Go, Aquino lead in Senate race
Partial tally shows Akbayan, Duterte Youth, Tingog top party-list choices
By Vito Barcelo and Rachelle Tonelada
SIX Alyansa candidates, two PDP-Laban re-electionists, two opposition-backed former senators, a party-list representative and a presidential sister who ran as independent led the list of senatorial bets based on the partial and unofficial results of the Commision on Elections.
Isko, Rody,
By Joel E. Zurbano and Pot Chavez
PARTIAL and unofficial results from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed old names in the political scene dominating the key mayoralty races during yesterday’s midterm elections, In the capital city of Manila, former Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso completed his comeback after garnering a huge lead over his long-time ally, Honey Lacuna-Pangan.
Leni win mayoralty races
As of 10:14 p.m. last night, Domagoso received 547,001 votes to secure the win against the incumbent mayor with 193,986 votes and Tutok To Win Party-List Representative Sam Verzosa with 167,398 votes. Meanwhile, Chi Atienza also received a commanding 606,962 votes over incumbent city vice mayor Yul Servo-Nieto, who received 256,786 votes.
In Davao City, Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, detained at the International Criminal Court
(ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity, regained the mayorship of family stronghold Davao city in a landslide vote on Monday, an initial tally showed. With over 60 percent of returns in, Duterte had built an insurmountable lead of 405,000 votes to 49,000 for his nearest competitor, results from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) released by local media showed.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Leni Robredo has taken a huge
By Rex Espiritu, Vince Lopez and Rolando Ng III
AT LEAST nine people were killed and several others were wounded in election-related violence across the country during yesterday’s midterm polls.
The Philippines has a long history of election violence, with armed groups of political rivals routinely fighting over positions that control local government spending.
Despite the cases of poll-related violence, Commission on Elections chairman George Garcia said the elections can still be considered “generally peaceful.”
“Overall, the situation has been satisfactory and relatively peaceful. The deployment of our election materials was timely, all polling centers
have opened, and many individuals took advantage of the early voting hours,” Garcia said.
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil agreed: “Very peaceful. And we arrested those who tried to disrupt the polls.”
The PNP has been on alert for more than a week, and around 163,000 officers have been deployed to secure polling stations, escort election officials and guard checkpoints.
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) conceded that the midterm elections appeared “a little more peaceful” compared to previous polls.
“If we compare it to 2022 and 2019 -- just qualitative, until we get the final reports -- it seems that the conduct of the election was a little more
Glitches mar polls but Comelec assures timely proclamations
By Vito Barcelo and Rolando Ng III
US, China de-escalate trade war
THE United States and China announced Monday an agreement to drastically reduce tit-for-tat tariffs for 90 days, de-escalating a trade war that has roiled financial markets and raised fears of a global economic downturn.
After their first talks since US President Donald Trump launched his trade war, the world’s two biggest economies agreed in a joint statement to bring their triple-digit tariffs down to two figures and continue negotiations.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the weekend talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and international trade representative Li Chenggang as “productive” and “robust.”
“Both sides showed a great respect,” Bessent told reporters.
US President Donald Trump had imposed duties of 145 percent on imports for China last month—compared to 10
percent for other countries in the global tariff blitz he launched last month.
Beijing hit back with duties of 125 percent on US goods.
Bessent said the two sides agreed to reduce those tariffs by 115 percentage points, taking US tariffs to 30 percent and those by China to 10 percent.
In their statement, the two sides agreed to “establish a mechanism to continue discussions about economic and trade relations.”
China hailed the “substantial progress” made at the talks.
“This move... is in the interest of the two countries and the common interest of the world,” the Chinese commerce minis-
COME AS YOU WEAR.
“We have 16,000 contingency ACMs. At present, we have 110,000 ACMs being used nationwide,” he added.
Technical issues
With temperatures hitting 34 degrees Celsius in some places, Garcia said some voting machines “overheated.”
“It’s slowing the voting process,” he said.
“Due to the extreme heat, the ink (on the ballots) does not dry immediately, and the ballot ends up stuck on the scanners,” Garcia added, noting officials in some areas were resorting to aiming electric fans at the machines.
The Department of Education said it has received hundreds of reports from its field offices, mostly on malfunctioning ACMs and missing names on the voter’s list.
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting also noted receiving report of voters who did not fill out all 12 senatorial slots but their “VoterVerified Paper Audit Trail” reflected additional names on their ballot.
PPCRV spokesperson Ana de Villa Singson said there was no way to verify these claims as they did not have access to the actual ballots used by the complainants.
One voter, for example, claimed to have selected only four senatorial candidates, but the receipt reflected eight, she said.
LENTE said the most common problem involved sensitive scanners that frequently rejected ballots.
“In these instances, the Electoral Board had to temporarily pause operations to clean the scanner, resulting in delays and long queues.”
“Voters were allowed to fill out their ballots but were informed that their ballots would be temporarily set aside and fed into the ACM once operational,” LENTE added.
Despite the glitches, Garcia said the canvassing period for this year is expected to be faster compared to the 2022 elections.
The Makabayan coalition, however, urged Comelec to revert to manual voting amid questions raised on the integrity of the ACMs’ software.
Re-electionist council member Vladimir Cayabas
and a
try said, adding that it hoped Washington would keep working with China “to correct the wrong practice of unilateral tariff rises.”
The dollar, which tumbled after Trump launched his tariff blitz in April, rallied on the news while US stock futures soared. European and Asian markets also rallied.
The trade dispute between Washington and Beijing has rocked financial markets, raising fears the tariffs would rekindle inflation and cause a global economic downturn.
‘Bodes well for the future’
The head of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, praised the talks on Sunday as a “significant step forward” that “bode well for the future.”
“Amid current global tensions, this progress is important not only for the US and China but also for the rest of the world, including the most vulnerable economies,” she added.
Ahead of the meeting at the discreet villa residence of Switzerland’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Trump had signalled he might lower the tariffs, suggesting on social media that an “80% Tariff on China seems right!”
However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that the United States would not lower tariffs unilaterally, saying China would also need to make concessions.
The Geneva meeting came days after Trump unveiled a trade agreement with Britain, the first with any country since he unleashed his blitz of global tariffs.
The five-page, nonbinding deal confirmed to nervous investors that Washington was willing to negotiate sectorspecific relief from recent duties.
But Trump maintained a 10 percent levy on most British goods, and threatened to keep it in place as a baseline rate for most other countries. AFP
incumbent Mayor Abigail Binay, garnered 48,990 votes.
lead in the mayoral race in Naga City.
Based on the partial and unofficial results as of 9:46 p.m. on Monday, Robredo already has 80,963 votes from 80% of election returns. She is far ahead of her rivals, Toots De Quiros, 6,084, Louie Ortega, 844, and Ganda Abrazado, 718.
In Quezon City, the most populous city in the NCR, incumbent Mayor Joy Belmonte racked up a huge lead over her nearest competitor in the mayoral race, assuring her of a third term.
As of 9:54 p.m., with over 73 percent of the votes in the city counted, Belmonte had 992,379 votes, followed by Diosdado Velasco with 20,322 votes; Jonathan Cabalo with 13,015 votes; Rolando Jota with 8,264 votes, and Noli Navat with 4,090 votes.
Her running mate Gian Sotto also leads the vice mayoral race with 903,951 votes, followed by Dante Villarta with 25,939 votes; Inventor Ingles with 18,912 votes; and June Felangco with 17,859 votes.
In Makati City, Incumbent Senator Nancy Binay is currently leading the mayoral race against her brother-in-law, incumbent Makati City Representative Luis Campos.
According to the partial unofficial count, which reflects 58 percent of election returns, Binay received 66,221 votes, while Campos, the husband of
In the race for vice mayor, Romulo Pena is in the lead with 83,290 votes, while actor Monsour del Rosario obtained 32,096 votes.
In Taguig City, re-electionist Mayor Laarni Cayetano is leading with 331,591 votes, based on a partial unofficial count of 63.91% of election returns.
She is followed by her rival, Arnel Cerafica, who received 88,688 votes.
For vice mayor in Taguig City, Cayetano’s running mate, Arvin Alit, secured 270,695 votes, while his opponent, Janelle Cerafica, received 113,798 votes.
In Pasig City, Vico Sotto leads the mayoral race by a massive margin.
Based on partial and unofficial results as of 9:19 p.m. last night, the incumbent mayor has 262,906 votes so far.
His closest rival, Sarah Discaya, has 21,775 votes. Other candidates Cory Palma and Eagle Ayaon have 238 and 219 votes, respectively.
For vice mayor, incumbent candidate Dodot Jaworski is also ahead in the race with 217,750 votes.
His opponents, Iyo-Caruncho Bernardo and Kuya-Marc Dela Cruz have 53,005 votes and 4,342 votes, respectively.
In San Juan City, incumbent Mayor Francis Zamora was headed for a third term based on partial and unofficial results from the Comelec as of 10:14 p.m. last night.
The sitting mayor garnered 50,152
votes over his political foe and former PBA player Philip Cezar, who received only 7,231 votes. Zamora’s running mate, Angelo Agcoili, was also ahead of his rival, independent candidate Candy Crisologo. Agcoili received 41,823 votes, while Crisologo got 11,806.
In Caloocan City, Incumbent Along Malapitan currently leads the race for mayor in the 2025 local elections.
As of 10 p.m., partial results revealed that Malapitan landed 330,022 votes, followed by former senator Antonio Trillanes with 220,158 votes. Karina Teh leads the polls for vicemayor with 333,072 votes.
In Marikina City, 1st District Rep. Maan Teodoro was poised to succeed her husband, Marcy Teodoro, as mayor of Marikina City.
As of 9:54 p.m., she received 140,296 votes against Marikina 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo, who received 109,504, in the mayoral race.
Meanwhile, former Marikina Mayor Del De Guzman was leading the vice mayoral race with 123,796 votes.
Behind him were Doc Marion Andres with 115,651 votes and independent candidate Annie Retes with 3,240 votes.
In Las Piñas City, incumbent Councilor Mark Anthony Santos last night secured a commanding lead over rival Senator Cynthia Villar.
As of 10:37 p.m. (73.7%), Santos (NPC) has received 114,491 votes while Villar (Nacionalista Party) trailing him with 82,703 votes. Vito Barcelo and Rex Espiritu
Global supply glut brings down fuel prices anew
By Alena Mae S. Flores
THE country’s oil firms will roll back effecive 6am today pump prices by P1.25 per liter for kerosene, P0.90 per liter for diesel and P0.30 per liter for gasoline.
“Petron will implement the following price rollbacks effective 6 am, May 13: P0.30 per liter for gasoline; P0.90 per liter for diesel and P1.25 per liter for kerosene. These reflect movements in the international oil market,” Petron Corp. said in an advisory. Seaoil Philippines, Jetti Petroleum and Cleanfuel issued separate advisories of the rollback while other oil firms are expected to follow. This is the second consecutive week of oil price rollback due to forecasts of global supply glut. Department of Energy Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) director Rodela Romero attributed the lower oil prices to the decision of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to increase June oil production levels, and the US tariff uncertainty which has raised concerns about a possible supply glut.
Romero said last week uncertainty over the outcome of trade talks between the US and China, the world’s two largest oil consumers, also pushed down pump prices.
re-electionist Senator Bong Go (PDP-Laban) maintained a clear lead with over 26 million votes. Closely ranked at 2nd and 3rd places were former Senator Bam Aquino (KNP, 20.26 million) and re-electionist Senator Bato dela Rosa (PDP-Laban, 19.95 million).
ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo (Lakas, Alyansa) was at 4th place with 16.51 million votes.
