PH rejects false claim Batanes part of China Defense chief hits ‘nonsense’ trial balloon
By Rex Espiritu and Maricel V. Cruz
AGROUP
of Chinese academics has claimed that the northernmost Batanes Islands belong to China through Taiwan, in what West Philippine Sea monitor SeaLight described as a possible “lawfare” effort to bolster Beijing’s territorial claims.
• Powell warns Chinese scholars’ theory ‘pretext to escalation’
SeaLight Executive Director Raymond Powell warned the academic discussion was “a pretext to escalate.”
PAGASA warns of flooding as ‘Inday’ enhances habagat
By Rio N. Araja and Rex Espiritu
TYPHOON “Inday” maintained its strength while moving west-northwestward over the waters east of Northern Luzon. Its center was estimated at 780 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan. It was moving west-northwestward at 20 kph, with maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gusts of up to 205 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained hoisted
“China saw an opportunity…They assembled the scholars to give them the legal overlay, the veneer to be able to justify what they
wanted to do anyway. We call this a pretext to escalate. If the pretext was the talks, the escalation now is underway.”
“They have now assembled the beginnings of their lawfare… This is Chinese lawfare in practice, and we’re seeing it real time,” he added.
In a post on Facebook, SeaLight said about a dozen researchers from leading Chinese universities and research institutes argued that Philippine sovereignty over Batanes allegedly lacks historical and legal basis during a symposium held on June 30 in Guangzhou and
Kanlaon dumps ash on Negros towns as quake rattles Benguet
By
and
KANLAON Volcano on Negros Island
erupted twice on Thursday, manifesting moderate explosions that sent ash plumes up to three kilometers into the sky and triggered ashfall in parts of Ne-
gros and southwestern Cebu, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). In Baguio City, Phivolcs reported that a magnitude 4.5 earthquake jolted Benguet province.
Phivolcs said the first Kanlaon eruption occurred at 7:33 a.m., generating a
dark ash plume about three kilometers above the crater. A second, two-minute blast followed at 7:04 p.m., sending an ash plume approximately 2,500 meters high before it drifting southwest.
“This is the second moderate eruption in a week,” Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said, adding that the agency would
2 to Alert Level 3 on its five-level warning system.
“There might be a bigger explosive eruption in the next few days,” Bacolcol said.
Bonoan at ‘root, end and center’ of flood control scheme—lawyer
By Maricel Cruz
TAPPING former Public Works Sec-
retary Manuel Bonoan as a state witness against former Speaker Martin Romualdez signals the desperation of the Office of the Ombudsman to build a viable case in relation to the flood control scandal, a public interest and human rights lawyer said.
In an interview with dzMM, lawyer Antonio Bucoy said Bonoan is the official “at the root, end, and center” of the infrastructure scam, being deeply involved in the process of preparing
the budget the DPWH submits to the Office of the President, which in turn prepares the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
He said the move to use Bonoan belies previous statements of the Ombudsman that it has solid evidence against Romualdez.
“That is a sign of desperation on the part of the Office of the Ombudsman. Because if what they previously claimed was true—that they had strong evidence against the lawmakers [involved in the scandal], and particularly
US-Iran strikes ahead of Khamenei burial
Lopez to media: Prepare for ‘typhoon Inday’
By Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz
VICE President Sara Duterte’s chief of staff, lawyer Zuleika Lopez, showed up at the Senate on Thursday and tersely told reporters to ‘prepare for typhoon Inday.” It was not clear whether Lopez was referring to the typhoon or to the Vice President who is also known as Inday. The House prosecution team aims to call Lopez to the witness stand next week as it continues presenting evidence before the Senate impeachment court. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug said he met with Lopez, but the conversation was limited to administrative matters. Bantug noted that she requested the meeting two days earlier.
“The meeting was strictly administrative. For instance, how many guests are allowed
Rio N. Araja
Ratziel San Juan
CONNECTION. The Bashi channel separates the Philippines’ Mavulis and Taiwan’s Lanyu islands (see red line connecting both islands) — the nearest point between the two countries. Australian National University
DOUBLE WHAMMY. On its way out the country, Typhoon Inday still affects most of the country by enhancing the Southwest Monsoon while Kanlaon Volcano erupts occasionally, showering ash on communities within its reach in Negros island. PAGASA, Phivolcs
CHANGE ADVOCATE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. engages former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair during the latter’s visit to Malacañan Palace. Blair continues to contribute to global discussions on governance and public policy through the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. PCO Atty. Zuleika Lopez
over Batanes, the eastern portion of the Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Islands, Didicas Island, and Camiguin Island), and the northeasternmost portion of mainland Cagayan, including Santa Ana.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 p.m. bulletin also said that rains accompanied by gusty winds may be experienced over the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley due to Tropical Cyclone “Bavi.”
Meanwhile, classes have been suspended on Friday in the following areas:
Batangas
San Jose – All levels, public and private Alitagtag – All levels, public and private
Laguna San Pablo City – Face-to-face classes suspended at all levels for July 10-11
Ilocos Region Pangasinan
Basista – All levels, public and private, from day care to senior high school
Western Visayas Antique Anini-y – Preschool to senior high school, public and private, including school work
Barbaza – All levels, public and private
Belison – All levels, public and private
Hamtic – All levels, public and private
San Jose de Buenavista – Preschool to senior high school, public and private
Sibalom – Preschool to senior high school, public and private
Negros Occidental La Castellana – All levels, public and private
Northern Mindanao Iligan City
All levels, public and private
PAGASA said southwest monsoon (habagat)-enhanced rains may prevail over the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and Soccsksargen.
The weather bureau warned that flooding is likely from Saturday to Sunday afternoon, especially in urban, low-lying, and riverside areas, while landslides are possible in areas with moderate to high susceptibility.
Rainfall of 100 to 200 millimeters is expected over Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro. Meanwhile, 50 to 100 mm of rain is forecast over La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Aklan, and Antique.
Inday is forecast to continue moving northwestward over the Philippine Sea and may pass closest to extreme Northern Luzon between Friday evening and Saturday morning. Afterward, it will move toward the southern islands of Japan and may make landfall or pass close to the northern coast of Taiwan.
It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday morning or afternoon before making landfall along the eastern coast of mainland China by Saturday evening or early Sunday morning.
PAGASA said Inday is expected to remain a typhoon until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility before weakening into a severe tropical storm as it moves farther inland over mainland China.
hosted by Jinan University.
Quoting a report by South App in Guangdong, SeaLight said the participants “unanimously concluded that the Batan Islands (Batanes) constitute a natural geographical extension of Taiwan, with sovereignty belonging to China, and that so-called Japan-Philippines maritime delimitation negotiations in the area hold no legal validity.”
‘Trial balloon, muddying the waters’
Powell said while the position has not been endorsed by any Chinese government official, he said the symposium could be testing Beijing’s legal narrative.
“The claim over Batanes, but this is the trial balloon…They are starting with a provincial level paper, provincial level state media report. I’m sure we will see an official report coming out of this symposium, followed by, in the future, I’m sure there will begin to be officials, government officials talking about this.”
Powell said “muddying the waters over Batanes’ legal ownership” is sufficient to help Beijing “justify its sovereignty patrols.”
Analysts earlier warned that China has signaled its intent to maintain a
new coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, which it claims is part of its territory.
Tensions over Western Pacific waters off Taiwan spiked after the Chinese coast guard and other ships launched their first “law enforcement operation” in that area in June.
During the operation, the China Coast Guard for the first time radioed cargo ships passing Taiwan for information about their crew and destination.
‘Douse cold water on this nonsense’
For his part, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. dismissed the claims of the Chinese academics as “baseless and ludicrous.”
“In their closed society, their people believe these things. Their citizens have been brainwashed. So, this is a concerning situation, and it is something that must be opposed,” he said.
“We should not allow this to go un-responded to. All academics in the world should douse cold water on this theory already. That is nonsense,” the Defense chief added.
Teodoro said the claim on Batanes by the Chinese scholars validates his suspicion that China has plans to control the entire Pacific Ocean.
“It signals a preconceived intention. It is also not far-fetched to think that this is part of their plan. And it validates what we have been saying—that
That places him at the center of the entire process,” the lawyer added.
they have a plan to control the entire Pacific Ocean,” he said.
He said the false claims will only strengthen the united action against “China’s irresponsible behavior.”
“And who will be to blame if anti-China sentiment develops? They will have only themselves to blame because of what they are doing…It’s no longer believable,” he added.
For his part, National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) spokesperson Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said the push back must be immediate.
“Otherwise, if we do not debunk the lies they peddle over and over again, they are going to rewrite history once again,” he said.
“For all we know, China might eventually claim the Pasig River,” Tarriela said.
‘China becoming a laughingstock’
UP Law Professor Jay Batongbacal said the false claim is an “implied threat” that Beijing will consider taking Batanes Islands.
“This is an implied threat that Beijing will consider taking the Batanes Islands should the Philippines and Japan continue the improvement of their relations, which from Beijing’s perspective runs against their interest in forcefully taking Taiwan,” Batongbacal said.
“This latest preposterous declaration
by purported academics is precisely proof of China’s malign and aggressive intent,” he added.
Batongbacal said the development also underscored the strategic importance of the Batanes Islands in any potential conflict involving Taiwan.
“If they were really so confident in their claims, they would challenge the Philippine title before an international court. But they won’t, because they know that their contrived justifications will not pass modern scrutiny under the general international law which China says they uphold,” he said.
Dr. Chester Cabalza, president and founder of the International Development and Security Cooperation, said Batanes has long been an integral part of the Philippines.
“China becomes a laughingstock to the international community when it keeps on expanding its claims to the Philippines,” he said.
Cabalza also dismissed any attempt to justify the claim based on Austronesian cultural and historical links between Taiwan and the Philippines.
“If that’s the case, knowing the extent of the Austronesian influence from Taiwan to the Philippines, they might as well claim the entire Oceanic region and Madagascar in Africa,” he said.
“This shows the consistent falsification of Beijing’s desperate attempt to ruin its own credibility,” Cabalza added.
and how many seats can be allocated by the Senate for the defense’s guests. I informed her that we had previously communicated with the defense panel regarding 45 seats. We merely clarified the procedure,” Bantug explained.
Lopez’s testimony was confirmed after House prosecutor Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor clarified the lineup of witnesses for the next phase of the trial. Lopez will testify after lawyer Jeremy Lotoc, regional director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, when the trial resumes on Monday, July 13.
