country’s cash flow statement with the rest of the world, may have continued to “stay in the red” at the start of 2026 due to seasonally strong import payments, but the narrower gap can be attributed to improved external
Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed the country’s balance of payments registered a deficit of US$373 million in January 2026.
That BOP deficit in the first month of the year is 90.85 percent narrower than the $4.078-billion deficit posted in January 2025, and leaner by 54.90 percent than the $827-million deficit in December 2025.
Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes
Tacandong & Co. said “The BOP is still in deficit mainly because imports are outpacing exports.”
This, Ravelas explained, reflects strong domestic demand and infrastructure spending, while global demand for the country’s exports and services like BPO and tourism has been “softer.”
Despite this, he pointed out that the BOP gap in January isn’t a “crisis signal.” Instead, he described it as a “growth-related deficit.”
Further, Ravelas said the country’s external buffers “remain solid.”
Latest BSP data showed the gross international reserves (GIR) increased to US$112.6 billion as of end-January 2026. BSP said this level of reserves remains an adequate external liquidity buffer, equivalent to 7.5 months’
worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.
“It covers about 4.1 times the country’s short-term external debt based on residual maturity,” added BSP. (See:https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/02/09/janusd-reserves-seen-shielding-phl-fromshocks/)
In the view of Robert Dan Roces, Group Economist at SM Investments Corp., the deficit “largely reflects seasonally strong import payments and profit remittances at the start of the year, alongside some portfolio repositioning amid global rate uncertainty.”
Explaining the narrower gap compared to December 2025, Roces said this could “suggest external pressures have eased somewhat rather than worsened.”
John Paolo Rivera, Senior Research Fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), said the reduced gap reflects “improved external buffers” at the start of 2026, supported by sustained remittance inflows, steady services exports such as IT-BPM and tourism receipts, and “moderating” import growth after the holiday surge.
“Seasonal factors also played a role, as January typically sees fewer import payments compared with the year-end peak,” added Rivera. Moreover, he said the “significantly” smaller deficit compared with 2025 suggests “a more stable external position and better balance between USD inflows and outflows.” For his part, Michael L. Ricafort, chief
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
THEBangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) admitted that it has become “less certain” of the direction of the economy in the next quarter given the sliding confidence which dragged the pace of growth of the Philippine economy last year.
By Lorenz S. Marasigan
THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) moved to strengthen cooperation on key maritime issues during a high-level visit to Manila this week.
Marina Administrator Sonia Malaluan said both sides exchanged views and best practices on seafarer training standards, green shipping targets, and emerging technologies reshaping the industry.
During his visit to Manila, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez discussed
a range of concerns including safety oversight of domestic fleets, the organization’s netzero greenhouse gas reduction checkpoints, maritime autonomous surface ships, and efforts to address bullying and harassment aboard international vessels.
There, he emphasized the need for seafarers to embrace emerging technologies to boost operational efficiency while urging the maritime community—particularly its younger members—to contribute ideas as the sector evolves.
“I need your advice and I
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror
ELEVEN hospitality establishments in the country earned their places on this year’s edition of the Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards. All are located in Metro Manila.
Rated five stars anew are: Nüwa Manila at City of Dreams and its Nüwa Spa, Okada Manila and its Retreat Spa, The Peninsula Manila, and Skytower at Solaire Resort Entertainment City.
“Five-Star properties deliver an outstanding experience and consistently offer a highly customized level of service,” explained FTG.
Properties which have maintained their four-star rating are:
City of
Nobu Hotel Manila, Raffles Makati, Shangri-La at The Fort Manila. A new entry for the year is Solaire Resort North.
“Four-Star properties are exceptional, offering high levels of service and quality of facility to match.”
Forbes
Fairmont Makati, Hyatt Regency
Dreams, Marco Polo Ortigas,
to deliver 18,000 cubic meters of potable water daily, full replacement of a 56 kilometer distribution net work, construction of storage tanks and installation of 12,370 household connections.
Beyond water supply, about $12.90 million is allocated for water, sanita tion, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools, daycare centers and health institutions, many of which also serve as evacuation centers during disasters.
Another $13.44 million is set aside for institutional reforms and capacity building to strengthen the long term sustainability of water service providers and local govern ment units. The project also allocates $28.58 million for project manage ment and technical assistance, cov ering supervision, contract adminis tration and technical support.
Under the implementation ar rangement, the DPWH will oversee infrastructure components, while the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will han dle institutional reform initiatives.
Fiorella Fabella, Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist for the World Bank, said the AWSPSA has completed the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development’s Investment Coor dination Committee (ICC) process and secured approval from the Economic Development Council (EDC). It is now undergoing the remain ing government processes for loan signing and final clearances.
“In terms of timeline, we’re look ing at possibly an effectiveness of the project or the loan by around maybe July, August,” Fabella said.
PHL, Canada open FTA talks; fast-track deal eyed in 2026
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
THEPhilippines and Canada on Wednesday opened their first round of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) that would remove tariffs on goods and services, with both sides signaling intent to fast‑track talks toward conclusion within the year.
Canadian Ambassador David Hart man confirmed the launch of negotia tions in Manila, describing the pace as “unprecedented.” He noted that Canada’s parallel talks with Asean have allowed officials to move on an “expedited basis” for the bilateral deal.
“The fact that we’ve done advanced negotiations as co‑participants in the Canada‑Asean FTA has accelerated our ability to conclude quickly. The level of ambition among officials is very high,” Hartman said in an inter view at the sidelines of the Stratbase ADR Institute Forum on cybersecu rity.
Leading the discussions are Mary‑Catherine Speirs, Director Gen
eral for Trade Negotiations at Global Affairs Canada, and Trade Undersec retary Alan Gepti for the Philippines.
The push for a bilateral accord fol lows the meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur last October, where both leaders agreed to launch talks immediately and target conclusion by 2026. They also com mitted to accelerate the Canada‑Ase an FTA under the Philippine Asean chairship.
Hartman underscored that both governments have given negotiators “very clear marching orders” to aim for a conclusion this year.
The talks unfold against a backdrop
of strained trade prospects with the United States, where tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump have dampened flows. In contrast, bilateral trade between Manila and Ottawa reached US$3.1 billion in 2024, buoyed by the strong Filipino diaspora in Canada.
Canadian exports to the Philip pines rose to $1.4 billion in 2024, led by cereals, pork, wheat, and ma chinery. Philippine exports fell to $1.7 billion–$1.8 billion from $2.2 billion, driven by electronics, inte grated circuits, and insulated wire.
Beyond economics, Hartman pointed to Canada’s expanding defense footprint.
Ottawa will be the third‑larg
est participant in the upcoming Balikatan military exercises, de ploying more than 600 person nel, aircraft, and cyber units.
Both defense establishments are also negotiating a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) that would allow their militaries to share more intelligence information.
The recently signed Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOV FA) between Manila and Ottawa is awaiting concurrence from the Philippine Senate.
“We’re trying to put our money where our mouth is and demon strate, not just in words but in deeds, our commitment to the Philippines,” Hartman said.
However, the SMIC Group economist said “much will depend on oil prices, electronics exports, and the direction of US rates.”
economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), said the smaller BOP gap could also partly reflect the narrower trade deficit of the country amid faster growth in exports compared to imports in recent months.
BOP to be ‘manageable’
LOOKING ahead, Rivera said BOP may continue to show manageable deficits rather than large swings as strong remittances and services exports help offset the country’s structural trade deficit.
For his part, Ravelas said the BOP will likely “stay in the red” in the near term but should stabilize as exports recover, tourism picks up, and investment reforms gain traction.
“The key now is to boost export competitiveness and attract more long-term investments, rather than overreacting to the headline number,” added Ravelas. Roces echoed Ravelas and Rivera, noting that BOP should stabilize as remittance inflows rise and tourism receipts improve.
“At this level, the deficit remains manageable and does not point to external vulnerability,” added Roces.
Risks
RIVERA warned that risks remain from rising import demand as growth recovers, potential oil price volatility, and global financial market shifts that could affect capital flows and the Philippine peso.
“Latest data point to improving external stability but still underscore the Philippines’ continued reliance on steady foreign exchange inflows to keep the external accounts balanced,” the PIDS senior research fellow also underscored.
The BOP accounts for the country’s transactions with the rest of the world.
GIR is made up of foreign-denominated securities, foreign exchange, and other assets including gold.
GIR helps ensure sufficient dollar liquidity to meet import needs and foreign debt obligations, address currency volatility, and provide a buffer against external economic shocks. Andrea E. San Juan
Board now looks at six indicators to measure confidence, from the initial three indicators.
to a lack of confidence but soft data on sentiment show tentative signs of recovery.”
As such, Remolona said the seven man Monetary Board’s de cision today “may actually help to restore confidence, boosting in vestment and consumption.”
The chief of the central bank said the pace of economic recov ery will depend on how quickly confidence returns.
When asked if the monetary easing cycle is now nearing its end, Remolona responded: “We’re less certain about how soon confi dence will return and we also re alize that the effect of it is bigger than we thought.” He continued: “You combine those two things, that makes us less certain where the economy is heading in the next quarter.”
With this, Remolona said the monetary board still does not know if they will further ease this year. “I would say we don’t know. It depends very much on wheth er confidence comes back,” he stressed anew.
Confidence a ‘bigger factor than we thought’ “ WHEN the flood control scan dal broke out, we recalibrated our models to take account of confi dence. I think the recalibration wasn’t enough to anticipate what would happen, what actually hap pened moving forward. So now we have some further work to do,” the BSP governor said.
“And now we realize that it’s a bigger factor than we thought,” Remolona said, further explain ing that the seven man Monetary
Remolona said the MB thinks confidence will return pretty soon, within a few months. If they are right, the BSP governor said they might not need further cuts.
Adjusted growth and inflation forecasts
FOR 2026, the BSP forecasts GDP growth to be better than what was reported in the second half of 2025.
For 2026, 4.6 percent [aver age] growth. And for 2027, a strong recovery of 5.9 percent [average GDP],” Remolona said.
Meanwhile, the BSP has in creased its average inflation fore cast for 2026 to 3.6 percent from the 3.2 percent forecast set in the December 2025 policy meeting.
For 2027, the BSP forecasts in flation to average at 3.2 percent, compared to the 3 percent fore cast it set in the previous meeting of the Monetary Board.
The BSP said its outlook for in flation remains manageable.
“However, forecasts have risen slightly for 2026 due mainly to supply side pressures, which are likely to be temporary. Never theless, inflation expectations remain firmly anchored, and in flation is seen to return close to the 3 percent target by 2027,” the central bank pointed out.
Moving forward, the MB, the highest policy making body of the BSP, said it will continue to be vigilant and guided by incoming information, specifically data on inflation.
“The BSP will ensure that over all policy settings remain in line with our pursuit of price stability conducive to sustainable growth and employment,” the central bank said.
need your help. There are a lot of young people here and shipping is very broad. It is vital that IMO continues to evolve and adapt new technologies,” Dominguez said. For her part, Malaluan said Dominguez’s visit is a rare op portunity for both institutions to align on shared priorities. She highlighted the agency’s ongoing work in maritime safety, marine environment protection, ship building and ship repair, ship reg istry, and maritime digitalization.
“We value this event as a great platform for Marina and IMO to exchange ideas and get insights, as well as take the opportunity for possible projects or programs that will significantly contribute in im proving the maritime industry at the national level,” she said.
During the visit, Marina also showcased best practices at its Standards of Training, Certifica tion and Watchkeeping for Seafar ers (STCW) Office.
Dominguez’s visit coincided with a Regional Forum on the Effective Implementation of the STCW Con vention and Code.
Locsin: Serious issues AT the forum, Philippine Ambas sador and Permanent Represen tative to the IMO Teodoro Locsin Jr. called for an updated review of the STCW Convention to ad dress automation and digitaliza tion, violence and harassment at sea, and the safe handling of al ternative fuels.
Locsin said the forum could serve as a reckoning moment for an industry under pressure from climate change, geopolitical dis ruption, and the rapid advance of artificial intelligence. He pushed back against treating safety as secondary in the rush to ward cleaner fuels, warning that new energy sources bring new risks that training standards must address head on.
“If ships are to shift to cleaner energy, then training must shift with it; must adapt to it. Seafar ers must be equipped to safely use, handle, and store these fuels and the standards must keep pace,” Locsin said.
He also called for stronger ac countability mechanisms to com bat violence and harassment aboard vessels, citing the Manila Declaration on the Human Rights, Safety, and Well Being of Seafar ers adopted in September 2025 as a foundation to build on. Locsin linked the issue directly to gender diversity, arguing that a safer working environment is a prerequisite for bringing more women into the seafaring work force. Women currently account for just over one percent of the world’s seafarers despite making up nearly half the global popula tion.
“I am surprised this is even a subject of argument. In elemen tary, [it’s] women teachers who instill the habit of thinking; dis abusing boys of the notion that heads are for butting rather than thinking. The Philippines sup ports this direction, including through engagement with the Women in Maritime Association Asia, and voluntary contribu tions to IMO’s Women in Mari time Program,” he said.
However, he cautioned against over reliance on digital tools at the expense of foundational seaman ship skills. He recounted a visit to the Nautical Institute in London, where concerns were raised about the cognitive strain digital moni toring imposes on seafarers, and warned that “no system is immune to failure.”
“When the tools go down, it is the mariner’s judgment and foun dational skills that keep the vessel safe,” he said.
DOE sets rules on non-RE power facilities
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
NON-RENEWABLE energy (RE) power facilities, such as coal-fired power plants, must not operate beyond their economic life, according to a newly-released circular of the Department of Energy (DOE).
Section 7 of DOE circular 202602-0006—Policy on Accountability of Entities Engaged in Power Generation to Ensure Sufficient, Reliable, Affordable, and Secure Supply of Energy in the Country—states that power generation companies (gencos) operating
Continued from A1 properties. This year, it included the “world’s first 5-star cruise and the inaugural 5-star restaurant at sea. [The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma and Le Voyage on Celebrity Cruises’ Xcel, respectively.]”
Properties and other tourism establishments pay to be rated in the Forbes Travel Guide although the latter’s inspectors evaluate these independently, using objective metrics, according to hospitality industry insiders. Those which don’t have the funds to be rated can opt to choose Executive Trainer sessions.
On its website, FTG said, “For properties that we elect to Star Rate, we offer the option of joining our partnership program, which provides transparency into the Star Rating process and access to our exclusive Partnership community. Partners receive valuable benefits including a complete list of FTG standards, a full report of their annual Rating inspection results, and policy privileges such as cycle selection and remedy periods.”
The 2026 edition of the Star Awards “is the most expansive yet,” having added new destinations such as Bhutan, Croatia, Poland, Tanzania and Uzbekistan. These have increased the travel guide’s footprint to more than 100 countries.
‘Objective, independent metrics’ LAST May, FTG named the “Five Most Luxurious Suites in Manila,” namely Conrad Manila’s Presidential Suite, Shangri-La at The Fort’s Shangri-La Suite, Nüwa Manila’s Presidential Villa, Raffle Makati’s Presidential Suite, and Okada Manila’s Villa El Nido. (https://tinyurl. com/4x7zs999)
Guide inspectors also recognized the Takip-Silim cocktail at City of Dreams Manila’s Haliya Restaurant among the “Best Drinks” it tasted in 2025, in a piece published on its site in January.
For its Star ratings, the Guide said these are “objective, independent and data-driven. Incognito inspectors pose as everyday guests— checking into hotels, boarding cruises, trying spa treatments and dining at restaurants—to test hundreds of exacting standards, and always paying for a stay. While the quality and condition of the facilities remain vital, exceptional service accounts for 70 percent of a property’s rating, reflecting the human element at the heart of luxury.”
It added, “Beyond these metrics, Forbes Travel Guide inspectors assess the intangibles behind a truly remarkable guest experience: whether a property allows you to continue a health-conscious lifestyle and enhance your well-being; whether the location or design conjures a strong sense of place; and whether the staff delivers all components seamlessly, culminating in an unforgettable stay.”
non-RE generating facilities shall be retired, replaced or repurposed upon the exhaustion of the facility’s economic life, which typically assumed to be around 30 years, depending on the type of technology. Further, the DOE shall require the genco to submit a retirement,
replacement or repurposing plan with a specified period prior to the projected exhaustion of the facility’s economic life. The plan must include the proposed course of action, technical assessment of the facility’s condition, compliance status, implementation schedule, and such other information as the DOE may require.
However, the DOE may still allow the continued operation of a nonRE facility beyond its economic life after it has determined that such operation is necessary to ensure energy security, system reliability, or adequacy of supply. “Such continued operations shall be for a specified period subject to compliance with technical, environmental, safety, reliability, and other conditions as the DOE mat impose, including required upgrades, rehabilitation measures, periodic inspections, and reporting
obligations,” the DOE policy stated.
In general, the policy directs gencos to operate and maintain their facilities, adhering to grid and maintenance standards set by the DOE, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), among others.
Gencos, are likewise, directed to submit within 45 days from the completion of their preventive maintenance schedule a report which shall detail the findings, recommendations, and their compliance plan. During forced outage incidents, gencos must inform the DOE right away the cause of the outage and estimated time of the return to service of the facility.
“The DOE, in coordination with the ERC, shall review and evaluate all submissions to ensure completeness and consistency with requirements of this policy,” the DOE said.
NBI nabs suspect in ₧25-M scam
TPHL ready to welcome more Japanese investors
THE Philippines is prepared to welcome more Japanese investors and expand bilateral trade, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said on Thursday, citing policy alignment and improving business conditions between the two long-time allies.
Speaking at the welcome dinner for the 42nd Annual Joint Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Committees of the Philippines and Japan at the Goldenberg Mansion in Malacañang on Wednesday, Recto said conditions are “ripe” for a stronger economic partnership.
“The Philippines is ready to do more business with Japanese partners,” he said.
“You want clear rules. You want a coordinated government. And you want decisions made, without delay. That is exactly what we are working to deliver.”
Recto emphasized that the Marcos administration is focused on improving the ease of doing business, ensuring fairness and predictability for investors.
“Investors do not ask for favors, only fairness, predictability, and speed. Our answer is to make doing business in the Philippines easier, faster, and more reliable,” he said.
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday announced the arrest of an individual for his alleged involvement in an online scam that has reportedly caused an estimated P25 million worth of losses in Apple products from various distributors and resellers.
The suspect’s arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by a reseller of Apple products and other technology devices who reported
being defrauded through an online transaction.
The NBI did not release the identity of the suspect but said he falsely represented himself as an authorized representative of a legitimate company in order to gain the trust of distributors and resellers.
The suspect was able to transact and acquire high-value Apple products through the issuance of a falsified check as payment to complete the transaction.
Following an investigation, operatives of the NBI-Cybercrime Division launched an entrapment
operation which resulted in the arrest of the suspect who was caught in the act of attempting to finalize a transaction using a falsified check.
The suspect is now facing multiple criminal charges, including estafa in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, use of falsified documents, and the use of fictitious names.
In light of this, the NBI reminded business owners to exercise the highest level of due diligence in its transactions.
Lawmaker files bill strengthening safeguards against corruption
ALEGISLATOR has filed a bill aimed at tightening legal safeguards against corruption in government procurement.
House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima introduced House Bill 7838, the proposed AntiMachination in Government Procurement Act, which seeks to criminalize fraudulent schemes and manipulative practices in public procurement.
The measure aims to restore and reinforce the penal provisions of Republic Act 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act, to deter corruption among public officials and employees.
“The flood control project scam has revealed deep-seated problems in the government’s infrastructure program, exposing critical gaps and weaknesses in our public procurement laws and bidding implementation,” de Lima, the nominee of the party-list group
Mamamayang Liberal, said.
“By describing and punishing certain reprehensible acts as crimes of ‘machinations in government procurement’ and prescribing stiff penalties for their commission—including long-term imprisonment and disqualification from holding public employment or transacting with government—we hope that this measure will have its intended deterrent and retributive effects,” she added.
De Lima noted that the current procurement law, Republic Act 12009, or the New Government Procurement Act of 2024, weakened accountability by merging administrative and civil liabilities and repealing the criminal penal clauses of its predecessor. HB 7838 proposes to amend Article XX of RA 12009, creating a consolidated framework covering criminal, civil, and administrative liabilities. Under the measure, public officials found guilty of certain
procurement-related offenses would face imprisonment ranging from six to fifteen years.
These offenses include opening sealed bids or confidential documents before the designated time, delaying eligibility screening, bid evaluation, or contract awarding without justifiable cause, and unduly influencing members of the Bids and Awards Committee or other procurement officers. The law would also cover splitting contracts to bypass competitive bidding requirements and misusing the authority to reject bids in a manner that favors a specific bidder.
Private individuals colluding in these acts would also be held liable.
The bill also seeks to amend Presidential Decree 1606, granting the Sandiganbayan exclusive original jurisdiction over criminal cases under the law involving public officials with Salary Grade 27 or higher.
Bilateral trade between the Philippines and Japan reached approximately P1.27 trillion last year, with the Philippines posting a surplus.
Japan remains the country’s second-largest trading partner and top source of foreign direct investments, accounting for P42.5 billion in inflows in the first 11 months of 2025.
Recto cited major infrastructure projects, such as the Metro Manila Subway as examples of Japan’s long-standing and highquality investment presence in the country.
“Exhibit A of Japan being a premium brand is the Metro Manila Subway, whose reputation precedes it simply because of its Japanese provenance,” he said.
He also highlighted the Philippines’ skilled workforce and strategic location in a rapidly growing region as competitive advantages.
On tourism and people-to-people exchanges, Recto noted that nearly 407,000 Japanese visited the Philippines in the first 11 months of 2025, while about 825,000 Filipinos traveled to Japan last year.
“There is, however, room for improvement. And the challenge is to unlock the tremendous possibilities,” he said.
Samuel P. Medenilla and PNA
Solon seeks ban on political branding in food assistance
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
ALAWMAKER is pushing for a clear ban on political branding in food assistance programs, stressing that aid should never be used for political gain.
Speaking during deliberations on the proposed Right to Adequate Food Framework Act, Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno of Akbayan called for criminal liability for officials who engage in discriminatory distribution of food aid.
He also proposed an anonymous grievance mechanism so affected families can safely report abuses and trigger immediate government action.
THE National Police (PNP) Chief, Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., has directed all police chiefs to strengthen coordination with local government units to identify suspicious warehouses and sites that may be used for the storage or manufacturing of illegal cigarettes.
In a statement on Thursday, Nartatez noted that vital information against criminal elements and activities usually
comes from local residents and officials, especially at the barangay level.
He cited the case of two recent successful operations that netted millions of pesos worth of smuggled cigarettes— one in San Simon, Pampanga, which was provided by a netizen, and another in Maguindanao del Norte that started as a tip-off.
“Police and community relationships that are built
on trust are an essential ingredient in effective law enforcement and efficient implementation of peace and order measures,” Nartatez said.
“We in the PNP must continue to enhance this in order to sustain what we have been gaining in terms of winning the hearts and minds of the Filipino people we vowed to protect and serve.”
Nartatez noted that public
“There must be criminal liability for discriminatory distribution,” Diokno said. He proposed the establishment of a transparent beneficiary system with privacy safeguards to ensure that the allocated food goes to its intended beneficiaries.
“Food is a right, not a favor from politicians,” he said. Diokno also called for stronger accountability for missed hunger reduction targets. He proposed automatic congressional review if targets are not met for two consecutive years, along with mandatory appearances by concerned Cabinet secretaries to explain the shortfall.
The measure aims to establish a national legal framework to guide future policies on food security and nutrition.
Nartatez to police units: Coordinate with local govs in drive vs illicit cigarettes
support and information sharing often result from people seeing the dedication of the police.
The PNP has been on the frontline in the operations against cigarette smuggling, confiscating billions of pesos worth of illegal cigarettes in various raids that include warehouses.