Ranked closely at 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th spots were former Senator Kiko Pangilinan of the Liberal Party with 14.81 million, Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta with 14.68 million, former Senator Ping Lacson (Alyansa) with 14.57 million, former Senator Tito Sotto III (Alyansa, 14.32 million) and re-electionist Senator Pia Cayetano (Alyansa, 14.05 million). Rounding up the top 12 initial and unofficial list were Rep. Camille Villar (Alyansa, 13.14 million), re-electionist Lito Lapid (Alyansa, 12.84 million), and re-electionist Senator Imee Marcos (12.82 million). The 13th to 15th slots went to Ben Tulfo (11.65 million), re-electionist Bong Revilla (Alyansa, 11.59 million) and Abby Binay (Alyansa, 11.34 million.
For the party-list race, among those who are more or less assured of one seat (with at least two percent of the total votes) are Akbayan (2.69 million, 3.86%), Duterte Youth (2.26 million, 3.24%), Tingog (1.74 million, 2.50%), 4PS (1.41 million, 2.02%), ACT CIS (1.19 million, 1.72%), and Ako Bicol (1.07 million, 1.53%). With Rolando Ng III
peaceful,” PPCRV spokesperson Ana Singson said.
Fatality count
• Even before the poll precincts opened, three people, including a poll watcher, were killed while two others were wounded in a predawn boat clash near Hadji Muhtamad town in Basilan Monday. The fatalities – poll watcher Murasidul Kidong Abduarahman and supporters Samier Allil Jamiri and Ben Bakil – were aboard a motorboat with mayoral candidate Jamar Mansul’s convoy when the clash happened near Sangbay Big Island at about 1:45
a.m. Police chief Maj. Nursaibar Mahadi said his seaborne patrol team engaged eight armed men who refused to stop for inspection, noting three jumped overboard.
• As polls opened, two men were killed and seven wounded in the central Philippines when men fired on a group outside a local party headquarters from a moving vehicle in Mambulac, Silay City, Negros Occidental
• At least three persons were killed in separate incidents of electoral violence in Lanao del Sur on Monday, authorities said. A candidate for municipal councilor, Afganie Balt Taha, and a barangay chairman’s brother, Walid Balt Taha, were shot dead by unidentified armed men three hours after the polling center opened in Barangay Sumbag while Ara-
fat Harin Iskak was killed in Barangay Madaya.
• One man, identified only as “Samsodin,” was killed and another in Zamboanga del Sur after an armed group reportedly harassed a rival political group in Barangay Guinicolalay, Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur.
Meanwhile, voters at a polling station in the village of Sagap, Bangued, Abra province also ran for their safety while one person was injured as successive gunfire burst in the vicinity while people were waiting to vote.
The PNP has yet to give a final tally of the fatalities during yesterday’s midterm polls.
But PNP public information office chief Col. Randulf Tuaño said a total 16 people were killed in 46 validated elec-
tion-related incidents since the start of the election period on January 12, 2025.
He said the PNP has yet to validate 31 suspected election-related incidents.
Soaring heat, hotter contest
Millions of Filipinos braved long lines and soaring temperatures Monday to vote in an election largely defined by the explosive feud between President Ferdinand Marcos and impeached Vice President Sara Duterte.
Yesterday’s election will decide more than 18,000 posts, from seats in the House of Representatives to hotly contested municipal offices.
It is the battle for the Senate, however, that carries potentially major implications.
The 12 senators to win in Monday’s
polls will form half the jury in an impeachment trial of Duterte later this year that could see her permanently barred from public office.
Duterte’s long-running feud with former ally Marcos erupted in February when she was impeached by the House for alleged “high crimes,” including corruption and an assassination plot against the president.
Barely a month later, her father -- former president Rodrigo Duterte -- was arrested and sent to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to face a charge of crimes against humanity over his deadly drug crackdown. The Vice President will need nine votes in the 24-seat Senate to preserve any hope of a future presidential run. With AFP
clad in his Ifugao tribal attire
member of the Bag-bago Indigenous Community casts his vote in Baguio City. Dave Leprozo
Poll watchdog to hold protest in Luneta over poll irregularities
By Joel E. Zurbano
VARIOUS groups and organizations spearheaded by poll watchdog Kontra Daya plan to stage a mobilization at Luneta Park in Manila to protest the irregularities and issues faced by voters during the May 12 elections.
They called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to take accountability for its failures in preventing voter
fraud and disenfranchisement. The protest will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at Luneta Park, marching
to The Manila Hotel.
Meanwhile, Vote Report Philippines continues to receive an increasing number of verified incident reports related to various forms of electoral irregularities, totaling 566.
As of 2:30 p.m., errors with the automated counting machines (ACMs) remain the most frequently reported issue, accounting for 54 percent of all verified reports (305 incidents).
Commonly cited problems include machine malfunctions that cause hourlong delays, ink smudging during
ballot feeding, and high scanner sensitivity leading to unintended overvotes. Other reported issues include illegal campaigning, disenfranchisement, red-tagging, non-compliance by the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI), vote buying, election-related violence, black propaganda, tampered ballots, and harassment of voters.
Vote Report Philippines urges the public to remain vigilant and continue reporting any incidents of electoral fraud or irregularities during the elections.
By Charles Dantes
THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) decried the series of harassment incidents involving journalists during the 2025 midterm elections, warning that such acts threaten press freedom and the democratic process.
“Such acts undermine press freedom and the essential role of the media in a democratic society,” said PTFoMS Executive Director Jose Torres Jr.
“We do not tolerate attacks on media professionals who are performing their duties as responsible citizens during the elections. We will vigorously pursue cases against those found to be endangering the lives of journalists,” he added.
PTFoMS, in coordination with the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Media Security Vanguards, is investigating the incidents and will take appropriate action alongside media organizations.
Torres also called on the public and members of the press to document and promptly report threats or acts of violence against journalists.
Among the reported cases is the May 10 attack on the vehicle of the former president of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club in Sagay, Camiguin, which is under police investigation.
That same day, a news crew from TV 48 and radio station DWNE in Nueva Ecija reported being threatened with a slingshot by a member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team.
The crew said they also faced intimidation from the barangay chairman.
In Quezon City, radio reporter Rambo Labay was allegedly harassed by a group of men while covering a suspected vote-buying incident.
All three cases have been formally reported to authorities, and PTFoMS is reviewing them for possible legal action against those involved.
As of Election Day, the task force has logged three incidents linked to election-related threats against media workers.
Another case, which took place before the election period, involved Romeo Gonzales, a DZRH provincial correspondent.
Gonzales filed a complaint with the police in Baguio City on April 23, alleging that JB Bernos, mayor of La Paz, Abra—who is running for Congress—threatened him after he reported on a shooting incident.
Torres said the incidents highlight the ongoing dangers journalists face, especially during elections, and stressed the importance of strong protection measures and accountability mechanisms.
He reaffirmed the task force’s commitment to providing a safe environment for the press and protecting democratic values.
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025
IN BRIEF
DICT lauds Meta action on poll disinformation
THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Monday praised Meta—parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads—for accelerating the takedown of election-related disinformation to within an hour.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda welcomed the move and urged Meta to maintain its vigilance beyond the May 12 elections, emphasizing that disinformation remains a long-term threat to digital spaces.
Aguda said the action supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to secure the country’s cyberspace, and encouraged other social media platforms to cooperate with the government’s efforts to combat harmful content online.
The DICT also called on tech companies to take part in a “digital bayanihan,” a collaborative effort to protect the integrity of online platforms and ensure they remain safe and trustworthy.
Philippines establishes Grenada diplomatic ties
THE Philippines has formally established diplomatic relations with the Caribbean state of Grenada, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Monday.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo signed a joint communique with Grenada’s Foreign Minister Joseph Andall on May 8, on the sidelines of a meeting of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states.
The DFA said the move marks a new chapter in the Philippines’ engagement with the Caribbean region and expands its diplomatic reach to 14 CARICOM countries.
Manalo also met with foreign ministers from CARICOM during the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) meeting held in St. Kitts and Nevis from May 8 to 9.
Errors, red-tagging undermine polls—Piston
TRANSPORT group Piston raised alarm over election day reports from the Makabayan Coalition citing 29 incidents of vote-counting machine errors and 15 cases of red-tagging as of 10:00 a.m. on May 12.
The reported issues include rejected or mishandled ballots, smudged entries, overvoting, machine failures requiring manual ballot collection, and discrepancies in the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)—all of which cast doubt on the reliability of the automated election system.
Piston also condemned the continued red-tagging of progressive candidates, calling it a form of voter intimidation and a violation of democratic rights.
In light of these concerns, Piston echoed the Makabayan Coalition’s call for a manual count as a safeguard to protect the integrity of the vote, citing repeated technical issues and eroding public trust.
San Juanico Bridge now restricted amid vulnerabilities
By Rex Espiritu
THE iconic San Juanico Bridge is now subject to enhanced restrictions following recent assessments that revealed structural vulnerabilities, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced.
Police and military personnel have been deployed to strategic areas of the bridge, located in Eastern Visayas, to help enforce the new restrictions af-
ter the assessment indicated potential damage.
OCD chief Ariel Nepomuceno said that the deployment is part of a broader
initiative to safeguard the San Juanico Bridge—which connects Samar and Leyte—while ensuring the safety of travelers and nearby communities.
“These teams conduct vehicle weighing, traffic checks, and enforcement activities to prevent overloading, ensure safety, and facilitate smooth traffic flow,” Nepomuceno said.
On May 8, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) issued a memorandum imposing a temporary axle load limit of three tons for all vehicles crossing the San Juanico Bridge.
According to the memorandum, all
vehicles must travel along the bridge’s centerline and cross one at a time, under the strict supervision of on-site traffic management personnel.
Additionally, heavy vehicles—including commercial cargo trucks and buses—are temporarily banned from using the bridge.
Nepomuceno emphasized that the government is actively monitoring the situation and working on long-term solutions to restore the bridge’s full capacity. “Our goal is to prevent incidents and ensure that our infrastructure can withstand natural hazards,” he said.
Japanese national, Filipina arrested for human trafficking
By Vito Barcelo
GOVERNMENT operatives arrested a Japanese national and his Filipino cohort for alleged human trafficking and large-scale illegal recruitment in an entrapment operation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. Joint operatives from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the NAIA Task Force Against
Trafficking nabbed the Japanese national, identified as Tomita Takayuki, and a Filipina, Maria Zenaida Callos Otani. Both are facing charges of qualified trafficking in persons and large-scale illegal recruitment.
They were arrested last Friday night while attempting to sneak 13 Filipinos out of the country, who had been promised factory jobs in Japan.
Investigations revealed that the
DepEd task force focuses on election-related issues
prompt actions to resolve various issues experienced by teachers and
Legaspi said most of the reported concerns are issues with vote-counting machines, missing names in the voter’s list, and health-related concerns among teachers and personnel. Earlier, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara vowed to help ensure clean and honest elections through the DepEd’s ETF,
in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to uphold the peaceful, clean, and honest elections. The ETF, with around P99.3 million in funds, deployed teams to uphold the welfare of teachers and non-teaching staff, coordinated with the Commission on Elections, and helped resolve issues on the field promptly, Legaspi said. He added that the task force also covers “real-time monitoring, legal support, hotline and help desk operations, incident response, and post-election reporting.”
The DepEd’s election command center will be fully operational until 5 p.m. on May 13.
suspects recruited the victims through Winkbayside Manpower Services, which was later discovered to be a bogus agency. The victims were lured with offers of factory jobs under Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program, with a promised monthly salary of 120,000 yen.
However, upon arriving in Japan, the victims were handed over to various employers and forced to work in factories under fictitious identities.
They later discovered that their actual salary should have been 200,000 yen, but they were only paid about 120,000 yen.
Undersecretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services Bernard P. Olalia, along with the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking and the NBI-International Airport Investigation Division, carried out the entrapment operation that led to the suspects’ arrest.
Navy deploys warships to protect Sulu, Basilan polls
THE Philippine Navy has deployed several warships to support efforts in ensuring the safety and credibility of the upcoming 2025 national and local elections in the southern provinces of Sulu and Basilan.