“For Monday, Your Honors, we will be presenting Atty. Jeremy Lotoc. For Wednesday, we will be presenting Atty. Zuleika Lopez. And for Wednesday, our
Bonoan’s statement that it implicated former Speaker Romualdez—then why are they now scrambling to secure the testimony of an official who was at the top, the center, and the heart of this alleged anomaly?” the lawyer said.
Ombudsman spokesperson Mico Clavano earlier said Bonoan was accepted as state witness after the latter agreed to cooperate in its case against Romualdez.
“Why do I say he (Bonoan) is at the top? Because the process of drafting the GAA (General Appropriations Act) begins with the NEP, which is designed by the Office of the President. Before it becomes the NEP that is transmitted to Congress, it is based on proposals submitted by the various government agencies,” Bucoy said.
“In the case of the DPWH, it is Secretary Bonoan who heads the department. He is the architect of the agency’s budget and designed the proposal that was submitted to DBM. So, in that sense, he is at the top. If there was any anomaly in the budget submitted to the DBM, then he is the architect of it because the document originated from his department.”
“Second, he is at the center. Why? Because the DPWH manages the funds. It conducts the bidding for projects and awards them to contractors.
ceasefire was over.
Crude soared Wednesday when the US president — in response to tit-fortat attacks in the region already taking place — said the fragile truce between the foes was over.
Washington also revoked a temporary sanctions waiver for Iranian oil.
Both main contracts soared around eight percent Wednesday, with Brent topping $80 a barrel for the first time in two weeks, fanning fresh fears of a spike in inflation and a hit to the economy.
The fighting came with Iran preparing to bury Khamenei, who was killed
third witness, we will be presenting Capt. Belinda Bello,” Defensor told the court.
Defensor also said NBI director Melvin Matibag would no longer be part of next week’s lineup.
“We will manifest on Monday if we can consider him (Matibag) for the Wednesday session depending on how the trial goes or how long the testimonies will take for both parties,” Defensor told Senator-Judge Francis Escudero, presiding officer of the impeachment court.
Following the prosecution’s manifestation, Escudero ordered the issuance of subpoena to the witnesses for the July 13 to 15 trial dates.
The prosecution has said it intends to use all 11 trial days allotted for evidence presentation under the fourth impeachment article, which accuses Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust over alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady
Bucoy said Bonoan is also at the end of the process “because the DPWH also releases the funds” for the projects, and certifies whether the progress reports, submitted by its implementing offices and district engineers, are accurate, and whether the projects have been properly completed and carried out to standard.
“So how can (Bonoan) qualify as a state witness when he was at the top, the center, and the end of the entire process?” the lawyer asked.
“That is not all. You may recall the testimony of former Undersecretary Bernardo, who specifically identified Secretary Bonoan, alleging that he controlled about P5 billion a year from 2022 to 2025 and demanded a 15 percent kickback.”
“If you compute that over four years, a 15 percent kickback amounts to P750 million per year, or P3 billion in total. Now, if he is only being required to return P1 billion (as restitution), does that mean he gets to keep the other P2 billion? That is why I say this reflects desperation on the part of the Ombudsman,” he added.
Romualdez earlier squarely denied the allegations against him, adding that he will not be a scapegoat in the flood control controversy.
The former Speaker said he had no part in the bicameral conference committee and the small committee budget
alongside close family members on the first day of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic on February 28.
The last of a marathon six days of funeral ceremonies, the burial on Thursday of Khamenei in his hometown, the eastern city of Mashhad, will be closely watched for signs of his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who has yet to appear in public since being appointed.
‘Psychopathic’
The Iranian foreign ministry said the US attacks targeted civilian infrastructure, including railway bridges, and described the strikes as a “gross war crime.”
deliberations, where insertions into the national budget that becomes the GAA were allegedly made.
His lawyer, Ade Fajardo, said Bonoan might be pressured into implicating the former Speaker.
In an interview on dzRH, Fajardo insisted the accusations against the Leyte congressman were just baseless stories.
“There is absolutely no evidence because the former Speaker has absolutely nothing to do with the flood control anomaly. Many have been saying that the case is strong but until now, no case has been filed in court. There are no criminal cases,” he said.
“This means that there is no evidence or the lack of evidence is so extensive that it is difficult to fill it with just stories,” Fajardo added.
He said Bonoan is now under a lot of pressure, given the fact that he is under hospital arrest and might soon be moved to a regular jail.
“It is quite concerning. Right now, of course, the person is under hospital arrest. There is a possibility that—if cleared medically, for instance—he would be transferred to a regular prison. Naturally, that places a significant amount of mental pressure on him,” he said.
“We don’t know (whether Bonoan is being manipulated) as a fact. But naturally, as we all think things through, it is not impossible that many factors are crossing Secretary Bonoan’s mind,” Fajardo added.
It called the US administration “evil and psychopathic” and accused it of “obscenity, lies, and military aggression.”
Liza Araneta-Marcos and then-Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Next week’s hearings will follow the conclusion of the two-day testimony of NBI senior agent John Mark Calilung who laid the evidentiary foundation for the prosecution’s case under Article IV. Calilung identified the authenticated video and transcript of Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 livestream, screenshots extracted from the recording, and official statements issued by government agencies in response to her remarks.
He also explained the NBI’s digital forensic procedures for identifying, collecting, preserving and verifying electronic evidence.
Lotoc is expected to testify on the NBI’s finding that Duterte had allegedly claimed to have hired an assassin to kill the President, the First Lady and the former Speaker if she herself were killed.
Lopez will shed light on the events surrounding her detention by the House
The latest strikes killed three people and wounded several others on the outskirts of Ahvaz in Iran’s southwest, the country’s official news agency IRNA reported, quoting an official.
US military officials said Thursday’s strikes hit approximately 90 Iranian military targets, including air defense systems, missile and drone storage sites.
Iran’s army said it had targeted a Patriot missile interceptor system in Kuwait, an early warning system in Qatar and fuel tanks in Bahrain with drones, as part of its attacks on US bases in the region.
Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. With AFP
Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and the circumstances that preceded Duterte’s November 23, 2024 livestream, which forms part of the prosecution’s evidence under Article IV.
Also set to take the witness stand is Bello, executive director of the House of Representatives Legislative Security Bureau, who will discuss the implementation of the House committee’s order transferring Lopez to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong.
The Senate Impeachment Court issued a subpoena for Lopez to attend and provide testimony in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol announced that the subpoena, signed by Escudero, was officially served to the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Central Records Unit on July 9, 2026, at 1:10 p.m. In compliance with a court directive,
In a statement after the evening eruption, Phivolcs said the eruption generated a plume that rose 2,500 meters above the crater before drifting southwest.
“Incandescent ballistics were observed to have rained around the crater,” Phivolcs said.
Bacolcol said gas pressure may have built up beneath the volcano’s vent, noting that recent low sulfur dioxide emissions suggested a possible blockage that allowed pressure to accumulate.
Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 2, with the permanent four-kilometer danger zone still off-limits to the public.
Residents near the volcano reported hearing loud explosions. In the nearby town of La Castellana, Negros Occidental. Rescuer John De Asis said ashfall followed the evening eruption.
“Tonight, we heard a sudden, loud boom, then after a few minutes, people started reporting that there was ashfall in their areas,” he said, adding that rescue personnel distributed face masks.
Some residents of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental also reported hearing a loud explosion during the morning eruption, but were unable to see the volcano because of thick fogs.
Ashfall also reached several areas in southwestern Cebu, including Toledo City, Pinamungajan and Aloguinsan, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The Toledo City government suspended classes at all levels in public and private schools and halted work at city hall except for essential services.
“If going outside is necessary, wear a face mask for protection,” the local government said in a statement, adding that residents should keep windows closed.
The Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas said it was monitoring air quality following the eruption.
“We are coordinating with Negros Island Region for info,” EMB-Region 7 spokesperson Cindlyn Pepito said.
Lopez is required to attend the Senate of the Philippines, situated at the Senate Building, GSIS Headquarters, Financial Center, Pasay City, on July 13 and 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. to deliver crucial testimony regarding her insights into the case brought forth by the House prosecution team related to Article IV. The directive explicitly commands the witness to “fail not” in appearing before the high tribunal on the designated dates. The witness is expected to testify on factual matters within her direct knowledge to ensure a comprehensive, transparent, and fair evidentiary process.
Copies of the order have been furnished to the public prosecutors from the House of Representatives, as well as defense counsel Fortun Narvasa. Tongol said the issuance of the subpoena underscores the Impeachment Court’s commitment to a rigorous, orderly, and continuous trial process as it handles these historic proceedings.
Supreme Court dismisses petitions challenging validity of NCAP
By Pot Chavez
THE Supreme Court (SC) announced on Thursday its decision dismissing the consolidated petitions challenging the No Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP) in Metro Manila.
In its ruling, the High Tribunal clarified, however, that the dismissal of the petitions does not mean that the challenged NCAP issuances were valid.
Cops round up 7 illegal miners in Davao de Oro
POLICE arrested on July 7 at least 30 suspected illegal miners and confiscated four unlicensed firearms during a raid in a mining site in Pantukan, Davao de Oro.
Operatives of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNPCIDG) staged the raid following intelligence reports that a group of individuals was conducting unlawful mining operation in Barangay Araibo I in the municipality of Pantukan.
Davao De Oro provincial police chief Col. Cesario Dukiling said appropriate criminal charges were being prepared against the suspects.
Cherrie Anne Villahermosa
Comelec to print 2.39m ballots for BARMM polls
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will begin printing the official ballots for the first regular Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections in September, with some 2.39 million ballots set to be produced at a cost of about P63 million.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said the ballot printing is part of the final preparations for the September 14, 2026 BARMM polls, the first regular political exercise of the BARMM following the extension of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
Garcia said approximately 2.395 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots in the autonomous region covering the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Tawi Tawi, Cotabato City, the Special Geographic Area in North Cotabato, and other BARMM areas.
Vito Barcelo
Vatican envoy: Help build corruption-free PH society
VATICAN ambassador to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown urged Filipino Catholics to help build a society free from corruption, crime and discrimination.
Speaking during a Mass at the Ozamiz Cathedral, Brown called on the faithful to become agents of social transformation by defending human dignity, rejecting injustice and working for peace while keeping their focus on eternal life.
Citing the pastoral vision of Pope Leo XIV, Brown said the Church is called to work with others in building communities that respect the dignity of every person and promote justice. Vito Barcelo
By Pot Chavez
MANILA Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso announced on Thursday the third successful angioplasty procedure at the state-run Ospital ng Maynila, fully bankrolled by the city government to the tune of P975,000.
The procedure was performed on a 67-year-old male patient who shelled out not a single centavo for the operation that would have cost P1.5 million in private hospitals.