Nartatez directed police chiefs to coordinate with local government units regarding
inspections of suspicious warehouses and similar properties, as part of the intensified campaign against cigarette smuggling and illegal manufacturing.
He emphasized that all police actions must strictly follow operational procedures—not only to avoid legal issues but also to set a strong example in upholding the rule of law within the community. PNA
Senate minority resolution shields dela Rosa, Go from ICC prosecution
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
THE perceived Duterte-leaning Minority bloc in the Senate has filed a resolution expressing the sense of the chamber to protect Filipinos against extraordinary rendition and guarantee them due process.
“It is the sense of the Senate of the Philippines to protect all Filipinos against extraordinary rendition and guarantee them a reasonable time prior to their surrender by or extradition from the Philippines to seek redress from the courts and avail of legal remedies,” Senate Resolution 307, filed on February 18, 2026, said. The resolution was proposed as Senate leaders weigh the cham -
ber’s options should warrants of arrest be issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which recently tagged two sitting members—Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence Go—as alleged co-perpetrators of then-President Rodrigo Duterte in waging the bloody war on illegal drugs from 2016-2019. Duterte was whisked off to The Hague, the Netherlands in March
SC issues guiding principles on use of surrender as mitigating circumstance
Tlast year after the Interpol sought the Philippine authorities’ help in serving an arrest warrant on Duterte. Dela Rosa and Go were long-time aides of Duterte before being elected senators. Dela Rosa was Duterte’s first chief of the National Police and Go was Special Assistant to the President.
“Due process and national sovereignty are two of the most fundamental tenets of our Constitution, the bedrock of our civil society, without which we can only hope in vain to honor God, build communities, and transform the nation,” the minority resolution said.
The resolution, the minority pointed out, comes in the wake of unresolved debates over the limits of international criminal jurisdiction without the benefit of redress through local judicial processes— an action the Minority bloc has repeatedly warned undermines both sovereignty and due process.
Here is how the minority frames the significance of the issues it wants to address: the resolution,
it said, “highlights the constitutional mandates of independent foreign policy, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and due process, arguing that former President Rodrigo Duterte being surrendered to the International Criminal Court without affording him judicial redress exemplifies a denial of due process and an abrogation of national sovereignty under Section 17 of Republic Act 9851.”
The resolution also notes the naming of incumbent senators as “co-perpetrators” in an ICC document making them vulnerable to extraordinary rendition, underscoring the necessity for the State to ensure all persons sought for extradition or surrender are guaranteed reasonable time and opportunity to access the legal system.
“Due process and the rule of law should not be sacrificed at the altar of a blind pursuit of justice. The 1987 Constitution guarantees that in all criminal prosecutions, an accused shall be presumed innocent
until the contrary is proved, and that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law,” the resolution noted.
In a media interview on Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said the resolution is anchored not merely on technicalities, treaties, or statutory interpretation but on the very spirit and essence of the 1987 Constitution.
“The spirit of the Constitution is clear: if there is a problem or an accusation against a Filipino, he or she has the right to run to Philippine courts. The courts just cannot be set aside,” Cayetano said in Filipino.
He warned of the grave risk of an interpretation that “if there’s an arrest order from the ICC or any international court, one can simply be arrested and brought to a foreign land.” This, he added, is not just an issue involving one person, “it is an issue sovereignty, and of our constitutional framework.”
Ukraine envoy relays Manila’s concerns over Filipino POWs
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
Namria: Who said there is no WPS?
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
THE National Mapping and Resource Information
Authority (Namria) has resurfaced a statement clarifying the role of the official Philippine maps and nautical charts in showing and protecting the country’s maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
A recent administrative map of the Philippines published by Namria has included Sabah, formerly Northern Borneo, which is the subject of a century-old dispute between a private claimant—the Sultanate of Sulu, Malaysia, and the Philippines, which maintains a dormant claim over the territory in recent years. The clarificatory statement was released by Namria on Thursday in light of controversial statements issued by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta early this month, suggesting that the Philippines should “give up” the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the disputed West Philippine Sea. Marcoleta argued that many of its features lie beyond the country’s 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and, thus, do not fall under the West Philippine Sea (WPS) designation. He had also questioned the use of WPS saying no map has showed or used the name WPS.
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE Supreme Court (SC) has laid down the guiding principles in considering voluntary surrender as mitigating circumstance in imposing a penalty against a person who has been found guilty of a crime.
In a decision written by Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, the SC stressed that voluntary surrender must be viewed with a “more considerate and broad-minded approach” once guilt has been established. The Court made the pronouncement in a decision which granted a man’s petition and reduced his sentence, recognizing his voluntary surrender after he learned of an arrest warrant issued against him. Based on the Court’s records, the man went to the National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to apply for clearance.
During processing, his name registered a “hit,” showing he had a pending case. He admitted this to the NBI officer.
He was instructed to return after one week while the records were being verified.
When he came back, the NBI officer confirmed he had a pending bigamy case and an outstanding warrant for his arrest issued 13 years earlier.
He then told the officer, “masuko na lang ako” [I will surrender] and asked help in posting bail. The arrest warrant was then served on him.
The NBI later issued a certificate stating that he voluntarily surrendered to their office.
See “SC,” A5
UKRAINE’S ambassador to the Philippines confirmed she has relayed to Kyiv reports that Filipinos are being held as prisoners of war (POWs) after being captured fighting alongside Russian forces last year.
Ambassador Yuliia Fediv said she has already forwarded Manila’s concerns to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier confirmed that six Filipinos were recruited in Russia under misleading job offers and later deployed as mercenaries in combat against Ukrainian forces.
Asked to comment on the status of the Filipino POWs, Fediv replied that she has no feedback yet. She emphasized, however, that POWs
in Ukraine are generally treated humanely, consistent with international humanitarian law.
“We follow international law. That’s what we have been espousing—the rule of law,” Fediv said in a chance interview at the sidelines of the Stratbase ADR Institute forum on cybersecurity.
Background
THE families of six Filipino POWs reportedly being held in Ukraine have sought assistance from the DFA and the Department of Migrant Workers.
One of the POWs, Raymon Santos Gumangan from Pangasinan, was captured in September 2025 while serving in a Russian parachute regiment.
DFA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Angelica Escalona said families of five other Filipinos
who sought DFA assistance have requested for privacy. But the recruits, it appears, were enticed to work in Russia by online job postings and informal recruitment networks.
She noted that consular help in such cases is “complicated,” as the Philippines is not a party to the conflict.
Aside from the Ukrainian and Russian embassies, the DFA has also reached out to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which has rights of access to monitor POW conditions under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Under international law, POWs must be treated humanely, with protections against torture, cruel treatment, and discrimination.
Mercenaries captured in uniform may qualify as POWs but can also face separate prosecution.
Namria, however, said that since 2012, the Philippines has formally used the name West Philippine Sea in government publications. “In accordance with this policy, Namria places a label consistently across its official maps and charts, including administrative maps, topographic maps, thematic maps, and nautical charts used for navigation,” the statement reads. According to Namria, these materials serve practical and technical purposes and are reference documents used by mariners, planners, researchers, and institutions, both domestic and international, for navigation, geographic information, and safety at sea. “In light of ongoing public discussions, Namria wishes to clarify the manner by which the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone [EEZ] is represented.”
House leaders cite ‘serious, disturbing’ allegations in impeach complaint vs Sara
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
HOUSE leaders endorsed the fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, citing “serious and disturbing” allegations of unexplained wealth and incomplete Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs).
The fourth verified complaint, filed by lawyer Nathaniel G. Cabrera and endorsed by House Committee on Human Rights Chairman Bienvenido Abante Jr. of Manila and Deputy Speaker Francisco Paolo Ortega V of La Union, was formally received by House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil on Wednesday.
Ortega said the complaint high -
lights constitutional accountability, noting that any material omission or undisclosed asset is a grave matter the House cannot ignore.
“This is about constitutional accountability—the SALN is mandatory and must be complete and truthful, and any undeclared asset or unexplained wealth is a grave issue,” Ortega said.
He added that endorsing the complaint is not a conviction but a procedural step.
“Running for President does not erase serious questions about asset disclosures and public funds. Oversight is not persecution. It is a constitutional duty,” he said.
The filing alleges that certain bank accounts, properties, and significant cash movements were not fully reflected in Duterte’s SALNs, raising questions about whether her declared net worth accurately represents her financial position.
“If public officials are required to disclose all assets and live modestly, then any material omission is a serious constitutional concern that the House cannot ignore,” Ortega said.
Ortega also cited the sworn affidavit of alleged Duterte bagman Ramil Madriaga, who described the transport and delivery of millions of pesos in cash in duffel bags following the encashment of confidential and intelligence funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and previously to the Department of Education.
“These confidential and intelligence funds amounting to hundreds of millions of pesos are subject to strict audit rules, and when there are sworn accounts of large cash transfers, those must be reconciled with SALN disclosures,” Ortega said.
Ortega stressed that endorsing the complaint does not prejudge the vice president.
“This is not a conviction. This is a process. But when there are sworn statements about large cash transfers and serious red flags in asset declarations, the House cannot look away,” he pointed out.
Ortega also said Duterte’s early declaration of a 2028 presidential bid does not affect constitutional accountability.
“Let us be clear—running for President does not erase serious questions about asset disclosures and public funds. The timing speaks for itself,” he said.
He maintained that unresolved issues surrounding confidential and intelligence funds, along with alleged incomplete SALNs, remain governance concerns rather than campaign issues.
“Oversight is not persecution. It is a constitutional duty,” he said.
He rejected the idea that a presidential run transforms accountability proceedings into political harassment.
Meanwhile, Abante dismissed claims that Duterte’s resignation from the Cabinet reflected principled opposition to corruption or government inefficiency.
“This was not a principled resignation,” said Abante. “If the Vice President truly believed the administration was corrupt or incapable of addressing the people’s problems, she had every opportunity to say so while she was inside the Cabinet. She did not.” Abante emphasized that the
Vice President was not an outsider.
“For nearly two years, she was a Cabinet member as Secretary of Education. She was part of the UniTeam mandate. She participated in policy discussions and budget processes,” the House leader said.
“If there were systemic corruption or governance failures of the magnitude now being suggested, why was there no sustained public dissent? No reform blueprint? No formal policy objections?” Abante said.
According to Abante, the political rupture coincided with congressional scrutiny over confidential and intelligence funds.
“The timeline is clear. The tension escalated when Congress exercised its constitutional power of the purse and asked questions about public funds. That is not political persecution—that is oversight,” Abante said.
“When accountability mechanisms were activated, that is when the distancing began,” he said.
Construction in doldrums in December
THE construction sector remained weak in December 2025 as both approved building permits and project values declined year on year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Thursday.
Data from the PSA showed that approved constructions fell 5.9 percent to 11,411, from 12,127 in December 2024. The drop in volume was accompanied by a sharper 13.4 percent contraction in total project value to P33.62 billion, from P38.84 billion in December 2024.
Residential buildings, which accounted for more than three-fifths of total approvals, declined 7 percent to 7,203 permits. Spending in this category also plunged 30.3 percent to P12.13 billion, from P17.40 billion a year ago.
Single-type houses dominated the segment with 6,312 permits, or 87.6 percent of residential approvals.
Accompanying the drop in permits is the drop in value, with total residential projects valued at P12.13 billion, 30.3 percent drop from December 2024’s P17.40 billion.
Most of these were single-type family homes, which made up 87.6 percent or 6,312 projects.
While residential activity dragged the overall figures down, non-residential construction held up better.
Non-residential permits slipped a milder 3.6 percent to 2,666, accounting for 23.4 percent of total approvals.
In value terms, non-residential buildings was the largest contributor for the period at P17.81 billion, or 53 percent of total construction value, although this was still 1.2 percent lower than December 2024’s P18.04 billion.
Within this category, institutional buildings posted the highest value at P7.07 billion (39.7 percent of non-residential value), while commercial buildings accounted for the biggest share by number with 1,802 permits (67.6 percent).
Beyond residential and non-residential projects, other construction categories showed mixed trends.
Additions (any new construction that increases the height or area of an existing building), rose 16.6 percent in value to P0.48 billion, even as permits edged down 2.3 percent to 387.
Alterations and repairs increased 23 percent in value to P2.60 billion, but their volume declined 8 percent to 858 permits.
In contrast, other constructions such as demolitions and landscaping fell 32 percent in value to P0.60 billion, although permits inched up 2.1 percent to 297. The average construction cost in December 2025 was P11,366.71 per square meter, 7.4 percent lower than the P12,278.33 recorded a year earlier.
Condominiums remained the most expensive residential type at P25,135.68 per square meter, while institutional buildings topped non-residential at P15,108.51.
“We have to have mechanisms in place. For example, automatic congressional review if targets aren’t met or are missed for two consecutive years,” he said, adding that concerned Cabinet secretaries should appear before Congress to explain their failure to meet the target. He urged the government to make public a quarterly hunger dashboard and allow for automatic reallocation of unused food funds to make the process more transparent.
surrendered to an NBI officer, a person in authority,” the SC said.
Continued from A4
However, the return of the warrant and order of release described him as having been “arrested.”
During arraignment, the accused first pleaded not guilty but later entered into a plea bargain, asking the court to consider his voluntary surrender and guilty plea.
The Regional Trial Court (RTC) convicted him of bigamy and considered his plea of guilt, but ruled that he did not voluntarily surrender.
It relied on the warrant’s return and release order, which stated that he was “arrested,” and noted that the case had been pending for 13 years because he could not be located.
He was sentenced to a maximum of six year in prison.
The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision, finding that he went to the NBI not to surrender but to apply for clearance, and that when he said he would surrender, he had no choice because he was already inside the NBI office.
The SC, however, did not agree with the decision, noting that Under Article 13(7) of the Revised Penal Code, voluntary surrender requires that the offender had not been arrested; they surrendered themselves to a person in authority or its agent; and the surrender was voluntary.
“In this case, the man returned to the NBI and said he would surrender before the arrest warrant was actually served on him. He had not yet been arrested. He also
Continued from A4
The agency said that under international law, the EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from the country’s archipelagic baselines. This creates a continuous curved boundary, similar to the edge of a circle, not a polygon made of straight lines.
Namria explained that because of this, a short list of coordinates would not accurately describe the maritime limit, and that the boundary, therefore, is represented through precise geospatial data derived from the archipelagic baselines defined in RA 9522, allowing navigation systems and mapping software to determine the limit correctly.
Namria’s nautical charts follow international hydrographic standards and are utilized by both the Philippine and foreign vessels navigating waters under the
‘Watch my moves, not my lips’
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
DESPITE saying that President Marcos’ attention is not focused on the 2028 elections in the wake of Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent announcement of her presidential bid, two actions by the Palace have sparked speculation of a political consolidation in the camp of the Chief Executive.
Malacañang confirmed that Marcos will be with Naga City Mayor Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo when he inspects flood control projects in that city on Saturday as part of the Oplan Kontra Baha initiative of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said both official will visit Sagop Creek, which is considered part of the critical waterways in the city and source of flooding whenever Naga City is hit by heavy rains.
“That’s the [waterway] the President will visit, and it’s true that he will visit and be accompanied by the mayor, Leni Robredo, of Naga City on February 21, Saturday,” she said.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), however, declined to comment for now if a possible political alliance will be discussed by Marcos with Robredo during the visit.
“That is what you should wait for,” Castro said in Filipino in a press briefing last Thursday.
She maintained that Marcos is focused on his tasks and remains unconcerned by matters related to the 2028 polls.
“There are many things that need to be fixed in our country, many interests of our countrymen that need to be fixed. So, it’s too early to talk about who will run in 2028,” Castro said.
Schism, alliance IN the 2022 polls, Robredo ran against Marcos as an independent candidate, but she was backed by a coalition of political parties including the Liberal Party. She got the second highest number of votes during that presidential election. At that time, Duterte served as Marcos running mate under the UniTeam alliance.
It was the second match between Robredo and Marcos in the political arena after the former won in the vice presidential race against the latter in the 2016 elections.
Some political analysts have speculated that Robredo can be a strong contender against Duterte, who will run with the President’s sister, Sen. Imelda Josefa Remedios R. Marcos, as her vice president, according to Sen. Robinhood C. Padilla.
In their report for Global Source
Partners, Diwa Guinigundo and Wilhelmina Manalac said Marcos’ lack of a clear successor may compel him to “go beyond traditional allies” in picking who to back in the next presidential race.
They noted the geopolitical dimension of Marcos’ affiliation with the United States and Duterte’s association with China through her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, can affect the decision of the voters in the 2028 polls.
“Under the Duterte administration, Manila pursued accommodation, emphasizing bilateral engagement and economic cooperation while downplaying arbitration enforcement of the Philippines’ court victory. Under the Marcos administration, policy shifted toward legal assertion, alliance strengthening, and public participation,” they said. Relations between Marcos and Duterte deteriorated after the country cooperated with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in serving the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against former President Duterte.
The elder Duterte is currently facing crimes against humanity charges for the bloody war against drugs of his administration, which killed at least 6,000 drug suspects before the
ICC and is detained in the Hague, the Netherlands.
Presidential prerogative ANOTHER development, which fueled speculations that the Marcos may be bracing for the 2028 polls was the announcement that he will be appointing a known long-time ally of former President Duterte, Melvin A. Matibag, as the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Matibag is currently incumbent Secretary General of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban, the political party chaired by the elder Duterte. He also served as the former President’s Cabinet Secretary and the general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority, and President-Chief Executive Officer of the National Transmission Corporation.
He will replace NBI officer-incharge Angelito DLP. Magno, who was appointed last December. When asked why Marcos picked a known Duterte stalwart as the new NBI chief, Castro said the Chief Executive merely exercised his prerogative.
“He saw Atty. Melvin Matibag as someone who could be trusted, who could work for the government,” Castro said.
Comelec sets Marcoleta’s Soce case for resolution
By Mary Jade Jadormio
HE Commission on Elections
TAs to the voluntariness of his surrender, the SC pointed out that if he intended to evade arrest, he would not have returned to the NBI.
“While his first visit was to secure a clearance, his decision to return despite knowing there might be an active case shows his willingness to cooperate with the authorities,” the SC said.
Thus, the SC reduced the man’s sentence from a maximum of six years to a maximum of four years in prison.
The Court also laid down the guiding principles in considering voluntary as mitigating circumstance such as: (1) The surrender must show that the offender admits their guilt or wishes to spare authorities the effort and expense of locating and arresting them (2) The issuance of an arrest warrant is separate from the act of surrender. However, if the offender knew about the warrant and tried to avoid arrest, this can negate any claim of voluntary surrender (3) The lapse of time between the issuance of the arrest warrant and the offender’s actual surrender cannot, by itself, negate voluntariness (4) A high likelihood of arrest must be assessed together with signs that the offender tried to flee or lived as a fugitive, not simply with the fact that an arrest warrant had already been issued (5) The offender’s intention at the time of surrender must be evaluated together with all other factors. The offender is not required to surrender at the first opportunity and ( 6) If the records do not clearly show that the offender voluntarily surrendered, that doubt cannot be resolved in their favor.
Philippine jurisdiction. It said that the charts are also submitted to relevant international technical bodies, including the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).
“Through these established technical processes, Philippine geographic information is integrated into the global maritime record and supports safe navigation and responsible maritime activity,” Namria said.
Namria maintained that it remains committed to producing accurate and reliable geospatial information for the country. “By maintaining scientifically correct maps and internationally compliant national charts, the agency contributes to maritime safety, environmental management, disaster preparedness, and proper documentation of national territory.
“Namria will continue to uphold this mandate in support of national sovereignty, maritime safety, disaster preparedness, and sound resource management,” it said.
(Comelec) has set the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (Soce) issue of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta for resolution, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia confirmed in a text message.
This is after the completion of a factfinding inquiry conducted by the poll body’s Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD).
Garcia said Marcoleta’s defense centers on the claim that the questioned campaign donations were received before he became a candidate.
“Angdefense niya,nabigayangcampaign donation before siya naging candidate pursuant to the Peñera doctrine,” Garcia said,
Continued from A16
Port of Batangas, since it has ample space, adding that they would rather pay the additional trucking costs than run out of stocks.
referring to the Supreme Court ruling which states that in automated elections, a person is considered a candidate only at the start of the campaign period.
The issue stemmed from an interview in which Marcoleta acknowledged receiving campaign contributions but did not disclose certain donor identities in his Soce because the donors allegedly requested anonymity.
The Comelec issued a show-cause order in late November 2025 to determine if the senator violated campaign finance rules.
Marcoleta’s case was initially set for a December hearing but he was granted an extension to file his answer on January 6.
The Comelec spokesperson, lawyer John Rex E. Laudiangco, explained that the proceeding remains a fact-finding investigation and not yet a formal election offense case.
“The additional trucking cost for trucking is fine, because the plug-in cost is higher than the additional trucking cost,” he told this newspaper.
Impeach. . .
Continued from A4
He also noted that the split unfolded amid early positioning for the 2028 national elections.
“In Philippine politics, alliances shift when strategic calculations shift. Let us not confuse succession maneuvering with moral crusades,” Abante added.
The fourth impeachment complaint was filed in the House against Duterte, focusing on allegations that she failed to fully disclose her assets in her SALNs and may have accumulated wealth disproportionate to her lawful income.
The complaint accused Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery, and other high crimes.
At the center of the filing are allegations that certain assets, bank accounts, cash holdings, and property transactions were omitted, understated, or not fully disclosed in her SALNs.
The complaint argued that the Constitution requires full transparency from high public officials and that any material nondisclosure or accumulation of wealth manifestly disproportionate to legitimate
Furthermore, the AISL President said the BOC should also expedite the processing of documents, particularly in situations such as high utilization rates in ports.
“Their regular document processing is fine. But when it comes to extraordinary circumstances, especially with what’s happening now, they need to be quick,” Ronas said.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. recently told the B usiness M irror that they
income constitutes an impeachable offense.
The complainant pushed for a forensic review of bank records, property transfers, and related financial documents to determine whether public funds were converted into private assets and whether Duterte’s declared net worth accurately reflects her true financial position.
The unexplained wealth allegations are linked to broader claims of irregular confidential fund disbursements totaling at least P612.5 million from December 2022 to the third quarter of 2023, covering both the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
The complaint cited the rapid encashment of P125 million in December 2022— allegedly liquidated within 11 days—along with findings by the Commission on Audit (COA) flagging irregularities.
COA later issued notices of suspension and disallowance covering P73.287 million in questioned expenditures.
It also pointed to allegedly fabricated or defective receipts, unverifiable payees, duplicated entries, and sworn affidavits describing the transport of large sums of cash in duffle bags.
Beyond the financial allegations, the complaint reiterated earlier accusations that Duterte publicly admitted to having
He said that under Republic Act 7166, candidates are required to submit a “full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election.”
However, Laudiangco noted that Section 39 of RA 7166 effectively repealed the penal provision under Section 107 of the Omnibus Election Code, thereby decriminalizing mere non-filing or inaccurate filing of the Soce as an election offense.
“Lumabas po kasi ayon sa Republic Act 7166…decriminalized na,” Laudiangco said, explaining that incorrect or incomplete disclosure alone may no longer automatically constitute an election offense.
He clarified, however, that the Soce remains a sworn document, and any material misrepresentation may expose a candidate to
have been coordinating with the BOC and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) since last month, after some stakeholders from the rice and meat industries sought their help.
He cited the problem regarding the pullout of shipments from ports, particularly from December 24 to January 10.
possible perjury charges under the Revised Penal Code.
Apart from the accuracy of the disclosure, Comelec is also examining the source of the questioned contributions to determine whether any fall under prohibited donations, such as those coming from foreign entities, government contractors, religious institutions, or educational institutions receiving state support.