Under the operational control of Joint Task Force Orion (JTFO), vessels including BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS176), BRP Juan Magluyan (PC392), and Boat Attack 485— carrying Navy SEALs—have been assigned to secure their respective maritime areas. The deployment is part of a broader strategy to maintain peace and security throughout the electoral process.
“The deployment also highlights the Navy’s crucial role in enhancing mobility and providing logistical support, particularly in geographi-
cally isolated and disadvantaged areas within the JTFO’s area of responsibility in Western Mindanao,” the Navy said.
The strategic deployment aims to deter potential threats and ensure a stable environment as voters head to the polls.
Authorities said the region has historically faced security challenges during election periods, including threats from armed groups and criminal syndicates that seek to disrupt the democratic process.
The Navy, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Commission on Elections, earlier affirmed its commitment to upholding the integrity of the elections and protecting the rights of citizens to vote freely and safely. Rex Espiritu
THE MAYOR’S VOTE. Mayor Jerry Treñas casts his vote at Luis Mirasol Memorial School in Iloilo City. ARNOLD ALMACEN/Iloilo City Mayor’s Office
MOORED. The BRP General Mariano Alvarez, a coastal patrol ships currently in service with the Philippine Navy, docks.
RESTRICTIONS. Passenger buses ply San Juanico Bridge. The bridge is now subject to enhanced restrictions following recent assessments that revealed structural vulnerabilities.
OPINION
The Bessang Pass battle, a signal victory
EVERY April 9, the nation commemorates and celebrates the day of heroes, fittingly called “Araw ng Kagitingan.”
It is to commemorate the surrender of Bataan and the Fall of Corregidor. There is a memorial built on the hills of Bataan where the President of the Philippines is always a guest of honor, together with a few living World War II veterans present. Often, a representative of the Japanese government is present to commemorate the surrender of Bataan and the fall of Corregidor, two defeats of the country which was then under the Commonwealth of the United States.
In Bataan, it was the surrender of combined American and Filipino forces. There was also the tragedy of the Death March of the surrenderers.
And yet in the annals of the Armed Force of the Philippines, there is the record of the Battle of Bessang Pass, a signal victory of the Philippines where the Filipino guerrilla forces. in a 6-month battle, made the remaining forces of General Yamashita surrender to the Philippines.
Yamashita himself continued to hide in the fastnesses of Apayao and Kiangan provinces until he was found by the guerrilla forces and surrendered.
The Battle of Bessang Pass is not too widely known nowadays, but it was a crucial engagement that led to the final surrender of the Japanese forces in the Philippines.
By that time following the resurgence of resistance, and inspired by the return of our American allies and the victorious landing at Lingayen Gulf, the Japanese were at last in retreat toward their final remaining stronghold, which they had established in the Ifugao-BenguetVizcaya region.
This was a triangle of defense outlined by the Villaverde Trail, Balete Pass and Bessang Pass.
The stakes were simple, yet very high.
If our forces failed to wrest the Pass from Japanese control, then their forces could regroup, hunker down in their stronghold, and potentially reemerge more dangerous than ever.
If we took the Pass, then no less than General Tomoyuki Yamashita himself — the infamous overall commander of the Japanese military in the Philippines, conqueror of Malaysia, and the “Tiger of Malaya” — would be trapped in the Cordillera region with all his troops.
It is called a battle, and sometimes referred to, rather poetically, as “the Battle Among the Clouds,” which might lead you to think it was a single confrontation. But in reality it was many months of conflict, from January to June of 1945.
Led by then-Colonel Russell Volckman, the USAFIP-NL (which was composed almost entirely of Filipinos, with
the exception of five American officers) gradually, but determinedly gained ground from the Japanese, hill by hill, ridge by ridge, No less than 1,405 Ilocano and Igorot guerillas died, to liberate our country from foreign domination.
It gives me great pride to report that it was my eldest brother Desi -then second lieutenant and company commander of the 3rd battalion, under Major Conrado Rigor — who led the assault at Bessang Pass and finally made it to the top, against heavy odds. and firepower.
The Battle of Bessang Pass is not too widely known nowadays, but it to the final surrender of the Japanese forces in the Philippines
The Battle of Bessang Pass was officially won on June 14, 1945, and Yamashita surrendered only three months later, on Sept. 2, 1945, the day of the formal surrender of Japan to General Douglas MacArthur.
My brother Desi was awarded the Silver Star for bravery and courage above and beyond the call of duty.
An American military tribunal in Manila tried General Yamashita for war crimes relating to the Manila massacre and many atrocities in the Philippines against civilians and prisoners of war upon the landing of the United States forces in Lingayen Gulf.
He tried to recover Manila, specifically the south of Pasig.
That was also called the “Rape of Manila” when the Japanese forces committed all kinds of atrocities including rape, the killing of everybody they found, even in churches and hospitals.
Yamashita was sentenced to death and hanged in Los Banos, Laguna.
To me, the victory of the Battle of Bessang Pass against the Japanese imperial forces is a day of commemoration, but sadly enough, unfortunately it has not been so, Santa Banana!
It has been hoped that the President being an Ilocano and Gibo Teodoro, Defense Secretary also an Ilocano, would correct history by commemorating the signal victory in the Battle of Bessang Pass.
Unfortunately and sadly that doesn’t seem to be coming, reflecting the damaged culture of the Filipinos where we celebrate defeats instead of victories.
Jailed in The Hague, ruling Davao
RODRIGO Duterte, former Philippine president and Davao’s political titan, is defying logic and law.
Detained in The Hague on International Criminal Court charges for crimes against humanity, he’s running for an eighth term as Davao City mayor in the May 12, 2025, elections.
If he wins, he’d be proclaimed in absentia, with son Sebastian as acting mayor and grandson Rodrigo II poised to secure the family’s dynasty.
This legally feasible but ethically dubious plan exposes gaping holes in Philippine law, the Duterte dynasty’s chokehold, and democracy’s fragility. Here’s a sharp dissection of the legal, practical, and moral mess.
Can Duterte stage a mayor’s coup from prison?
Philippine law bends to accommodate Duterte’s gambit.
The Omnibus Election Code (BP 881) allows proclamation in absentia, as confirmed by Comelec Chair George Garcia. Section 231 mandates swift winner announcements, with no bar on absent candidates. Gloria Arroyo’s 2013 congressional win while under hospital arrest proves detention, absent conviction, doesn’t disqualify. Duterte, not yet convicted by the ICC, clears this hurdle.
To assume office, Duterte must take the oath, per Section 43 of the Local Government Code (RA 7160). Executive Order 292 permits oaths by authorized officials, like embassy staff, anywhere.
Former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello says Duterte can swear “anywhere
with ICC notice,” a view echoed by Dean Antonio Arellano.
The Supreme Court’s People v. Jalosjos (G.R. 132875, 2000) supports this: detention doesn’t void duties if formalities are met. Duterte could oath-take via video or at the Philippine Embassy, ICC permitting.
If Duterte swears in but can’t govern, Section 46(b) of RA 7160 kicks in:
Vice Mayor Sebastian becomes acting mayor for temporary incapacity. Casimiro v. Rood (G.R. 204579, 2014) clarifies succession ensures continuity. If Sebastian steps up, top councilor Rodrigo II acts as vice mayor.
—“—
Electing a mayor detained for alleged crimes against humanity mocks accountability
The Dutertes have scripted a legal handover to keep power familial. The law enables this, but legitimacy falters. Governing from a cage
Running Davao from The Hague is a logistical nightmare.
ICC detention restricts communication and access to governance tools.
The Local Government Code demands active leadership: budgets, policies, public engagement (Sections 17, 444).
Good governance, accountability
THE votes cast for the mid-term local elections, held Monday nationwide, are nearly completely counted, with the official tally expected to be announced within the week by the Commission on Elections.
More than 68 million qualified voters were expected to have cast their votes, who include at least 134,000 of the 1.22 million registered overseas electors who earlier signed up for the new online system which opened last month.
The voters, in blistering 34 degrees Celsius average across the country, chose aspirants to more than 18,000 posts, from seats in the Senate and Congress down to hotly contested provincial and town offices, with scores waving their party-list banners.
The voters included 31,000 prisoners at the state penitentiary, many of them still awaiting court trial on various criminal charges including murder.
While note people are nudged by the thought they will be looking for good governance and accountability from the newly elected or re-elected officials who will begin their three-year term –six years for some of 12 senators cho-
Can Duterte sign ordinances from a cell?
Will the ICC allow Zoom council meetings? The Department of Interior and Local Government has no protocol for this.
Oath-taking, though legally possible, hinges on ICC cooperation.
Unlike Arroyo’s domestic detention, Duterte’s international status—complicated by the Philippines’ 2019 ICC withdrawal—adds diplomatic hurdles.
The ICC’s Rome Statute prioritizes detainee rights but doesn’t envision mayors governing remotely. Sebastian’s acting mayoralty mitigates some issues but raises others.
His unopposed 2019 and 2022 runs show a machine crushing competition.
Elevating Rodrigo II, a 27-year-old novice, as top councilor reeks of nepotism.
With Duterte’s ICC case—next hearing Sept. 23, 2025—potentially lasting years, Davao faces administrative paralysis under a shadow mayor.
Dynastic grip, democratic decay
sen – on June 30. Good governance and accountability have been elusive in many elected officials after the votes had been counted in years past.
People are nudged by the thought they will be looking for good governance and accountability from the newly elected or re-elected officials
Such marks have not been helped any by election irregularities and violence as in this year’s electoral exercise where at least two were killed in Silay City in Negros Occidental.
The Dutertes’ 34-year reign over Davao since 1988 is dynastic dominance unchecked. The 1987 Constitution’s anti-dynasty clause (Article II, Section 26) lacks enabling laws (Miranda v. Abaya, G.R. 136353, 2001).
Five Dutertes running in 2025 turn Davao into a family fiefdom, not a democracy. Ethically, Duterte’s bid flouts RA 6713’s call for integrity.
Electing a mayor detained for alleged crimes against humanity mocks accountability.
Jalosjos warned public office isn’t a personal entitlement.
Duterte’s proxy governance via Sebastian undermines democratic legitimacy—voters elect a mayor, not a figurehead. Tarpaulins tying the election to “saving VP Sara” frame it as loyalty, not policy.
Fixing the fiasco This saga demands reform:
Good governance has reflected a broken mirror in some areas on how society is being governed, with political dynasties lording it over despite a Constitutional prohibition although politicians have run around this by saying there is no enabling law.
Thus, good governance, which lacks a system and mechanisms by which it, and the people, are held to account, has been compromised since there is no transparent decision-making system that meets the needs of Juan and Juana de la Cruz.
Public accountability has also been imperiled since public officials, who sounded and appeared sympathetic to the electorate and their toddlers, including the elderly in the expanded clan, had been off being answerable for their performance and thus held responsible for any failures or misconduct.
The Monday exercise has also been seen as a plebiscite, nay a ballot, on the combustible fight between President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, whose father, former President Rodrigo Duterte is now in The Hague facing charges of crimes against humanity. But the 80-year-old former president is running for mayor in his hometown of Davao where keen observers say is a sure winner.
Pass anti-dynasty laws for Article II, Section 26 to curb familial monopolies. Amend RA 7160 to declare vacancies for officials detained abroad beyond six months.
Update RA 6713 to bar candidates facing serious international charges. Revise the Omnibus Election Code to assess detained candidates’ governance feasibility.
Legal farce, democratic shame Duterte’s bid is legally sound but democratically deplorable.
The Omnibus Election Code, Local Government Code, and Administrative Code enable his proclamation, oath, and delegation.