“How much did the patient pay? Zero, literally zero. Thanks to the taxpayers of the city,” Domagoso said.
“If you have cardiac blockage, you are not due for bypass. That is why we have angioplasty. That is the procedure,” the mayor explained. He stressed that the procedure is being offered at the city’s public hospital at no cost to patients, and that this initiative will be sustained.
“Angioplasty is free of charge at our public hospital, and this will be sustained,” he added. Domagoso disclosed that the city government has earmarked about P25 million
The court ruled that the issues raised have become moot because of the adoption of a new and uniform traffic enforcement framework under the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023 (MMTC 2023).
“Our dismissal of the Petitions is confined to the determination that petitioners failed to overcome threshold issues, and that the supervening adoption of a uniform regulatory framework has rendered the Petitions moot. There is no explicit determination regarding the prior issuances, nor a resolution of grievances based on specific facts,” the decision stated.
The SC also dismissed the petitions for lack of standing, violation of exhaustion of administrative remedies and hierarchy of courts, and forum shopping. The petitions sought to declare as unconstitutional ordinances of several cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) implementing a resolution of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) which established the NCAP.
Among the local government units that passed the questioned ordinances were Muntinlupa City, Parañaque City, Quezon City, Valenzuela City, and the City of Manila.
The NCAP seeks to ease traffic and reduce corruption through the use of digital cameras to detect traffic violations without physical interventions of traffic enforcers.
Marcos okays release of state workers’ ’24 performance bonus IN BRIEF
By Charles Dantes
RESIDENT Ferdinand
P“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has approved the grant of the 2024 performance-based bonus (PBB) for qualified government employees, with the incentive expected to be processed and released within the year, Malacañang said Thursday.
Speaking at a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) expects the bonus to be released this year, with the possibility of an earlier payout.
“The fiscal year 2024 performance-based bonus for qualified government employees will be processed and is expected to be released this year. It may even be released earlier. The funding for the bonus is included in the fiscal rear 2026 General Appropriations Act,” Castro said.
She said the timeline was based on information provided by the DBM, adding that the funding for the incentive has already been appropriated under the 2026 national budget.
She advised government employees and agencies seeking more specific information on the rollout to refer to the implementing guidelines issued by the government’s technical working group.
“For a more detailed implementation schedule, including the target timelines for processing and releasing the Performance-Based Bonus, the public may refer to Item 9 of Executive Order No. 61 Technical Working Group Memorandum Circular No. 2026-1 dated July 3, 2026,” Castro added.
The subsidy is part of the government’s performance-based incentive system, which grants additional compensation to eligible government personnel based on the performance of their agencies and individual employees.
Only agencies that meet prescribed performance targets and satisfy accountability requirements qualify for the incentive.
for hospital equipment acquisitions and maintenance to sustain its humanitarian endeavors.
The same hospital had its first two successful angioplasty procedures in March 2026, following the launch of its Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory in September 2025.
US Navy: PH role vital amid WPS row
IN BRIEF
DepEd taps NGO to look at infra projects
THE Department of Education (DepEd) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) to help ensure transparency in its public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects.
Under the agreement, BCBP will serve as an independent third-party observer during project development, procurement, and implementation, while remaining excluded from procurement decisions, bid evaluations, and contract awards.
DepEd said the partnership supports efforts to address classroom shortages and improve learning facilities nationwide.
The department added that BCBP will provide recommendations in an advisory capacity, in line with existing laws, policies, and confidentiality safeguards. Gabriel Oliva
Army kills NPA leader in CamSur operations
GOVERNMENT troops killed a ranking New People’s Army (NPA) leader and recovered several firearms in separate operations in Camarines Sur on June 29, the Philippine Army said Thursday.
Soldiers from the Army’s 9th Infantry Battalion engaged rebels in an eightminute firefight in Barangay San Gabriel, Pamplona, killing Oscar Capin, alias “Berano,” identified as commander of Platoon 1, KLG2, SRC1, BRPC.
Troops recovered an M653 rifle left behind by the fleeing rebels after residents reported the presence of armed men conducting surveillance in the area.
Later that day, soldiers also recovered five hidden high-powered firearms in Barangay Odicon, Pasacao based on information from local residents. Rex Espiritu
SEC expands digital services in Ilagan City
CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Ilagan City Extension Office has expanded its digital services and strengthened investor protection measures to speed up business transactions and combat investment and lending scams. The agency said key frontline services are now available online through the Electronic Application for Modification of Entity Data (eAMEND) and the Electronic Workflow and Application for Company Monitoring (eWATCH). The
Philippine gov’t expands e-Visa rollout
By Ma. Katrina Mikaela Manubay
THE Philippines has introduced an electronic visa (e-Visa) system for eligible travelers from Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland, expanding the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) digital efforts to streamline, secure, and make visa applications more accessible.
In a message to reporters on Wednesday night, DFA spokesperson Analyn Ratonel clarified that foreign nationals holding Danish passports remain eligible for 30-day visa-free entry under Executive Order No. 408 and may con-
tinue to enjoy this privilege, subject to existing immigration rules.
“Foreign nationals who are entitled to 30-day visa-free entry under Executive Order No. 408, including Danish nationals and travelers from the Faroe Islands and Greenland holding Danish passports, may continue to avail themselves of such privilege, subject to existing immigration requirements,” her message read.
“Foreign nationals who intend to stay beyond thirty (30) days, however, are required to obtain a Philippine 9(a) Temporary Visitor’s Visa prior to travel,” it added. According to the DFA website, a
By Vince Lopez
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said the memorial marker for slain South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo inside Camp Crame will stand as a lasting reminder of the organization’s commitment to institutional integrity while honoring the memory of a victim whose death exposed one of the darkest chapters in the history of the police force.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the memorial reflects the organization’s willingness to confront its past while strengthening reforms that promote accountability and professionalism.
“This memorial is a solemn acknowledgment of a tragic chapter in our institution’s history. We cannot change the past, but we can honor the victim, uphold accountability, and reaffirm our commitment that such abuses of authority will never be tolerated again,” Nartatez said.
The memorial marker will be installed inside Camp Crame following the request of Jee’s widow, Choi Kyung Jin, during her recent visit with South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa.
It will be placed at the Police Community Affairs and Development Group (PCADG) to give Jee’s family a permanent place to remember him.
The development came nearly a decade after Jee was abducted by rogue police officers inside Camp Crame in October 2016 and later killed.
Philippine e-Visa is available to foreigners visiting for business, leisure, medical care, training, conferences, meetings, and seminars.
The e-Visa system allows applicants to access their visa digitally through computers, laptops, or smartphones. It may be presented either electronically or in printed form and is no longer physically attached to the passport.
Once the e-Visa is issued by the Philippine Embassy in Copenhagen, travelers may complete the online Philippine e-Travel registration through https:// etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours before departure.
By Rex Espiritu
THE Philippines’ participation in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2026 is significant as tensions persist in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a senior US Navy official said.
Rear Admiral Suzanne M. Bailey, commander of the RIMPAC Combined Exercise Control Group and deputy commander of the US 3rd Fleet, said the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) would be fully integrated into the multinational exercise after deploying air assets, special operations forces, and two surface ships.
“We are confident in their ability as partners here at RIMPAC, and they will be incorporated into each and every one of our events during the at-sea phase,” Bailey said during a virtual press briefing.
“I am thankful for the partnership that we have with them,” she added.
The Philippine Navy deployed its newest guided missile frigate, BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-6), while the PCG sent the offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) to Hawaii for the 30th iteration of the exercise.
Bailey said RIMPAC 2026 is designed to improve interoperability among allied and partner forces through live-fire drills, amphibious operations, anti-submarine warfare training, and the integration of unmanned systems.
She described unmanned platforms as “an absolutely essential part of today and our future in naval warfare” and said the exercise provides allies with an opportunity to develop integrated manned and unmanned operations.
Thirty countries, including the Philippines, are participating in this year’s RIMPAC, which runs from June 24 to July 31 in and around Hawaii under the theme, “Partners: Integrated and Prepared.”
The exercise involves 31 warships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 190 aircraft, and about 30,000 military personnel.
Although Bailey declined to comment on the geopolitical situation in the West Philippine Sea, saying policy matters should be addressed by government officials, she said RIMPAC is focused on strengthening cooperation and improving the ability of participating forces to operate together.
By Jessica M. Bacud
waters feature pristine coral reefs, exceptional marine biodiversity, and largely untouched dive sites capable of attracting visitors from around the world. The evaluation was conducted alongside the Cagayan Tourism Office, DENR Region II, BFAR Region II, and the Philippine Coast Guard Special Operations Group, ensuring that every site met strict standards for safety, accessibility, and long-term environmental protection.
“This is more than just adding another tourist spot on the map. This is about jobs, investment, and protecting our seas for the next generation,” Aglipay said. “Cagayan
DEPED-BCBP PACT. Education Secretary Sonny Angara witnesses the signing of a partnership between the Department of Education and the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals to promote transparency in the implementation of public-private partnership infrastructure projects. Sonny Angara/Facebook
RIMPAC 2026. BRP Miguel Malvar Commanding Officer Capt. Paul Michael P. Hechanova (left) and HMCS Regina skipper Cmdr. Darren Sleen exchange plaques marking their participation in the 2026 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises. Philippine Navy
CAGAYAN DIVE TOURISM. Divers explore the rich coral reefs of Cagayan, which is emerging as the Philippines’ newest premier marine destination following the successful launch of the Cagayan Dive Trail Circuit Development, an initiative aimed at positioning the province as a global dive tourism hub. Cagayan Provincial Government.
OPINION
Unraveling the truth about EJKs
AS WE await the trial proper of former president Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity that begins in November, we welcome the recent launch of the Extra-Judicial Killings (EJK) Truth Commission as a parallel process aimed not at determining criminal guilt, but at establishing a broader historical and moral record of what happened during the brutal war on drugs from 2016 onwards.
We recognize that in the ICC case, prosecutors must prove specific crimes against humanity beyond a reasonable standard using evidence that links Duterte to a widespread or systematic attack against civilians.
The court’s focus is on criminal responsibility. It is not designed to hear every victim’s story or document every alleged abuse committed during the anti-drug campaign.
The Truth Commission seeks to address that limitation.
By gathering testimonies from victims’ families, witnesses, human rights advocates, and even former law enforcement personnel, it can create a much more comprehensive account of how the killings occurred, how they were justified, and how institutions responded. Courts determine guilt or innocence but truth commissions establish a fuller historical narrative.
This distinction is important because one of the central political battles surrounding Duterte’s drug war has always been over competing narratives. Supporters argue that the campaign restored peace and order and targeted dangerous criminals.
