, particularly in fiscal matters that directly affect government employees, barangay personnel, and beneficiaries of social programs.

This expansion comes after City Administrator Albert Tan’s indefinite leave of absence.

As reported earlier, Tan filed for leave and stepped aside as Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman in mid-September to allow an investigation mainly into procurement complaints.

Archival’s chief of staff, Kenneth Siasar, clarified last Monday that Tan did not resign but went on leave to protect the credibility of the administration.

While critics, including Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, had questioned Tan’s performance, Archival defended him as ‘working and producing results.’

With Tan on leave, Boholst’s designation is intended to keep fiscal operations uninterrupted.

His dual role as city attorney and acting city administrator places him at the center of both legal and administrative oversight.

During the City Council’s regular session the other day, Councilor Winston Pepito filed a resolution to formally delegate authority to Boholst to sign checks, debit memos, and other documents tied to the city’s bank accounts, subject to the limitations set in Archival’s memorandum.

The measure was supposed to be deliberated but was deferred after Pepito left early to attend to his duties as president of the Philippine Councilors League-Cebu City Chapter in Bohol.