Arroyo’s 2013 win and Jalosjos back this, but ICC restrictions render governance a fantasy. The Duterte dynasty, unchecked by anti-dynasty laws, and ethical breaches under RA 6713 expose a democracy in peril. Davao deserves a mayor in City Hall, not a dynasty ruling by remote.
This is an AI-generated cartoon with the prompt: Generate a political cartoon in horizontal format of a heavily armed vehicle that looks like it belongs to a Mad Max movie of a hybrid tank hobbled together with 18-wheeler truck parts. It is being driven by a monstrous boar labeled corruption. Next to him is death laughing. It easily plows through a poorly made bollard as it careens through the panel.
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025
Hamas to free hostage as part of Gaza talks
IN BRIEF
Taiwan wants US security, despite hurdles
WASHINGTON, DC – Taiwan is seeking deeper military and economic cooperation with the United States despite tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump that have rattled business leaders on the island, a Taiwanese official said Sunday.
The United States, a vital security ally for the island threatened by China, last month imposed hefty tariffs on trading partners globally including Taipei before pausing them for 90 days.
“We have seen the whole world express concern over the tariffs issue. And our president, Lai Ching-te, has already met with the heads of major Taiwanese companies ten times, which also shows their great concern,” Kung Ming-hsin, secretary-general of Taiwan’s executive branch, told AFP. But during a visit to Washington for an investment summit, Kung suggested the two countries could work together on security and technology. AFP
Blessings but not tips from Pope
CHICLAYO, Peru – When Pope Leo XIV dined out as a bishop in the Peruvian town of Chiclayo, his appetite was big and his tips came in the form of blessings rather than cash, staff recall.
The US-born pontiff, who was elected pope in the Vatican City this week, devoted more than 20 years as a missionary in the Andean country and became a Peruvian national in 2015.
“We are happy and lucky to have served our current Pope Leo XIV,” said Carlos Lopez, who waited on a younger Robert Prevost at the El Trebol restaurant years before he became pontiff. He said that Prevost was a regular at the eatery when he was bishop in the northern town between 2015 and 2023.
“This was one of the pope’s favorite places. He used to come two or three times a week,” said Lopez.
“He had his favorite table here, number three, with a view of the cathedral,” the waiter donning a white shirt, orange tie, and black waistcoat told AFP.
“He didn’t tip you, that’s for sure, but he gave you his blessing.” AFP
Kurdish militant group PKK disbanding
ISTANBUK – The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Monday announced its dissolution, saying it was ending its armed struggle against the Turkish state and drawing a line under its bloody fourdecade insurgency.
Founded in the late 1970s by Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK carried out attacks aimed at defending Kurdish autonomy in Turkey that cost more than 40,000 lives.
“The 12th PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK’s organisational structure and end its method of armed struggle,” the group said in a statement published by the pro-Kurdish ANF news agency.
The move was welcomed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AKP party as an “important step”, saying the implementation of the process would be “meticulously monitored” by the government.
The historic announcement came after an appeal by Ocalan, who on February 27 urged his fighters disarm and disband in a letter from Istanbul’s Imrali prison island, where he has been held since 1999. AFP
Trump’s Air Force One Qatari ‘gift’ hailed, blasted
WASHINGTON, DC – Donald Trump on Sunday (Monday Manila time) defended plans to receive a new Air Force One as a gift, after reports he will accept a luxury Boeing jet from Qatar despite strict rules on presents for US presidents. Calling the plane a “flying palace,” ABC News, which first reported the story, said the Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet gifted from the Qatari royal family would possibly be the most expensive gift ever received by the American government.
The controversy around the jet -- and Trump’s boast that it was coming “free of charge” -- builds on questions the US leader is facing over potential conflicts of interest with his family businesses and use
of public office. In a social media post late Sunday that made no mention of Qatar, Trump went on the offensive to claim the plane was a temporary “gift” that would go to the Defence Department, and would replace an existing four-decade-old model.
Trump, 78, said the process was unfolding as a “transparent transaction” but did not specify whether any party was receiving something in return, and instead blamed Democrats for wanting to cash out on a new Air Force One unnecessarily. Qatar swiftly sought to downplay the uproar, saying reports describing the jet as a gift “are inaccurate.” But the Democratic National Committee
said the move was proof of Trump using the White House for personal financial gain.
“While working families brace for higher costs and empty shelves, Trump is still focusing on enriching himself and his billionaire backers,” the DNC said in an email to supporters. Multiple Democratic lawmakers blasted the plan.
Senator Chris Murphy called it “wildly illegal,” while Representative Kelly Morrison said such a gift amounts to “corruption in plain sight” and an unethical, unconstitutional “bribe.”
The US president has long been unhappy with the Air Force One jets — two highly customized Boeing 747-200B series aircraft. AFP
Under pressure, UK gov’t unveils flagship immigration package
LONDON – Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed Monday to “finally take back control” of Britain’s borders as his government unveiled policies designed to reduce immigration and fend off rising support for the hard right.
Labor leader Starmer announced he was ending an “experiment in open borders” that saw net migration rise to nearly one million people under the previous Conservative government, which lost last year’s election.
The government’s Immigration White Paper policy document was to be presented to parliament later on Monday.
Starmer said it would “finally take back control of our borders and close the book on a squalid chapter for our politics, our economy and our country”, recalling the pro-Brexit slogan at the height of the campaign to leave the European Union.
Labour vowed in its general election manifesto last year to significantly reduce net migration, which stood at 728,000 in the 12 months to last June.
He is under renewed pressure to tackle the issue following the anti-immigration Reform party’s win in recent local elections. They are riding high in the polls, as Labor struggles.
Starmer told reporters during a press conference in Downing Street that it was his “promise” that migration will fall.
Under the new plans, people will have to live in the UK for 10 years before qualifying for settlement and citizenship, up from five years currently.
English language rules will also be strengthened, with all adult dependents required to demonstrate a basic understanding.
“When people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language,” Starmer said.
“Every area of the immigration system, including work, family and study, will be tightened up so we have more control,” he added, saying “enforcement will be tougher than ever.”. AFP
GAZA CITY –Hamas said it would release a US-Israeli hostage held in Gaza as the group revealed it was engaged in direct talks with the United States towards a ceasefire in the warbattered territory.
“Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a dual US national, will be released as part of efforts towards a ceasefire” and the reopening of aid crossings, the Palestinian militant group said in a statement. The family of 21-year-old Alexander said they had been informed that he might be released “in the coming days”. US President Donald Trump hailed the “monumental news” in a post on social media, describing it as a “good faith gesture”.
“Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict,” he added. In a joint statement Egypt and Qatar, who along with the US have mediated talks between Hamas and Israel, also welcomed the development as a “a gesture of goodwill and an encouraging step toward a return to the negotiating table”. Earlier, two Hamas officials told AFP that talks were ongoing in the Qatari capital of Doha with the United States and reported “progress” had been made. Israeli strikes meanwhile continued, with Gaza’s civil defense agency reporting that at least 12 people were killed on Sunday including four young children. One Hamas official, speaking of the talks with the United States, said there was “progress made... notably on the entry of aid to the Gaza Strip” and the potential exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. A second official also reported progress “on the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip”. Israel again vowed to keep fighting despite the talks. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that any future “negotiations will take place under fire with a commitment to achieving all the objectives of the war.” AFP
Poland to close Russian consulate in Krakow
WARSAW – Poland’s top diplomat said Monday he ordered the closure of a Russian consulate over “sabotage” after authorities accused Russia of orchestrating a fire that destroyed a Warsaw shopping center last year. Since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv-ally Poland has claimed to be the target of sabotage attempts the authorities blame on Russia. Russia immediately vowed an “adequate response” to Poland over the closure of the Krakow consulate.
“Due to evidence that it was the Russian secret services that carried out the reprehensible act of sabotage against the Marywilska shopping center, I have decided to withdraw my authoriaation for the activity of the Russian consulate in Krakow,” said Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said “Warsaw continues to deliberately undermine relations, acting against the interests of its citizens.”
“An adequate response to these inadequate steps will follow shortly,” she told the RIA Novosti state news agency. In May 2024, a fire completely destroyed a large shopping center in Warsaw and the 1,400 businesses it housed, most of them owned by members of the Vietnamese community.
Authorities opened an investigation and on Sunday they pinned the blame on Moscow. AFP
TOWARDS TRUCE. Israeli troops deploy at a position
DOH on alert for health issues that may arise during elections
By Ram Superable
THE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday expressed solidarity with the entire nation as the people exercise their right of suffrage, underscoring its commitment to ensuring safe and healthy elections.
“DOH hospitals nationwide, along with Centers for Health Development, BUCAS centers, and other agency health facilities, supported by their respective Operations Centers, will continuously report to the regional and central DOH headquarters for quick coordination and response to any
needs,” the agency said in a statement.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa also joined millions of Filipinos in casting their ballots, saying the votes are not just marks on a ballot but investments in the health and future of communities.
“The choices we make in these elections will significantly impact the future of our healthcare system, our public health initiatives, and the overall well-being of every Filipino,” Teodoro said.
The DOH issued a warning to voters to stay alert on the danger level of the heat index in some areas of the country. The highest heat index is expected in Sangley Point, Cavite City, and Catarman, Northern Samar, which may reach 45 degrees Celsius on May 12, according to the weather agency. As the voting continues, the DOH pledged to monitor the situation and respond promptly to any health-related concerns that may arise.
DSWD reaffirms vow to step up anti-poverty campaigns
By Maricel V. Cruz
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intensify anti-hunger and anti-poverty efforts, attributing the recent drop in self-rated poverty and food poverty to whole-of-government approach.
The April 2025 OCTA survey indicated a decline in self-rated poverty and food insufficiency among Filipino families.
The April 10 to 16 nationwide survey showed that 42 percent—or approximately 11.1 million fami-
Seized
P441m viewed as foreign meddling in polls
By Rex Espiritu
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday expressed alarm over the interception of P441 million in cash from 11 passengers at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport over the weekend.
The incident has sparked concerns about possible election-related illegal activities, including vote-buying and money laundering.
“The involvement of multiple foreign nationals strongly suggests the alarming possibility of foreign interference in our sovereign electoral process,” the AFP said in a statement.
The AFP reassured the public of its unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the nation’s democratic institutions and pledged its full support for the ongoing investigation.
“We laud the vigilance and rapid response of the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies, whose actions may have averted a significant threat to our democracy,” the AFP said.
The bundles of cash, discovered between 11:30 p.m. on May 9 and 4:14 a.m. on May 10, were concealed in seven trolley bags.
According to the Office for Transportation Security screening officer (SSO) Missy Ayessa Cafe detected an unusual image on the X-ray monitor. This prompted her to alert co-worker Rosendo Anoos and a Philippine National Police Aviation Security officer. Upon inspection, they found the bags stuffed with cash.
lies—now consider themselves poor, marking an eight-percentage-point drop from 50 percent, or around 13.2 million families, recorded in November 2024.
In the same survey, the percentage of families who consider themselves food poor dropped by 14 points— from 49 percent or 12.9 million families in November 2024 to 35 percent or around 9.2 million families in April.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao attributed the positive gains in the OCTA survey to the agency’s collaborative interven-
FILL ‘EM
UP. An attendant of a gasoline station in Intramuros, Manila fills up a row of plastic containers with fuel, ahead of an expected oil price rollback today. Danny Pata
tions on programs like the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), Walang Gutom Kitchen, and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
“We are pleased with the results of the survey. These somehow reflect the sustained and strategic interventions of the DSWD like the WGP, Walang Gutom Kitchen, and the 4Ps, which are being implemented in collaboration with different partner-agencies,” Dumlao said.
She said the WGP forms part of President Marcos’ commitment to eliminating involuntary hunger in the country by providing sustainable sup -
port systems and ensuring that every Filipino family has access to nutritious food.