Critics contend that it fostered a climate in which thousands were killed without due process.
The commission’s stated objective of documenting, verifying, and preserving testimony is therefore an effort to prevent the historical record from being shaped solely by political rhetoric.
The involvement of respected figures such as former ICC judge Raul Pangalangan and Bishop Pablo Virgilio David also gives the initiative institutional credibility. Pangalangan’s experience is noteworthy. He understands the evidentiary standards and legal principles that govern international criminal proceedings. While the commission is not part of the ICC and cannot act as a prosecutorial body, the evidence it collects could potentially assist future investigations by domestic authorities or other accountability mechanisms.
Perhaps even more significant is the commission’s expressed intention to gather information about law enforcers who allegedly participated in the killings. Much of the public discussion has focused on Duterte as the architect of the campaign.
Yet any effort at accountability ultimately raises questions about the chain of command and the individuals who carried out orders on the ground.
If witnesses are willing to testify and former participants come forward, investigators may obtain a clearer picture of how decisions were made and implemented.
The commission’s creation also reflects a growing recognition that accountability cannot depend entirely on international institutions. The ICC can prosecute only a limited number of individuals.
Even if Duterte were eventually convicted, that would not automatically resolve questions about the conduct of police officers, local officials, or others allegedly involved in the anti-drug campaign.
The Truth Commission signals an effort by Philippine civil society to create its own process for documentation and remembrance, independent of government action.
Cardinal David’s reference to a “conspiracy of silence” points to another important dimension.
Human rights investigations often face obstacles because witnesses fear retaliation, institutions are reluctant to cooperate, or public opinion remains polarized.
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The commission’s stated objective of documenting, verifying, and preserving testimony is therefore an effort to prevent the historical record from being shaped solely by political rhetoric
The commission provides a venue where individuals who have remained silent for years feel safer sharing information.
The passage of time can sometimes encourage disclosures that would have been impossible during the height of a controversial policy.
At the same time, expectations should be realistic. Unlike a court, the commission has no subpoena powers, cannot compel testimony, and cannot issue criminal judgments.
Its effectiveness will depend largely on public trust, witness participation, and the quality of its documentation. Critics of the initiative will likely argue that it is politically motivated or biased against Duterte. Its credibility will therefore rest on maintaining rigorous standards of verification and fairness.
In the context of the forthcoming ICC trial, the Truth Commission’s greatest significance may lie in its contribution to collective memory. Trials determine legal responsibility for specific crimes.
The Truth Commission seeks to ensure that the victims of the drug war remain part of the national conversation regardless of the eventual outcome in The Hague.
Whether Duterte is acquitted or convicted, the Truth Commission appears designed to answer a larger question: not merely whether crimes were committed under international law, but what the drug war did to our institutions, communities, and families.
In that sense, its work could outlast the ICC proceedings themselves and become an important part of the country’s long-term reckoning with one of the most controversial chapters in our contemporary history.
(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)
Magnifica Humanitas and Baterbonia Case
ONE month ago today, the waters took Rene Baterbonia. The nation still asks how and why. Magnifica Humanitas helps us frame this grief. Rene was still a teenager when he died. He drowned on June 8 in Dipaculao, Aurora. A team building activity turned into a tragedy. His teammate Divine Adili perished beside him. Magnifica Humanitas speaks first about truth. Truth is the family’s most urgent plea. Police initially called the drowning accidental. Investigators later said otherwise and probed further. The full story has not yet surfaced. Hopefully, Ateneo de Manila will fulfill its promise to release the findings of the independent investigation it commissioned a law firm to do. Pope Leo XIV calls truth essential for justice. Without truth, accountability becomes impossible. Without accountability, grief hardens into rage. Social media complicates this search for truth. Speculation spread faster than verified facts. Unverified claims circulated widely across platforms. Magnifica Humanitas warns against exactly this distortion. Seeking truth requires patience and discipline. It means trusting evidence over viral posts. It means letting investigators finish
their work. Yet it also means demanding real answers. Silence and delay can also betray truth.
Pope Leo IV’s first encyclical emphasizes the theme of work. Rene’s short life embodied work’s dignity. Basketball was his labor and his hope.
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Rene Baterbonia wanted his family out of poverty. That promise now echoes with painful weight
He was the son of fish vendors. He was second among seven siblings. Poverty shadowed his family in Agusan del Sur. He played to lift them all up. He once told a coach his dream. He would not return home for five years. He wanted to come back already successful. He wanted his family out of poverty. That promise now echoes with painful weight.
Magnifica Humanitas says work confers human dignity. An athlete’s training is work deserving protection. Institutions must guard workers, especially young ones.
July 12 as West Philippine Sea Victory Day
WE FULLY support the call of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) call for more local government units (LGUs) to declare July 12 as “West Philippine Sea Victory Day” as this will emphasize our commitment to defend our sovereign rights and assert our national identity.
As the country marks the tenth anniversary of the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the question is no longer whether the decision remains legally valid. It is whether Filipinos are willing to preserve its significance in the face of continued and intense geopolitical pressure.
The 2016 ruling is among the most significant diplomatic victories in the country’s history.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s expansive but baseless “nine-dash line” claim and affirmed that several maritime features fall within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Although China has rejected the decision and refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings, the award remains legally binding under international law. It gave the Philippines not only legal standing but also international support in asserting its maritime rights.
However, it is true that a legal victory alone does not guarantee effective enforcement.
The reality in the West Philippine Sea demonstrates this limitation. Chinese Coast Guard vessels continue to patrol
disputed waters, while reports indicate increasing Chinese maritime presence around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
We emphasize that commemorating July 12 serves an important purpose. It reinforces public awareness that the arbitral ruling remains a cornerstone of Philippine foreign policy and maritime rights
According to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Chinese patrol activity has reached unprecedented levels, accompanied by floating structures that gradually strengthen Beijing’s control without provoking outright military confrontation. This strategy reflects China’s pref-
erence for “gray-zone” operations, or actions that stop short of war but steadily alter realities on the ground. We should be unrelenting in exposing these at every opportunity.
We emphasize that commemorating July 12 serves an important purpose. It reinforces public awareness that the arbitral ruling remains a cornerstone of Philippine foreign policy and maritime rights.
National remembrance should not be merely symbolic, but should strengthen public understanding of issues that affect national security, economic resources, and territorial integrity.
Just as nations commemorate independence days, recognizing the arbitration victory institutionalizes an event that fundamentally altered the country’s legal position in the South China Sea dispute. The AFP is on the right track in urging more LGUs to adopt “West Philippine Sea Victory Day” as we believe this will serve to reinforce grassroots nationalism.
Several LGUs have already recognized the importance of commemorating the ruling. Others should follow suit and demonstrate that protecting national sovereignty is not solely the responsibility of the national government or the military.
Local governments, schools, and communities must actively play an important essential role in cultivating civic awareness and educating younger generations about the country’s maritime heritage and the need to uphold the rules-based international order.
China sends nuclear missile message as US looks elsewhere
WASHINGTON, DC — China’s test of a long-range submarine-launched missile is a stark demonstration of its growing military power at a time when US attention is primarily focused on the Middle East and the Iran war rather than Asia.
The launch of the nuclear-capable weapon earlier this week — two years after China fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the waters near French Polynesia — drew condemnation from countries in the region as well as the United States.
But it was soon overshadowed by the resumption of US strikes on Iran, the latest round of violence between the two countries despite an April 8 ceasefire.
The missile test “suggests Beijing is interested in demonstrating (both to itself and the world) that its emerging nuclear triad is credible,” said Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga, a senior policy researcher at RAND.
He was referring to the ability to launch nuclear weapons by land, air and sea, which increases the survivability of a country’s atomic arsenal — and thus the threat it poses to adversaries such as the United States.
However, it “appears to confirm already known capabilities in China’s nuclear program, so the importance of the test for Washington and the region is less technical than the strategic and political symbolism of China’s demonstration,” Beauchamp-Mustafaga said.
Details about the weapon that China tested are limited, but Taiwan, the self-governing democracy claimed by Beijing, identified it as a JL-2 — a submarine-launched ballistic
Student athletes give schools glory and pride. In return, schools owe them safety. Reports described past camps as military style. Such methods demand serious ethical scrutiny.
A drill should never cost a life. Discipline must never override basic safety.
The Pope insists persons outrank performance. Progress means nothing if workers perish. The same holds true for young athletes.
The head coach resigned after the tragedy. The university president apologized to both families. Government panels began reviewing safety protocols nationwide.
The Pope warns against systems dominating persons. Sports systems can dominate persons too. Winning cultures can eclipse human worth.
Magnifica Humanitas calls us back to basics. The person always comes before the program.
Another theme in the encyclical is human freedom. Rene exercised freedom by daring to dream. A poor boy chose an extraordinary path.
But freedom also carries heavy questions here. Could a rookie refuse a risky drill? Pow-
missile with a range of some 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) that was fired from the sea’s surface rather than from underwater. Monitors said the missile was launched from a nuclear submarine and appeared to land near the Solomon Islands.
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The missile test ‘suggests Beijing is interested in demonstrating (both to itself and the world) that its emerging nuclear triad is credible’
China operates six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines that can carry up to 12 missiles each, according to a 2024 Pentagon report to the US Congress.
Signal to US Emma Chanlett-Avery, director for political-security affairs at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said the test “is a signal to the United States, as well as to other regional powers, of China’s military might.”
“I think it targets the whole idea of US-led alliances in the region,” Chanlett-Avery said, noting that China is “consolidating their power in the region at a time when our alliances
er imbalances can quietly erase real choice. Coaches hold enormous authority over young players. True freedom requires the absence of coercion. Pope Leo XIV defends autonomy against manipulation. That defense applies inside locker rooms too.
Athletes need voices, not just obedience. Consent means little when careers hang overhead.
Freedom also matters in our online mourning. Many honored Rene with genuine tenderness. Others rushed to judgment without evidence.
People involved faced intense public scrutiny online. Trial by social media threatens due process. Grief deserves better than digital mob noise. Respectful dialogue honors the dead more truly.
What, then, does this anniversary demand? First, it demands continued pursuit of truth. Second, it demands reforms protecting student athletes. Third, it demands compassion for grieving families. Fourth, it demands restraint in online spaces.
Ateneo de Davao renamed a court for him.
are under some degree of strain.”
Donald Trump and his administration have long demonstrated their disdain for alliances, including with NATO countries, which the US president repeatedly criticized during this week’s summit in Turkey of leaders from the trans-Atlantic bloc. And while successive US administrations have pledged to increasingly shift their focus to countering China, other conflicts — most recently the Iran war that the United States and Israel launched in late February — have drawn attention away from the Asia-Pacific region.