Garcia added that the focus of the inquiry is on the Soce, and any further formal preliminary investigation, if warranted, would be conducted by the Comelec’s Law Department. The Pfad’s recommendation will be elevated to the commission en banc, which will determine whether a violation occurred or whether further action, including referral for prosecution, is warranted.
Despite high utilization rates in ports, Ronas expressed optimism that problems regarding congestion should resolve soon.
“I’ve asked how the depots were doing, and they told me there’s space. Even last week, there were reports that there was already space and they could handle them, so there’s no problem. It will eventually return to normal,” he said.
“We tell them that we’re coordinating with the BOC and PPA on this. For faster release, the BOC actually lifted the red flag on rice [shipments] to fast-track the processing so these can be released immediately,” Tiu Laurel said.
“asked a person” to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez— an act described in the complaint as a subversion of constitutional order.
The allegations are supported by sworn affidavits and witness statements, including that of Duterte’s alleged bagman Ramil Madriaga; official liquidation and accomplishment reports from the OVP and DepEd; COA audit memoranda and notices of disallowance; Philippine Statistics Authority certifications on purported payees; congressional hearing transcripts; public statements of the respondent; and Joint Circular 2015-01 governing confidential and intelligence funds.
The complainant urged the House Committee on Justice to conduct a full investigation, issue subpoenas for financial and audit records, and, if warranted, transmit Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial.
The filing marks the fourth impeachment case lodged against the Vice President, following earlier complaints involving her public statements, alleged misuse of confidential funds, and refusal to fully cooperate with congressional oversight.
With four impeachment complaints now pending, the House must determine whether the allegations—particularly
those involving SALN disclosures and unexplained wealth—meet the constitutional threshold for impeachment under Article XI of the 1987 Constitution. The complaints are set to be referred to the House Committee on Justice on Monday. Under the Constitution, the Vice President may be removed from office for culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. The fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte has been officially submitted to the Office of House Speaker Faustino G. Dy III, following its receipt by the Office of the Secretary General on Wednesday. The OSG said the verified complaint has now formally reached the Speaker’s desk, marking the next step in the procedural process outlined by the House rules. The OSG emphasized that its role is purely ministerial, tasked only with receiving and transmitting documents. It ensured that any action on the complaint will strictly follow the Constitution and the rules of the House of Representatives. This submission highlights the procedural advancement of the impeachment process against Duterte, as the House moves to determine the proper course of action regarding the complaint.
A6 Friday, February 20, 2026
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Former South Korean President Yoon receives life sentence for martial law
By Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea—Former South Korean President Yoon
Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison for his brief imposition of martial law in a dramatic culmination to the country’s biggest political crisis in decades.
Yoon was ousted from office after a baffling attempt to overcome an opposition-controlled legislature by declaring martial law and sending troops to surround the National Assembly on Dec. 3, 2024.
Judge Jee Kui-youn of the Seoul Central District Court said he found Yoon guilty of rebellion for mobilizing military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize the liberal-led Assembly,
arrest politicians and establish unchecked power for a “considerable” time.
Martial law crisis recalled dictatorial past YOON’S martial law imposition, the first of its kind in more than four decades, harkened back to South Korea’s past militarybacked governments when authorities occasionally proclaimed emergency decrees that allowed them to station soldiers, tanks and armored vehicles on streets or at public places such as schools to prevent anti-government demonstrations.
As lawmakers rushed to the National Assembly, Yoon’s martial law command issued a proclamation declaring sweeping powers, including suspending political ac -
tivities, controlling the media and publications, and allowing arrests without warrants.
The decree lasted about six hours before being lifted after a quorum of lawmakers managed to break through a military blockade and unanimously voted to lift the measure.
Yoon was suspended from office on Dec. 14, 2024, after being impeached by lawmakers and was formally removed by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. He has been under arrest since last July while facing multiple criminal trials, with the rebellion charge carrying the most severe punishment.
Yoon’s lawyers reject conviction
YOON KAP-KEUN , one of the former president’s lawyers, accused
Jee of issuing a “predetermined verdict” based solely on prosecutors’ arguments and said the “rule of law” had collapsed. He said he would discuss whether to appeal with his client and the rest of the legal team.
Yoon Suk Yeol told the court the martial law decree was only meant to raise public awareness of how the liberals were paralyzing state affairs, and that he was prepared to respect lawmakers if they voted against the measure.
Prosecutors said it was clear Yoon was attempting to disable the legislature and prevent lawmakers from lifting the measure through voting, actions that exceeded his constitutional authority even under martial law.
In announcing Yoon and Kim’s verdicts, Jee said the decision to
send troops to the National Assembly was key to his determination that the imposition of martial law amounted to rebellion.
“This court finds that the purpose of (Yoon’s) actions was to send troops to the National Assembly, block the Assembly building and arrest key figures, including the National Assembly speaker and the leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties, in order to prevent lawmakers from gathering to deliberate or vote,” Jee said. “It’s sufficiently established that he intended to obstruct or paralyze the Assembly’s activities so that it would be unable to properly perform its functions for a considerable period of time.”
See “Yoon,” A11
Tensions soar as Iran and US engage in gunboat diplomacy while nuclear talks hang in balance
By Jon Gambrell The Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Iran and the United States leaned into gunboat diplomacy Thursday as nuclear talks between the nations hung in the balance, with Tehran holding drills with Russia and the Americans bringing another aircraft carrier closer to the Mideast.
The Iranian drill and the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier near the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea underscore the tensions between the nations. Iran earlier this week also launched a drill that involved live-fire in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow opening of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil passes.
The movements of additional American warships and airplanes don’t guarantee a US strike on Iran—but it does give President Donald Trump the ability to carry out one should he choose to do so. He’s so far held off on striking Iran after setting red lines over the killing of peaceful protesters and Tehran holding mass executions, while reengaging Tehran in nuclear talks earlier disrupted by the Iran-Israel war in June.
“Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website, seeking to pressure the United Kingdom over its plans to settle the future of the Chagos Islands with Mauritius.
Meanwhile, Iran struggles with unrest at home following its crackdown on protests, with mourners now holding ceremonies honoring their dead 40 days after their killing by security forces. Some of the gatherings have included anti-government cries, despite threats from authorities.
Iran holds drill with Russia THE drill Thursday saw Iranian Forces and Russian sailors conduct operations in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported. The drill will be aimed at “upgrading operational coordination as well as exchange of military experiences,” IRNA added.
China had joined the “Security Belt” drill in previous years, but there was no acknowledgment it participated in this round. In recent days, a vessel that appeared to be a Steregushchiy-class Russian corvette had been seen at a military port in the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas. Iran also issued a rocket-fire warning to pilots in the region, suggesting they planned to launch anti-ship missiles in the exercise.
Meanwhile, tracking data showed the Ford off the coast of Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean midday Wednesday, meaning the carrier could transit through Gibraltar and potentially station in the eastern Mediterranean with its supporting guided-missile destroyers.
Having the carrier there could allow American forces to have extra aircraft and anti-missile power to potentially protect Israel and Jordan should a conflict break out with Iran. The US similarly placed warships there during the Israel-Hamas war in
the Gaza Strip to protect against Iranian fire.
Anti-government chants made at mourning ceremonies
MOURNING ceremonies for those killed by security forces in the protests last month also have increased. Iranians traditionally mark the death of a loved one 40 days after the loss. Both witnesses and social media videos showed memorials taking place at Tehran’s massive Behesht-e Zahra cemetery. Some memorials included people chanting against Iran’s theocracy while singing nationalistic songs. The demonstrations began Dec. 28 at Tehran’s historic Grand Bazaar, initially over the collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial, then spread across the country. Tensions exploded on Jan. 8, with demonstrations called for by Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi. Iran’s government has offered only one death toll for the violence, with 3,117 people killed. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous rounds of unrest in Iran, puts the death toll at over 7,000 killed, with many more feared dead.
The Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.
N. Korean leader deploys 50 new rocket launchers ahead of major party congress
By Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea—North Korea said Thursday leader Kim Jong Un held a ceremony to unveil the deployment of 50 new launch vehicles for nuclear-capable short-range missiles threatening rival South Korea as he flaunted his expanding military capabilities ahead of a major ruling party congress. In a separate statement, Kim’s sister, who is a key foreign policy official acknowledged a South Korean minister’s apology regarding alleged civilian drone incursions, but said the North is bolstering border security against the “enemy” South. North Korea has suspended nearly all talks and cooperation with the South since 2019, when Kim’s nuclear diplomacy with US President Donald Trump derailed over US-led sanctions. Relations worsened in recent years as Kim discarded the North’s long-standing goal of peaceful reunification and declared a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula, a stance he may further institutionalize
A10 Friday, February 20, 2026
Afghanistan faces catastrophic hunger crisis as aid cuts force UN’s WFP to turn away 3 in 4 children
By Abdul Qahar Afghan & Elena Becatoros The Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan—The toddler cries as an oxygen mask is fitted to his face, its green elastic band stretched across his sunken cheeks. When he was first hospitalized a month ago, the 2 and a half year-old was fighting for his life.
Severely malnourished, Abu Bakar weighed just 6 kilograms (13 pounds), about half what he should. And yet, he is one of the lucky ones: His family got him to Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Kabul, where doctors are providing life-saving care.
But for every malnourished child receiving treatment, there are many more who cannot get help.
“We have a catastrophic nutritional crisis on our hands with two-thirds of the country in a very serious or crisis level for acute malnutrition,” said John Aylieff, Afghanistan Country Director for the United Nations’ World Food Program. “This is the highest surge in malnutrition ever recorded in the country. And the lives of 4 million children are hanging in the balance.”
Desperate children turned away DEVASTATED by four decades of conflict, Afghanistan has long relied on foreign aid. But the Taliban takeover in 2021 saw direct foreign aid halted almost overnight, driving millions into poverty and hunger. The situation is compounded by a moribund economy, a severe drought, two devastating earthquakes in late 2025 and the return of 5.3 million Afghans expelled mainly from neighboring Pakistan and Iran.
Now, funding cuts to humanitarian organizations, including the halting of US aid to programs such as the WFP’s food distribution, have severed a lifeline for millions.
“The aid cuts have been devastating,” Aylieff told The Associated Press. Of the 4 million acutely malnourished children, “we are forced now to turn away three out of four of them because we simply don’t
have the money.”
This, he said, “is unprecedented and I’ve never seen this in my more than 30-year-old career as a humanitarian.”
Of the 17.4 million people facing acute hunger, the organization can now only reach 2 million. And even for them, it is forced to provide less food.
No more food parcels
DONOR countries’ budgets are spread thin among humanitarian emergencies around the world, including famine in Sudan and the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
In 2024, the WFP’s budget in Afghanistan was $600 million after “very generous” donor contributions, Aylieff said.
Last year, the amount fell by half and the organization expects
to receive even less—about $200 million—this year. It’s not enough to tackle a hunger problem that “is spiraling out of control,” he added.
Abu Bakar’s family was among those who saw aid dry up.
“We once received assistance from an organization that helped us a lot with food,” said his mother, Latifa, 36, who, like many Afghans, goes by one name. But that stopped three years ago. Since then, there’s been nothing.
Her husband, a construction worker, has been unemployed for a year. Now, at times, she has nothing at all to feed her five sons.
“I am trying to provide food for my kids,” Latifa said, cradling her emaciated toddler in her arms. She doesn’t care if she doesn’t eat, she says. “I can control my hunger. I will handle it. But my child can’t.”
Children dying HUNGER is driving an increase in child mortality, Aylieff said, with the WFP logging more than 500 child deaths in recent months.
The number, he noted, was “the tip of the iceberg” as many deaths during winter occur in villages blocked off by snow and are unregistered.
“How many more Afghan children will die here before the world wakes up and realizes that that’s enough? Aylieff asked. “Before the world says, ‘OK, we’ve crossed a threshold, we are not willing to stand by anymore, and we’re coming now to help.’ How many? What is the number? I really don’t know.”
Sharara, 21, is fighting to prevent her 6-month-old son Samir from becoming one of those children.
From the far northeastern province of Badakhshan, the young mother of two was bounced around hospitals there and in the northern city of Kunduz as doctors struggled to treat her gravely ill baby, suffering from a heart problem and severe pneumonia compounded by malnutrition.
Eventually, Sharara, who also goes by one name, made it to the malnutrition ward of Kabul’s Ataturk Hospital. But she is still desperately worried.
“Doctors say his condition is currently critical,” she said. In the 13 days Samir has been hospitalized, he hasn’t gained any weight.
The government’s response AFGHANISTAN’S government is well aware of the country’s hunger problem, and has expanded its malnutrition treatment facilities from 800 to about 3,200, Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman told the AP. In 2025, about 3 million malnourished children and mothers were treated, he added.
“Malnutrition is not a one-day problem. Malnutrition has been a problem in Afghanistan for decades due to poverty, war and other problems,” said Zaman, who is also a medical doctor.
The government has been speaking with aid agencies, he said, including those that have reduced funding or suspended projects.
“Health is separate from politics. Providing health services is an inalienable right for all people,” Zaman said.
Women bear the brunt WOMEN are especially affected
AFGHAN women care for their children in the malnutrition ward at Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. AP/SIDDIQULLAH ALIZAI
See “Afghanistan,” A11
Trump gathers Board of Peace members for first meeting, with some US allies wary of new body
By Aamer Madhani & Matthew Lee The Associated Press
ASHINGTON—Presi -
Wdent Donald Trump will gather Thursday with representatives from more than two dozen countries that have joined his Board of Peace— and several that have opted not to—for an inaugural meeting that will focus on reconstruction and building an international stabilization force for a war-battered Gaza, where a shaky ceasefire deal persists.
Trump announced ahead of the meeting that board members have pledged $5 billion for reconstruction, a fraction of the estimated $70 billion needed to rebuild the Palestinian territory decimated after two years of war. Members are expected to unveil commitments of thousands of personnel to international stabilization and police forces for the territory.
“We have the greatest leaders in the world joining the Board of Peace,” Trump told reporters earlier this week. “I think it has
the chance to be the most consequential board ever assembled of any kind.”
The board was initiated as part of Trump’s 20-point peace plan to end the conflict in Gaza. But since the October ceasefire, Trump’s vision for the board has morphed and he wants it to have an even more ambitious remit—one that will not only complete the Herculean task of bringing lasting peace between Israel and Hamas but will also help resolve conflicts around the globe.
But ahead of the board’s first gathering, the Gaza ceasefire deal remains fragile and Trump’s expanded vision for it has triggered fears the US president is looking to create a rival to the United Nations. Trump earlier this week said he hoped the board would push the U.N. to “get on the ball.”
“The United Nations has great potential,” he said. “They haven’t lived up to the potential.”
Some US allies remain skeptical MORE than 40 countries and the European Union have confirmed they will send officials to Thursday’s meeting, according to a senior
administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly. Germany, Italy, Norway and Switzerland are among more than a dozen countries that have not joined the board but are expected to attend as observers, the official said.
The U.N. Security Council held a high-level meeting Wednesday on the ceasefire deal and Israel’s efforts to expand control in the West Bank. The U.N. session in New York was originally scheduled for Thursday but was moved up after Trump announced the board’s meeting for the same date and it became clear that it would complicate travel plans for diplomats planning to attend both.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told reporters earlier this week that “at the international level it should above all be the U.N. that manages these crisis situations.” The Trump administration on Wednesday pushed back on the Vatican’s concerns.
“This president has a very bold and ambitious plan and vision to rebuild and reconstruct Gaza, which is well underway because of the Board of Peace,” White House
press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “This is a legitimate organization where there are tens of member countries from around the world.”
Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the U.N., also pushed back on skeptical allies, saying the board is “not talking, it is doing.”
“We are hearing the chattering class criticizing the structure of the board, that it’s unconventional, that it’s unprecedented,” Waltz said. “Again, the old ways were not working.”
Questions about disarming Hamas
CENTRAL to Thursday’s discussions will be creating an armed international stabilization force to keep security and ensure the disarming of the militant Hamas group, a key demand of Israel and a cornerstone of the ceasefire deal.
But thus far, only Indonesia has offered a firm commitment to Trump for the proposed force. And Hamas has provided little confidence that it is willing to move forward on disarmament.
The administration is “under
UN experts: Campaign of destruction by Sudan’s rebels in el-Fasher bears ‘hallmarks of genocide’
By Jamey Keaten & Samy Magdy
The Associated Press
GENEVA—A “campaign of destruction” in October by Sudanese rebels against non-Arab communities in and near a city in Sudan’s western region of Darfur shows “hallmarks of genocide,” U.N.-backed human rights experts reported Thursday, a dramatic finding in the country’s devastating war.
The Rapid Support Forces carried out mass killings and other atrocities in el-Fasher after an 18-month siege during which they imposed conditions “calculated to bring about the physical destruction” of non-Arab communities, in particular the Zaghawa and the Fur communities, the independent fact-finding mission on Sudan reported.
U.N. officials say several thousand civilians were killed in the RSF takeover of el-Fasher, the Sudanese army’s only remaining stronghold in the Darfur. Only 40% of the city’s 260,000 residents managed to flee the onslaught alive, thousands of whom were wounded, the officials said. The fate of the rest remains unknown.
Sudan plunged into conflict in mid-April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between its military and paramilitary leaders broke out in the capital Khartoum and spread to other regions including Darfur.
The devastating war has killed more than 40,000 people, according to U.N. figures, but aid groups say that is an undercount and the true number could be many times higher.
The RSF and their allied Arab militias,
Protesters rally outside court
As Yoon arrived in court, hundreds of police officers watched closely as Yoon supporters rallied outside a judicial complex, their cries rising as the prison bus transporting him drove past. Yoon’s critics gathered nearby, demanding the death penalty.
There were no immediate reports of major clashes following the verdict.
A special prosecutor had demanded the death penalty for Yoon Suk Yeol, saying his actions
known as Janjaweed, overran el-Fasher on Oct. 26 and rampaged through the city. The offensive was marked by widespread atrocities that included mass killings and summary executions, sexual violence, torture, and abductions for ransom, according to the U.N. Human Rights Office.
They killed more than 6,000 people between Oct. 25 and Oct. 27 in the city, the office said. Ahead of the attack, the rebels ran riot in the Abu Shouk displacement camp, just outside of the city, and killed at least 300 people in two days, it said.
The RSF did not respond to an e-mailed request for comment. The group’s commander, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, has previously acknowledged abuses by his fighters, but disputed the scale of atrocities.
At least 3 criteria for genocide were met, team says AN international convention known colloquially as the “Genocide Convention”— adopted in 1948, three years after the end of World War II and the Holocaust—sets out five criteria to assess whether genocide has taken place.
They are: killing members of a group; causing its members serious bodily or mental harm; imposing measures aimed to prevent births in the group; deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about the “physical destruction” of the group; and forcibly transferring its children to another group. The fact-finding team, which doesn’t have final say on the matter, said it found at least three of those five were met in the actions of the RSF. Under the convention, a genocide
posed a threat to the country’s democracy and deserved the most serious punishment available, but most analysts expected a life sentence since the poorlyplanned power grab did not result in casualties.
South Korea has not executed a death row inmate since 1997, in what is widely seen as a de facto moratorium on capital punishment amid calls for its abolition.
Other officials sentenced for enforcing martial law
The court also convicted and sentenced several former military and police officials involved in enforcing Yoon’s martial law de -
determination could be made even if only one of the five were met.
The RSF acts in el-Fasher included killing members of a protected ethnic group; causing serious bodily and mental harm; and deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the group’s physical destruction in whole or in part—all core elements of the crime of genocide under international law, according to the fact-finding team.
The report cited a systematic pattern of ethnically targeted killings, sexual violence and destruction and public statements explicitly calling for the elimination of non-Arab communities.
‘Not random’ excesses of war, chair says
TEAM chair Mohamed Chande Othman, a former chief justice of Tanzania, said the RSF operation were not “random excesses of war” but pointed to a planned and organized operation that bore the characteristics of genocide.
El-Fasher’s residents were “physically exhausted, malnourished, and in part unable to flee, leaving them defenseless against the extreme violence that followed,” the team’s report said. “Thousands of persons, particularly the Zaghawa, were killed, raped or disappeared during three days of absolute horror.”
The fact-finding mission pointed to mass killings, widespread rape, sexual violence, torture and cruel treatment, arbitrary detention, extortion, and enforced disappearances during RSF’s takeover of el-Fasher in late October.
The report documented cases of survivors
cree, including ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who received a 30-year jail term for his central role in planning the measure and mobilizing the military.
Last month, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for resisting arrest, fabricating the martial law proclamation and sidestepping a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting before declaring the measure.
The Seoul Central Court has also convicted two members of Yoon’s Cabinet in other cases.
That includes Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who received a 23-year prison sentence for attempting to legitimize the decree
quoting its fighters as saying things like: “Is there anyone Zaghawa among you? If we find Zaghawa, we will kill them all” and “We want to eliminate anything black from Darfur.”
The report pointed to “selective targeting” of Zaghawa and Fur women and girls, “while women perceived as Arab were often spared.”
A call for accountability
THE fact-finding team was created in 2023 by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, the U.N.’s leading human rights body, which has 47 member countries drawn from membership in the world body.
The team called for accountability for perpetrators and warned that protection of civilians is needed “more than ever” because the conflict is expanding to other regions in Sudan.
Over the course of the conflict, the warring parties were accused of violating international law. But most of the atrocities were blamed on the RSF: The Biden administration, in one of its last decisions, said it committed genocide in Darfur.
The RSF has been supported by the United Arab Emirates over the course of the war, according to U.N. experts and rights groups. The UAE has denied the allegations.
The RSF grew out of the Janjaweed militias, who became notorious for atrocities in the early 2000s in a ruthless campaign against people identifying as East or Central African in Darfur. That campaign killed some 300,000 people and drove 2.7 million from their homes.
Magdy reported from Cairo. Fatma Khaled in Cairo contributed to this report.
by forcing it through a Cabinet Council meeting, falsifying records and lying under oath. Han has appealed the verdict.
Yoon is the first former South Korean president to receive a life sentence since former military dictator Chun Doo-hwan, who was sentenced to death in 1996 for his 1979 coup, a bloody 1980 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Gwangju that left more than 200 people dead or missing, and corruption.
The Supreme Court later reduced his sentence to life imprisonment, and he was released in late 1997 under a special presidential pardon. He died in 2021.
no illusions on the challenges regarding demilitarization” but has been encouraged by what mediators have reported back, according to a US official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto pledged to work closely with other leading Islamic countries invited by Trump to “join in the endeavors to try to achieve lasting peace in Palestine.”
“We recognize there are still obstacles to be overcome, but at least my position is at least we have to try, and we have to do our best,” he said at an event at the US Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, where he met with members of the business community.
On Thursday, updates are expected from the Gaza Executive Board, the operational arm of the board, about its efforts to create a functioning government system and services for the territory, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the broad outlines of the meeting.
Continued from A10
by rising hunger. Banned from nearly all jobs by the Taliban government’s draconian restrictions on women, widows with children are especially vulnerable.
Many are so desperate they say they want to die.
“As WFP, we’re getting more and more suicide calls from women because they just don’t know how to feed their children and they don’t know where to turn,” the WFP country director said.
WPF nutrition programs have seen a 30% increase in the number of acutely malnour -
artificial intelligence and advanced guiding technologies tailored to carry out a “strategic mission,” a term that implies nuclear purpose.
He said the upcoming congress will issue new plans to expand the capabilities of his nuclear-armed military, which already has various systems targeting US allies in Asia and long-range missiles potentially capable of reaching the US mainland.
In addition to Trump, the official said other speakers at the conference would include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s sonin-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the executive board’s high representative Nickolay Mladenov, and Waltz. Michael Hanna, US program director at the International Crisis Group, a nonprofit group focused on preventing conflicts, suggested the skepticism some US allies are showing is not unwarranted.