The Walang Gutom Program, established through Executive Order No. 44, aims to reach 750,000 foodpoor families by 2027. According to Dumlao, the Walang Gutom Kitchen seeks to address involuntary hunger and reduce food wastage by turning donated surplus food from hotels, restaurants, and organizations into hot meals for individuals experiencing hunger. It complements the WGP and other anti-hunger initiatives of the agency.
Solon cites mandate of new Phivolcs law
LOCAL governments (LGUs) are playing a much larger role in disaster planning, preparation and mitigation under a new law that expands the mandate of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to strengthen the public resilience of at-risk communities to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis.
“In keeping with the whole-ofsociety approach to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management, LGUs are taking on a larger, far-reaching role in disaster planning, preparation and mitigation under the newly-signed law technologizing or modernizing the Phivolcs,” Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte in a statement said: Villafuerte is a co-author of Republic Act 12180 or the “Phivolcs Modernization Act,” signed by President Marcos last April.
The law aims to upgrade the country’s capability to monitor and respond to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis in a bid to mitigate the calamitous impacts of these geohazards on people’s lives, infrastructures, assets and businesses.
Villafuerte noted that RA 12180 seeks to build up the Phivolcs by providing it with state-of-the-art equipment, facilities and research capabilities as well as with better-trained personnel and more seismic stations, especially in at-risk communities.
“And to vastly improve its capabilities to detect and locate volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and other geotectonic hazards, the Phivolcs is tasked by RA 12180 to have a much closer working relationship with LGUs, particularly those with communities at risk of geotectonic hazards,” Villafuerte said. Maricel V. Cruz
Politics-related gunfight leaves four wounded
FOUR people were reported injured in a shooting incident in Barangay Rosario Heights X, Cotabato City, on Sunday night, just hours before Election Day, according to the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID).
A military report on the incident said the gunfight broke out around 10:50 p.m. following a confrontation between supporters of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) and Serbisyong Inklusibo, Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP). The altercation escalated into a shoutout leaving four individuals wounded, including a police corporal.
Law enforcers are currently conducting pursuit operations to track down those responsible.
Rex Espiritu
LTO suspends license of viral truck driver
THE Land Transportation Office has suspended the license of a truck driver who figured in road accident in Quezon which went viral on the internet.
LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said they also directed the truck driver to explain in writing why his license should not be revoked for recklessness driving leading to the accident. Investigations revealed that the truck was heading to Plaridel town from Atimonan, Quezon when it lost its brakes while travelling the downhill portion of the road, and later flipped over, causing injuries to the driver and his co-worker. Mendoza said the probe would determine if the truck operator conducted regular maintenance of his units. Rio N. Araja
Man, 65, dies after voting in Oas, Albay
VOTING turned out to be the last act of patriotic duty by Nestor Rensales, 65, of Oas, Albay. Police said after casting his ballot, Rensales collapsed right inside the polling precinct at Oas South Central School in Barangay Ilaor Sur, Election medical staff provided first aid at the scene before taking the elderly voter Rensales to the Josefina Belmonte Duran Albay Provincial Hospital in Ligao City. Unfortunately, he was declared dead on arrival. Rex Espiritu
FISHERMAN AND THE LAKE. As the setting sun drapes this panoramic view of Pililla, Rizal, a fisherman with his wife and young child in tow wraps up the day’s work amid the warm glow of the golden dusk. Edd Castro
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor
Navarrete rematch with PH challenger Suarez inevitable
By Randy M. Caluag
BOXING fans are up in arms
following Filipino challenger
Charly Suarez’s controversial loss to Emanuel Navarrete in their World Boxing Organization super featherweight title clash.
Many believe Suarez was robbed of a potential victory, and momentum is building for a rematch to settle the dispute.
Top Rank Vice President of Operations Carl Moretti wasted no time, stating immediately after the fight that he would push for a rematch.
Navarrete retained his WBO title on Sunday via technical decision after the ringside doctor ruled him unfit to continue in the eighth round due to a severe cut above his left eye.
The referee deemed the cut to be caused by an accidental headbutt, prompting judges to go to the scorecards. At the time of the stoppage, Navarrete was ahead
in the scorecards, 77-76, 77-76, and 78-75, and was promptly declared the winner.
However, slow-motion replays and screenshots later revealed that the gash was actually caused by a powerful left hook from Suarez, not a clash of heads.
Had the referee ruled it a punch, Suarez would likely have been awarded a technical knockout victory.
In similar past controversies, governing bodies have stepped in to overturn results.
According to BoxingScene.com, the California State Athletic Commission is expected to review the fight and could declare Navarrete’s win a no-contest.
Despite the contentious outcome, the 36-year-old Suarez remained gracious in defeat.
Suarez, who also represented the Philippines in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, expressed his gratitude to Top Rank, the WBO, and Navarrete for the opportunity.
“Ganu’n talaga ang sports. May mga hindi natin inaasahang pangyayari habang nasa taas ng ring,” Suarez said. “Hopefully may rematch na mangyari at doon po tayo babawi.”
(“That’s how sports go. Unexpected things happen in the ring. Hopefully, a rematch happens, and that’s where we’ll come back stronger.”)
Navarrete acknowledged Suarez’s skill and the
Champion Junior Altas players join senior team
By Dennis Abrina
SIX players of the newly crowned Perpetual Help Junior Altas team, who have committed to play for the school’s senior squad, recently attended their first practice session at the Home of the Altas gym in Las Pinas City.
The players are TJ Tabbuan, Jan Roluna, JD Pagulayan, Kelsey Baldoria, Jericho Cristino and Aries Borja.
Coach Olsen Racela and members of seniors’ team welcomed the new members and immediately included them in their drills.
They are eligible to play in NCAA Season 101, along with Patrick Sleat, John Abis, JP Boral, Angelo Gelsano, Jearico Nunez, Sean Orgo and Mark Gojo Cruz.
“Masaya ako na nandito na sila sa senior team, kasama na sila ng veterans at para maisama din sila sa pre-season tournaments in preparation for the coming NCAA tournament,” said Racela. Pagulayan, Cristino and Louie Rosales will play for the school’s 3x3 Juniors’ Division team to defend the crown, while Sleat, Boral, Abis and Josh Alcantara are entered in the senior division.
HOKA Run Club returns with Clifton 10 sneakers’ launch
TO sustain its advocacy in supporting local runners in their drive for health and wellness, the HOKA Run Club resumed recently at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati, drawing close to a hundred enthusiasts who were able to test the light and comfortable HOKA Clifton 10 running sneakers. Conducting the HOKA Run Club sessions were
prominent fitness and conditioning trainers Dan Hilaria and Enzo Hipol, a triathlon and marathon coach closely and also a certified US Center for SafeSport-trained instructor.
The HOKA Run Club is a project by the leading global running wear in providing a consistent training environment, highlighted by time trials, shakeout and themed runs, and recognition activities to keep runners motivated beyond weekend group runs.
The event marked HOKA’s renewed commitment to urban running, introducing key races in the company’s expanding running calendar, including the Trilogy Run Asia and the first HOKA Midnight Run Asia, according to Tusha Gopar of HOKA Philippines.
It also kicked off a series of regular weekend sessions, such as Friday Night Runs at Ayala Triangle Gardens and Stride Free Saturdays at the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.
During the launch event, participants had the chance to test the new Clifton 10, a training shoe built for walking and everyday running, which has been the cornerstone of HOKA’s cushioned styles for the past decade, he said.
“The Clifton 10 represents our dedication to performance, innovation, and comfort and we wanted its launch to reflect the same spirit,” Gopar said. “Relaunching the HOKA Run Club allowed us to go beyond a product drop. It’s about creating a space where runners of all backgrounds can come together, train together, and grow together.”
“The latest version ushers in a new era of running performance with an added three millimeters of heel-to-toe drop, delivering an even more revitalized underfoot feel,” Gopar stressed. ““The Clifton 10 represents our dedication to performance, innovation, and comfort and we wanted its launch to reflect the same spirit.”
“The shoes retain the ultralight cushioning that fans love,” he pointed out of the crowd favorite among runners. With the Clifton 10 as one of its flagship shoes and a renewed push for accessible, communitybased training, HOKA continues to lead the charge in strengthening the urban running scene, encouraging people to move with purpose and celebrate the joy of movement, Gopar said.
“True to its call to action, HOKA invites everyone to lace up and Fly Human Fly.”
Gauff lauds Eala’s chill attitude, hard work
By Peter Atencio
COCO Gauff admires Filipina sensa-
tion Alexandra Eala’s shrewdness on the clay courts of Foro Italico in Rome.
The 21-year-old Gauff expressed her liking of Eala’s game after they won their their first-round match over Fanny Stollar and Alexandra Panova, 6-1, 6-3, and got ready for the women’s doubles’ second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia’s Tennis Tournament, also known as the 2025 Italian Open.
“She seems chill. She seems like she’s working hard, so I don’t have any advice for her just because she seems relaxed. The only thing I did tell her was that doubles helped me a lot in that space, having some time on court where it’s a little less stressful,” said Gauff in a post-game interview posted on social media. Gauff and Eala will next meet Italian netters Tyra Grant and Lisa Pigato in the second round.
Grant and Pigato arranged a clash with Eala and Gauff after they eliminated Kazakh bet Anna Kalinina and the Russian Irina Khromacheva, 2-6, 6-4 10-5, in an hour and 27 minutes of play.
“So, I encouraged her to play when she could,” added Gauff, who revealed she agreed to team up with Eala after the Filipina netter chatted with the world no. 3 singles netter on Instagram. Their partnership, according to Gauff materialized after she reached the fourth round in singles
“She DM’d me on Instagram. She slid in my DMs and asked me to play. I was like, “Sure, why not?” We really didn’t know each other, honestly, before Madrid. I said hi to her for the first time in Madrid or maybe Miami, we may have briefly said hello. I figured she would be nice so I was just hoping she would be, you know,” recalled Gauff.
The American superstar, who has reached two Italian Open doubles’ finals with two different partners, has reached the fourth round after disposing of Polish netter Magda Linette, 7-5, 6-3. She will face British bet Emma Raducanu next. Raducanu advanced to the fourth round after getting past Russian foe Veronika Kudermetova, 5-7, 6-0, 6-1.
THE UAAP Esports tournaments for NBA 2K and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang return to action today (Tuesday) at the Quantum Skyview Deck, Gateway 2 Mall in Araneta City.
Highlighting the NBA 2K schedule is a finals rematch, as defending champion Ateneo de Manila University begins its title defense against De La Salle University at 2:30 p.m. With a roster composed of graduating student-athletes, the Blue Eagles are determined to carry the momentum from their gold-medal finish last season.
“We are very dedicated and focused on going back-to-back in this tournament. Our goal is to repeat as champions, and I believe with this new team-style format, we’ll be very hard to beat,” said Paolo Medina, the former student-manager of the school’s men’s basketball team who delivered the title-clinching win for the Katipunan-based squad last August.
Joining Ateneo and La Salle in Group A are Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines. Meanwhile, Adamson University, National University, University of the East, and University of Santo Tomas are grouped in Group B, all vying for the top seed in their bracket. Later in the day, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament kicks off at 6:15 p.m. with defending cham-
Charly Suarez lands the big left hook that bloodied champion Emanuel Navarrete. (Screengrab from Top Rank) tough challenge he presented, stating, “He is a great opponent. A rematch would be good.” Suarez, who entered the bout with an 18-0 record, believes a rematch is more than justified, and boxing fans around the world seem to agree.
Six former players of the Perpetual Help Junior Team are shown during their first practice session with the senior team. (Dennis Abrina)
Celebrity runner and actress Ashley Rivera (lower right) joins participants in the recent HOKA Run Club held at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati.