Washington slammed the missile test, with the State Department saying Beijing’s “rapid and opaque nuclear weapons buildup is of great concern” and urging China to “engage in meaningful arms control discussions.” Jacob Stokes, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said the launch shows China “is looking to consolidate its nuclear triad through more operational tests for what would be real-world use.”
“You saw the land-based ICBM in September 2024 and so this is another leg of the triad, the water-based leg,” said Stokes, noting that “if the pattern holds, we should see an air-launched ballistic missile in the future.”
“This is notable in that we see a very clear progression of China’s nuclear forces,” he said.
“One of the signals coming out of this is that... China is increasingly in that category with the United States and Russia as a very capable nuclear force.” AFP
His jersey number two was retired. His siblings received scholarships in his memory. These gestures matter, but they remain incomplete. Memorials cannot substitute for full accountability. Honor without truth remains hollow honor. Bobet deserves both remembrance and justice. Magnifica Humanitas measures progress by human dignity. Our sports culture must accept that measure. Our institutions must accept it too. So must our feeds and conversations. Dignity is the standard his memory sets. One month has passed since the waves. His family now prepares his fortieth day. The whole country still watches and waits. May the investigation reach honest conclusions. May young athletes never face such danger. May his family find comfort and answers. May we all choose truth over noise. Rene Baterbonia dreamed of soaring for others. His flight ended far too soon. Yet his story now teaches a nation. Truth, work, and freedom were his inheritance. Protecting them is now our shared duty.
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FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026
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winds as typhoon nears island
KEELUNG, Taiwan – Taiwan’s weather forecaster warned on Thursday of “destructive” winds as the biggest typhoon in years swept towards the island after pounding US Pacific territories.
Typhoon Bavi is whipping up waves several meters high and is expected to batter the island’s north on Friday and Saturday before smashing into China, already hit by deadly storms this week.
“Relatively destructive” winds are likely to “cause damage” in Taiwan, including in the port city of Keelung and the coastal county of Yilan, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Jason Cheng told AFP.
After hitting Guam and the Northern Marianas on Monday as a super typhoon, Bavi was downgraded to a typhoon as it moved across the Pacific Ocean.
The typhoon was packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 184 kilometres (114 miles) per hour and gusts of around 227 kilometres per hour on Thursday, the CWA said. With a gale-force wind radius of 380
kilometres, Bavi is the largest typhoon to hit Taiwan since 1995 when methods for measuring the size of storms changed, Cheng said. He said that the greatest impact is expected in northern areas including Yilan and Keelung, adding that “even areas away from the typhoon’s centre could be affected and should remain vigilant.”
Most ferry routes to outer islands have been suspended.
Taiwan’s coast guard warned people to stay away from the coast, with fourto-six-meter waves already recorded in waters off southern Taitung county and Orchid Island.
At a port in Keelung, fishing boat owner Tung Wan-tsai said he was “a bit worried” about the approaching typhoon.
“It’s too big,” Tung, 75, told AFP.
“Even if it doesn’t make direct landfall, its radius of gale-force winds is simply too massive. Especially with this trajectory, it is bound to become a ‘northwest typhoon’, which is the worst-case scenario.” AFP
Trump tempers fury to end NATO summit
IN BRIEF
Top court upholds Yoon’s 7-year jail
SEOUL – South Korea’s highest court upheld ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol’s sevenyear prison sentence on Thursday over crimes tied to his botched 2024 martial law declaration and its chaotic aftermath. The case covered accusations that Yoon had obstructed cabinet deliberations and used forged signatures of the prime minister in the lead-up to the declaration, as well as using presidential security agents to block his own arrest after lawmakers had nullified it. The disgraced former president is already in detention while he appeals a separate life sentence for leading an insurrection with his martial law declaration, which he insists was motivated by the public interest.
In the case brought before the Supreme Court, Yoon was accused of obstructing deliberations by convening only a select group of ministers for a meeting shortly before he declared martial law.
Other charges included allegedly creating and destroying a false martial law decree bearing forged signatures from the prime minister, ordering officials to distribute a misleading press release to foreign media and directing an army commander to delete records from secure military phones. AFP
UN launches appeal for quake relief
VENEZUELA – The United Nations launched an urgent appeal Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time) for nearly $300 million towards Venezuela earthquake relief operations as the death toll from the disaster rose to more than 3,800 people.
There is huge humanitarian need after one of Latin America’s worst earthquake disasters left thousands of people homeless and thousands more still missing. In badly damaged La Guaira, families are still digging for the bodies of loved ones in the rubble.
“Donors are already stepping up, and I pay tribute to them, and I thank them,” UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said during a meeting on the disaster.
Officials were appealing for $296 million to provide urgently needed aid for 1.3 million people over six months, he said. Caracas also called Wednesday for the release of frozen assets to help raise funds for the country’s recovery. AFP
Democrat nominee exits Senate race
WASHINGTON, DC – Graham Platner, a scandal-plagued Democratic Senate nominee whose insurgent rise had drawn comparisons to Donald Trump, ended his campaign Wednesday after a rape allegation threatened to derail one of his party’s best chances of flipping a Republicanheld seat.
Platner, a Marine veteran, oysterman and political newcomer, won last month’s Democratic primary in the northeastern state of Maine to face Republican Senator Susan Collins in November’s midterm elections.
His withdrawal gives Maine Democrats only days to regroup in a race central to the party’s hopes of regaining control of the US Senate.
“We are suspending campaign operations,” Platner said in a video posted on X. “This is incredibly difficult, because I know that some will think it’s an admission of guilt, and it most certainly is not.”
“I intend to file my paperwork to withdraw,” he added. AFP
ANKARA – US President Donald Trump offered NATO allies an unexpected warm embrace as they wrapped up a key summit Wednesday after earlier lashing out at them over their response to his war on Iran.
It was an abrupt swing from antagonism to affection within the space of a few short hours, illustrating the wide range of emotions exhibited by the mercurial US leader.
“It was amazing, actually. The unity in that room was incredible, really a love, it was sort of pretty wild,” Trump told reporters after the closed-door meeting of 32 leaders at the NATO summit in the Turkish capital Ankara.
“This was a tremendously successful summit.”
Behind closed doors, Trump had reas-
sured his counterparts he wanted the US to stay in the military alliance, saying:
“We want to remain with you,” a source inside the session told AFP.
And that was reflected in the final declaration in which NATO leaders reaffirmed their “ironclad commitment” to the mutual assistance clause enshrined in Article 5 of the alliance treaty.
European leaders showcased their surging defence spending at the summit as they looked to convince Trump they’re making good on a pledge to ramp up budgets -- and take more responsibility
for their own security.
“I’m returning to Germany with the sense that we have made a major contribution: that NATO is holding together, that it is becoming stronger, and that it is becoming more European,” said German Chancellor Frederich Merz.
But the day had not begun well with Trump lashing out over NATO allies’ failure to back his Iran campaign just before the session, threatening to cut trade with Spain, and insisting he still wants NATO member Denmark’s territory of Greenland.
“I’m very upset with NATO... because of what they did with Greenland, and... because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the number one state sponsor of terror, that’s Iran,” he said.
But once he came face-to-face with the leaders behind closed doors, his tone changed markedly, according to the
Iran to bury Khamenei in hometown; US hikes strikes, threatens new war
MASHHAD, Iran – Iranians were preparing on Thursday to bury their slain leader Ali Khamenei in his hometown of Mashhad in northeast Iran, as new US strikes threatened to trigger a fresh escalation in the Middle East war.
The late supreme leader’s burial follows a multi-day funeral ceremony that attracted millions of mourners across various cities in both Iran and Iraq.
But just as the funeral rites headed into their final day, the United States launched new strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks on shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump, who had earlier said the US ceasefire with Iran was over, warned of “much worse” to come if Iran continues to strike vessels in the strait. Khamenei was killed on Feb. 28, the first day of the US-Israeli strikes that started the war.
Following a marathon procession through the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in neighbouring Iraq on Wednesday, he was to reach his final place of rest in
the holy city of Mashhad.
Observers have been watching closely for any signs of Khamenei’s son and successor Mojtaba Khamenei, who has yet to make any public appearances and was said to have been injured in the same strike that killed his father. Mashhad governor Hassan Hosseini was quoted on state television as saying he “expects 15 million people” to attend Khamenei’s funeral. The funeral was originally set to begin on Thursday at 6:00 am , but local media later cited organizers as saying it would begin
source who attended the talks.
“There is a strong contrast between what Trump says in public and what he actually says inside,” he told AFP. Afterwards Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez insisted that ties with Washington were “very positive”. And on his flight back to Washington, Trump also offered some kind words, telling reporters on Air Force One: “Spain was very generous today.” Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that Trump moderated his tone in the session, telling AFP he had given a “kind of constructive message... that Europe must step up, invest more in defence”.
“So it was kind of a good mood with sort of constructive messages,” he said. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said Trump’s outbursts should not necessarily be read as a sign of the alliance fragmenting. AFP
sidestepped safety questions but alluded to previous alleged assassination attempts by Iran.
“I speak about it a lot because the life of a president is very dangerous,” he said. AFP
IRONCLAD COMMITMENT. This handout picture taken and released by Turkish Presidential Press Office on July
7, 2026 shows Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan (center right) and his wife Emine Erdogan (right) welcoming European
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (center left) during a reception hosted for heads of stade and government attending the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. AFP
SECURITY PRECAUTION. US President Donald Trump boards the new Air Force One after changing planes at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in Mildenhall, eastern England, on July 8, 2026, before continuing his journey to the United States. The new plane was rapidly retrofitted and equipped with security features before making its first flight with Trump on July 1. AFP
Belgium bids to crack Spain’s ironclad defense in World Cup
LOS ANGELES—Belgium meet Spain in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday with the daunting task of breaching the European champions’ watertight defense for the first time at the 2026 tournament.
his dribbling and presence. When he receives the ball, two or three opposing players close in on him, which opens up space,” he said.
“Lamine scores and assists -- he’s always done that in his short career -- and even when he doesn’t, he’ll keep helping us with the work he’s doing.”
happy for (goalkeeper) Unai (Simon). If we keep a clean sheet, we’re closer to winning.”
Bohol ready for fast, furious 5150 Triathlon
A LIGHTNING-FAST race is expected to unfold when the Sun Life 5150 Triathlon celebrates its milestone 10th edition on Sunday (July 12) in Panglao, Bohol, where a predominantly flat course is tipped to produce blistering times while still demanding tactical discipline, endurance and resilience against the island’s heat, humidity and strategically placed rolling climbs.