“Without any clear authorization for the expansion of its mandate beyond Gaza, it is unsurprising that many US allies and partners have chosen to decline Trump’s offer to join the board,” Hanna said. “Instead, many of the states most invested in Gaza’s future have signed up with the hope of focusing US attention and encouraging Trump himself to use the influence and leverage he has with Israel.”
The Associated Press writers Didi Tang in Washington, Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations and Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed reporting.
ished pregnant and breastfeeding women, an increase Aylieff said nobody in the nutrition community had seen before.
“These are the women to whom the world pledged unwavering solidarity in the aftermath of the takeover of the country in 2021.… Those same women are asking us, where is the solidarity of the international community?” Aylieff said.
“If I had one plea, it’s to not walk away from Afghan women who are now facing abject misery, hunger, malnutrition and watching their children die.”
Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece.
“The border with an enemy state should naturally be firm,” she said.
Chung on Wednesday said Seoul was considering reinstating a suspended 2018 inter-Korean military pact on reducing border tensions, which included a no-fly zone, as part of measures to prevent further drone incursions into the North.
North Korea threatened retaliation last month after accusing South Korea of launching a surveillance drone flight in September and again in January. The South Korean government has denied operating any drones during the times specified by North Korea but law enforcement authorities are investigating three civilians suspected of flying drones into the North from border areas.
In her statement, Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, said she “highly assesses” an apology made by South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young over the alleged drone flights but reiterated that the North would respond with force if such flights recur. She said the country’s military would strengthen surveillance across the border with the South.
Teachers trump AI in shaping character, Marcos declares
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
TEACHERS remain irreplaceable in nation-building by helping hone the character of their students at a time when artificial intelligence (AI) encroaches the workforce, according to President Ferdinand Marcos.
“No matter how many laptops, Artificial Intelligence, or other technologies we use, there is still no substitute for the love, concern, and care our teachers give to your students,” the Chief Executive made the statement in Filipino during the mass oath-taking ceremony for newly promoted teachers and school heads under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) program in Bulacan and Pampanga last Thursday.
NCIP convenes community assembly for proposed mining exploration in Sal-lapadan, Abra
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
THE National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) has formally convened the first community assembly for the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process for a proposed minerals exploration project in Sallapadan, Abra.
Mandated under the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA), the FPIC process a critical procedural milestone in determining whether the project may proceed.
During the community assembly held on February 17, in Sallapadan, the NCIP provided an overview of the FPIC framework, including the rights, safeguards, and decisionmaking authority vested in the concerned Indigenous Cultural Community (ICC).
Sal-lapadan is a 5th class municipality situated some 42 to 50 kilometers east-southeast of Bangued, the capital of Abra.
The assembly marks the official start of the structured consultation process required before the issuance of any exploration permit under IPRA.
Sal-lapadan Mayor Fernando A. Semanero said the initial assembly was strictly informational in nature and does not constitute approval of any mining activity.
“This is not a final decision,” Semanero emphasized, noting that the determination of consent will be made through a formal community decision process under NCIP supervision.
He underscored that the authority to grant or withhold consent rests exclusively with the Indigenous Cultural Community, and that the outcome must reflect its collective and informed will.
The commencement of FPIC follows earlier concerns raised by local stakeholders regarding the issuance of an Authority to Verify Minerals before the completion of FPIC requirements.
These concerns were formally elevated to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which subsequently led to the suspension of related activities pending compliance.
He urged teachers to go beyond just teaching skills and knowledge by also building the character of their students to help in the country’s cultural transformation by implementing the Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) through inclusive economic growth and ideal values.
“Teach not only knowledge, but empathy. Not only skills, but character. Because long after the lessons are over, what your students will remember most is how you made them believe in themselves,” he told the ECP beneficiaries.
“And that, more than anything else, is how a nation is truly transformed,” he added.
The role of teachers in making a strong society, the President said, cannot be replaced by AI since it involves instilling students with the right values through socializa -
DTI
tion in class.
“In this age, many of our challenges require discipline, honesty, empathy—values first learned at home and strengthened in your classrooms through your example,” Marcos said.
“You are the ones who teach them the lessons for work and for life: how to care for others, how to be responsible, how to stand with integrity. These are the foundations of a strong society, and they are built day to day in your classrooms,” he added.
In recognition of the invaluable contribution of teachers, Marcos has committed to continue enhancing the working conditions and credentials.
The ECP, he said, is one of such initiatives, which aims to provide career progression and salary increases among teachers without
them leaving the classroom.
To ensure their welfare, Marcos said the Department of Education (DepEd) also implemented Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) Caravan, which aims to bring free medical services to schools to make it more accessible to educators.
The President also said the government has allocated an additional P7.372 billion to fund the Service Recognition Incentive of teachers.
For this year, he said P1.34 trillion of the national budget was allocated for education related spending, which includes providing for the needs of educators.
“That is why our responsibility as a government is to stand beside you, making your profession more sustainable, more dignified, and more rewarding,” Marcos said.
plans 13 national trade fairs for 2026: Focus on boosting MSME participation and sales growth
TCebu
launches fully funded medical scholarship to address doctor shortage
By Carmel Pedroza
CEBU CITY - Scholars who are residents of Cebu province can soon enjoy free tuition after the Cebu provincial government agreed to fund a scholarship program for those who aspire to become medical doctors.
In a news conference on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, Dr. Elise Nicole Catalan, Capitol Piso Health Consultant explained that the Medical Scholarship Program will be funded by the Province of Cebu starting this year.
The initiative forms part of Governor Pamela Baricuatro’s long-term healthcare manpower development plan aimed at addressing the shortage of doctors, particularly in underserved municipalities.
“This is a long-term healthcare manpower plan,” Baricuatro said, noting that the initiative brings efforts “full circle” as the province strengthens both medical education and hospital-based training.
Strengthening the pipeline of doctors AT the core of the program is the Cebu Normal University–Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (CNU-VSMMC) College of Medicine, a government-run medical school established in 2021.
Free tuition and allowances
UNDER the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) “Doctor Para sa Bayan” program, students previously received free tuition and allowances.
To ensure that medical education remains accessible, the Cebu provincial government signed a memorandum of agreement committing to shoulder 40 scholarship slots per year.
Baricuatro said funding will come from the province’s educational funds and the Office of the Governor.
“Based on their needs, the province will provide,” she said.
CNU President Dr. Laurence Garcia detailed the annual tuition:
* First year:P74,000
* Second yearP76,500
* Third year:P78,000
* Fourth year:P78,000
Students not covered by CHED will now have their tuition shouldered by the provincial government. Aquino noted that the cost per scholar in a government institution is significantly lower compared to private medical schools.
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is targeting to mount at least 13 national trade fairs in 2026.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said its outlook for trade fairs this year could still increase, with plans to expand the number of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that would benefit the initiative to 3,000 from around 1,000 last year.
“So, there’s still room for additional [trade fairs] because President Marcos wants to provide more opportunities for MSMEs to sell their products and earn more,” she told reporters on the sidelines of the 2026 DTI national trade fair opening on Thursday.
While Roque did not disclose the target sales for this year’s trade shows as venues remain underway, she expressed confidence that generated sales would surpass last year’s P668 million.
She said the agency’s trade fairs will be moved to the SMX Convention Center in Pasay, “because we’ve grown double in size, double in sales.”
Roque emphasized the importance of trade shows venues for MSMEs, as this could enable MSMEs to earn more.
“It’s crucial for the venue to have a lot of people, because sometimes no matter how good the product is [if the venue doesn’t have a lot of people], there’s no market. That’s why we have to be smart.”
With this, Roque said the agency will also introduce its trade fairs in the reopened Likhang Pilipino Exhibition Halls.
Meanwhile, the DTI chief said the agency is also working on Halal certification of products, so MSMEs could join Halal trade shows.
Halal economic zone
THE country is set to launch its first halal economic zone, aiming to attract investment from Middle Eastern countries and Asean
Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) group manager Aleem Guiapal said that only products certified halal will be allowed within the ecozone, ensuring compliance with Islamic standards.
The initiative is modeled after similar zones in Penang, Malaysia, Brunei, and several locations in the United Arab Emirates, which have successfully drawn investors and promoted halal industries.
He noted that Mindanao is a priority area for the ecozone, building on the region’s existing economic infrastructure under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
“We always tell the investors, even the manufacturing companies, that when they are located in the Philippines, there are many venues for improvement,” Guiapal previously told reporters.
NDA expands dairy programs in Romblon to boost milk production and support feeding initiatives
THE National Dairy Authority (NDA) wants to expand its programs in Romblon as part of efforts to boost the country’s milk output.
NDA Administrator Marcus Antonius Andaya met with government officials of Romblon to present dairy programs that the agency wants to implement when it kicks off milk production in the province.
The NDA said the initiative aims to build a sustainable source of locally produced milk to support government feeding programs and improve access to fresh milk in the province.
Andaya said developing the local dairy industry will ensure a more reliable supply of milk while creating livelihood opportunities for farmers and improving the nutrition of women and children in Romblon.
Tatlo ang makikinabang sa programang ito—ang mga bata, mga nanay, at ang mga magsasaka ,” he said.
Former San Agustin Mayor Dedon Madrona, who facilitated the meeting, shared the province’s interest in utilizing idle lands for dairy production and corn silage cultivation.
“We want to make productive use of idle lands in Romblon for dairy production and dairy development,” Madrona said.
“We are also interested in corn silage production to create more opportunities for our farmers and ensure year-round feed supply for dairy cattle,” he added.
With this, the officials visited Orchard Valley, an NDA-assisted dairy farm, to benchmark its facilities and explore the possible replication of the model in Romblon.
Once the plan materializes, the NDA expects the expansion to strengthen the local dairy value chain from production to collection and distribution.
Local government leaders signified their interest in partnering with the NDA to pilot dairy initiatives in their respective municipalities, the agency added.
The NDA said it will work closely with participating LGUs to identify suitable sites, provide technical assistance, distribute planting starter kits, and roll out capacity-building activities for prospective dairy farmers.
Andaya noted that working with LGUs is part of the agency’s
efforts to adopt a proactive model of dairy expansion by directly engaging local chief executives across regions to encourage investments in dairy development.
“Instead of waiting for LGUs to express interest in our programs, we go to them and present the opportunities in dairy. This is part of our proactive approach to expansion,” he said.
The agency noted that its push for expansion is propelled by the growing demand for locally produced milk, particularly from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) milk feeding program for 2026, which doubled its beneficiaries to 4.6 million learners.
“We need to boost local production because demand for fresh milk is increasing,” Andaya said.
“Government partners such as the DepEd and other institutions are now looking to source local milk, while local chief executives also want milk for their own feeding programs.”
In 2025, local milk production reached a record 43.4 million liters, raising national milk sufficiency to 2.22 percent from around 1 percent over the past three decades.
Dr. Gerardo Aquino, chief of hospital at VSMMC, said the pandemic exposed the urgent need for more doctors, especially in remote areas.
“We at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center saw during COVID that we really need doctors, especially in the periphery. We looked at how we can improve health services in the province and address the lack of doctors,” Aquino explained.
The college was patterned after the University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital (UPPGH) model, where the university serves as the degree-granting institution while the hospital provides clinical training. Since a hospital cannot grant degrees, VSMMC formed a consortium with CNU to establish the College of Medicine.
Approved in 2021, the school was created primarily to produce doctors who would serve underserved communities.
“The main objective is to get doctors, especially the poor but deserving students, and make sure they are supported,” Aquino said.
Limited but focused intake THE CNU-VSMMC College of Medicine currently accommodates a maximum of 50 students per year due to limited facilities within the VSMMC compound. Plans are underway to construct a dedicated building that would allow expansion in the future.
Dr. Jarungchai Vatanagul, dean of the College of Medicine, reported that the school now has 205 students enrolled.
Of seven medical schools across Cebu province, CNU-VSMMC is currently the only governmentrun institution. Applications open this February, with classes beginning in July. Admission requirements include a Bachelor of Science degree, residency in Cebu province, an entrance examination administered by CNU, and an aptitude test. Preference is given to applicants from lower-income families and those residing in the province’s municipalities.
For the first four years of implementation, Garcia said the college has maintained one section of 50 students per year to ensure quality education.
See “Cebu,” A13
New UPLB rental housing project aims to assist 800 low-income residents under 4PH program
AROUND 800 individuals are expected to benefit from a new rental housing project inside the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said on Thursday.
The project, under the government’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, will initially involve the construction of two five-storey buildings in Paciano Rizal, Bay, Laguna, near the UP Rural High School campus. According to the DHSUD, the target beneficiaries include low-income employees of UPLB and informal settler families from Los Baños. The agency said the development is designed to provide rental housing, a modality introduced under the expanded 4PH program. Ang rental housing ay isa sa mga modality na in -introduce natin sa 4PH na sa ngayon ay marami na rin ang sumusuporta. Ang pilot project
natin ay sa UP-Diliman campus, at mayroon na rin tayong masisimulan ka partner an g LGUs ng Quezon City, Victorias City at Iloilo City,” Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said.
(Rental housing is one of the modalities we introduced under 4PH, and it is now gaining wide support. Our pilot project is at the UP Diliman campus, and we are also set to begin projects in partnership with the local government units of Quezon City, Victorias City, and Iloilo City.) The UPLB project is the fifth rental housing initiative under the Expanded 4PH, the agency also said. The last housing project implemented within the Los Baños campus was in the 1980s, during the administration of Marcos Sr., and had mostly benefited faculty members. Details such as the total project cost, rental rates and timeline for completion were not immediately disclosed during the launch. Justine Xyrah Garcia
₧6-M fertilizer could help Zambo del Sur ARBs grow more, earn more–DAR
THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has rolled out nearly P6 million worth of fertilizer assistance for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) across Zamboanga del Sur.
The DAR said through the Sustainable and Resilient Agrarian Reform Community (SuRe ARC) Program, a total of 7,843 fertilizer pouches are being distributed to members of 86 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs)—helping them prepare for better planting seasons and stronger harvests.
“With rising farm input costs and unpredictable weather, access to quality fertilizer means healthier soil, stronger crops, and higher yields—all of which translate to better income and more stable food for their families,” the DAR said.
The initiative supports the directive of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III to uplift rural communities and strengthen food security, especially in farming provinces like Zamboanga del Sur.
By improving soil fertility and crop nutrition, the fertilizer support allows farmers to grow more with less risk, giving them confidence to plan their planting activities and sustain their livelihoods.
More ARBOs are set to receive assistance in the coming weeks, with province-wide distribution expected to be completed before the end of the quarter.
Beyond the harvest, the program also promotes sustainable farming practices, healthier farmlands, and stronger rural economies—empowering ARBs to become more productive, resilient, and self-reliant while helping ensure a steady food supply for the province.
Jonathan L. Mayuga
Vico Sotto files poll raps vs Discaya over alleged overspending, false Soce
By Mary Jade Jadormio
PASIG City Mayor Victor “Vico”
Sotto has filed complaints before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against former mayoral candidate Cezarah “Sarah” C. Discaya over alleged campaign overspending and misdeclarations in her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (Soce).
In a complaint-affidavit submitted to the poll body, Sotto accused Discaya of violating Section 100 in relation to Section 262 of the Omnibus Election Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 7166, and of committing perjury under Article 183 of
the Revised Penal Code.
Opo, nag -file kami ng electionrelated case kay Sarah Discaya… tingin ko malinaw naman na, clear na violation ito ng election law,” Sotto said, adding that while he was initially reluctant to pursue the case, he deemed it necessary to uphold compliance with election rules in Pasig.
The complaint stated that Pasig City had 463,885 registered voters in the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections, placing the maximum allowable campaign expenditure for a party-affiliated mayoral candidate at P1,391,655, or P3 per registered voter.
Discaya, who ran under a politi-
cal party, declared in her Soce total campaign expenditures amounting to P895,000, all categorized under “stationery, printing and distribution of printed materials relative to candidacy.”
Sotto’s complaint argued that the declared amount appears inconsistent with the scale of Discaya’s campaign activities, which allegedly included online advertisements, billboards in various parts of Pasig, and political rallies and meetings that were not reflected in her Soce.
Pag binasa niyo ’yung Soce niya, nasa humigit kumulang P800,000 lang ang kanyang declared expenditures. Nakita niyo naman lahat kung
Nearly 2,000 Central Luzon teachers promoted as govt fast-tracks career progression program
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
ALMOST 2,000 newly promoted public school teachers and school leaders in Central Luzon took their oath on Thursday as the government accelerated the rollout of a career progression program aimed at expanding promotion opportunities in the education sector.
“Today, as you take your oath, you reaffirm the belief that every Filipino child deserves a fair shot at a brighter tomorrow. Bawat lesson plan na ginawa ninyo, bawat karanasan sa silid-aralan na nililikha ninyo, bawat mabuting asal na itinuturo ninyo, doon unti-unting nabubuo ang kumpiyansa at pangarap ngatingmgaestudyante,” said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who laud the event at the City of San Jose del Monte Sports Complex.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “ Sonny” Angara led the oath taking of 1,991 promoted and reclassified personnel from Bulacan and Pampanga. The group included teachers promoted to higher ranks from Teacher II to Teacher VII, Master Teachers I to III, and school principals from Principal I to Principal IV.
The ceremony forms part of the nationwide implementation of Republic Act No.
12288, or the Career Progression for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act, signed by Marcos in 2025.
The law establishes a structured, competency-based system that allows educators to advance through either classroom teaching or school leadership tracks, with equivalent salaries and benefits.
“Sa pagpapabilis at pagpapalawak ng promosyon, mas napapalakas natin ang hanay ng mga guro na siyang susi sa mas dekalidad na edukasyon para sa bawat batangPilipino...Malinawnapagsasabuhay ito ng prayoridad ng Pangulo na palakasin ang ating sistema ng edukasyon sa pamamagitanngmasmatibaynasuportasaating mga guro,” Angara said.
The Bulacan and Pampanga cluster accounted for one of the largest groups of newly promoted personnel in recent months. Bulacan recorded 408 promotees, followed by Pampanga with 368, Mabalacat City with 301, Angeles City with 238, and the City of San Fernando with 233. Other school divisions included Meycauayan City with 128, San Jose del Monte City with 145, Malolos City with 90, and Baliwag with 80.
More than 16,000 teachers nationwide had already been promoted under the expanded career progression system, with 40,000 more applications under review.
Implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd), the new system expands career ranks, including Teacher IV to VII and Master Teacher V, to address long-standing promotion bottlenecks and recognize teachers’ professional growth and years of service.
Angara noted the reform is designed to boost morale, retain experienced educators in classrooms, and strengthen instructional quality in public schools.
The oath-taking in Central Luzon follows similar ceremonies in other regions.
In January, 789 teachers in the Ilocos Region were sworn into higher positions, while 2,915 personnel in the National Capital Region were promoted or reclassified under the same program and through regular promotion channels.
At the same time, DepEd continues to implement the YAKAP program, a comprehensive initiative focused on the welfare of teachers, personnel, and learners, which includes strengthened access to healthcare services in partnership with PhilHealth.
Marcos and Angara visited YAKAP implementation in Minuya Elementary School in Bulacan, where they engaged with teachers and personnel and underscored the government’s commitment to supporting educators beyond career advancement.
Manila Water Foundation and BFAR-NCR lead ‘ayungin’ fingerlings dispersal in La Mesa Ecopark
THE Manila Water Foundation and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
In a statement, the Yamang Mineral Corporation (YMC) expressed its appreciation to regulatory authorities for facilitating what it described as a transparent and rules-based process consistent with statutory requirements.
YMC reaffirmed its commitment to full compliance with applicable Philippine laws and regulatory procedures and stated that it will abide by the outcome of the FPIC proceedings. “The Company remains committed to responsible and sustainable development initiatives undertaken strictly within the bounds of the law and in alignment with the clearly expressed will of the host community,” YMC stated.
YMC further emphasized that it regards the FPIC mechanism not solely as a regulatory prerequisite, but as an essential platform for dialogue, transparency, and mutual understanding between project proponents and Indigenous communities.
In accordance with IPRA and NCIP guidelines, the FPIC process will proceed through a series of consultations, community deliberations, and ultimately a formal decision by the Indigenous Cultural Community. No exploration or mining activity may commence without documented and validated consent.
Local government officials and NCIP representatives reiterated that the FPIC framework is designed to uphold Indigenous rights, ensure access to accurate and complete information, and protect the integrity of the community’s decision-making process as it weighs potential economic, social, and environmental considerations.
Resources—National Capital Region (BFAR-NCR) have released 70,000 ‘ayungin’ fingerlings at the spillway of La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City. Ayungin, or silver perch, scientifically called Leiopotherapon plumbeus, is also known locally as bugaong, bigaong, and bagaong.
They are silver theraponid fish and a highly prized endemic freshwater species in the Philippines, often found in Laguna de Bay.
The fingerlings dispersal is part of the Manila Water Foundation’s 21st anniversary celebration and in support of BFAR’s Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa (BASIL) Program, which seeks to restore vitality to rivers and lakes and encourage communities to maintain clean waterways where aquatic life can flourish.
Excess water from the La Mesa spillway flows directly into the Tullahan River, which traverses various cities in Metro Manila, including Quezon City, Valenzuela, Malabon, and Navotas, before emptying into Manila Bay.
The activity was graced by BFAR-NCR Regional Director Dr. Noemi Lanzuela, Fisheries Management Regulatory, Enforcement, and Support Services Division Chief
Nonie Enolva, and BASIL Program Focal Person Gemma Cedro. They were welcomed by MWF Environment Programs and Ecopark Operations Department Head Blessille Par and La Mesa Ecopark Operations Section Head Chris Murphy Amparo.
Before the dispersal, BFAR-NCR specialists conducted a technical assessment of the spillway to evaluate its suitability as a growth environment for the fingerlings. The assessment found that the area’s water quality and ecological conditions were conducive to supporting healthy fish development.
Before the fingerlings were released into the spillway, BASIL Program Alternate Focal Person Jethro Emmanuel Baltar delivered a short learning session on fish biology, emphasizing the importance of understanding the life cycle of fish to sustain biodiversity. He shared that within four months, the fingerlings are expected to reach maturity, allowing La Mesa Ecopark visitors to enjoy recreational fishing activities as part of the park’s environmental programs. In her message, Dr. Lanzuela underscored the shared mission of BFAR-NCR and Manila Water Foundation in protecting aquatic ecosystems. “Today, we celebrate not just twenty-one years of service of MWF, but twenty-one years of their impact on the community and the environment. This shared commitment reflects the heart of
our BASIL Program: Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa. Its goal is clear: to restore life to our rivers and lakes,” she said.
The fingerlings’ dispersal symbolizes the continuing collaboration between BFAR-NCR and Manila Water Foundation in safeguarding waterways, promoting environmental stewardship, and empowering communities to participate in ecological conservation efforts across the region.
The fingerling dispersal at La Mesa Ecopark directly supports the goals of the BASIL Program, which focuses on restoring the health and productivity of inland waters. The water tributaries surrounding the La Mesa Dam contribute to the quality and reliability of this major water basin that serves the East Zone of Metro Manila.
By introducing fingerlings into a wellassessed, suitable spillway, the activity helps strengthen the ecological balance of the area, enhance biodiversity, and support natural nutrient cycling. Healthy fish populations contribute to cleaner, more stable water systems, which in turn help protect the overall quality of the watershed and the dam. The activity also promotes environmental awareness among park visitors, reinforcing community involvement in safeguarding vital water resources, the Manila Water Foundation stressed.
Jonathan L. Mayuga
ano ’yung ginawa nila nung campaign,” Sotto said.
The affidavit cited specific instances of digital campaign materials uploaded in late March and early April 2025, as well as outdoor advertisements bearing the required political advertisement disclosures, which the complainant said should have been declared as part of total campaign expenditures.