USA’s Coco Gauff plays a forehand return to Poland’s Magda Linette during their women’s singles match of the WTA Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome. AFP
Foreign direct investments fell 61.9% to $529m in February
By Darwin G. Amojelar
$715 million
PH agri exports in March 2025
THE Philippines’ foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows reached $529 million in February 2025, down by 61.9 percent from $1.4 billion net inflows seen a year ago, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Monday.
consist mainly of intercompany borrowing and lending between foreign direct investors and their subsidiaries or affiliates in the Philippines. The remaining portion of net investments in debt instruments are investments made by nonresident subsidiaries or associates in their resident direct investors. This is known as reverse investment.
$1.6 billion
“This decrease was primarily attributed to base effects,” the BSP said in a statement.
PH agri imports in March 2025
$889 million
FDI refers to investment by a nonresident direct investor in a resident enterprise, where the equity capital in the latter is at least 10 percent. It also includes investment made by a nonresident subsidiary or associate in its resident direct investor.
FDI can be in the form of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings and borrowings.
net inflows reflected the 85.9-percent contraction in nonresidents’ net investments in equity capital (other than reinvestment of earnings) to $108 million from $764 million in February 2024.
Nonresidents’ net investments in debt instruments and their reinvestment of earnings declined by 35.4 percent to $348 million from $540 million and 13.1 percent to $73 million from $84 million, respectively.
The bulk of the equity capital placements in February 2025 came from Japan, the United States, Ireland and Malaysia. These investments were largely directed towards the manufacturing, financial and insurance, real estate and information and communication industries.
The BSP said the decline in FDI
PH agri trade deficit in March 2025
PH remains net importer of agricultural goods—PSA
THE Philippines remained a net importer of agricultural products in March 2025, with imports valued at $1.6 billion and exports at $715 million, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The country incurred an agricultural trade deficit of $889 million in March, the PSA said.
Agricultural trade in March amounted to $2.32 billion, a 10.6-percent increase from a year ago. This followed a 20.2-percent rise in February and an 8.5-percent decrease in March 2024.
Agricultural exports accounted for 30.8 percent of the total agricultural trade in March, while imports made up 69.2 percent.
Agricultural export revenue rose 16.7 percent to $715.76 million in March 2025 from $613.26 million in March 2024. The March figure accounted for 10.9 percent of the country’s total exports.
Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils accounted for the largest share of agricultural exports at 34.8 percent valued at $249.13 million during the month.
Agricultural exports to EU member countries reached $137 million in March 2025, contributing 18.9 percent to the country’s total exports to the EU. The Netherlands was the top destination for agricultural commodities, accounting for $77.58 million or 56.6 percent of the total agricultural exports to the EU in March 2025. (Figure 5 and Table 9) Meanwhile, agricultural imports reached $1.60 billion in March 2025, representing 15 percent of the country’s total imports. This reflected an 8-percent increase from $1.49 billion worth of agricultural imports in March 2024.
Cereals accounted for the largest share of agricultural imports at 18.1 percent valued at $290.64 million. Agricultural imports from ASEAN member countries amounted to $721.16 million in March 2025, or 24.2 percent. Vietnam was the leading supplier of agricultural products among ASEAN countries, contributing $229.11 million or 31.8 percent.
Net investments in debt instruments
Data showed that FDI net inflows in the first two months of 2025 amounted to $1.3 billion, lower by 45.2 percent than $2.3-billion net inflows recorded a year earlier.
Electronics
firms seek
gov’t
By Othel V. Campos
THE Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. (SEIPI) asked the government to step up support as the country positions itself for a bigger role in the global electronics value chain.
support as PH seeks bigger market share
SEIPI president Dan Lachica said in the recent Philippine Manufacturing Team forum the Philippines continues to perform well, with about $4.5 billion worth of integrated circuit (IC) exports currently exempt from US tariffs.
Lachina said the industry, while noting concerns over global trade tensions and shifting US policies, maintained a cautiously optimistic outlook.
“So far, so good for the semiconductor space,” Lachica said, citing encouraging outcomes from tariff negotiations led by Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) Frederick Go and Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque.
Employers group wants better gov’t coordination on employment target
THE Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) is considering aligning its ongoing private sector jobs initiative with the Marcos administration’s newly-launched national employment program, but said that coordination with government agencies has yet to formally begin.
“This is the first time it’s being presented to the public. Do we have a target for 2025 or 2028? I really don’t know,” ECOP President Sergio OrtizLuis Jr. said on the sidelines of the launch of the program.
Ortiz-Luis said the private sectorled effort to create 1 million jobs might be synchronized with the government’s employment plan under the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act (Republic Act No. 11960), but
discussions on how to align the two have not yet taken place.
“We’re looking at aligning them, but we need to sit down with the council and understand the government’s targets. I was appointed to represent the private sector, but we haven’t met as a council yet,” he said.
He said ECOP had submitted its position to Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who chairs the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Inter-Agency Council.
The country’s employment rate stood at 96.1 percent as of March 2025, consistent with the previous year. This translates to about 48.02 million employed individuals.
Othel V. Campos
Some electronics manufacturing services (EMS) exports, particularly assemblies and sub-assemblies worth around $1.5 billion, remain subject to 3 percent to 7 percent tariffs.
Lachica cited the need for continued negotiations to prevent further tariff hikes. He said that while ASEAN initially planned a collective approach to trade talks, member countries are now pursuing bilateral deals, which benefited both Vietnam and Malaysia. The Philippines, he said, should keep pace.
“Singapore may have lower taxes, but its manufacturing scale is limited. We have the scale, what we need now is the right policy push,” Lachica said.
TOURISM DEANS. Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco delivers a keynote message on May 8, 2025 at the 1st State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) Tourism Deans Summit, hosted by the University of the Philippines Asian Institute of Tourism (UP-AIT) in celebration of its 50th founding anniversary. Addressing over 40 deans and academic leaders from across the country, Frasco recognized the significance of the summit as a historic moment—not just of reflection, but of collective resolve to shape the future of Philippine tourism through education, innovation and collaboration. Source: DOT’s Facebook page ILOILO HOUSING. Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Undersecretary Eduardo Robles Jr., representing Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas lead the groundbreaking ceremony for the Uswag #4PH Condominium Complex in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City, the latest shelter project under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The project involves the construction of 13 ten-story buildings with more than 1,600 units. Source: DHSUD’s Facebook page
DICT
THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) lauded Meta—the parent company of Facebook and Instagram— for accelerating its takedown of electionrelated disinformation, with some removals occurring within an hour. The move follows a directive
P20 A KILO. A dozen KADIWA ng Pangulo (KNP) centers across Metro Manila and nearby provinces are expected to kick off the expanded pilot of the ‘Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!’ program on May 13, 2025, offering affordable rice at P20 per kilogram to provide relief to millions of poor Filipinos. Originally launched on May 1 in Cebu City,
ERC to ask 40 power firms to explain lack of fuel data
By Alena Mae S. Flores
THE Energy Regulatory Commission
(ERC) will issue show cause orders (SCOs) to 40 generation companies for failing to submit required documents and data for a fuel audit.
ERC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta said the move stems from the increase in coal and gas prices in 2022, which she attributed to Indonesia’s export ban and the war in Ukraine. The audit covers the period from January to October 2022.
“Since coal and gas fuel around 80 percent of power plants in our system, this led to a significant increase in power bills at that time because of the fuel pass-through arrangement under PSAs (power supply agreements),” Dimalanta said.
“We at the Commission wanted to make sure that DUs (distribution utilities) are performing their obligation to verify that these pass-through charges are in accordance with ERC-approved formulas and caps before billing the consumers,” she added.
The generation companies that failed to comply with the ERC order to submit complete documents and data for the fuel audit are in violation of Section 43 (o) and (r) of Republic Act No. 9136, also known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), along with additional instructions issued by the commission during its deliberation.
Section 43 of the EPIRA outlines the functions of the ERC, including the mandate “to monitor the activities
in the generation and supply of the electric power industry with the end view of promoting free market competition and ensuring that the allocation or pass through of bulk purchase cost by distributors is transparent, non-discriminatory and that any existing subsidies shall be divided pro-rata among all retail suppliers.”
“Fuel invoices need to be submitted monthly to support the pass-through fuel costs incorporated in the genco billings. The DU needs this to verify if the pass-through costs (volume, price, efficiency rates) are within the formula and cap allowed by the commission in the order or decision approving the implementation of the PSA,” Dimalanta said.
Manila Standard TODAY
She emphasized that if there is no basis for passing on the costs, “those costs cannot be charged or will need to be refunded if already charged to consumers.”
“Plus there could be administrative fines imposed on both DU and genco,” the ERC chair said.
DOE expects over 5,600 MW capacity in 2025
THE Department of Energy (DOE) anticipates a total of 5,632 megawatts of power generation capacity to come online by the end of 2025, with the majority originating from renewable energy sources. Data released by the DOE as of March 31, 2025 indicates that 4,231.71 MW of renewable energy is projected to become operational this year.
This includes 3,455.14 MW of solar, 557.71 MW of wind, 104.61 MW of hydro, 68.57 MW of geothermal, and 45.68 MW of biomass. Natural gas accounts for 880 MW of non-renewable capacity expected online in 2025, followed by coal at 350 MW and oilbased sources at 170.74 MW.
The DOE said approximately 400 MW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) capacity is also slated to come online this year. The DOE reported that for Luzon alone, a total of 4,468.86 MW is forecasted to be available this year. This includes 3,227.819 MW from renewable sources and 1,241.04
MW from non-renewable sources. Solar power will contribute the largest share of new capacity in Luzon at 2,608.87 MW, followed by wind at 544.15 MW. The remaining renewable capacity in Luzon will come from biomass at 1.68 MW, geothermal at 38.57 MW, and hydropower at 34.55 MW.
Coal accounts for 350 MW of new nonrenewable capacity in Luzon for 2025, along with 11.04 MW from oil-based sources and 800 MW from natural gas.
BESS facilities will also contribute 280 MW to the Luzon grid in 2025.
The DOE projects a total committed power generation capacity of around 11,736 MW to come online nationwide from 2025 to 2030. The bulk of these committed projects, totaling 4,998.17 MW, are expected to be operational by 2026. It said 980.69 MW is anticipated in 2027, 88.50 MW in 2028, 600 MW in 2029, and 600 MW in 2030. Alena Mae S. Flores
Eastern brings internet to 10 isolated schools
By Darwin G. Amojelar
Eastern Communications has partnered with unconnected.org, a non-profit organization, to provide vital internet connectivity to 10 geographically isolated and disadvantaged (GIDA) schools across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
As part of the partnership, Eastern will provide free internet access to students, teachers, and surrounding communities in 10 remote locations, initially focusing on eight target areas within Dipolog, General Santos, Tuguegarao, Naga, Kalibo, Bais, Davao, and Zamboanga.
“We believe that access to the internet is no longer a privilege, but a basic need, especially for education and access to vital information,” said Jed Estanislao, chief marketing and experience officer for Eastern Communications.
“Through this partnership with unconnected.org, not only can we help bridge the digital divide but also drive digital literacy, especially in farflung areas.”
The project officially began with a signing ceremony and joint planning session involving representatives from Eastern Communications and unconnected.org.
Providing internet access to remote areas is crucial for unconnected citizens to participate in the digital economy, particularly for key educational institutions in GIDA locations.
With reliable connectivity, students in these remote schools can supplement their classroom education with up-to-date online resources and explore more opportunities on the web.
Jed Estanislao, chief marketing and experience officer for Eastern Communications
Beyond connectivity, Eastern Communications and unconnected. org are committed to digital empowerment, with digital literacy programs planned for the schools.
“This initiative reflects Eastern’s continued commitment to nationbuilding. By providing not just connectivity but also the tools to use it responsibly and effectively, we are investing in the future of these communities,” Estanislao said.
METRO PACIFIC INVESTMENTS CORPORATION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING
Please be advised that the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of METRO PACIFIC INVESTMENTS CORPORATION (the “Company”) for the year 2025 will be held virtually on Friday, May 30, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. through a link that will be provided by the Company.