Long regarded as one of the country’s premier Olympic-distance triathlons, the event offers the perfect balance of speed and challenge. The relatively flat bike and run courses encourage aggressive racing, but the tropical conditions, exposed roads and short uphill sections are expected to separate the strongest from the rest, making victory far from guaranteed.
Good weather permitting, organizers anticipate a fast-paced, fiercely contested race across all age-group divisions and the centerpiece Elite category, featuring members of the national team, rising endurance stars and a strong international field from 23 countries eager to challenge the Philippines’ top triathletes on one of the sport’s most celebrated island venues.
The Olympic-distance race features a 1.5-km swim, 40-km bike and 10km run.
Mikel Oyarzabal has made up for that, scoring four times, including twice in a 3-0 romp against Austria in the last 32.
Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo said club teammate Yamal was growing into the tournament. “He brings so much to the team with
In beating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 1-0 on Monday, Luis de la Fuente’s men became the first team in history to record six consecutive World Cup clean sheets. Spain have not shown the attacking flair of France but they are playing the careful, possession-based football that took them to glory in South Africa in 2010. The prodigiously gifted Lamine Yamal is the team’s most potent attacker on paper but the teenager arrived in the United States still recovering from a late-season injury and has netted just once in five games.
But the brutal truth is that Spain do not need to score many goals to win -- they have conceded just six shots on target in their five matches so far.
“We are a team where everyone attacks and everyone defends,” said Olmo. “The coach says the number nine is the first to defend and the others follow suit.
“The defensive line has been spectacular, it’s a historic milestone. We’re
Go leads tight ICTSI Pradera Verde finish
LUBAO, Pampanga – Lloyd Go weathered everything Pradera Verde could throw at him on Thursday – relentless wind, bursts of rain and shifting momentum – to emerge with the slimmest of leads and set up what promises to be one of the most gripping championship finishes on the Philippine Golf Tour.
After three days of constantly changing fortunes, the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship has become exactly what tournament observers expected from the start – a wide-open battle where no lead is safe and no contender can afford a single mistake.
Go pieced together a superb 67 highlighted by another brilliant back-nine charge, taking the lead at eight-under 208 and moving just 18 holes away from a second straight victory. But with seven players separated by only three strokes entering Friday’s finale, the championship remains anyone’s to win.
IT is good to know that the Philippine Women’s National Football Team’s preparation for the 2027 FiFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil is set. Head Coach Mark Torcaso has set his eyes on several tournaments that will hopefully help the Filipinas advance out of the group stage in the biggest soccer tournament for women in June 2027. The Filipinas started their training with tuneup games recently against two San Diego, California-based teams with a mixture of familiar names and new players. The 2027 Brazil FIFA World Cup roadmap will also include stops at the Asian Games in Japan in September, a possible trip to South America in October and tuneup games against teams from Asia and Oceania before the year ends. Also included in Torcaso’s plans are stints in the Pinatar Cup in February next year, the 2028 Olympic Qualifying tournament and a six-week camp in Brazil. It is also given that the team will be looking for the best possible players who could reinforce the team, whether they are playing in the domestic league or abroad.
The Philippine Men’s National Football Team (PMNFT), on the other hand, will see action in the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026. The team, formerly known as the Azkals, will start its campaign at home against Myanmar on July 28 at New Clark City. This will be followed by an away game against Laos on August 1 before tangling against Thailand at New Clark City on August 4. The team will end its group action fixtures against Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium on August 8.
Clyde Mondilla matched Go’s fiveunder card to move into solo second at 209, while veteran Randy Garalde and Rupert Zaragosa fired identical 68s to tie Tony Lascuña, who settled for a 71, at 210.
Despite tumbling from the top after an erratic finish, halfway leader Keanu Jahns stayed well within striking distance at 211 after an uncharacteristic 75 for joint sixth with Angelo Que, who carded a 70.
With the leaderboard packed and pressure mounting, the final round shapes up as a genuine free-for-all, where experience, patience and timely shot-making could prove far more valuable than a slim overnight advantage.
Pradera Verde’s Arayat course has shown throughout the week that it can be both generous and unforgiving.
Birdie opportunities abound for players willing to attack, but even the small-
est lapse can quickly erase multiple strokes, making momentum especially fragile.
That uncertainty only adds to the drama, as every player in contention enters the final round carrying a different motivation.
For Go, another victory on a contrasting layout would validate his dominant wire-to-wire triumph at the demanding Pinewoods, proving it was no fluke while securing his immediate goals before resuming his overseas campaign.
“My goal is to finish strong at Pinewoods and Pradera to guarantee my slot for The Country Club Invitational,” said Go, referring to PGT’s flagship tournament, which he missed this year after finishing outside the Top 30 of the previous Order of Merit due to his overseas commitments.
Unlike at Pinewoods, where he stunned the field with an opening 64
Madness
The PMNFT will still have at least 18 days to prepare for the tournament and if reports are true, we could have a strong team capable of bringing home the silverware. Just hoping that the Philippine Football Federation can arrange a tune-up or two before the actual tournament starts.
The best of luck to both our national senior teams.
The cast of the last remaining eight teams of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup has been completed with Switzerland getting the last ticket following a 4-3 penalty shootout win against Colombia.
The Swiss will play Lionel Messi and the rest of Argentina on July 12. The defending champions were less than 20 minutes away from kissing their title goodbye, but an avalanche of goals in a span of 14 minutes proved too much for a shell-shocked Egypt side. Mo Salah and company appeared to be on course for a massive upset win after leading 2-0 most of the game. It wasn’t enough, though, as Cristian Romero and Messi tied the game before Enzo Fernandez extended Argentina’s reign for another game in stoppage time.
The other quarterfinal battles will feature France against Morocco, Spain squaring off against Belgium and England facing the Vikings of Norway.
Unpredictability, resilience and one massive comeback have been the major storylines in the ongoing World Cup. With the exception of Carrot Top’s interference and the apparent capitulation of FIFA, it could have been an unforgettable tournament. But a bully thought he could change the narrative until karma bitchslapped his team with a 4-1 drubbing. Still, I hate bullies.
I rarely write about something outside
football or other sports, but this is something personal after reading how many football fans experienced difficulties trying to watch the games in the ongoing World Cup.
Several years ago, I experienced something that my family witnessed. We were on a family trip after I came home from a coverage of one of the biggest sporting events on the continent that year.
After arriving at the airport of a country that we first visited as a family, I got separated before passing the immigration counter, which was quite a surprise because my family went through like a breeze except for me. The immigration officer told me that they had to check something and I was brought to a holding room. I was body searched and was made to wait for a few but agonizing minutes. I was told there is a security concern and they have to make sure that everything is in order for them to release me and allow entry, be sent back to my port of entry, or worse, be detained. You see, this incident is nothing new. Many Filipinos have been subjected to these inspections and security checks, and I’m using rather conservative words, maybe due to some stereotyping that many before us had used forged or fake documents in gaining entry to some foreign destinations. Many have been caught trying to smuggle prohibited and illegal substances, among other reasons.
So we can’t blame some immigration officers of foreign lands for being wary of Filipinos trying to enter their country.
So what’s the point? I’ve heard the Bureau of Immigration is scrutinizing the Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) project. It is said that it “will deploy biometrics, electronic gates
Golden generation Belgium, captained by the impressive Youri Tielemans, have had a rollercoaster ride in the knockout phase so far. First they came back from the dead to beat Senegal 3-2 before sweeping aside co-hosts the United States in the last 16, thanks to Charles De Ketelaere’s first-half double.
The World Cup is likely the last hurrah for the remainder of the nation’s socalled Golden Generation, including creative midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku, both of whom now play for Napoli.AFP
Lloyd Go (Manny Marcelo) despite not having a practice round, Go needed time to figure out the demanding Arayat layout.
and real-time AI-driven data sorting to flag human traffickers, terrorists and other high-risk travelers before they enter or leave the country.” Other features include biometric kiosks, contactless facial recognition, advanced passenger information systems, automated border control with contactless facial recognition, and more. If this system ensures that terrorists and other malcontent individuals will not be allowed to enter and leave the country, it will also make it easier for innocent and law-abiding individuals to leave and enter the country. And by logic, it will also ensure that they can enter and leave another country without being subjected to humiliating and agonizing body searches and other security measures that sometimes border on egotripping or simply bullying people based on skin color or other petty reasons. The stress and agony that my family suffered while waiting for me in that particular airport was hell, to say the least. Not knowing whether I will be arrested or deported right away is an experience I wouldn’t wish even bullies and ego trippers to go through. And I know a lot of them. I hope the government will do more to ensure that travelers will have something to protect them. Thankfully, I was allowed to join my family after a while. No explanation was given. No apologies extended. Not even a smile. For my family, it was an unforgettable and traumatizing experience. For me, it was my second time, but the feeling was almost the same as the first time I was subjected to such a humiliating experience. Stay safe. Stay happy peeps! For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_ cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account on Twitter: @erelcabatbat
The swim begins with a triangular clockwise course off Panglao’s crystal-clear waters. Athletes will complete three 500-meter legs before returning to shore and heading into the first transition.
The bike course starts beside The Bellevue Resort before opening into Panglao’s smooth island roads. While largely flat and ideal for sustained speed, the course includes several short but testing climbs that could prove decisive as competitors battle both one another and the tropical elements.
The single-loop closing run segment winds through paved roads, quiet villages, forested stretches and open countryside before returning to The Bellevue Resort for the finish. Though relatively flat, the exposed sections and midday heat promise a stern final examination of every athlete’s endurance.
Meycauayan nips Pasay 5
SHAWN Argente drilled in a lethal triple from way out with 12.3 seconds left as the Meycauayan Marilao Gems bested the Pasay Voyagers, 82-77, on Wednesday and revved up their playoff drive in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Pasay Astrodome.
That dagger 3 sent the local crowd heading to the exits, with the Gems salvaging their ninth win in 16 starts and climbing to sixth place in the North division standings of the 27-team tournament.
Agem Miranda had earlier put the Gems back in control, 79-77, following another triple with 1 minute and 39 seconds left.
The 24-year-old Argente, a former star of the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, finished with 19 points and 3 rebounds and was chosen the SportsPlus best player over Miranda, who had 15 points, 7 assists and 2 rebounds.
“My killer instinct set in,” said the 5-foot-9 two-way guard. “I’ll be having a good night’s sleep.”