Under election laws, candidates are required to submit a full, true and itemized statement of all contributions received and expenditures incurred in connection with the election, including expenses paid by supporters or donors on their behalf.
Sotto maintained that the case is not merely about a political opponent but about reinforcing adherence to election laws in Pasig.
Kung sinabing kailangan mong ideclare lahat ng gastusin mo, dapat i -declare mo nang maayos… Pag sinabing P3 per voter ang puwedeng gastusin, hanggang doon lang talaga,” he said.
Aside from the complaint before the Comelec, Sotto disclosed that a separate case for alleged perjury was filed before the Pasig City prosecutor’s office in connection with Discaya’s supposed misdeclarations regarding her citizenship.
House urges Senate OK of bill mandating utilities to secure overhead lines or face ₧2M fines
By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie
THE House of Representatives has endorsed for Senate approval a measure mandating electric distribution, cable and telecommunications companies to take full responsibility for the safety, maintenance and orderly management of overhead power and communications lines, imposing fines of up to P2 million on repeat offenders who fail to comply with inspection, clean-up and safety standards. This, after 223 lawmakers on Wednesday approved on the third and final reading proposed House Bill (HB) 7565 or the proposed Safe Overhead Electric Distribution, Cable, and Communications Lines Act.
House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos, one of the principal authors of the measure, said the bill squarely addresses long-standing safety hazards in communities across the country.
“This bill makes it clear that utilities cannot simply leave hazardous wires hanging above our streets. They have the responsibility to maintain safe, orderly and compliant systems because public safety must always come first,” Marcos said.
“We are setting uniform standards and meaningful penalties so that compliance becomes the norm, not the exception. This is about protecting lives, safeguarding property and ensuring that our infrastructure keeps pace with development,” Marcos added.
In this bill, utilities are required to conduct periodic inspections, remove dangling and unused wires, bundle and secure active lines, replace damaged or leaning poles, and ensure proper clearances in accordance with the Philippine Electrical Code, placing the burden squarely on service providers to protect life and property.
Companies found violating the law will face escalating penalties, with fines ranging from P250,000 to P500,000 for a first offense, P500,000 to P1,000,000 for a second
offense, and P1,000,000 to P2,000,000 for third and succeeding offenses, underscoring the chamber’s intent to compel strict compliance.
Beyond imposing obligations on utilities, the measure institutionalizes regular and systematic inspections by requiring electric distribution, cable and telecommunications firms to undertake periodic audits of their overhead lines and to coordinate clean-up and rehabilitation activities within their service areas.
To strengthen enforcement at the local level, the bill mandates the creation of a Monitoring and Service Team in every city and municipality, which will conduct semi-annual inspections, oversee removal of unused cables and monitor the replacement of defective poles and unsafe installations.
Local government units are 'likewise' given a central role in ensuring compliance, with authority to pass implementing ordinances within 60 days from the effectivity of the implementing rules and regulations and to withhold or deny the renewal of business permits of non-compliant utilities operating within their jurisdiction.
At the national level, the measure creates an Inter-Agency Committee chaired by the Energy Regulatory Commission, composed of key government agencies and LGU representatives, tasked to set uniform standards, coordinate nationwide clean-up efforts and monitor adherence to safety requirements. The bill also encourages the joint use of poles and utility structures to reduce visual clutter and improve efficiency, subject to safety and engineering standards, in a bid to rationalize the growing web of overhead lines in densely populated communities. When relocation or reinforcement of cables and poles becomes necessary due to public infrastructure projects, the measure provides that the implementing agency or private project proponent shall shoulder the cost, preventing delays in government works while clarifying financial accountability.
Taguig, SPD cops successfully nabbed two high-value drug suspects, ₧1-M drugs seized
TAGUIG police officers on Feb. 17 have successfully assisted their counterparts in the Southern Police District (SPD) in arresting two high-value drug suspects and confiscating some P1,020,000 worth of shabu in Barangay Sta. Ana.
In a statement on Thursday, Taguig City Police Station (TCPS) chief Col. Julius Añonuevo said the operation was conducted at around 2:48 p.m. in front of Camella Ellisande along Bambang Ni Peles
The scholarship initiative is complemented by the reinstatement of a practice-
Street by operatives of the SPD’s District Drug Enforcement Unit (DDEU), in coordination with personnel of the city police’s District Intelligence Division and Sub-Station 4. The suspects, identified by their aliases “Miko,” 29, and “Albert,” 49, were newly identified high-value targets operating within the district. Recovered from Miko were some 50 grams of suspected shabu along with the marked buy-bust money and a blue Oppo Android phone. A follow-up search yielded an additional 100 grams of suspected shabu from Albert,
”bringing the total confiscation to approximately 150 grams with a standard drug price of PHP1,020,000.” Añonuevo said the suspects will face charges for violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. He added that the TCPS will sustain close coordination with SPD units and continue intensified operations against illegal drugs. “This million-peso haul serves as a stern warning to those attempting to establish new drug networks in our jurisdiction. Our intelligence-driven operations are designed to identify and intercept high-value pushers before they can further harm our neighborhoods, and we will not rest until these illegal activities are completely uprooted from the Southern Metro,” SPD chief Brig. Gen. Randy Arceo said.
Meanwhile, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano reiterated the city government’s support for law enforcement efforts, noting she supports a drug-free Taguig. Rex Anthony Naval
A 1% wake-up call: US remittance fee threatens OFWs and Philippine economy
FOR decades, remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have served as the bedrock of the Philippine economy—a “key stabilizer” that breathes life into household consumption and keeps the national balance of payments afloat. The latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas confirms this enduring narrative, with cash remittances hitting a robust $35.63 billion in 2025. However, as we move into 2026, a shadow has emerged from our largest source of these funds: the United States. (Read the BusinessMirror story: Proposed remittance tax in US cited as risk, February 17, 2026).
The implementation of a 1-percent tax on remittances sent from the US, which took effect on January 1, 2026, marks a pivotal shift in the migrationand-development landscape. While the tax may seem marginal on paper, its implications for our “modern-day heroes” and the families they support are anything but small.
The 4.2 percent surge in remittances seen in December 2025 was more than just holiday cheer; it was a strategic move. As RCBC chief economist Michael Ricafort noted, many Filipinos likely accelerated their transfers to beat the January 1 tax deadline. This “pre-tax rush” highlights the sensitivity of our OFWs to the rising cost of sending money home.
While experts like Jonathan L. Ravelas believe the money coming home won’t stop immediately, the new tax creates a worrying trend for the future. As sending money becomes more expensive, the families of our OFWs end up with less cash to spend on daily needs. Additionally, these higher costs might push OFWs to use risky “under-the-table” methods instead of banks, making it harder for the government to track and stabilize the economy.
The Philippine economy’s dependence on the US—which remains our top source of cash remittances—makes this tax a significant external shock. We are essentially watching a tax on Filipino labor being collected by a foreign treasury. While the deployment of workers in healthcare, maritime, and service sectors remains steady, the “resilience” we so often celebrate is being tested by protectionist fiscal policies abroad.
The “bottom line,” as Ravelas aptly put it, is that we cannot take these flows for granted. The government and financial institutions must respond not with complacency, but with innovation.
To cushion the blow of the US remittance tax, the Philippines must prioritize two fronts:
Digital transformation: We must further lower the domestic costs of receiving money. Digital transfer channels have already made sending money faster; now, they must make it cheaper to offset the new US tax.
Economic diversification: While remittances support domestic demand, a truly stable economy should not rely so heavily on the sacrifice of its citizens abroad. We must continue to build local industries that provide competitive opportunities at home.
The 1-percent tax is a wake-up call. It reminds us that while the OFW spirit is tireless, the global financial environment is increasingly transactional. If we are to honor the contribution of our OFWs, we must ensure that the fruits of their labor are not eroded by the very systems meant to facilitate them. Remittances have stabilized our past; only sound domestic policy and financial innovation will secure our future.
BusinessMirror
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OFW remittances hit record $35
PDennis Gorecho
Pinoy Marino Rights
ERSONAL remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 2025 increased by 3.3 percent to an all-time high of $39.62 billion from $38.34 billion in 2024, according to records from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
OFW cash remittances in 2025 reached $35.63 billion, 3.3 percent higher than the $34.49 billion recorded in 2024.
Land-based workers sent cash remittances amounting to $28.49 billion, up 3.4 percent from 2024 ($27.55 billion).
Sea-based workers remitted $7.139 billion in 2025, which is 2.9 percent higher than 2024 ($6.94 billion).
By source, the BSP said the United States accounted for the largest share at 39.7 percent, followed by Singa-
pore (7.3 percent), Saudi Arabia (6.6 percent), Japan (5 percent), and the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates (4.6 percent each).
The full-year 2025 cash remittances represented 7.3 percent and 6.4 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Income (GNI), respectively. Personal remittances represent the total value of money and goods sent by Filipinos working abroad, covering both formal bank transfers and informal channels (like handcarried cash).
billion in 2025
Remittances provide macroeconomic benefits to the Philippine economy, where a significant portion of the population lives and works abroad. They augment foreign currency reserves, alleviate pressure on the exchange rate, and reduce the need for foreign borrowing.
Cash remittances, a subset of personal remittances, refer exclusively to money sent specifically through bank-to-bank transfers or formal courier services.
Essentially, all cash remittances are personal remittances, but not all personal remittances are cash remittances. Personal remittances are considered a more comprehensive metric of total household support, while cash remittances are tracked by the BSP for formal economic impact.
A weak peso often encourages higher remittances as the value of foreign currency increases in Philippine pesos.
Remittances provide macroeconomic benefits to the Philippine economy, where a significant portion of the population lives and works abroad. They augment foreign currency reserves, alleviate pressure on the exchange rate, and reduce the need for foreign borrowing. From 2015 to 2025, cash remittances reached $25.607B in 2015; $26.900B in 2016; $28.060B in 2017; $28.943B in 2018; $30.133B in 2019; $29.903B in 2020; $31.42B in 2021; $32.539B in 2022; $33.490B in 2023; $34.492B in 2024; and $35.63B in 2025.
These cash remittances formed part of the personal remittances that reached $28.308B in 2015; $29.706B in 2016; $31.288B in 2017; $32,213 in 2018; $33.467B in 2019; $33.194B in 2020; $34.88B in 2021; $36.14B in 2022; $37.2B in 2023; $38.34B in 2024; and $39.62B in 2025.
In terms of deployment, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported that the total See “Gorecho,” A15
People Power I and the Philippine economy
NEAGLE WATCH
EXT week marks the 40th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution (People Power I). This means that almost the exact same time has passed between People Power I and the present day, as it has between the end of the second World War and People Power I.
I was an elementary student in 1986 and to me and my cohort World War II was the stuff of distant history. It must be the same for children now when hearing about 1986 and People Power I.
The country is very different now compared to 1986. The country’s population was only around 56 million in 1986; it is now about 114 million. The country’s total economic output, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), was only P4.3 trillion in 1986 (in 2018 pesos); it was at P23.2 trillion in 2025 and expected to hit P24.2 trillion in 2026.
This means that in the span of the past 40 years, the country’s economic output has expanded about 5.5 times, even as its population roughly doubled, meaning per capita GDP, which is the usual measure of how well-off a population is, has close to tripled compared to 1986.
To put this into perspective, this was decent but not extraordinary growth for the period, and for sure
the country could have done better. The Philippine economy grew by about 4.4 percent per year in the past 40 years, which is significantly greater than the world average (3 percent), but only about the same as Thailand’s and lower than Indonesia’s (4.8 percent), Malaysia’s (5.5 percent), and especially Vietnam’s (6.5 percent). Vietnam’s per capita GDP was less than half the Philippines’s per capita GDP in 1986; since 2020, its per capita GDP has already surpassed the Philippines’.
The structure of the economy has also markedly changed. In 1986, agriculture still accounted for about a fifth of GDP and slightly more than half of total employment. In 2025, in what was a good year for agriculture, it only contributed 8 percent to GDP and about 20 percent to total employment. The 40-year period saw the services sector drive and dominate the economy and it now makes up close to two-thirds of GDP from less than half in 1986.
The country has achieved large gains in poverty reduction. In 1985, according to World Bank data, 43.3 percent of the Philippine population was income poor using the $3-a-day poverty line (in 2021 purchasing power parity). This was down to only 5.3 percent by 2023.
The country has achieved large gains in poverty reduction. In 1985, according to World Bank data, 43.3 percent of the Philippine population was income poor using the $3-a-day poverty line (in 2021 purchasing power parity). This was down to only 5.3 percent by 2023.
The Social Weather Stations (SWS) has national-level data on self-rated poverty and quality-oflife since 1983. In late 1985, prior to People Power I, 74 percent of households reported themselves as poor according to SWS data; this was down to 51 percent in November 2025, indicating a substantial decline over the period, even if nowhere near the decline in income poverty.
Quality-of-life was rapidly trending downwards in 1985 with 56% of households saying their quality of life has declined in the past year, and only 9 percent saying it improved, for a net gain of -47 percent, according to the same SWS data. In late 2025, in what was a relatively down period for the economy compared to previous years, 29 percent still said their quality-of-life improved compared to 36% that said it got worse, for a
net gain of -7 percent. Except for the pandemic period, quality-of-life assessments never got as bad as it did in late 1985.
The changes over the past 40 years have not been limited to the economy. Since 1974, the Freedom in the World survey has compiled assessments of political rights (PR) and civil liberties (CL), contributing to an overall assessment of Freedom Status (FS), in different countries. PR and CL are scored from 1 to 7, with one representing the highest degree of freedom. In early 1986, the Philippines scored 4 in PR and 3 in CL, for an FS assessment of Partially Free. In 2025, the Philippines scored 3 in PR and 4 in CL for the same FS assessment of Partially Free, suggesting an improvement in political rights in the country but a deterioration in civil liberties over the period. But note that the country still did better in terms of these measures compared to most of our close neighbors: Vietnam (PR=7, CL=6; FS=not free); Thailand (PR=6; CL=5; FS=not free); Malaysia (PR=4; CL=4; FS=partially free); and Indonesia (PR=4; CL=4; FS=partially free). We have not done as well in terms of the economy but apparently, we benefit from greater freedoms.
For someone like me who grew up in the early 1980s when it was normal practice to shush people when they start saying critical things about the government or people in power, even the assessment of lower civil liberties is not easy to fathom when certainly there appears to be more of See “Eagle Watch,” A15
Dr. Geoffrey Ducanes
Gorecho.
number of Filipino seafarers deployed overseas reached 376,663 in 2017; 337,502 in 2018; 507,730 in 2019; 217,223 in 2020; 345.52 in 2021; 385,239 in 2022; 549,249 in 2023; 549,339 in 2024; and 589,179 in 2025. The sea-based sector’s remittances (in thousand US dollars) for the past two decades: $1,669,358 in 2005; $1,949,290 in 2006; $2,236,363 in 2007; $3,034,553 in 2008; $3,400,412 in 2009; $3,806,108 in 2010; $4,340,416 in 2011; $4,835,342 in 2012; $5,215,378 in 2013; $5,575,722 in 2014; $5,572,148 in 2015; $5,792,459 in 2016, $6,870,827 in 2017; $6,139,512 in 2018; $6,539,246 in 2019; $6,353,522 in 2020; $6,545,002 in 2021; $6,715,880 in 2022; $6,852,362 in 2023; $6,941,085 in 2024 and $7,139,028 in 2025.
The data showed the yearly increase of seafarers’ remittances (in thousand US dollars) in 2006 ($279,930), 2007 ($287,073), 2008 ($798,190), 2009 ($365,859), 2010 ($405,696), 2011 ($534,308), 2012 ($494,926), 2013 ($380,036), 2014 ($360,344), 2015 ($220,311), 2016 ($220,311), 2017 ($1,078, 368), 2018 ($731,315), 2019 ($399,734), 2021 ($191,480), 2022 ($172,878), 2023 ($136,482), 2024 ($88,723) and 2025 ($197,943).
The remittances decreased in two
Eagle Watch. . .
continued from A14
such freedoms, although of course more needs to be done especially for specific subgroups of people.
About three weeks ago I attended the wedding of the son of one of my neighborhood friends growing up and his bride in Tagaytay, in one of those destination weddings that seem very popular nowadays. My friend supported his family of four and was able to get his children, including the groom, through college by driving a tricycle from the wee hours of the morning to the afternoon.
The groom and bride both work
years: 2015 by $3,574 and 2020 by $185,724.
Unlike land-based OFWs, the DMW Seafarer Employment Contract (SEC) mandates that a Filipino seafarer has to make an allotment, which shall be at least 80 percent of the seafarer’s “monthly basic salary,” payable once a month to his designated allottee in the Philippines.
Basic wage under the DMW SEC is defined as “the salary of the seafarer exclusive of overtime, leave pay.”
However, under the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers, the allotment shall be at least 80 percent of the seafarer’s “monthly salary.” The word “basic” was omitted.
The monthly salary shall now consist of basic wage plus fixed or guaranteed overtime. significantly increasing the total amount that must be sent home.
Seafarers have expressed concern that this restricts their ability to manage their own money, leaving them with only 20 percent to cover personal expenses, “crucial savings,” or emergencies while on board.
While the law mandates that remittances be converted using the actual bank exchange rate at the time of transfer, concerns persist about inconsistencies in the rates applied by different agencies, principals, or banks.
Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho is the junior partner of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0908-8665786.
in a multinational business process outsourcing company and saved money over several years to finance their dream wedding. It occurred to me, nevertheless, that such a destination wedding would have been unimaginable to us growing up in a small lower middle-class neighborhood in Pasig in the 1980s. What a big change in what is possible and not possible for families within a generation. How to continue to push the frontier of possibilities for the Filipino people is the challenge moving forward.
Dr. Geoffrey Ducanes is Associate Professor at the Ateneo de Manila University and the Director of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development.
Learning from Ancient Gardens and Forgotten Trees
WTito Genova Valiente ANNOTATIONS
HEN we talk of Japanese gardens, we think of those found in old temples in Kyoto. The garden of Ryoan-ji comes to mind. It is a Zen Garden because the temple where it is located belongs to the Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism. Made popular by way of postcards and tourism brochures, it is noted for its use of the so- called “kare-sansui” or dry landscape. The garden has rock formations surrounded by a sea of pebbles, which are raked daily by monks. Meant for meditation, the garden holds a mystery: there are 15 stones in the garden but one is hidden from view given the perspective allowed for looking at the garden. The garden is meant to be viewed from a seated position from the “engawa,” a Japanese version of veranda, a transitional space that, for the Japanese, gives them the feeling of being out with nature yet remaining within home.
I share this sense with many for a long time until I came upon Sheila Cliffe, a long-time resident of Japan (I envy her for her impeccable Nihongo) and a kimono expert, who travelled to Shimane Ken (Prefecture, as in province). All of her adventures are captured in the documentary “In Search of Izumo’s Gardens, Past and Present.”
Cliffe visits first the Manpuku-ji, the head temple of the Obaku Zen. Upon arrival, she immediately realizes how different the Japanese sense of taste is when it comes to Izumostyle gardens. She is met by the head monk of the temple who ushers her into a huge dark hall surrounded on all sides by shoji, the translucent screen. The hall is partially open but the monk leaves it at that. The two stand inside while they view the garden.
The monk starts to explain in detail the features of the garden. The three rocks represent Buddha and her attendants. He speaks of Sesshu, a monk who lived in the 15th century. He designed the garden and there is a painting, which shows the garden, its rocks and other elements appearing now in ink. Interestingly, Cliffe mentioned how the garden appeared like a painting.
Next, Sheila Cliffe visits a noka or a farmer’s house. She is led in-
side the house and, as in the temple, her host/guide and Cliffe remained within the house first to take in the view from a certain perspective. The guide brings her to another angle, where he could speak more of the trees. It must be said that trees do not figure greatly in Japanese classical gardens.
In this farmhouse, the guide points to “mokkokutaku” tree, chosen because its name sounds close to “ikkoku,” which refers to the amount of rice supposed to be consumed in a year by an adult male. That tree is turned into a symbol for the people to hold on to—never worry about food.
More interesting are the “ishidoro” or Japanese stone lanterns. In this garden, there are stone lanterns that have crescent moon carved on them. The default analysis is to think in terms of love. The guide,
however, explains that the crescent moon on the stone is a wish for moonlit evenings (at this point, you expect romance to make a scene) so that farmers can continue working in the night.
The last lesson from this garden is the presence of the “kuromatsu” or black pine (kuroi is black and matsu means pine tree). It stands at the center of the garden and plays an important role in many aspects of agriculture that are beyond control. It is a sacred tree. “Look,” the guide says, “how it is like a dragon ascending into the heavens to meet the gods.” Finally, upon hearing all this, Cliffe mutters how in Izumo, gardens reflect the farmer’s respect for nature and their desires.
The third garden she visited belongs to a family that has occu pied it for some 400 years. It has a teahouse with an unusual stepping-stone. Called “tobi-ishi” or
old garden, one of the stepping stones is a millstone. This is not the only radical object in the garden. The tea house dates back to the era of Matsudaira Fumai. In the Edo period, his contribution to the severely ceremonial tea ceremony was to wrest it away from tradition and formal etiquette, an act that appears to mirror how the Izumo-style garden moved away from the Japanese classical garden forms.
flying stone, the stepping-stone is placed there to induce mindfulness, even slow you down. In this
Europe’s wealthy return to hedge funds offering daily liquidity
By Liza Tetley & Abhinav Ramnarayan
EUROPE’S wealthiest residents are once again pouring money into hedge fund-like products, seeking to tap the industry’s standout returns after years of swelling personal fortunes.
As central banks across the continent reduce benchmark interest rates, liquid alternative strategies packaged in retailfriendly structures are drawing affluent investors chasing yields in places other than fixed income. Tailored for a broader European institutional investor base, these products typically allow clients to withdraw their cash frequently—unlike hedge funds that can often lock up capital for years. Assets in alternative Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS)—liquid strategies that aim to mimic traditional hedge fund strategies—rose 22 percent to $287 billion in 2025 from a year earlier, according to data from Kepler Partners. This capped off four straight quarters of growth, the longest stretch in four years, the numbers showed. The trend is an about turn from just a couple of years ago. Alternative UCITS assets went into a free fall between 2022 and 2024 when a rapid rise in interest rates around that time led to massive inflows into fixed-income assets offering attractive yields.
A major garden visited by Sheila Cliffe is in a “bukeyashiki” or a samurai’s home. It was occupied by an Irishman who lived in the early 19th-century Japan, when the country was in transition. For Hearn, the Japanese (i.e, Izumo) garden can be enjoyed in light and shadow. As all those who appreciate Japanese classical gardens or the Izumo-style, which favors laying on the ground circular and rectangular forms. I have my own personal experience with true and old Japanese garden. In the late seventies, I was in Hiroshima to do research on the peace initiatives formed around the ABomb crisis. In exchange for my board and lodging, I was tasked to do periodic cleaning of the old garden. It was a small one, as wide as the room I was occupying. It was, to use the language of today, perfectly “instagrammable.” I would watch it at night when the moonlight shone upon the old rocks. When snow fell upon it, I watched in awe. Was it in January that I was able to gather enough vigor to clean it of debris? Given my servile duty, I was allowed to step into the garden. And so I did. In the garden, I looked around and saw the beauty and poetry and calmness of the garden have all vanished. I was looking down at illformed rocks and mosses and pebbles without meaning.
E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com
sure and direct trading in assets such as commodities and real estate. Unlike traditional hedge funds, where capital lock-ups can stretch into years, UCITS investors can usually redeem their money on a daily or weekly basis.
Kepler’s Absolute Hedge Global Index of UCITS funds gained roughly 7 percent on average in 2025, its second-best year since the index began in 2010. By comparison, a gauge of investment grade corporate debt returned 3 percent in 2025, and is down from the two previous years.