Shareholders who wish to attend the meeting must inform the Company’s Corporate Secretary by email to corsec@mpic.com.ph no later than May 27, 2025.
The following shall be the agenda of the meeting:
I. Call to Order
II. Certification of Notice and Quorum
III. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on December 09, 2024
IV. Report of Management
V. Approval of the 2024 Audited Financial Statement
VI. Ratification of the Acts of the Board of Directors and Management VII. Election of Directors VIII. Appointment of External Auditor of the Company for the year 2025 IX. Other Matters X. Adjournment
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 30, 2025, as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.
Duly accomplished proxies shall be submitted on or before May 27, 2025 to the Office of the Corporate Secretary at 9th Floor, Tower 1, Rockwell Business Center, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City and/or by email to corsec@mpic.com.ph. Validation of proxies is set on May 28, 2025.
Shareholders shall vote electronically, subject to validation procedures.
The rules and procedures participating in the meeting are uploaded in the Company’s website.
The Company’s Audited Financial Statements for the year 2024, the minutes of the 2024 shareholders’ meeting and other relevant information are posted on the Company’s website (www.mpic.com.ph).
Very truly yours,
M. PILARES
RICARDO
III Corporate Secretary Pasig City
DELBROS’ DONATION. Delbros Group, a leader in logistics, technology, food production, and community development, donates solar-powered lights and cold storage solutions to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), the Coast Guard District Palawan (CGDPAL), and the fishermen from Kalayaan. (From left) Jack Ryan Basitao, CGDPAL chief of staff, Jose Paolo Delgado, Delbros Group president and CEO, Teodoro Jose Matta, PCSD executive director, Roberto Asiado, member and representative of the fishermen of Kalayaan, and Frank Earl Fabellar, executive assistant II of Kalayaan Municipality attend the turnover ceremony.
FLOOD MITIGATION. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) finishes the construction of two retaining walls to help mitigate flooding in Barangay Highway and Barangay San Rafael, Dulag, Leyte. The flood mitigation structures along the Calbasag River, were built to block the overflow of water from the river into the road and prevent soil erosion along the riverbanks.
Dimalanta
Maya launches credit program for vendors, drivers
MAYA, a leading digital bank and fintech ecosystem in the Philippines, is launching Paleng-Kita, a new credit program aimed at supporting micro and small business owners, particularly market vendors and public transport drivers.
PH cybersecurity readiness low vs. AI threats—Cisco
By Darwin G. Amojelar
ONLY 6 percent of organizations in the Philippines have reached the ‘Mature’ readiness level needed to effectively combat modern threats, according to Cisco’s 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index.
for streamlined defense strategies to thwart external attacks.
“As AI transforms the enterprise, we are dealing with an entirely new class of risks at unprecedented scale - putting even more pressure on our infrastructure and those who defend it,” said Cisco Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel.
“Many small vendors and transport drivers have never had access to formal credit,” said Maya Group president and Maya Bank co-founder Shailesh Baidwan.
“By using their cashless payment history, we can offer them fair, transparent credit and help them build a stronger financial future,” he said.
Under Paleng-QR Ph, the BSP, the DILG, local governments, and financial service providers are working to onboard market vendors and drivers onto QR Ph, the national interoperable QR standard for person-to-merchant payments.
Building on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-led Paleng-QR Ph initiative, Paleng-Kita will enable micro-entrepreneurs to access collateral-free credit by regularly using QR Ph and the Maya app for their daily transactions. The program links digital payments to credit access, providing small businesses with financial tools for growth.
Asian markets rally on positive China-US talks
HONG KONG—Asian stocks rallied
Monday after top Chinese and US officials held “substantial” trade talks at the weekend, fueling hopes the two sides will dial down a tariff standoff that has rattled global markets and fueled recession fears. Investors have been on a rollercoaster ride since Donald Trump unveiled eye-watering tolls on trading partners on April 2, with the heftiest saved for Beijing, raising concerns of a trade war between the economic superpowers.
The US president eventually hiked the measures against China to 145 percent, which were met with retaliatory rates of 125 percent.
However, there have been signs of an easing of tensions and after two days of highly anticipated negotiations in Geneva, the two countries hailed progress towards ending the crisis.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and international trade representative Li Chenggang in the first known talks since Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement.
“We’ve made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks,” Bessent told reporters, while the White House hailed what it called a new “trade deal”, without providing any additional details.
China’s He said the atmosphere in the talks was “candid, in-depth and constructive”, adding that they were “an important first step.” AFP
By registering for Maya QR, merchants can build the transaction history required to qualify for Paleng-Kita through Maya Advance.
Credit decisions are powered by Maya’s proprietary artificial intelligence (AI)-driven scoring system, which evaluates payment transactions and other alternative data points without relying on collateral, paperwork, or traditional credit histories.
Approved borrowers can access credit lines starting at 3,000 Philippine pesos through the Maya Advance product. The process is fast, fully digital and designed to be accessible for everyday entrepreneurs.
While this marks a slight increase from last year’s 1 percent, overall preparedness remains alarmingly low as hyperconnectivity and AI introduce new security challenges. The rise of AI is both a revolutionary security tool and a significant threat amplifier. In the past year, 85 percent of organizations in the Philippines experienced AI-related security incidents. Only 71 percent of respondents are confident their employees understand AI threats, and just 59 percent believe their teams fully grasp how malicious actors are leveraging AI for sophisticated attacks. This awareness deficit creates significant vulnerabilities.
AI is compounding an already challenging threat landscape. In the last year, more than half of organizations (54 percent) suffered cyberattacks, hindered by complex security frameworks with disparate point solutions. Looking forward, respondents view external threats like malicious actors and state-affiliated groups (54 percent) as more significant to their organizations than internal threats (46 percent), underscoring the urgent need
Copenhagen to offer giveaways to eco-friendly tourists
COPENHAGEN, Denmark—The city of Copenhagen will offer special rebates and freebies to eco-friendly tourists this summer, including free bike rentals to those arriving by train and staying more than four days.
The CopenPay initiative, which was tested on a smaller scale last year, “is about raising travelers’ awareness about travelling more responsibly,”
Soren Tegen Pedersen, the head of the city’s tourism board Wonderful Copenhagen, told AFP.
The emphasis of the initiative is on transport, a highly polluting sector.
Those who make climate-friendly
and environmental choices, such as using bikes and picking up trash, will also be offered rebates at museums and tourist sites, as well as free yoga classes and vegetarian meals.
Ninety sites are participating in the campaign, including the National Museum and CopenHill, a synthetic ski slope.
The campaign, which opens on June 17 and lasts until late August, will be advertised on billboards around the city and social media.
Goboat, a hire service for electric motorboats powered by solar panels, said taking part in the initiative last
year helped show its commitment to climate solutions.
“Last year, 500 people jumped at our offer of one hour of free boating in exchange for picking up trash in the waters of the port. We weren’t even able to satisfy demand,” company representative Mads Pilegaard Sander told AFP.
In 2024, 75,000 tourists took part in the city’s one-month trial.
Bike rentals increased by 29 percent during the period, tonnes of trash were collected, and 98 percent of participants said they would recommend the initiative, the tourism board said. AFP
“This year’s report continues to reveal alarming gaps in security readiness and a lack of urgency to address them. Organizations must rethink their strategies now or risk becoming irrelevant in the AI era,” Patel said. The index evaluates companies’ readiness across five pillars—Identity Intelligence, Network Resilience, Machine Trustworthiness, Cloud Reinforcement, and AI Fortification— and encompassing 31 solutions and capabilities.
Based on a double-blind survey of 8,000 private sector security and business leaders in 30 global markets, respondents detailed their deployment stages for each solution. Companies were then categorized into four readiness stages: Beginner, Formative, Progressive and Mature.
IN BRIEF
GLOBAL sustainable infrastructure company ACCIONA is promoting safer workplaces by championing the use of digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) in occupational safety.
ACCIONA underscored this initiative during its third annual Health and Safety Day on Thursday. The event featured a forum themed “Digitalization and AI: Shaping the Future of Workplace Safety.” The forum brought together more than 200 attendees, including top business leaders, industry experts and safety practitioners from the construction, infrastructure and water sectors. Discussions, live technology demonstrations, and knowledge-shar-
ing sessions focused on next-generation safety innovations took place throughout the day.
ACCIONA managing director for infrastructure in Southeast Asia Ruben Camba urged the industry in his speech to embrace technology as a critical tool for saving lives.
“This year’s theme reminds us that technology isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about protecting lives, improving mental health, and enabling smarter, safer workplaces,” Camba said.
“New technologies are not just tools; they’re opportunities to transform how we anticipate, prevent, and respond to risks in real time,” he said.
UN OFFICIAL. Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto (left) meets with United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in the Philippines
RETIREMENT HUB. Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco presides
ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
Globe, volunteers spearhead Boracay beach clean-up drive
GLOBE Telecom Inc. joined Boracay’s conservation efforts through a beach clean-up drive at Barangay Balabag, Malay on May 3, 2025 in line with its commitment to environmental sustainability and community partnerships, Over 80 volunteers from Globe, Barangay Balabag, Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR), and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) rolled up their sleeves to take part in the effort by contributing time and energy to ensure Boracay’s beaches remain clean, vibrant and welcoming for all. Volunteers collected 15 sacks of waste from the beach, composed mostly of plastic, that can cause harm to marine animals, pollute coastal waters and destroy the marine ecosystem in Boracay.
“Globe has always believed in the power of collaboration to create lasting impact. By joining hands with the LGU of Malay, we hope to inspire more people, locals and tourists alike, to take responsibility for the environment and be part of the movement for sustainable tourism,” said Kiss Ekong, Globe sector business head for Visayas and Mindanao.
Cleaning the shores ties into bigger goals―like protecting marine life and fighting the effects of climate change in support of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, which focuses on protecting our oceans, seas and marine life from pollution and degradation. By joining local efforts like this, Globe hopes to spark more collective action to protect the environment.
Private firms urged to lead climate efforts
Aparri marine research hub boosts ‘blue economy’
By Marita Moaje
APARRI, Cagayan—A new marine scientific research hub in northern Luzon is seen to become a gamechanger for the Philippines’ blue economy, with its potential to unlock marine resource opportunities while strengthening economic resilience of coastal communities.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga recently led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Marine Scientific Research Station (MSRS) in this town, which is part of the government’s broader marine conservation strategy.
She said the facility is envisioned to become a research and innovation center for sustainable ocean resource development.
“This station is more than the physical structure, it is a symbol of commitment to evidence-based governance, to regional and global collaboration, and to securing a resilient future for our coastal communities and our marine biodiversity,” Loyza-
ga told the Philippine News Agency in an interview.
“The whole point is that you have 30 million hectares of land, but you have 220 million hectares of water. (We do not have much) research agenda,” she said.
Loyzaga noted that the DENR has organized an Ocean Environment Task Force, the main body that will guide the work the department is doing.
She also revealed that eventually, the goal is to establish an Ocean Bureau to institutionalize marine resource governance, which is similar to how the department oversees forests and minerals.
“These ecosystems must be measured so that we can treasure them correctly. They are the lifelines of millions of Filipinos who depend on them for food, livelihood, protection, cultural identity,” Loyzaga said.
The station sits at the confluence of the Cagayan River and the biologically rich Babuyan Channel, a key fishing ground known for its “aramang,” or spider shrimp.
Indigenous peoples are sidelined again in global climate fight, UN report warns
AS THE planet heats up and the push to decarbonise gathers pace, indigenous peoples – long among the world’s most effective environmental stewards—are once again being left behind, a new UN report reveals.
Launched in late April, The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples exposes a stark imbalance: while indigenous peoples make up just six percent of the global population, they safeguard 80 percent of the planet’s remaining biodiversity—yet receive less than one percent of international climate funding.