Homegrown Jeric Serrano supported with 9 points, and so did Robin Nayve and Jayson Apolonio with 7 each for the Gems, who trail the Abra Solid North Weavers (13-1), San Juan Knights (12-1), Caloocan Batang Kankaloo (14-2), Ilagan Isabela Cowboys (10-6) and Pasig City (8-6).
Shawn Argente of Pasay
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
Britain’s Fery to face Zverev in Wimbledon semifinals
LONDON—British wildcard Arthur Fery extended his sensational Wimbledon run into a semi-final against French Open champion Alexander Zverev, after Marta Kostyuk set up a women’s last-four clash with Linda Noskova on Wednesday.
Fery, the world number 114, dismantled Roland Garros runner-up Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 to become the first Wimbledon wildcard to reach the men’s last four since Goran Ivanisevic won the 2001 title.
Incredibly, Fery is just two victories away from emulating Ivanisevic and becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon since Andy Murray in 2016.
“It gets better and better every match. It’s incredible. I just can’t believe it,” Fery said to his adoring new fans, who created a partisan atmosphere on Centre Court.
He is the third-lowest ranked man since 1985 to reach the Wimbledon semis, after world number 237 Vladimir Voltchkov in 2000 and world number 125 Ivanisevic in 2001.
Fery, who turns 24 on Sunday, said he was congratulated after the match by Britain’s Queen Camilla, who was watching his exploits from the Royal Box.
“I told her it was my birthday on Sunday, so it would be great to play the Wimbledon final on my birthday,” he said.
Zverev romped to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 victory over sixth seed Taylor Fritz, making his first semi-final at the All England Club by snapping a seven-match losing streak against the American.
The German second seed had never got past the Wimbledon last 16 in nine previous trips to south-west London.
“I’m extremely happy to be in the semi-finals, especially against Taylor who I hadn’t beaten in two years,” he said.
Zverev is only the third German man in the Open era to make the last four at all the Grand Slam tournaments, after Boris Becker and Michael Stich—Germany’s last men’s Wimbledon winner in 1991. AFP
PH tennis star leads PSA’s June achievers
TENNIS darling Alex Eala sizzled on the grass courts to show the way as Philippine athletes ended the first half of 2026 with a bang.
Planting the seeds for more milestones to come at an even bigger stage, Eala won her second WTA 125 title at the Birmingham Open, slew giants in world No.2 Elena Rybakina and No. 8 Elina Svitolina at the WTA 500 Berlin Open then played with Venus Williams and reached the doubles quarterfinals with the legend in the Bad Homburg Open in a remarkable June campaign.
Along the way, the 21-year-old ace earned a historic seeding at Wimbledon at No. 29 – becoming the first Filipina ever to be seeded in a Grand Slam singles.
With such highlights, Eala took the honors as the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s best achiever for the month of June.
Paris Olympics double gold medalist Carlos Yulo and Olympian pole vaulter EJ Obiena joined the beloved netter in flying the country’s flag high in the international front.
Yulo reigned supreme in his pet event, the floor exercise, at the 13th Senior Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in China with a dazzling score of 14.700.
This marked Yulo’s 11th gold in the continental meet overall but what made this even more special was the fact he shared the podium with kid brother Eldrew, who copped the bronze at 14.300 behind Japanese runner-up Shoma Tsukiyama (14.600).
Hero’s welcome for Eala
By Jeremiah Sevilla
FILIPINA tennis ace Alexandra Eala is set for a hero’s welcome when she returns home following her historic Wimbledon campaign, with fans getting the chance to meet the rising star at a special event in Makati City on July 15.
Eala’s longtime backer Globe Telecom announced on Thursday that it will host a fan meet for the tennis sensation at the Glorietta Activity Center, where supporters are expected to celebrate her landmark achievements.
The event begins at 6 p.m., with registration opening at 4 p.m. Globe said details on how fans can secure access will be shared soon.
A press conference is also slated on July 14 prepared by Eala’s other chief backer, BPI.
Eala returns to the Philippines after a stellar grass-court season highlighted by her second WTA 125 title and a trailblazing run in the Wimbledon Championships.
The 21-year-old Pinay opened the swing by ruling the Birmingham Open with a perfect run for her second WTA 125 title.
After a remarkable semifinal finish in the Berlin Tennis Open where she took down world No.
2 Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina, Eala competed in Wimbledon as the first Filipino player seeded in a Grand Slam singles.
The lefty ace continued to rewrite Philippine tennis history at the All England Club, becoming the first Filipina to win a Wimbledon singles match and the first to reach both the third and fourth rounds of a Grand Slam in the Open Era.
Eala’s homecoming takes place during her three-week break before resuming her preparations for the North American hard-court swing leading to the US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year.
Eala will launch her hard-court campaign in the WTA 500 Mubadala DC Open from July 27 to August 2. She will then see action in the WTA 1000 National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada from August 2 to 13.
PH men’s duilian team grabs bronze at Taolu World Cup
By Randy M. Caluag
THE Philippines capped its campaign in the 4th International Wushu Federation (IWUF) Taolu World Cup on a high note after the men’s duilian team captured a bronze medal in Haikou, China.
Sandrex Gainsan, Mark Lester Ragay and Mark Anthony Polo delivered the country’s lone podium finish in the prestigious tournament, impressing the judges with their precision, synchronization and flawless choreography in the men’s duilian event.
Hailing from Quezon City, the Filipino trio took the bronze against an elite field of competitors from nearly 30 countries.
Organized by the International Wushu Federation, the Taolu World Cup is regarded as one of the sport’s premier competitions outside the World Wushu Championships.
Only athletes who finished among the top eight in their respective events at the previous World Wushu Championships qualified for the tournament.
Duilian is among taolu’s most demanding disciplines, requiring either two or three athletes to perform a choreographed combat routine featuring synchronized movements, simulated attacks and defenses, acrobatic skills and weapon techniques. Routines are judged on technical quality, degree of difficulty, synchronization and overall presentation.
The Filipino trio rose to the challenge, executing a clean and highly synchronized performance to secure a place on the podium against some of the sport’s traditional powerhouses. The Taolu World Cup, which returned to China for the first time since its inaugural edition in 2016, featured 22 medal events in barehand, weapon and duilian disciplines.
Bisera rebounds in style, romps to ICTSI Pradera Verde crown
LUBAO, Pampanga—Determined to erase the sting of a disappointing finish in Baguio despite nursing a pesky hand injury, Yvon Bisera delivered a commanding response, overpowering the field with a seven-shot victory over Chihiro Ikeda in the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship at the Arayat course here Thursday.
The triumph not only underscored her resilience but also highlighted the ever-changing fortunes on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, where Chanelle Avaricio’s spectacular comeback victory at Pinewoods was followed by an uncharacteristic struggle on the flatter Pradera Verde layout. Unlike her victory at Lakewood last March, where she survived a nervewracking three-way playoff, Bisera left nothing to chance this time. Armed with a three-shot overnight lead, the ace Davaoeña methodically kept Harmie Constantino and the rest of the field at bay, closing with a 71 for a 54-hole total of 209 and pocketing the top purse of P101,250.
Ikeda carded a 72 to secure runnerup honors with a 216, overtaking erstwhile challenger Harmie Constantino, who struggled to recover after a frontnine 40 and limped home with a 76. Constantino ended up third at 217.
Daniella Uy closed with a 70 to claim fourth place at 218, while Gretchen Villacencio shot a 73 to finish fifth at 220.
Princess Superal put in a 74 to share sixth place at 225 with Chanelle Avaricio, who stumbled with a 79. Tiffany
Lee placed eighth at 226 after a 77, while Kayla Nocum and Martina Miñoza matched 76s to tie for ninth at 227.
More impressive was the manner in which Bisera accomplished it.
Still bothered by the hand injury she sustained during last week’s Pinewoods campaign, Bisera chose patience over aggression, relying on precision, smart course management and growing confidence on a layout that closely resembles her home course at South Pacific Golf Club in Davao.
“I’m really happy to win again,” said Bisera in Filipino, who bounced back from a shaky front-nine 37 by birdieing three straight holes starting at No. 10, effectively extinguishing any hopes of a comeback from Ikeda, Constantino and the rest of the field.
“My hand started to hurt when it rained, but the good thing was the weather warmed up again, so it gradually felt better,” said Bisera, referring to the injury that ultimately did little to slow her down as she cruised to a commanding victory.
That resilience proved decisive.
After opening the final round with a bogey, Bisera wasted little time regain-
ing control, answering with birdies on Nos. 2 and 4. As her challengers failed to generate any sustained charge under gray skies and light winds and an eventual downpour, her lead never came under serious threat, allowing her to cruise to her second victory in just four LPGT starts.
The contrasting fortunes of the circuit’s champions were equally striking. Only days after rallying from behind to snatch a dramatic victory at the demanding Pinewoods course in Baguio, Avaricio struggled to solve the vastly different challenges posed by the flatter, wider but equally exacting Mike Singgaran-designed course. She limped home with a seven-over card, while Bisera, who endured a forgettable finish of 10th at Pinewoods, looked completely at ease on a course whose features reminded her of home.
“I give all the credit for this win to God and my family,” said Bisera. “I didn’t expect to win by such a big margin because Harmie is a tough competitor, especially in the final round. I just kept telling myself that I needed to shoot under par on the last day.”
Britain’s Arthur Fery celebrates winning against Italy’s Flavio Cobolli during their men’s singles quarterfinal tennis match on the tenth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon. AFP
Alexandra Eala Yvon Bisera (Manny Marcelo)
Mark Ragay, Mark Polo and Sandrex Gainsan of the PH Wushu Men’s Duilian team (WFP)
By Alena Mae S. Flores
SYSTEMWIDE average electricity prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) jumped 22.7 percent to P9.56 per kilowatt-hour in June from P7.79 per kWh in May, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines said Thursday.
Systemwide supply fell 1.1 percent to 21,133 MW against demand of 14,454 MW, which dropped 1.9 percent from the previous month.
IEMOP Trading Operations Department’s Rica Cagnayo attributed the higher prices to localized tight supply conditions and reserve deficiencies, saying regional supply-demand conditions showed mixed outcomes.
“In Luzon, the slight decrease in demand coupled with a slight increase
By Jenniffer B. Austria
BDO Unibank Inc. is raising at least P5 billion through a new issuance of peso-denominated fixed-rate sustainability bonds, marking the country’s largest lender’s second such offering this year as it continues to expand funding for sustainable finance initiatives.
The proposed bonds carry a tenor of 1.5 years and a fixed annual coupon rate of 6.26 percent. The offer period runs from July 9 to July 21, with issue, settlement and listing scheduled for July 28. The bonds will be listed on the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has confirmed that the planned issuance complies with the ASEAN Sustainability Bond Standards and the SEC ASEAN Sustainability Bond Circular.