Established UCITS player Marshall Wace handed a portion of cash back to investors from its market neutral UCITS funds in January to avoid getting too big, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified discussing private information. US hedge fund HBK Capital Management’s multi-strategy UCITS fund, which launched in 2023, gained about three quarters of its assets in 2025 alone, and closed to new capital, one of the people said.
A representative for Marshall Wace declined to comment while HBK didn’t respond to requests for comment.
“In late 2024 we started to see investors reengaging in a meaningful way, and that came through into flows really from the second half of 2025 onwards,” said Paul Holmes, global head of distribution at Lumyna Investments, a UCITS fund platform provider with about $23 billion of assets under management. “Now, at least selectively, there’s quite a bit of new capital coming in.”
The UCITS framework dates back to a 1985 European Union directive aimed at harmonizing retail investment funds across its members. It enforces limits on leverage, short expo -
Such vehicles gained popularity after 2008, when billions of euros were lost to illiquid hedge fund investments. In the following decade, assets under management swelled to $437 billion in the following decade before losing about $200 billion through the end of 2024, according to Kepler’s data.
The private wealth boom of recent years is helping revive the industry. The top 500 richest people in the world increased their wealth by more than 50 percent over the past five years, to $11.8 trillion at the end of 2025, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. More than one in four millionaires live in Western Europe, according to UBS Global Wealth Report 2025.
“Speaking to private banks and institutional investors who can only do UCITS, having this sort of stable return in the portfolio is just being valued quite highly,” said Marlin Naidoo, global head of capital introduction at BNP Paribas SA. “We are seeing the private banking community and the investmentconsultant community start to re-pitch it.”
Increasingly stringent conditions at many of the traditional hedge funds have also made UCITS funds look comparatively attractive, said Julia Rees Toad -
The trend is an about turn from just a couple of years ago. Alternative UCITS assets went into a free fall between 2022 and 2024 when a rapid rise in interest rates around that time led to massive inflows into fixed-income assets offering attractive yields.
er, founding partner of investment firm PrinCap Partners. It can take as long as five years for investors to redeem fully from Millennium Management, while investing in Hudson Bay Capital Management can mean clients must part with their cash for as long as two years.
“Lots of hedge funds now have longer lock-ups, higher fees, less transparency—to allocators, that’s looking a lot like private equity exposure,” Rees Toader said in an interview. “Investors already have that in their portfolios, so many are now looking for more products that don’t require them to give up so much flexibility.”
For funds, the driving factor behind initiating a UCITS offering remains a desire to diversify an investor base that would otherwise be concentrated around a few large players mostly in the UK and Switzerland, according to Lumyna’s Holmes. “If you want to have a diversified book of business from European investors, then UCITS is still a strong contender,” he said.
More than two dozen new funds came to the market in 2025, a 50 percent increase from the previous year, rais -
ing roughly $2.4 billion, according to data compiled by Kepler.
Bridgewater Associates launched a new UCITS product in November 2025, bringing its Absolute Return Fixed Income Strategy to a daily-dealing format. WorldQuant and Millennium were considering setting up their own UCITS offering under their joint venture, Bloomberg News reported in December.
Paris-based quantitative hedge fund Capital Fund Management, which already had two trend-following UCITS funds on its own platform, launched a third offering in partnership with Amundi in October last year. The new fund, which implements the same strategy as the firm’s offshore multi-strategy Cumulus vehicle, has already reached $150 million in assets.
Quality hurdle
THAT said, since the washout of the previous few years, the space is becoming increasingly divided between established big-name players, and smaller managers. The largest asset flows recorded by Kepler last year were concentrated across a small number of funds, with the company’s report noting that in the current market environment, running a “sub-scale” fund isn’t viable.
“There seems to be a bias toward the bigger names,” said Lumyna’s Holmes. “Investors are also more discriminating now than in the early alternative UCITS days—funds need to be bringing something really quite differentiating from a portfolio point of view. The quality hurdle is higher.”
For what was once largely a roster of lower volatility products catering to a more cautious investor base, there’s new appetite for something a bit different. CFM’s new fund targets volatility of 10 percent, something that would have been called “crazy” a few years ago, according to Stephane Vial, the company’s head of EMEA business development and Asia Pacific co-head.
“When rates were at zero, people wanted them as bond replacements—all they were looking for was for them to beat cash and that was fine,” Vial said in an interview. “But that demand for low volatility products has been replaced with demand for higher volatility products, where investors are targeting 8 percent to 10 percent returns.”
As some private markets bets among large institutional allocators goes into reverse, there’s optimism that could help drive further flows into hedge funds. A lot of cash that may have otherwise been directed into hedge funds, including UCITS structures, is currently stuck in illiquid private capital bets, according to Matthew Barrett, partner and head of investments at Tycho Capital. But for now, his inbox tells a positive story, he said. “E-mails from allocators working on mandates to invest in liquid alternatives, which had slowed to pretty paltry levels eighteen months ago, are landing almost every other day now,” he said. “The cogs are turning again.” With assistance from Ben Stupples/Bloomberg
Friday, February 20, 2026
2nd Front Page
BusinessMirror
$264-M WB-FUNDED SANITATION, WATER PROJECT UNDER DPWH
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE Department of Pub -
lic Works and Highways
(DPWH) is prepar -
ing to implement a proposed $263.79-million water and sanitation project backed by World Bank financing, aimed at improving access in the country’s most water-poor communities.
An official project brief showed that the Accelerated Water and Sanitation Project in Selected Areas (AWSPSA) seeks to expand access to safely managed and climate-resilient water supply and sanitation services in Bohol, Surigao del Norte, and Sulu.
Amid recent corruption issues involving the DPWH, World Bank Senior Procurement Specialist Muhammad Abbass Rahimi said on Thursday that potential institutional risks had been identified and addressed before the project moved forward.
“We have tried our best [to ensure] that whatever risks or whatever issues there are in DPWH, those are properly mitigated before the project is being started. We can assure you that the project will be in very safe hands,” Rahimi said at the Early Market Engagement conducted by the Bank and DPWH.
Rahimi said the project will
follow the lender’s procurement regulations and its anti-corruption guidelines, which apply across all Bank-financed projects. These safeguards, he added, are meant to ensure the procurement system is not based on favoritism or preselected contractors, but instead adheres to an open and transparent process.
Bulk of the proposed financing—around $213.30 million—is earmarked for infrastructure investments in water supply systems.
In Bohol’s Loboc cluster, plans include the development of a bulk water supply system sourced from the Loboc River with a capacity of 60,000 cubic meters per day, alongside the rehabilitation and expansion of distribution networks and watershed protection measures.
In Siargao Island, the project covers the construction of 11 new deep wells, rehabilitation of existing sources, installation of transmission and distribution pipelines, storage tanks and approximately 13,000 new service connections across eight municipalities.
For Jolo and adjacent barangays in Indanan and Patikul, the initiative includes upgrading and protecting spring sources
Wanted: Different approach to port utilization problems
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
THEgovernment and the private sector must find a different approach to addressing the port utilization issue, which has become a recurring predicament as Philippine imports continue to outpace exports, according to industry leaders.
Association of International Shipping Lines Inc. (AISL) President Patrick Ronas told the BusinessMirror that out of the four laden containers that enter the country, only one gets filled with cargo and shipped out.
With long holidays in December, Ronas cited slow container withdrawals likely due to some consignees also observing the holidays, among other reasons, which exacerbated yard utilization levels in terminals.
“During the long holidays, not many containers—both reefers and dry—were withdrawn,” he told this
newspaper. “Whether these got pulled out or not, vessels will keep arriving [...] since containers weren’t withdrawn, the pier got congested.”
Ronas explained that reefers, which transport temperature-sensitive cargo such as food, should be connected to electrical outlets inside the ports called plug-ins. These are placed in a separate area from dry containers.
When a container yard for reefers gets filled, he said terminals would limit their entry as the absence of available plug-in could defrost and spoil the shipments.
‘Empty return issue’
WARY of a potential raw material stockout, the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) earlier sounded the alarm over the con-
gestion in January, which should be a lean season.
Pampi Director Jet Ambalada told the BusinessMirror that shipping lines should find alternative container yards and urged ports to accept empties to pull out loaded reefer shipments. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2026/02/02/luzon-shippingbottlenecks-worry-local-meatprocessors/)
In end-January, a representative from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Super Green Lane (SGL) group said port operators were urging them to immediately pull out loaded containers, “creating the narrative that SGLs are causing revenue slowdown and port congestion.”
“SGL importers are not intentionally keeping containers at the ports. We actually need the stocks and are already experiencing serious OOS [out-of-stock] situations, which are bad for business and market supply,” SGL representative CJ Garcia said.
“Our inability to pull out containers is driven by a truck deadlock; trucks remain tied up with empty containers because ports and carriers have limited space to accept them.”
Ronas explained that stakeholders have the option to return empties to container yards outside Metro Manila, which have sufficient space to cater to containers, albeit
farther.
The problem, he said, stems from industry players opting to return the empty containers within Metro Manila, preferably inside the piers, as returning empties to areas relatively farther could rack up costs. Meanwhile, Ronas also denounced some claims that empty containers caused port congestion, as shipping lines load empties in vessels to be used in other countries’ exports, or else they run the risk of incurring additional costs for overstaying.
“What will we do with those empty containers that we’ll be willing to pay taxes and duties on? Let them rot there?” Ronas said. Under customs rules, containers should be re-exported within 90 days from the discharge of the last package, or they will be subject to paying duties and taxes.
Solutions FOR Ronas, the private sector should adopt a holistic approach, since the problem affects the entire supply chain.
“When there are situations like this, our importers or the clients of the truckers and the clients of the brokers also need to be flexible [...] they also need to be ready to adjust,” he said.
Ambalada mentioned that they already brought their reefers to the
See “Port,” A5
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
‘Prima Infra, First Gen will close power deal this year’
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
THE P75-billion hydro power deal between Lopez-led First Gen Corp. (FGen) and Razon-led led Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. (Prime Infra) is expected to be completed in 2026.
“Closing of the transaction is expected to occur within the year,” First Gen said in a disclosure on Thursday. First Gen is acquiring a 40-percent equity interest in the pumped storage hydropower portfolio of Prime Infra. These assets—600-MW Wawa pumped storage hydropower (PSH) project in Rizal and the 1,400-MW Ahunan PSH project in Pakil, La-
guna—will boost FGen’s goal of achieving its target of delivering 13 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy (RE) by 2030.
Construction across Prime Infra’s pumped storage hydropower portfolio is progressing steadily, with major civil and underground works for the Wawa PSH project well underway and early-stage construc-
tion of the Pakil PSH project having commenced.
Upon completion of their construction, these PSH projects will play a critical role in supporting the Philippines’s growing renewable energy capacity by providing grid stability and reliability, allowing for the seamless integration of renewable energy projects into the power system.
The parties will soon proceed to carry out due diligence and execute definitive agreements. The process also includes securing the necessary regulatory approval from the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC). Once approved, the parties will then execute the necessary documentation for the transfer of the underlying shares.
Of the total investment amount, P62.5 billion will be used to directly fund the construction and equity
requirements of the projects, with the balance representing the consideration agreed by the parties for the shares of stock of Prime Hydropower Energy Inc. (PHEI), the entity that will own the projects.
“First Gen’s investment in these projects strengthens its partnership with Prime Infra and crystallizes the shift of the company’s portfolio to renewable energy,” the company said. Together with First Gen’s 132MW Pantabangan-Masiway and 165-MW Casecnan hydroelectric power plants, the Wawa and Pakil plants will complement the company’s portfolio.”
Power China is the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) contractor for both projects with Toshiba and Andritz Hydro providing the electromechanical components for the Wawa PHS and Pakil PHS, respectively.
Nestlé sees sales, volume growth
NESTLÉ SA said sales growth will likely quicken this year as new Chief Executive Officer Philipp Navratil seeks to revitalize the Swiss foodmaker.
Revenue will rise between 3 percent and 4 percent on an organic basis in 2026, the maker of Nespresso coffee and Purina cat chow said Thursday. That compares with the 3.2 percent estimate of analysts and last year’s growth of 3.5 percent.
Real internal growth—a key measure of volumes closely watched by analysts and investors – will accelerate in 2026, the company forecast.
Navratil stepped into the top job last September after his predecessor was ousted over an undisclosed office romance. A month later, he
announced a plan to slash 16,000 jobs, or about 6 percent of the global workforce. On Thursday, he laid out a strategy to reorganize the company around four core divisions—pet care, coffee, nutrition, and food and snacking—while centralizing functions such as marketing.
The company is also in advanced negotiations to sell its remaining ice cream business to its Froneri joint venture with PAI Partners, it said, confirming a story by Bloomberg.
The CEO inherited a company under strain. Weak volumes, bloated costs and tepid demand pushed the shares last year to their lowest level in eight years. Recently, the company has been embroiled in the largest product recall in its history after
contaminated ingredients forced it to pull baby formula in more than 60 countries.
Navratil and Chairman Pablo Isla—both in place less than six months–are under pressure from investors keen for a turnaround.
Navratil is the third CEO of the Swiss-based company in the past two years, an unheard of level of turnover in the senior ranks at Nestlé.
Isla is the first outsider in the role as chairman and announced a board shake-up on Wednesday as he works to steady Nestlé after last year’s governance crisis. The company nominated former Swiss National Bank chief Thomas Jordan and Procter & Gamble executive Fatima Francisco to strengthen oversight and sharpen decision-making. Bloomberg News
More airlines adopt self check-in scheme
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
More airlines have joined the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (Naia) automated passenger processing program, allowing a growing number of travelers to check in, clear security, and board flights without going through traditional counters, the airport’s private operator said Thursday.
New Naia Infra Corp. (NNIC) said self check-in kiosks, automated presecurity screening gates, and selfboarding gates are now operational across Terminals 1, 2, and 3, as additional carriers complete system integration.
“These systems are already operational, and we are seeing more airlines come on board as integration is completed,” NNIC said. “As participation expands, more passengers will be able to move through check-in, security, and boarding more efficiently.”
The system enables eligible passengers to check in, print boarding passes, tag their bags, clear initial security screening, and proceed to boarding through automated lanes. A phased rollout of automated bag drop features is also ongoing.
At Terminal 1, Philippine Airlines (PAL) passengers on international routes—excluding Middle East and Japan destinations—can use the system, along with Asiana Airlines passengers who are South Korean
nationals or foreign travelers with no visa requirements.
Terminal 2 covers domestic flights operated by PAL, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia.
Terminal 3 has the widest coverage so far. Cebu Pacific passengers on all domestic and international routes are eligible, as are AirAsia passengers on international flights. United Airlines foreign passengers with no visa requirements, and all passengers of Qatar Airways and Air Canada, may also use the automated lanes.
“The automated processing systems form part of Naia’s broader
SM Offices allots ₧1B for expansion of Cebu property
SM Offices, the office leasing arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc., said it is spending some P1 billion to add more than 60,000 square meters of office leasable space in Cebu City. The facility may open by the fourth quarter this year.
SM City Cebu Towers is located at A. Soriano Avenue in the North Reclamation Area and targets traditional corporations and business process outsourcing firms seeking superior in-city alternatives to the capital’s higher costs and congested roads.
“Cebu is a major economic hub because of its strong infrastructure, exceptional talent pool, and complete business ecosystem,” Alexis L. Ortiga, vice president and head of SM Offices, said. “In fact, the Cebu office market was only second to BGC [Bonifacio Global City] in terms of growth. So, we are confident about SM Cebu North Wing Towers.”
“We believe that it offers great value for its location and its integration with the SM City Cebu Mall and NU [National University] Cebu. This would give our tenants and their
employees daily conveniences and accessibility that easy to replicate.” In 2025, Cebu accounted for 150,000 square meters, or 55 percent of provincial office take-up, representing 33 percent year-onyear growth, according to Leechiu Property Consultants.
“SM City Cebu Towers is meant to support this growth by providing well-managed high-quality and wellconnected office spaces that meet the evolving needs of businesses expanding in the region,” Ortiga added.
He said the company may not add more building in Cebu anytime soon, but in the medium-term, Cebu remains “a very strong” growth market for SM Prime.
“But any expansion will be measured in time to demand so that we sustain the growth and protect our long-term value.”
SM Prime is pursuing mixed-use developments combining offices, residences, retail, education, MICE facilities and leisure spaces across the country. The strategy aims to create efficiency for tenants while supporting employee retention through integrated amenities. VG Cabuag
efforts to improve passenger flow and align airport operations with biometric-enabled standards used at major international hubs across Asia, the Middle East, and North America,” the operator said.
Additional airlines and routes are expected to be activated in the coming months as integration work continues.
Passengers on eligible flights are encouraged to use the self check-in kiosks near the check-in areas of their respective terminals before proceeding to bag drop counters or automated lanes ahead of pre-security screening and boarding.
SELF check-in kiosks at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Banking&Finance
Economic jitters push demand for protection products—Pru Life UK
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
AS economic uncertainty con-
tinues, protection-oriented products are likely to remain in demand, according to an official of the Pru Life lnsurance Corporation of U.K. (Pru Life UK).
“I think this has been the trend from some years past because of what happened with our markets, with the volatility,” Pru Life UK Chief Investments Officer Princess Charm B. Balingit said during the launch of the insurer’s product targeting the country’s affluent market.
She noted that clients who were previously focused on growth have begun shifting toward steadier options after being exposed to market swings, particularly on the aggressive side.
“They felt that they needed to find some safe space, and thus the guarantees. That’s why, yes, I think that trend is still here,” she said.
On the investment environment in the country, Balingit said earlyyear data offers a reasonable snapshot of the first quarter.
“January would be a good indication, at least for Q1 [first quarter], since we’ve already been through it for like one and a half months out of the three months,” she said. “We are embracing volatility. We are seeing it as an opportunity rather than a threat.”
Balingit added that, based on current fundamentals and decisions already in place, the company remains positive not just for the first quarter but for succeeding periods as well.
Targeting the rich BALINGIT spoke during the launch of her firm’s limited-pay, investmentlinked insurance plan that targets the wealthy.
The product the insurer labeled “PRUMillion Protect” allows policyholders to complete premium payments in just two years while maintaining long-term coverage.
According to the company, the product is a response to demand for simpler payment structures and flexible protection, is designed to offer higher protection coverage than
STATE-RUN Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has rolled out a short-term micro loan facility its top official described as “loan on the go.” GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso said during launching ceremonies last Thursday that the facility is designed to be convenient, quick and secure. The facility was dubbed as “Ginhawa Go.”
“Its purpose is clear: ‘Pantawid’ with financial dignity—a bridge for small urgent needs,” Veloso said. “’Ginhawa Go’ gives our members an option that is fast without being reckless and accessible without being abusive.” Under the program, qualified GSIS members may borrow from P1,000 to P50,000.
Interest rates are set at 6 percent per annum for regular members with at least three years of paid premium contributions, while special members will pay 7 percent per annum.
Veloso said the 6-percent interest rate is currently the “lowest” in the market.
“But we will study further on how we can give [the members] more relief for them.”
Members can take out shortterm loans of up to P4,000—payable within 30, 60 or 90 days—while loans amounting from P5,000 to P50,000 may be repaid over three to 24 months.
Members can process loan ap -
traditional single-pay investmentlinked plans.
The product provides life insurance coverage equivalent to five times the base annual premium or 105 percent of the fund value, whichever is higher. It also has builtin benefits for accelerated total and permanent disability, as well as accidental death and disablement.
Pru Life UK Chief Product Officer Garen U. Dee said the product requires a minimum entry premium of P250,000. The focus, Dee said, reflects a broader strategy to diversify offerings rather than rely on a single product across all market segments.
“We have other products in our portfolio that are really targeted to different segments,” she said during the launch in Taguig City last Wednesday. “That’s why we are diversifying our product portfolio, ensuring that we have the right product for the right customer segment.”
Customer sentiment FOR premiums between P250,000 and below P500,000, the amount is payable in full over two years. Clients investing P500,000 and above may opt to pay quarterly or monthly.
The plan is offered under a Simplified Insurability Offer, with entry ages ranging from seven days old to 70 years, and coverage extending up to age 85, subject to policy terms and conditions.
The product also includes a builtin loyalty bonus, payable starting on the 10th policy year and every five years thereafter, aimed at encouraging long-term participation.
Optional riders are available to provide additional cash benefits in the event of death or permanent disability due to illness or accident.
Clients may choose from the full suite of Pru Life UK’s investment funds, depending on their suitability rating, with options for conservative, moderate, and aggressive risk profiles.
Asked about expected demand, Dee said take-up is expected to be at least in line with the company’s existing offerings, based on current customer sentiment.
‘Filipinos outside NCR are more confident borrowers’
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
FILIPINOS outside Metro Manila are becoming more informed and confident borrowers, as a recent poll by TransUnion Information Solutions Inc. (TransUnion PH) revealed rising openness to credit products, specifically in mobile loan applications.
According to the firm’s 2025 Credit Perception Index (CPI), there is rising financial literacy and openness to credit products outside the Greater Capital Region (GCR), composed of Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
The CPI score, measuring Filipinos’ knowledge, trust and favorability toward credit and other financial products, of those outside the capital rose to 73 in 2025—equal to those in GCR—from 71 in 2024.
The increase was driven by sizable gains in product trust and product knowledge, TransUnion said, reflect-
ing sustained efforts by the public and private sectors to expand credit awareness, education and access across the country.
“This progress shows that more consumers are ready and willing to participate in the credit economy, reflecting a meaningful shift in how Filipinos understand and engage with financial products,” TransUnion PH President and CEO Peter Faulhaber said.
Borrowing intent, preferences CLOSE to four in 10 Filipinos are willing to use credit for purchases in the
GoTyme emerges as most used Visa debit card in PHL
By VG Cabuag @villygc
THE GoTyme Bank Corp., a joint venture between the Gokongweis and Tyme Bank Ltd., has emerged as the issuer of the most used debit card running on the Visa Inc. platform in the country after having more than 8 million card users.
The bank also achieved the top bank in the country in the Visa card market.
The bank reported significant growth in active debit usage in 2025, significantly outpacing industry benchmarks.
According to GoTyme, its payment volume increased by over 150 percent year on year and now holds more than P43 billion in customer deposits, reflecting growing customer trust and strong everyday adoption.
plications through the GSIS Touch, the official GSIS mobile application.
Approved loan proceeds will be eCredited within 24 to 36 hours upon approval by the Authorized Approving Officer to the member’s GSIS eCard or ATM account, with notifications sent via email or SMS.
The loan also includes Loan Redemption Insurance, fully deducted in advance, which makes the loan fully paid in the event of the borrower’s death, provided the account is up to date.
There is no pre-termination fee, notarial fee and returned payment fee, Veloso noted.
Meanwhile, loan repayments are made through mandatory payroll deduction to help borrowers stay current and avoid penalties.
Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said the loan facility addresses financial stress early before it escalates.
“This program shields employees from abusive lending practices,” Go said. “This is really a safeguard to help our public servants and a practical step towards improving their financial well-being.”
GSIS posted P138 billion in net income in 2025, up by 1.69 percent from P135.7 billion in 2024.
Non-life gross premiums written also increased by 7.54 percent year-on-year to P11.4 billion from P10.6 billion.
Gross revenues of GSIS settled at P344 billion, while its total assets reached nearly P2 trillion.
GoTyme Bank was also recognized by Visa for having the highest debit payment volume growth, highest active debit cards growth and highest contactless transaction growth for issuing, as well as being one of the first Philippine issuers to launch Google Wallet and Google Pay for its customers.