The report offers a sobering assessment of climate action that is not only lacking in urgency, but in fairness. From green energy projects imposed without consent to policy decisions made in rooms where Indigenous voices are absent, these communities are too often excluded from climate solutions, displaced by them and denied the resources to lead the way.
“Although we are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, indigenous peoples are not victims,” writes Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, in the report’s foreword. “We are custodians of the natural world who are committed to maintaining the natural equilibrium of the planet for the generations to come.”
The publication, overseen by the UN, brings together contributions from Indigenous leaders, researchers and the World Health Organization (WHO), combining case studies, data and lived experience from seven distinct regions of the world. Modern problems, ancient solutions
The report calls for a seismic shift in how Indigenous knowledge is understood and respected—reframing it not as “traditional” or folkloric, but as scientific and technical knowledge. UN News
She said the MSRS would support blue economy initiatives through deep sea research, biodiversity mapping, and climate monitoring.
With an initial P50-million budget secured for the construction of each MSRS facility, Loyzaga said there is a projected annual research allocation of P5 million to P10 million.
The station will host multidisciplinary teams comprising scientists, researchers and other stakeholders that will contribute to the creation of informed policies, improve fisheries management and explore new marine industries. PNA
THE private sector must step up efforts and lead the fight against climate change to bring about a sustainable future.
The Climate Change Commission (CCC) last week called on the private sector to play a leading role in strengthening the country’s climate resilience at the State of Climate Change 2025 Forum held in Makati City.
Secretary Robert E.A. Borje, CCC vice chairperson and executive director, stressed the critical role of the business sector in the country’s national development and sustainable progress.
“The private sector holds the power to drive innovation, unlock investments and create scalable solutions for a climate-resilient future,” Borje said during the event organized by the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) in partnership with the New Zealand Embassy.
“By aligning private sector innovation with national strategies, we can accelerate climate action and build a climate-secure future where businesses and communities thrive together.”
The forum focused on strengthening partnerships between the private sector, government and the civil society to build climate resilience in the Philippines, under the theme “Advancing Private Sector Engagement and the National Adaptation Plan.” Borje said 93 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) comes from the private sector, with its capacity to drive innovation and mobilize investments.
He reiterated the significance of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the updating of the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) as core frameworks to achieve a resilient, low-carbon future.
Borje said the NAP is the country’s collective roadmap to climate resilience.
“Preventing losses and damage starts with turning our adaptation plans into tangible solutions, with the private sector stepping up as a driving force in building a climate-resilient future,” he said.
The CCC said the State of Climate Change 2025 Forum also marked the continued strengthening of climate cooperation between the Philippines and New Zealand.
New Zealand Climate Change Ambassador Stuart Horne reaffirmed his country’s support, highlighting the progress made since the signing of the Joint Declaration on Climate Change Cooperation in November 2024. With PNA
Answering 10 pressing questions about plastic pollution
Part 2 of Part 3 Series
4. Why is plastic pollution such a problem?
There are three big reasons.
First, plastic pollution can wreak havoc on ecosystems. One study found that small plastic particles can slow the growth of a microscopic marine algae known as phytoplankton, which is the base of several aquatic food webs.As well, fish often mistakenly eat plastic products, filling their stomachs with indigestible shards that cause them to starve to death.
Second, plastic often breaks down into tiny fragments–known as microplastics and nanoplastics–which can build up in the human body. Microplastics have been found in livers, testicles–even breast milk. One study found that on average, a liter of bottled water
contains in the range of 240,000 microplastics.
Third, plastic throughout its life cycle also contributes to climate change. Plastic production–an energy-hungry process–was responsible for more than 3 percent of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, researchers estimate.
5. What do microplastics do to humans?
We don’t know yet. But researchers are working feverishly to find out because of the alarming amount of microplastics we are ingesting.
6. Can recycling alone end the plastic pollution crisis?
No. Only about 9 percent of plastics are actually recycled, according to a study from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. There are several reasons for that. Many
plastic products are not designed to be reused and recycled. Some are too flimsy to be recycled, while others can only be recycled once or twice. Many countries lack the infrastructure to collect and recycle plastic waste. But perhaps the biggest problem: recycling systems cannot keep up with the explosion of plastic waste. Global plastic production doubled between 2000 and 2019.
7. So, how can the world tackle plastic pollution?
We need to think big. That means looking beyond recycling and finding ways to limit the environmental and health problems caused by plastic pollution. This means looking at every stage of products’ lives, from their production, design and consumption to their disposal. This is known as the lifecycle approach. (To be continued) UNEP News
Globe works with volunteers for Boracay beach clean-up.
Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga (fifth from left) leads the groundbreaking ceremony of the Marine Scientific Research Station in Aparri, Cagayan. The facility will serve as a hub for coastal and marine conservation, research, and monitoring. Marita Moaje, PNA
Secretary Robert E.A. Borje
SHOWBIZ
‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ traces a genealogy of death, catching up to those who initially escaped its grasp (AI-generated image)
Premonition as a multi-million-dollar industry
By Chong Ardivilla
FINAL Destination: Bloodlines (2025 by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein) is part of a franchise that has entertained and grossed out fans since entering popular culture consciousness at the beginning of the 21st century. These movies take a deeper look into American culture rather than just a plethora of creative ways to die.
The latest addition, Final Destination: Bloodlines , traces a genealogy of death, catching up to those who initially escaped its grip. It is a hilarious take to situate death as a genetic inheritance, but one must suspend one’s disbelief when watching this franchise and enjoy the jolts and the gore. If anything, Final Destination: Bloodlines demonstrates American exceptionalism, not just through the marvelous wizardry of filmmaking and blood and guts but also through the undergirding of what makes America what it is. What is exceptionalism but the sheer power of selfbelief to expand, go beyond, and conquer?
Final Destination: Bloodlines is the shadow of this exceptionalism, which is mired in a convoluted web of conspiracy theories that drives its adherents and believers into hunkering down, refusing to budge, and amassing an armory to survive.
Why else would doomsday preppers (people who overly prepare for what they think is the end of civilization with fortified bunkers and supplies of food) be mainly an American thing? This is precisely what Final Destination movies are: a hunkering down against death. Is it so American to defy even death itself?
In the movie, they discuss “death’s hit list.” This is part of American exceptionalism, which assumes that you are special, that death follows you with a promised elaborate eradication. Never mind the sheer fact that everyone dies. The scariest part is that death is random and not some extensive infographic on who is next with what kind of death.
Death stalking the characters amidst the gloriously bucolic suburbia disrupts such exceptionalism. The manicured lawns, the towering high-rise restaurants, and the well-furnished and clean hospitals are tenets of the American cultural landscape informed by the dream of success.
The pivotal moment of the movie, which was also featured in the trailer, is the destruction of a brand-new high-rise restaurant with tempered glass floors. The setting was in the 1960s, an interesting time when this galvanized the ascent of American exceptionalism with its glut of skyscrapers.
Though skyscrapers became prevalent in the early 20th century, the post-World War II United States reached the zenith of the American dream in terms of wealth and edifice spectacle. It is a great detail that the people were dancing over the glass floors as if floating above, clearly a defiance.
Another fantastic sequence in the movie features the very Norman Rockwell portrait of an updated American family at a backyard picnic. Funny that the implement of death is a lawnmower, which is the tool for manicured lawns that are symbols of the cultural geography of having made it in the US. Such locations of Americanness (the skyscraper and the backyard) are disrupted by death. But is it fair to mark death as a disruption when it is the most natural thing in life?
Is the American dream ultimately to live in middle-class luxury where death is an option? See how that works in this crazy and funny—yes, hilarious—because of the sheer absurdity of Final Destination: Bloodlines
You may reach Chong Ardivilla at kartunistatonto@ gmail.com or chonggo.bsky.social
MARVEL’S newest superhero film Thunderbolts remained top dog at the North American box office for a second straight weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.
The film, starring Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus , raked in an additional $33 million for the three-day period.
The 55 percent drop from its debut was a “far better hold than recent Marvel adventures,” entertainment news outlet Variety reported.
Seeking to boost interest heading into the second weekend, Marvel revealed that the asterisk
Shticks
Joseph Peter Gonzales
BL star Teejay Marquez takes on tougher role
TEEJAY Marquez enters a new phase in his showbiz career as he recently inked a contract with GMA’s Sparkle. He confirmed that he is now co-managed by Sparkle and Arnold Vegafria’s ALV Talent Circuit.
When asked how it feels now that he is already an official talent of the Kapuso Network’s talent management arm, he said it is exciting and a dream come true. He has been with GMA for so long and considers himself their homegrown talent. They always give him projects, and now that he signed up with them, he is simply thrilled.
As for how long his contract as a Sparkle artist will run, he said he still doesn’t know yet, but it doesn’t matter since most of his projects are with them.
“I still don’t know yet. But it doesn’t matter. Most of my projects are with them,” he replied.
Interestingly, will he be based in the Philippines? It can be remembered that he had an acting career in Indonesia, which reason why he lay low for quite some time.
“I have offers. If it’s a movie, I might accept it. But if it’s a soap opera, no! I have an upcoming project with GMA. And one thing more, I want to enjoy the house I built from my showbiz earnings. It’s a two-bedroom, three-story house,” the actor admitted. The 31-year-old actor is also happy that he is part of the film In the Line of Duty, produced by former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson under his LCS Film Production and directed by Jose “JR” Olinares
“Here, I play the role of a firefighter. The plot of the movie revolves around the lives of policemen and firefighters in the country,” he said. Teejay is best known for the BL (Boy’s Love) projects Ben X Jim and Ben X Jim Forever. How would he differentiate it from his current movie?
“I think doing In the Line of Duty is more challenging since it’s my first time doing a role like this. At least, I can show the viewers that I can do other stuff apart from cutesy or BL. I’m proud that this project was offered to me,” ends TJ.
* * *
Jeric Gonzales doesn’t want to comment about his alleged break-up with Rabiya Mateo
“As of now, I don’t want to say anything,” he avers. “In the first place, she hasn’t talked about it yet. For respect.”
Did they agree that neither of them won’t talk about the sensitive issue at this point?
“Not really. But for me, it’s much better if it comes first because her being the woman.”
Is he dating someone new at present? Is he prepared to jump into a new relationship?
“I’m currently in love with my career. It’s my focus right now. I also prioritize myself. Yes, self-care. I’m trimming down and continue to improve myself.”
After Widows’ War, the handsome lad has an upcoming project with his mother studio.
in the movie’s name referred to the titular ragtag team of antiheroes becoming the “The New Avengers.”
The group will also appear in next year’s Avengers: Doomsday, which Marvel and parent Disney hope will repeat the epic performance of its predecessors.
The Warner Bros. period vampire thriller Sinners also maintained its second place, taking in another $21.1 million for a total domestic haul of $180 million. Director Ryan Coogler ’s first original film, starring Michael B. Jordan, continued to benefit from rave reviews. A Minecraft Movie also held
“Yes, I have a new show with GMA, though I can’t divulge the details yet. But I guess it’s more on action. It’s exciting because it’s a genre that I haven’t tried doing yet,” Jeric states.
onto its third place position, raking in an additional $8.0 million to bring its domestic haul over $400 million. The Warner Bros. live-action film starring Jack Black and Jason Mamoa has made over $900 million globally, continuing a trend of highly successful video game adaptations.
Fourth place went again to Amazon MGM Studios’ The Accountant 2 , at $6.1 million. Ben Affleck plays a neurodivergent math genius with criminal ties, and Jon Bernthal is his hitman brother.
New release Clown in a Cornfield took fifth place with $3.7 million. Rounding out the top 10 were Shadow Force Fight or Flight , and Until Dawn , each earning $2.0 million. The Amateur also brought in $2.0 million, while The King of Kings followed with $1.1 million. AFP
Actor Teejay Marquez is now officially managed by GMA’s Sparkle