“When banking is made simple and beautiful, customer deepen
Part One: Perspective from a Trade Association
IN the first episode of “A PCAAE Podcast: Association Matters,” we had the privilege of speaking with Mr. Ruben J. Pascual, secretary general of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), on the timely question: Why do associations matter today? Our conversation, focused on the role of a trade association, surfaced powerful reminders about credibility, collective voice, and global connectivity. One of the clearest insights from Mr. Pascual was this: businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), are unable to navigate today’s regulatory environment alone. Many entrepreneurs struggle to interpret compliance requirements, taxation rules, and administrative procedures. Individually, their voices may go unheard. Collectively, through a chamber, they gain representation and influence.
next three months, with 38 percent of respondents in the capital and 39 percent outside the capital indicating interest, the firm’s poll revealed.
Filipinos in other regions showed greater openness to alternative and digital lending platforms, with 33 percent expressing interest in mobile loan applications, compared with 27 percent in the capital.
Outside GCR, interest in money lending services was 29 percent versus 21 percent in the capital, while preference for microloan providers was 22 percent compared to 17 percent.
In contrast, consumers in the capital were more inclined toward traditional financial products, with 44 percent expressing interest in credit cards and 40 percent preferring loans from banks.
Outside the capital, these figures were lower at 36 percent and 37 percent, respectively.
TransUnion said these preferences reflect greater reliance on convenience and fast lending options in areas with fewer traditional banking touchpoints.
Higher financial knowledge
FURTHERMORE, Filipinos outside the capital reported a stronger un-
derstanding of small-ticket credit products, as perceived knowledge of mobile loans stood at 65 percent outside GCR, higher than the 60 percent in the capital.
Provincial respondents continued to be more aware of microloans and payday loans, with 70 percent of them indicating that they would be willing to access learning materials to improve their finances.
About 65 percent of them also said that they are open to exploring new digital financial products and services.
Social media remained the leading source of financial information for Filipinos nationwide, with about 60 percent of respondents in both groups preferring to learn about financial and credit products through digital platforms.
A similar pattern appears for credit products, with 59 percent and 58 percent from the capital and beyond, respectively, sharing this preference.
“What we see in the latest TransUnion CPI is clear: interest and readiness for credit are rising well beyond the capital region, creating both an opportunity and a responsibility for the industry to expand access and education,” Faulhaber added.
their trust and adoption with the brand. This milestone reflects the confidence Filipinos place in GoTyme Bank,” Nate Clarke, the lender’s president and CEO, said.
“Together with Visa, we will continue delivering secure, seamless everyday experiences as we push toward our goal of becoming the largest and most loved retail bank in the Philippines,” Clarke added.
“Our partnership with GoTyme is leveling up the payments experience for Filipinos, enabling innovative, safe and seamless payment experiences,” Visa Senior Executive Jeffrey Navarro said. “This partnership also aligns with the government’s vision to build a digital-first, cashlite society.”
This momentum builds on the multi year, multi market collaboration signed by Visa and GoTyme Bank at the Singapore FinTech Festival in November 2025, aimed at accelerating global digital payments innovation across emerging markets in Asia and Africa.
Under the partnership, Visa will support GoTyme Bank’s expansion through card issuance programs, with support in marketing, digital infrastructure and data-driven financial services.
This became especially evident during the Covid-19 pandemic. When uncertainty gripped the economy, businesses did not know where to seek assistance or which regulations to follow. Government, in turn, needed a reliable mechanism to consult and communicate with the private sector. Its nationwide network enabled PCCI to become that bridge. It mobilized feedback, disseminated information, and ensured the concerns of enterprises were heard at the highest level. Another key takeaway from our interview was the power of structured advocacy. Mr. Pascual cited the issue of multiple Letters of Authority (LOAs) issued to businesses for tax investigations, sometimes as many as nine in a year. For an individual
THE Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) disclosed last Thursday it delivered a net income of P49.7 billion in 2025 from 48.1 billion in the previous year.
A disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange read that Metrobank’s 3.3-percent income growth was supported by modest asset expansion, resilient margins, healthy trading income and contained cost growth. Pre-provision operating profit accelerated by 17.1 percent to P78.4 billion, the country’s fourth-largest lender in terms of assets said through a statement.
The bank’s net interest income increased by 9.2 percent to P124.6 billion, in line with the 8.8-percent expansion in gross loans. Corporate and commercial loans posted a 7.4 percent growth, reflecting economic growth trends. Consumer loans grew at a healthy pace of 13.9 percent. Total deposits edged up to P2.7 trillion, of which low-cost current and savings accounts accounted for 59.2 percent. Loan to deposit ratio of 74.9 percent shows the bank still has ample capacity to meet additional funding needs of customers. Meanwhile, total non-interest income jumped by 11.6 percent to P33.5 billion, with a modest 6.0 percent increase in fee and trust income to P19.2 billion. In addition, trading and foreign exchange income surged 47.2 percent to P8.2 billion in 2025, “backed by strong customer flows and favorable trad -
firm, pushing back against such practices can feel risky. When PCCI raised these concerns directly with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Department of Finance, reforms followed. The practice was addressed, reducing undue pressure on businesses. This illustrates how associations convert private frustrations into constructive policy dialogue. Credibility, however, is the currency of influence. Tracing its roots to the 19th-century Camara de Comercio de Filipinas and formally recognized in 1978 as the “voice of Philippine business,” PCCI has survived and thrived because of political neutrality. As Mr. Pascual emphasized, chambers must work with whichever administration is elected. Align too closely with partisan interests, and credibility erodes. Maintain independence, and governments continue to listen. Looking ahead, Mr. Pascual identified another strategic priority: global engagement. PCCI maintains
ing opportunities,” the lender’s statement read. Operating cost growth was contained at 3.3 percent, year-on-year, to P79.7 billion. As a result, cost to income ratio improved to 50.7 percent from 53.8 percent in 2024.
Metrobank’s portfolio health remains
partnerships with around 100 foreign chambers and engages actively with embassies and international business groups. In a world shaped by trade flows and geopolitical shifts, chambers must connect local enterprises to global opportunities. Expanding markets and attracting investments will increasingly depend on these international networks. From our conversation, the message was clear: chambers matter because they organize influence responsibly. They amplify the concerns of MSMEs, facilitate structured dialogue with government, and position businesses within global markets. In today’s complex economic landscape, that collective voice is not merely helpful; it is essential. Octavio
Octavio Peralta
A ssociation World
Romance in a year of fire
ON Valentine’s Day, as lovers, spouses and families all over the world gathered to trade expressions of affection, the popular Lover’s Arch in Italy collapsed, the limestone rock formation tragically sliding into the Adriatic Sea.
According to news reports, the famous tourist attraction along the Salento Coast in southern Italy had been buffeted by strong winds and rains from a recent typhoon. So the already weakened rock formation, which had witnessed so many marriage proposals and declarations of undying love, just quit. Formed by nature, no steps had been taken to reinforce the structure. That the collapse had happened on the most popular day to celebrate love, speaks of the nature of relationships, i.e., even the strongest can break when battered by extraordinary pressures and challenges. Unless measures are taken to resolve issues between couples, either through calm, private discussions, or taking it externally by talking to a therapist, the bond will eventually break. The relationship will crumble. For those who believe in Chinese astrology, the passionate energy brought in by the Year of the Fire Horse can help forge a meaningful relationship with the object of our desire. But too much passion can also burn couples, unless tempered by the right attitude and understanding.
Hong Kong-based feng shui (geomancy) expert Master Joseph Chau’s forecast points to five zodiac signs that will be lucky in love this year:
RABBIT 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 IN 2026, Rabbits are the Romance Star for the Horse, making it a harmonious and lucky year. With the Heavenly Happiness star shining, Rabbits can expect a joyful and loving year. Romance will spark easily, especially for singles, with a strong possibility that love may blossom into something lasting. Married Rabbits will enjoy a harmonious family life. However, watch out for potential relationship strain during the lunar months of July, August, October and November.
LOVE is blooming this year, thanks to the influence of the Pink Phoenix lucky star. Roosters may find themselves more attractive to others, and romantic sparks can ignite easily. This is a year of variety and warmth in relationships. However, the saying goes: “Needles are never sharp at both ends.” While romance is favorable, marked Roosters must avoid temptation and guard against extramarital affairs. Be extra cautious in the lunar months of February, May and November.
GOAT 1931, 1943, 1955, 1 967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 WITH a lucky star shining in their sign, Goats will enjoy strong interpersonal connections and increased romance. This is a favorable time for single Goats to meet someone special. Those in relationships should nurture love with care and avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. Be cautious in the lunar months of January, March, October and December, as emotional tension may arise.
OX 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
OXEN will be filled with romantic energy and passion this year. Single Oxen should remain alert to potential
romantic opportunities, as love could blossom easily. This is a good year to consider marriage. Married Oxen will generally enjoy a peaceful relationship, but should avoid misunderstandings or arguments—especially in February, April and July.
WITH the alliance to the Horse, Tigers are likely to experience better romantic luck. Those in relationships should consider settling down or getting married this year. Single Tigers may meet someone special. However, caution is advised in the lunar months of January, July, September and October.
Other zodiac signs may also find fortune in love, they may have to pursue extraordinary means to strengthen or protect this. Horses, Monkeys and Dogs, however, may have to sit this year out.
THIS will be a romantic and emotionally rich year for Pigs. Relationships will be full of sweetness, connection and harmony. Singles may find meaningful companionship, while couples will enjoy shared values and emotional closeness. However, patience and understanding are needed. Pigs must be thoughtful in their communication and avoid unnecessary conflicts. Relationship troubles may arise in the lunar months of July, August and November.
RAT 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
THIS is a romantic year for Rats. Single individuals
should seize the opportunity to pursue marriage, as Chinese tradition says: “A happy event can overcome three calamities.” Since they are clashing with Tai Suey (Grand Duke), hosting a joyful event like a wedding can help shift their luck. For married Rats, it’s important to stay away from temptation and avoid extramarital affairs. Lack of honesty with their partners could lead to loneliness. Be extra careful in February, May, June, August and November.
THE presence of the unlucky Lonely Star dims romantic prospects this year. Relationships may be unstable, and conflicts could easily arise. Dragons must be calm, patient and forgiving—especially in family life. Single female Dragons, in particular, should not be too quick to trust new suitors, as they could be vulnerable to deception. This year is better suited for observation and reflection rather than pursuing serious romantic commitments. Be especially careful in the lunar months of March, May, June and December.
THE romantic stars are active, offering Snakes many chances to interact with the opposite gender. While this can be an exciting time, they must not be blinded by emotions—especially when meeting people online. Falling for the wrong person may lead to heartbreak or even financial loss. Be most careful during the lunar months of March, May and September, which are the most romantic yet risky.
See “romance,” B5
22): Listen to suggestions, live, learn, and love who you are and what you can do. Life choices will make a difference. Educate yourself to be the person you want to be. Your willpower, determination and innovative outlook will help you rise to the top. Be the driver in your life, not a passenger who’s on someone else’s journey. HHHHH
fVIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Choose what pulls at your heartstrings, and discover something new about who you are and what you can do. Taking the initiative to use all your attributes to fine-tune your life to suit your taste is the path to happiness, success and peace of mind. Trust your instincts, share your intentions and make things happen. Romance looks promising. HHH
g
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Simplicity is the key to taking care of personal business and mapping out a plan that helps you mesh your responsibilities from all aspects of your life in a positive, workable manner. Peace of mind comes from organization, not procrastination. Pour your energy into completing and enjoying the rewards that follow. Learn from experience, and initiate change. HHH
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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Anger is a waste of time. If you want to make a difference, do so with grace, charm and truth. Nurture relationships, make promises and follow through with your plans. A positive adjustment at home will also change the dynamics of a meaningful relationship. The more you open up, the easier it is to see what’s possible. HHH
iSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Focus on what you can change instead of wasting time on people, situations and things you have no control over. Home improvements that make your life easier, efficient or gratifying will lift you and encourage you to spend more time with the people you love and doing the things that make you happy. Walk away from drama and manipulative people. HHHHH
j
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Pay attention to what’s happening in the workforce. Prepare to make a shift, if necessary, to secure and pursue a lucrative future. Disregard questionable information. Facts matter, and your sources for information will reflect what you do and how you feel. Patience and understanding will help you maintain a happy mindset and better control and outcome. HH
kAQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put your energy where it counts, and pay attention to your money, health and emotional well-being. How you handle your position, authority and possessions will determine how you feel at the end of the day. Buying and selling look promising and can promote new opportunities to simplify and enjoy your life. Choose realism over emotional mayhem. HHHH
lPISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Choose the path that captures your attention and warms your heart. Participate in events that do their best to help those less fortunate or a cause that concerns you. Change requires time, energy and thoughtful choices. Communication, education and travel are in your best interests and will lead to opportunities to use your skills to the fullest. HHH
BIRTHDAY BABY: You are kind, generous and opportunistic. You are responsive and persistent.
GMA’s ‘Stars on the Floor Season 2’ returns with bigger collaborations
SUNDAY nights get fiery as GMA Network’s original dance reality competition program, Stars on the Floor makes a grand return for Season 2—and this time, the rhythm hits harder than ever beginning February 15.
Season 2 takes the “collab-anan” to the next level as five all-new Celebrity Dance Stars step into the spotlight, each introduced through special dance performances with guest stars.
Among the much-awaited Celebrity Dance Stars are a GMA leading man, a multi-awarded actress, a dance royalty heir, an asian idol, and a former OG Girl group member. Joining them are powerhouse performers from the country’s hottest P-Pop groups: Joker of 1st.One, Jao of Alamat, Sophia of KAIA, Denise of Calista, and Jeromy of Hori7on.
Hosted by Alden Richards, Stars on the Floor Season 2 raises the bar with even bigger moves. Judging the competition are Marian Rivera, head of the Dance Authority, alongside Dance Trendmaster Coach Jay Roncesvalles (choreographer of SB19), and the newest addition to the panel, Rayver Cruz.
This season promises more twists, tougher challenges, and jaw-dropping performances as pairs battle it out weekly across diverse dance styles. Only one duo will rise to the top, but the journey will be filled with unforgettable performances.
The explosive pilot episode kicked off with a massive dance concert featuring top P-Pop groups 1st.One, Alamat, KAIA, Calista, and Hori7on sending off their group’s main dancers to compete in the No. 1 celebrity dance reality competition on TV. Fans enjoyed the opening spectacle featuring Alden, the Dance Authority, and the Star Choreographers.
Stars on the Floor Season 2 airs every Sunday night at 7:15 pm, after Bubble Gang. Viewers can also catch the livestream on Kapuso Stream and the GMA ATM YouTube Channel, hosted by Lexi Gonzales, Thea Astley, and Sean Lucas.
THIS year, emotional instability may lead Horses to mood swings and misunderstandings in relationships. Tensions may rise easily, so Horses are advised to remain patient and composed. Practice forgiveness and openness to avoid potential separation or emotional distance. Be particularly mindful during the lunar months of April, May, June and September.
THE romantic outlook is dim. It will be hard for Monkeys to attract or connect with potential partners. Those in relationships must show genuine care and affection to avoid emotional distance or even breakups. Key months to watch: January, April, October and December.
DOG 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
THIS is not a strong year for romance. Dogs may struggle to connect with the opposite gender, and tensions or misunderstandings may arise. They must control their temper and avoid isolating themselves emotionally, which could lead to betrayal or emotional distance. Gossip and petty remarks could also create unnecessary problems in their love life. Extra care and effort are needed to maintain healthy relationships. Be cautious in the lunar months of February, May, August, September and October.
In love or in other aspects of our lives, Master Joseph Chau says it’s best to be calm, cool and collected in the Year of the Fire Horse.
Japan, dark and serious: ‘Mr. Mikami’s Classroom’
MIKAMI Takashi is a bureaucrat. He is not an ordinary bureaucrat; he is, at a young age, on top of the list. His superiors are in awe of him, but they are not sure how to treat him. His peers have a more conflicted opinion about him: Do we praise him openly or admire him but “keep the compliments to ourselves?”
There is an extreme response to Mikami’s presence in the work area: there are a few who wish for him ill. A colleague named Makino—handsome, youthful and sophisticated—is one of them.
Then one day, this young god descended from the heaven. Here’s a bit of an explanation, long-winded maybe.
In an experiment that is short of being seen as insane or unexpectedly progressive, the Ministry of Education, notorious for its rigidity, decides to send its top bureaucrat to teach in a private senior high school. This is Mikami Takashi. Once in the classroom, we see him not merely as teacher but a tannin, a homeroom teacher. In the tradition of the Japanese educational system, a homeroom teacher teaches a specific subject but more than that, he is expected to supervise his student’s behavior and discipline, monitor his progress and even make periodic visits to the student’s home.
WHERE DOES THE GOD-PART COME IN?
AT the opening of the TV series Mr. Mikami’s Classroom, Mikami Takashi appears disheartened. Was he fired?
He starts packing his personal belongings in a small box (this is expected because in any Japanese office, the employee is not allowed to bring objects that are, in a sense, “private” and not oriented to the group).
When he finally leaves, Makino and the Chairman of the office begin discussing the career of Masaki Takashi as if he was never part of the organization. We sense a rivalry between Makino and Masaki, with the former the eager one in a fight that is never acknowledged by Masaki. This makes Masaki heroic and, at the same time, the hero.
Add to this is the fact that Mikami Takashi has become an Amakudari, which literally means “Descent from Heaven.” This refers to the practice of some top officials who retire from their post only to appear as different functionaries under a counter-organization of one that has all but lost its luster. There is a certain arrogance in the idea and Masaki proves to be one when he first meets the female teacher who was initially promoted to be the homeroom teacher for the class. The young woman is Koreeda. She does not hide her irritation at Mikami for “stealing” the students from her. These students are now under Mikami. Of course, the students are hesitant to accept him first but eventually the bureaucrat begins to win him over to his side, not because of his charm as practically all of the Japanese films involving students do. There is also an issue about their new homeroom teacher being a bureaucrat.
Meanwhile, after the first session, Koreeda naively confronts Mikami about what happened just right now. Why is there a new homeroom teacher and what will happen to her? She also directly investigates Mikami why he kept provoking the students. To this, Mikami says they were the ones who were provoking him. One more issue is brought out by Koreeda, and this is Mikami’s blatant attack upon the students, by questioning them about their reputation as elite. For Mikami, they are not elites but upper-class citizens.
Whether he knows already the answer to his assumptions, calling them as such brings to the fore what Mikami feels about wealth being used to gain entry to good schools.
In this first meeting between Mikami and Koreeda, the more the young woman talks, the steamier and brasher is the response of the bureaucrat. The naivete vanishes from the face of the young female teacher and a certain blandness seems to clothe her with a different, if not inferior, complexion. This part of the series has value because, later, we see Koreeda grow from a shy person to one who could answer back to her termagant mother.
In the faculty office, the presence of the bureaucrat bothers the officious principal, Mizohata, whose name is always pronounced by the Chairman, Kodai, as Mizobata. This principal has the habit of assuming the role of a snitch. This results in observations that Mizohata always believes to be brilliant. Kodai, on the one hand, dismisses the suggestion immediately The series by its nature has complex and complicated stories and yet it remains an interesting discourse on education. We know how exotic and distinct Japanese education is. There is the early education, which emphasizes on character building, with teachers focusing on manners and discipline rather than the Westen approach to numerous testing. And yet, growing up, the Japanese young boy and girl discover the need for juku, or a cram school. This kind was originally meant to provide supplementary mentoring but, in the evolving scheme of things, the juku begins to assume a more primary role. The end of this is the terrifyingly difficult entrance exam to universities, with each school severely stratified. Tokyo University is the unapologetic ichiban or Number One and promises the passer an entry to important government posts. Or to being a bureaucrat. Mikami is a graduate of Tokyo University.
When he brashly answers back any questions or doubts from the students of Koreeda, we see the birth of a different leading man, one who does not aim to
please at all. One who treats women as peers, which is not bad until you are in Japan.
As the logline of the series puts it: “Takashi Mikami is an elite who graduated from the University of Tokyo. He joins the Ministry of Education with the intention of ‘changing Japan’s education’ but realizes that the reality is far from his expectations and challenges authorities.”
One thing far from his expectations is the class itself. The students are a collection of intelligence, innovation, and personal issues. The series plays up these familial concerns and crises of selected students who have been woven around school corruption and national education policies. Thus, there is a suicide, a Civil Service examinee stabbed by another, a popular teacher resigning because she is implicated in a sordid love affair (did she really?), and a class learning about critical thinking and facing up to the challenge of reforming their own school.
At the center of this web of tales is Mikami Takashi in the person of Tori Matsuzaka, who fulfils the requirements of an ikemen—a good-looking guy with a refined and thin facial structure. The added value is he can act, in a quiet, vulnerable way. As Koreeda, Riho Yoshioka grows from a nearly dull character to a strong woman ready to confront her own fears, which include her mother and their social status. Makino Okada starts as a kind of contravida but he pulls one of the biggest surprises at the end. Lacking color, the role of Mizohata, the principal, becomes a terrifying study in ambition. Takako Tokiwa is given no empathy as the “wronged” teacher
The classroom has a vast collection of charming actors who can act. In the role of the student journalist tracking a controversial murder, Daiken Okudaira bears on his shoulders the heaviest role for a young actor. His performance is sublime. Aju Makita as Tominaga and Sakura Kiryo as Shiiba prove to be more than lovely faces.
Credited as directors are Yohei Miyazaki, Koya Shimada and Sakura Komaki. The series airs on TBS and streams on HBO.
Colbert isn’t backing down from public dispute with CBS bosses
STEPHEN Colbert isn’t backing down in an extraordinary public dispute with his bosses at CBS over what he can air on his late-night talk show.
On The Late Show Tuesday, Colbert said he was surprised by a statement from CBS denying that its lawyers told him he couldn’t show an interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico— which the host said had happened the night before.
He then took a copy of the network statement, wrapped it in a dog poop bag, and tossed it away. Colbert had instead shown his Talarico interview on YouTube, but told viewers why he couldn’t show it on CBS. The network was concerned about FCC Chairman Brendan Carr trying to enforce a rule that required broadcasters to give “equal time” to opposing candidates when an interview was broadcast with one of them.
“We looked and we can’t find one example of this rule
being enforced for any talk show interview, not only for my entire late-night career, but for anyone’s late-night career going back to the 1960s,” Colbert said.
Although Carr said in January he was thinking about getting rid of the exemption for late-night talk shows, he hadn’t done it yet. “But CBS generously did it for him,” Colbert said. Not only had CBS been aware Monday night that Colbert was going to talk about this issue publicly, its lawyers had even approved it in his script, he said. That’s why he was surprised by the statement, which said that Colbert had been provided “legal guidance” that broadcasting the interview could trigger the equal time rule.
“I don’t know what this is about,” Colbert said. “For the record, I’m not even mad. I really don’t want an adversarial relationship with the network. I’ve never
had one.” He said he was “just so surprised that this giant global corporation would not stand up to these bullies.” CBS is owned by Paramount Global. Colbert is a short-timer now at CBS. The network announced last summer that Colbert’s show, where President Donald Trump is a frequent target of biting jokes, would end in May. The network said it was for economic reasons but others—including Colbert— have expressed skepticism that Trump’s repeated criticism of the show had nothing to do with it.
As of Wednesday morning, Colbert’s YouTube interview with Talarico had been viewed more than five million times, or roughly double what the comic’s CBS program draws each night. The Texas Democrat also reported that he had raised $2.5 million in campaign donations in the 24 hours after the interview. AP
Pag-IBIG members’ savings surge 21% in 2025; MP2 Savings hit P83.51 Billion
Pag-IBIG Fund members collectively saved a record P160.41 billion in 2025, marking a 21 percent increase from the previous year and the highest amount ever recorded in the agency’s history.
The agency said the milestone was driven largely by the continued growth of voluntary savings, particularly under its Modified Pag-IBIG II (MP2) Savings Program.
“Once again, our strong collections reflect the trust and confidence our members place in Pag-IBIG’s savings programs,” said Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, who also chairs the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. “With P27.61 billion more savings collected in 2025 compared to the previous year, Pag-IBIG Fund’s solid financial position enables us to continue offering low-interest rates and to support the financing requirements of the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program of President
Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.”
Of the total savings collected in 2025, mandatory monthly contributions amounted to P66.80 billion. Notably, voluntary savings, funds saved by members with the agency that are over and above their required contributions, accounted for the larger share of total collections.
“Our members are voluntarily saving more, to the point that voluntary savings have already surpassed mandatory contributions,” said PagIBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta. “Voluntary savings reached P93.60 billion, or 58 percent of our total savings
collections. This is very encouraging because it shows that the culture of saving for the future remains strong among Pag-IBIG members.”
Acosta noted that members’ additional monthly contributions reached P10.09 billion, as more members opted to save above the required P200 monthly contribution. She attributed this to members’ growing appreciation of saving with Pag-IBIG Fund, supported by its consistent track record of competitive annual dividend rates.
She added that this same confidence continued to drive strong MP2 Savings participation, with collections reaching P83.51 billion for the year, making it the primary driver of voluntary savings growth.
“We are very pleased that MP2 Savings continues to encourage more Filipino workers to set aside money for their future,” Acosta said. “Through this program, we have helped our members appreciate the value of disciplined saving by offering a secure and rewarding savings option aligned with their short-term goals. In fact, a number of our MP2 savers, particularly retirees and pensioners, now call themselves ‘LODI,’ or ‘Living on Dividends,’ as they use their annual returns to help cover daily expenses. Our members can be assured that we will continue to manage their savings prudently and strive to provide the highest possible returns. That is Lingkod Pag-IBIG at work.”
Ayala Malls Arca South is your newest third space for daily discoveries
Anew space to breathe, explore, and connect has finally arrived in the south. This month of February, Ayala Malls Arca South invites you to discover a lifestyle destination where openair strolls, curated flavors, and everyday moments unfold into remarkable experiences.
Sboth local and international names, including the Philippines’ Ahon Coffee, Malaysia’s JB Kopitiam, and the Vietnamese-inspired Saigon Coffee. Nearby, The Crates offers an immersive fresh market experience featuring regional delicacies, fresh produce, and vibrant flower stalls. Adding to the flavor are outdoor food trucks, serving crowd favorites such as Cibo, Yushoken, Goof! Doughnuts, Mos Burger, German Doner Kebab, and more, making each visit a chance to try something new.
With a growing selection of stores and experiences underway, Ayala Malls Arca South continues to evolve, offering something new to discover with every return.
Now welcoming the community, Ayala Malls Arca South invites you to discover all the difference, one shared experience at a time.
ORLD Trade Center Metro
WManila (WTCMM) has once again made its mark on the ASEAN stage, taking home the ASEAN MICE Venue Award in the Exhibition Venue Category at the 2026 ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards. The honor was presented during the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026 held recently at the Nustar Resort, Cebu.
The award recognizes venues that meet the highest international standards for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) operations. WTCMM was cited for its capacity for large-scale exhibitions, top-level safety and security measures, and eco-friendly design, including LED lighting and energy recovery ventilators.
“We are deeply grateful for this recognition from the ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards,” said Pamela D. Pascual, Chairman and CEO of WTCMM. “This award affirms the work we continue to do to maintain a venue that meets international
benchmarks. It reflects our ability to support large-scale exhibitions while delivering a safe, high-quality experience for local and global events.”
This latest honor marks an unprecedented achievement for WTCMM, having been recognized across three consecutive award periods, 2022–2024, 2024–2026, and 2026–2028. This continued recognition underscores the venue’s sustained commitment to delivering high-quality, eco-friendly facilities for both local and international markets.
The 2026 awards featured 27 tourismrelated establishments and local government units, highlighting the Philippines’ growing profile as a hub for MICE and tourism in the ASEAN region.
For WTCMM, the recognition reflects more than just facilities. It is a testament to its ongoing commitment to safe, sustainable, and high-quality event spaces that elevate the exhibition experience for organizers and attendees alike.
Designed to be Taguig’s next-generation escape, the mall blends modern convenience with an easygoing, community-centric atmosphere. Naturefilled green spaces and sun-lit interiors set the stage for casual meetups after work and relaxed wandering with family and friends. Built around connectivity and accessibility through its integrated basement parking and links to major transport hubs, it’s a third space meant to fit naturally and stress-free into your daily life.
OUNDCORE the premium audio brand under Anker Innovations and ranked third globally in wireless headphone shipments, has unveiled the soundcore Sleep A30, its most advanced generation of sleep-focused earbuds. Designed for those who struggle with insomnia, sidesleepers, and anyone battling nightly disruptions, the soundcore Sleep A30 combines Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Passive Noise Cancellation (PNC) with AI-powered soundscapes to promote truly restorative rest. Whether facing a snoring partner, buzzing appliances, late-night traffic, or restless pets, the soundcore Sleep A30 delivers the quiet and comfort users need to fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up refreshed, embodying its promise of Noise Off. Sleep On. soundcore continues to redefine how technology supports better rest. Falling asleep can be tough when the world refuses to quiet down, whether it’s the
What makes all the difference is the discovery of thoughtfully curated zones. Fresh Grounds, Ayala Malls’ first-ever roastery zone, brings together artisanal coffee and pastry cafés from
To visit Ayala Malls Arca South, simply head to the Arca South estate entrance located along the Metro Manila Skyway East Service Road.
From Taguig, Makati CBD, and Ortigas C-5:
From EDSA-Buendia, drive south to C-5, then turn to Metro Manila Skyway (East Service Road).
From EDSA, take the ramp to Metro Manila Skyway (West Service Road), then exit to Lawton Avenue to switch to East Service Road.
From NAIA and Alabang: Take Sales Road and exit onto the Metro Manila Skyway East Service Road.
Anew chapter in Filipino generosity and social impact begins with the official launch of Initiate Global Foundation (IGF) on February 16, 2026, the sustainability and social impact arm of Initiate PH. Designed to make giving smarter, more responsible, and truly transformative, IGF aims to empower communities while supporting long-term national development.
As the Philippines’ first social fintech enterprise, IGF goes beyond traditional charity. It equips NGOs, social advocates, individuals, and institutions with tools to create sustainable funding solutions, turning acts of goodwill into measurable, lasting impact. By connecting generosity with practical economic solutions, IGF helps communities secure resources, scale programs, and build resilience, directly contributing to local progress and national growth.
While Initiate PH, the world’s all-in-one crowdfunding platform, awaits its secondary license from the Securities and Exchange Commission to expand its public fundraising services, IGF is taking the lead in building sustainable support systems for grassroots initiatives. Acting as a responsible conduit, IGF ensures that every campaign meets the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and impact, allowing donors and advocates alike to participate confidently in nation-building.
“IGF proves that real change isn’t just a dream, it’s possible when technology, responsibility, and compassion come together,” said Bertln Batiancila, Chairman
of Initiate Global Foundation. “We’re not just helping communities survive today, we’re giving them the tools to thrive tomorrow. Together, our collective goodwill becomes the engine of lasting progress for the Philippines.”
As part of its mission, IGF introduced Initiate 2030, a movement aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through this initiative, NGOs, youth leaders, social enterprises, private sector partners, and everyday Filipinos are invited to work together for measurable social and economic impact by 2030, covering education, health, livelihood, climate action, and inclusive economic growth.
Anchored in the Filipino spirit of bayanihan, Initiate 2030 carries the heartfelt call: “Sino pa ba ang magtutulungan kung hindi tayo-tayo rin?” This is a reminder that nation-building and progress are possible only when we act together.
“Through Initiate 2030, we are giving communities more than support, we’re giving them a voice and a role in shaping the future of our country,” said Jocarl G. Zaide. “IGF is the bridge that connects hearts to action, and with the help of our kababayans, we are bringing the Initiate Filipino Dream to life: a nation where generosity creates real, lasting opportunities for every Filipino.” With IGF, giving is no longer just an act of kindness, it’s an investment in the future of Filipino communities. Every contribution strengthens local economies, drives inclusive growth, and empowers communities to thrive independently, with dignity and purpose.”
WTCMM earns ASEAN award for exhibition excellence
Meet the Initiate Global Foundation leadership team. Seated are Sheryl Casera, CFO & Treasurer; Bertln Batiancila, Chairman; Jocarl Zaide, President & CEO. Standing and Giovanni Velo, COO & GM; Seve Linis, Chief Marketing Officer; Robel de Jesus, Vice President for Corporate Affairs; Lorenzo Luis Veloso, Web Platform Manager and Atty. Boncarlo Uneta, Chief Legal Counsel & Corporate Secretary
GEELY PHILIPPINES INAUGURATES ALABANG DEALERSHIP, TEASES THE UPCOMING EX5 EM-I
Peregrino
GEELY Motors Philippines has officially inaugurated its newest showroom in Alabang, marking another milestone in the brand’s expanding footprint across the country. Operated by the ANC Group—one of Geely’s key dealer partners—the full-service facility is strategically located along Alabang–Zapote Road, designed to cater to customers in southern Metro Manila and nearby communities.
The dealership features a 210-squaremeter showroom, offering a bright and comfortable space for customers to explore Geely’s current lineup. With its clean layout and welcoming atmosphere, the showroom reflects the brand’s commitment to delivering a premium retail experience that meets the evolving expectations of Filipino car buyers. Below the main showroom, Geely Alabang houses an 82-square-meter service facility equipped with eight service bays and seven lifters. This setup enables the dealership to handle routine maintenance and repairs more efficiently, ensuring that ownership support is readily available to customers in the area. The facility’s scale and layout highlight Geely’s focus on aftersales readiness, where the showroom experience is seamlessly integrated with service capacity.
By establishing a strong presence in Alabang, Geely enhances accessibility for motorists living and driving in the southern corridor of Metro Manila.
The dealership’s location at B1 L15 Tierra Nueva, Alabang–Zapote Road, Muntinlupa City positions it within a high-growth area, making sales and service support more convenient for customers in Alabang, Las Piñas, and nearby communities.
The opening of Geely Alabang underscores the brand’s steady expansion strategy in the Philippines. More than just adding retail points, Geely continues to build a dealer network that supports
I
customers throughout the entire ownership journey—from purchase to long-term maintenance.
With this latest addition, Geely strengthens its commitment to delivering both accessibility and reliability, ensuring that Filipino motorists can enjoy the brand’s vehicles with confidence backed by comprehensive after-sales support.
Geely EX5 EM-I: a worthy Plug-In Hybrid contender arriving in Q1
MEANWHILE , Geely Philippines is gearing up for the upcoming Q1 launch of the EX5 EM-I, a plug-in hybrid SUV that blends futuristic styling with practical electrification. Positioned to rival established hybrid contenders, the EX5 EM-I underscores Geely’s commitment to delivering smart mobility solutions tailored for Filipino motorists.
The EX5 EM-I’s exterior design speaks of confidence and modernity.
A bold fascia, accentuated by a wide grille and sleek LED headlamps, sets the tone for its commanding presence. Sculpted body lines flow seamlessly across its profile, while chrome detailing and aerodynamic contours add a premium touch. The crossover stance, complemented by stylish alloy wheels, ensures versatility without sacrificing sophistication.
Inside, the cabin reveals Geely’s vision of a driver-centric digital cockpit.
A wide infotainment screen dominates the dashboard, paired with a fully digital instrument cluster that delivers crisp, real-time data. Ergonomic seating, soft-touch materials, and ambient lighting elevate the comfort level, while smartphone integration and voicecommand features cater to the techsavvy lifestyle of today’s Filipino drivers.
At the core of the EX5 EM-I lies Geely’s EM-I hybrid system, combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor and a dedicated battery pack. This dual-power setup allows for extended electric-only driving during short city commutes, while the combustion engine seamlessly engages for longer trips. The result is a balanced solution that addresses range
anxiety and adapts to the Philippines’ evolving infrastructure.
The EX5 EM-i is equipped with a suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies. Over-the-air updates and app-based monitoring further integrate the SUV into Geely’s Galaxy ecosystem, ensuring drivers remain connected and future-ready. Safety remains paramount in Geely’s engineering philosophy. The EX5 EM-i comes with multiple airbags, electronic stability control, and collision-avoidance systems. Reinforced body construction and intelligent braking technologies provide peace of mind, making it a reliable choice for Filipino families embracing electrified mobility.
billion in taxes surely warms the heart
“Our Toyota suppliers’ exports of auto parts and components amounted to US$1.09 billion. This is roughly 30% of the total Philippine auto parts exports, which pushes the country’s integration in the global trade.
“TMP contributed P43 billion to government revenues through payments of taxes and duties alone.
N a recent speech delivered at Grand Hyatt Manila in BGC-Taguig before the motoring media, Sherwin ChuaLim bared the billion-peso taxes remitted by Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) to the government. It warms the heart to know of one company contributing billions in nation-building through prompt payment of revenues.
Here’s Sherwin, the TMP senior vice president for marketing, who I fondly call Shawin:
“LET me start with TMP’s efforts toward industry development and nation-building.
“In 2025, the TMP employment network reached over 83,000 Filipinos, providing livelihoods and sustaining growth across industries and communities.
CKD “LOCAL sourcing for Completely Knocked Down (CKD) model production reached P17 billion, stimulating the domestic supply chain.
“TMP’s investments in its workforce amounted to P3.9 billion in wages and benefits, supporting Filipino households.
“Our CKD production reached 63,803 units in 2025—6% higher versus 2024 and marking our highest production volume in history. This milestone reflects the potential of the Philippine automotive manufacturing and the role TMP plays in sustaining it.
“Our local line-up is made even stronger with the boost of the Tamaraw, along with the Vios & Innova.
Latest variants
“WE also continue to expand our inhouse conversion capability to respond to the market. Our latest variants include the Ambulance, Telco Van, and the Race Vehicle, in addition to the Drop-side, Utility Van, and Aluminum Cargo body styles.
“Through these local models, TMP supports key sectors such as healthcare, telecommunications, logistics and motorsports, benefiting both MSMEs and individuals.
“Ultimately, our CKD operations go beyond production numbers. They are about building local expertise, showcasing Filipino craftsmanship and supporting nation-building.
Lexus above 50% share
“WE are pleased to share that Toyota closed 2025 with a 46% market share, while Lexus sustained its performance above 50% market share.
“Allow me to provide more detailed information as follows:
TMP sold 229,447 units, a 5.2% growth from 2024. Of these, 19,516 were electrified
units under our Toyota and Lexus brands—40% more than 2024.
“On the other hand, Lexus achieved 1,852 units, 91% of which are xEV units. xEVs compose 9% of total TMP units sold in 2025.
“To date, we have sold 44,228 xEV units (since 2009) as part of our continuing efforts toward carbon neutrality, with 17,524 Tamaraw units sold since its launch in December 2024.
Vios No. 1
“THE Vios continues to be our best-selling model, followed by the Avanza and Hilux, while the top-selling models for Lexus are the NXh, followed by the RXh and LMh.
“In July, we introduced three new niche Tamaraw conversions—the Wing Van, Mobile Store and Food Truck.
“In October, we launched our most affordable Hybrid Electric Vehicle to date, the all-new ATIV.
“In November, we released another variant of the Tamaraw Utility Van—the automatic transmission variant.
“We also introduced our first Battery Electric Vehicle under the Toyota brand, the all-new bZ4X, which has an EV range
of up to 570 kilometers.
“And in December, we rolled out the latest addition to our GR performance vehicle lineup, the all-new GR Corolla.
Tamaraw Racing
“ASIDE from holding 3 TGR PH Cup race weekends, the Tamaraw Racing Concept made its debut in May at the TGR Philippine Cup street race in Villar City.
“And in August, it made its Sprint Race debut at the Clark International Speedway.
“We also held various Tamaraw Roadshows with our Tamaraw Brand Ambassador, Coco Martin, where we connected with Tamaraw owners: August, Cagayan de Oro; October, Tacloban; and, December, Marilao, Bulacan.
Lexus No. 1 again
“IN October, Lexus Manila Gallery transferred to its new home in BGC in partnership with the International Series Philippines, which took place in Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club, and where Lexus Brand Ambassador Miguel Tabuena emerged champion—even as Lexus again became No. 1 in the Luxury
Market for the third straight year.
“Speaking of this year, please save the date as we will kick off with a street race in Cavite on March 13-15, followed by Race Weekend 2 on July 9-11 at Clark, and Weekend 3 on Aug.
Story & photos by Randy S.
THE newly-inaugurated Geely dealership in Alabang
THE upcoming EX5 EM-i Plug-in Hybrid was displayed during the Alabang showroom inauguration
GEELY’S vision of a driver-centric digital cockpit
B8 Friday, February 20, 2026
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy—Tennis player Alexandra
Eala was a fan favorite at the Australian Open.
Gymnast Carlos Yulo won two gold medals at the Paris Olympics.
And now Alpine skier Tallulah Proulx has become the first female athlete from the Philippines to compete in the Winter Olympics— and at 17, the youngest ever from the Southeast Asian country.
“This is a new era for the Philippines and sports on the global stage and I really am grateful that I get to be a part of it,” the US-born Proulx said as she finished 50th in the slalom at the Cortina Games on Wednesday after carrying her country’s flag during the opening ceremony.
She was 52nd in the giant slalom.
Proulx grew up skiing at the Sierra Tahoe resort in California, then moved at age 7 to Iowa and raced at tiny Sundown Mountain before moving on Colorado and then settling in Park City, Utah, where she now resides.
Proulx’s father is from the Eastern Samar province in the Philippines’ Eastern Visayas region.
“And I have a lot of relatives, family back there and honestly the response has been so heartwarming,” Proulx said. “Filipinos are just such warm and welcoming people.… I think that’s what makes us really strong and I’m so grateful that I get to be the first Filipina because I show that others can follow in my footsteps and hopefully get more involved into winter sports, which I know is quite hard in the Philippines.”
Proulx was slated to visit the Philippines for the first time a few years ago before her trip got canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Still, she has emersed herself in the country’s culture, thanks to her grandmother.
“Me and my brother grew up with her cooking—all of course the delicious Filipino food and sharing her culture,” Proulx said. “Unfortunately, last year she passed away.… I really wanted to push for this and wanted to represent such an important part of my heritage, both for her and for myself.”
PLDT is beginning to look every bit like a team built for another title run three weeks into the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Blending firepower and relentless floor coverage, the High Speed Hitters stormed past a gritty Akari side, 25-22, 25-27, 25-21, 25-15, to stay unbeaten and improve to 3-0.
While PLDT’s offense hummed, it was their defense discipline that did the more damage.
Libero Kath Arado anchored that stand with 26 excellent digs and 10 receptions.
“Defense is really the team’s foundation,” said Arado, who bagged the Best Player of the Game trophy. “It wasn’t easty because Akari’s also defenseoriented.” PLDT was tested in the second set when Akari, behind Mary Rhose Dapol and Jyne Soreño, extended rallies and forced a tense and protracted duel, but PLDT’S championship caliber came to work and stopped any bleeding.
The victory tied the High Speed Hitters with the Nxled Chameleons atop the standings at 3-0.
Savi Davison, initially slowed by Akari’s floor defense led by Justine Jazareno, still finished with a gamehigh 18 points, while Kim Dy and Majoy Baron delivered 14 points each and Mika Reyes and Alleiah Malaluan chipped in 10 apiece.
Jovie Prado added six points in the near two-hour contest.
Akari actually beat PLDT in attacks, 60-59, but the High Speed Hitters imposed their will at the net, tallying 13 blocks—five more than the Chargers—with Baron accounting for a conference-high seven.
The reigning On Tour and Invitational champions also capitalized on Akari’s 23 errors while limiting their own miscues to 14.
“Having a bench that’s ready to respond anytime is always a big plus,” Arado said. “So it’s a big credit to our subs
Next up for Proulx: A trip home
In Cortina, Proulx traded pins with American slalom standout Paula Moltzan and got a picture slalom gold Mikaela
“It’s amazing being around these people that I’ve looked up to my whole life,” she said, “and then realize I’m skiing that course next.”
Next up for Proulx: a trip to the Philippines. It’s redemption, at last, for Mikaela Shiffrin at
The American superstar put in two dominant runs to win the women’s slalom on Wednesday by a massive 1.50 seconds, ending a run of eight straight Olympic races without a medal for perhaps the greatest Alpine
It was the largest margin of victory in any Alpine skiing event at the Olympics since 1998 and the third biggest in women’s slalom, the event
UENTIN MILLORABROWN, popularly called QMB, has reconsidered and will join Gilas Pilipinas for the second window of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asia Qualifiers. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Erika Dy confirmed on Thursday that the federation settled minor disagreements with the camp of 6-foot-9 Milloria-Brown.
He’s already in town.
“QMB’s in Manila and he will be joining Gilas’s practice on Friday,” Dy said. World No. 36 Philippines staked its 2-0 record in Pool A against No. 25 New Zealand (0-2) on February 26 and No. 6 Australia (2-0) on March 1 both at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. With QMB around, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone has a
she won as a fresh-faced 18-year-old in Sochi in 2014.
After adding gold and silver to her collection in Pyeongchang in 2018, Shiffrin went 0 for 6 in Beijing in 2022 and failed to medal in either the team combined or giant slalom in Cortina before nailing the slalom.
Shiffrin became the first American skier to win three Alpine gold medals. Canada, meanwhile, avoided what would have been a stunning quarterfinal exit in men’s hockey by rallying to beat Czechia 4-3 in overtime. Nick Suzuki tied it on a deflection with 3:27 left and Mitch Marner scored in OT.
The United States also needed overtime before eventually topping
Sweden 2-1. Quinn Hughes scored in OT to give the US the win after giving up the tying goal to Mika Zibanejad with 91 seconds left in the third period. Dylan Larkin deflected in Jack Hughes’ shot for the only US goal in regulation. Canada stayed in the tournament but has a major concern after losing Sidney Crosby to injury five minutes into the second period. Crosby’s right leg appeared to buckle bracing for contact from rugged Czechia defenseman Radko Gudas. In the other quarterfinal matches, Finland also won in overtime, 3-2, against Switzerland, while Slovakia beat Germany 6-2.
SBP: QMB has a change of mind
second option for veteran June Mar Fajardo in the shade.
“That’s the good news,” Fajardo said.
“QMB’s availability is a tremendous help for us because New Zealand and Australia have a tall lineup.”
The Aussies and Kiwis have an average ceiling of 6-foot-8.
Cone’s team also includes 6-foot-7
Justine Baltazar, 6-foot-11 AJ Edu and 6-foot-7 Carl Tamayo.
Milloria-Brown, who helped University of the Philippines to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines crown two seasons ago, made averages of 7.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in two games against Guam in the first window last year. While the big men have come aplenty for Cone, 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto, although already recuperated from ACL, won’t be around. Josef Ramos
TNT Tropang 5G landed 7-foot3 South Sudanese-American Bol Manute Bol to defend its Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup title. Bol is the son of the late National Basketball Association tall man and blocking superstar Manute Bol and has legitimate NBA credentials with the Miami Heat (2019), Denver Nuggets (2019-2022), Orlando Magic (2022 to 2023) and Phoenix Suns (2023 to 2025). TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa welcomed Bol upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino Airport on Thursday morning and both went straight to the team’s front office in Makati. Bol is the most popular import so far in the mid-season conference—he averaged 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.2 blocks during his best season in 2022-2023 while playing for the Orlando Magic. He subs for three-time Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson—the team’s import for two conferences—who’s recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon incuured last December 6
Sam Deguara who will alternate for Macau Black Bears, 6-foot9 Ismael Romero for Meralso, 6-foot-11 Daniel Ochefu for Blackwater, 6-foot-9 Jaylen Johnson for Rain or Shine, 7-footer Mubasha Ali for