BDO raised P100 billion in a sustainability bond offering in January. The bank has raised a total of P386.7 billion through five sustainability bond issuances since January 2022.
BDO said proceeds from the offering will fund and refinance eligible assets under its Sustainable Finance Framework, support its lending activities and diversify its funding sources.
in supply resulted in a higher supply margin. However, more frequent forced outages led to higher average market prices. In Visayas, continued forced outages and increasing demand tightened supply conditions, resulting in grid alert issuances and driving average market prices higher. Mindanao exhibited a similar trend to Visayas,” she said.
IEMOP vice-president for trading operations Isidro Cacho Jr. said grid alerts typically cluster in the summer
months when demand peaks, but this year generating-unit outages and tighter regional supply extended beyond summer, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao.
“At the same time, new generating capacities are progressively entering the market, which should help support the country’s growing electricity requirements,” Cacho said.
Average electricity prices in the Luzon grid rose 13.3 percent to P7.95 per kWh from P7.02 per kWh. Demand declined 2.1 percent to 11,135 MW while supply increased 1 percent to 15,659 MW in June.
IEMOP said supply improved in Luzon, but several large generating units suffered forced outages throughout the billing period, tightening market conditions and pushing up prices. The grid recorded its highest average regional price on May 29, 2026, at P17.86 per kWh.
By Thony Rose Lesaca
THE
$60-million threshold program from the US
Challenge Corp. (MCC) to strengthen energy security and investment climate, Department of Finance Secretary Frederick Go said Thursday. The Department of Finance (DOF) said the grant will support the Energy Development Governance Efficiency Project, which seeks to enhance
The program has two components. The first will support policy and regulatory reforms to streamline energy planning, programming and permitting. The second will finance targeted investments that reinforce these reforms.
21,133 MW
Average supply in June
14,454 MW
Average
Secretary Frederick Go (center) leads the Department of Finance (DOF)’s annual review meeting with
The DOF said the initiatives are expected to reduce project implementation delays, improve electricity supply reliability and encourage greater private investment in the energy sector.
The Philippines qualified for the program after meeting the MCC’s
“This grant comes at an opportune time and provides a significant boost to our efforts to strengthen the country’s energy security. We thank the MCC for its continued partnership with the Philippines as we pursue reforms that deliver more reliable services, attract greater private investment and sustain faster, more inclusive economic growth,” Go said.
and live entertainment in the Visayas. Global architecture firm Arquitectonica designed the arena, which spans more than 7 hectares of gross floor area and can accommodate up to 25,000 spectators, making it the largest indoor arena in the Visayas. The venue sits within
investment in Cebu.
“This arena is part of our long-term vision for Cebu. By creating a worldclass platform for live entertainment and large-scale gatherings within SRP, we give local and foreign tourists another reason to visit and stay longer,” Lim said.
“More importantly, this investment will generate economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs and nearby communities,” he said. Jenniffer B. Austria
policy performance standards, the department said. “The approval of the $60-million MCC Threshold Program affirms the Philippines’ commitment to good governance, transparency and sound economic management. It reflects the confidence of our international partners in the reforms we are pursuing to strengthen institutions, improve the ease of doing business and create more opportunities for Filipinos,” Go said.
By Darwin G. Amojelar
Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said Thursday it completed the acquisition of a Brazilian company that provides general and bonded warehousing and multimodal logistics services, through its wholly-owned subsidiary IRB Holding Ltda.
ICTSI said it acquired 100-percent interest in Companhia Regional de Armazéns Gerais e Entreposto Aduaneira (CRAGEA) in São Paulo, Brazil.
“All conditions precedent to closing, including the required regulatory approvals, have been satisfied,” ICTSI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.
The transaction expands ICTSI’s business activities in Brazil, offering differentiated and strategic solutions to increase operational and energy efficiency through the use of rail as the preferred transport mode, mitigate logistical bottlenecks, expand the hinterland of its port assets and offer safe and innovative alternatives for foreign trade customers.
ICTSI earlier reported net income of $293.57 million for the Januaryto-March period, up 23 percent from $239.54 million in the same period last year.
The company posted revenue from port operations of $961.11 million in the first quarter, up 29
Alternergy connects wind project to grid
By Alena Mae S. Flores
ALTERNERGY Holdings Corp. announced Thursday it has successfully energized the transmission infrastructure of its 128-megawatt Tanay wind project in Rizal province, a key commissioning milestone before the facility begins delivering clean power to the Luzon grid.
delivery
This is the largest substation built to date by Alternergy. The energization confirms the readiness of the project’s electrical systems for integrated testing and subsequent commercial operations in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The wind project is now 88 percent complete.
It also signals the start of pre-commissioning activities that will pave the way for revenue generation once the project begins operating commercially.
“The successful energization of the Tanay Wind Project brings us another step closer to delivering clean, reliable energy to Filipino consumers,” said Gerry Magbanua, president of Alternergy.
“This is also particularly significant because it represents the first wind project energized under the Department of Energy’s Green Energy Auction Program II, strengthening the country’s renewable energy in-
frastructure and supporting the Philippines’ transition toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy future,” Magbanua said.
Magbanua said the achievement reflects the dedication and expertise of the project team, as well as strong collaboration among government agencies, the provincial government of Rizal, the municipality of Tanay, host communities, contractors, lenders and project partners. The Tanay wind project features 8-megawatt wind turbines, the largest ever installed in Southeast Asia outside of China. Alternergy said the choice underscores its commitment to deploying cutting-edge renewable energy technologies that maximize the
DA seeks P1-b more fuel subsidies for farmers, fisherfolk
By Othel V. Campos
THE Department of Agriculture is seeking an additional P1 billion from the Department of Budget and Management to expand fuel subsidies for farmers and fisherfolk as the government moves to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs.
DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the request forms part of the agency’s proposed P6 billion additional budget for agricultural support programs, which also includes funding for fertilizer assistance. The proposal remains under review.
blend in diesel fuel from 3 percent to 5 percent on pump prices will depend largely on the cost of biodiesel feedstocks and the government’s sourcing strategy. Coconut methyl ester, the country’s primary biodiesel component derived from coconut oil, is generally more expensive than imported biodiesel.
“The effect on prices depends on the cost of biodiesel. If locally produced biodiesel is more expensive, the Department of Energy balances local production with imports,” he said.
country’s wind resources. Once fully operational, the 128-megawatt facility, built at a cost of P11 billion, is expected to generate approximately 283.5 gigawatthours of renewable electricity annually. This is enough to power around 118,125 households while avoiding an estimated 197,780 metric tons of carbon emissions each year.
The successful energization of the Tanay wind project marks another step toward Alternergy’s goal of developing 500 megawatts of additional renewable energy capacity in 2026, while supporting the Philippine government’s objective of increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s power generation mix.
“We requested an additional P1 billion for fuel subsidy. It is part of our request for P6 billion in additional support,” De Mesa said, adding that the DA has yet to fully release the latest round of fuel subsidies as it is still awaiting fund allocations.
Of the P150 million initially earmarked for the program, P75 million each was allocated for farmers and fisherfolk. De Mesa said about 89 percent of the allocation for farmers has been released, while disbursement for fisherfolk has reached 66 percent.
The DA is awaiting the release of the remaining funds before completing the distribution.
Meanwhile, De Mesa said the impact of increasing the biodiesel
ERC records over 8,600 power plant outages in six months
THE Energy Regulatory Commission said Thursday that it recorded 8,689 power plant outages from January to June, the bulk of which were unplanned.
Sharon Montaner, ERC director for the Market Operations Service, said unplanned events accounted for 8,154 outages, with conventional and renewable energy generation driving 6,558 of them. “So 33 percent of that is happening in Luzon, 37 percent in Visayas, and 30 percent in Mindanao,” Montaner said. “Further classifying these unplanned outages by conventional plus RE (renewable energy), meaning including geothermal and large hydro, and the VRE, which are the ROR (run-of-river) hydro, the renewable hydro, solar, and wind—a lot of the outages is from conventional plus RE. That’s about 80 percent of the total unplanned outages, and 1,596 or 20 percent is from VRE, or variable renewable energy.”
De Mesa added that the Philippines also imports biodiesel to help manage supply and moderate costs as the government implements its biofuels program.
She said the reasons for the unplanned outages included plant equipment issues (35 percent), transmission or distribution induced problems (35 percent), resource constraints (28 percent) and force majeure (2 percent).
Montaner said Mindanao’s outages were mainly caused by transmission or distribution problems. In the Visayas, outages were triggered by an almost equal mix of equipment issues and resource constraints.
“Now we know that specifically we had red alerts [in Visayas] because of a lot of factors,” she said.
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines placed the Visayas grid on red alert for several hours over the past two days.
The Visayas grid was on red alert from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on yellow alert from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday as available capacity dropped to 2,561 MW, below the peak demand of 2,568 MW. The red alert was lifted at 12:45 p.m. on the same day.
Montaner said the ERC has issued notices to power generators regarding the outages, which the regulatory body is now evaluating. Alena Mae S. Flores
BOAT TURNOVER. Cavite City Mayor Denver Chua and Vice Mayor Raleigh Rusit turn over four motorized boats to fisherfolk beneficiaries during a ceremony Thursday, July 9, 2026. Dennis Abrina
Atome gets P5-b AUB loan
credit profile and operating model and adds a significant local-currency line to Atome’s diversified funding base.
sition and delivers competitive, pesodenominated funding at meaningful scale.
By Thony Rose Lesaca
The facility will fund the continued expansion of the Atome PayLater Anywhere Card, now issued to more than 3 million Filipinos, the company said. It said up to 80 percent of cardholders are first-time users and 65 percent are women, with most using the card for everyday essentials such as groceries, food, household items and telco and utility bill payments.
Adoption has grown beyond Metro
DIGIPLUS Interactive Corp. has resumed its share buyback program, authorizing the repurchase of up to P5.36 billion worth of common shares over the next 12 months starting July 9, the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday.
DigiPlus said its board approved the resumption of the share repurchase program, which allows the listed digital gaming firm to buy back shares in the open market subject to prevailing market conditions and applicable regulatory requirements. The company said the move aims to enhance shareholder value.
Last year, DigiPlus announced a P6-billion share buyback after its shares plunged following the delinking of its gaming apps from major ewallet platforms. The stock fell from an all-time high of P65.30 to a 52week low of P11.88 as the delinking hit the group’s operations.
DigiPlus expects operations to return to pre-delinking levels before the end of 2026.
The company reported a net income of P2.8 billion in the first quarter, down 33 percent year-on-year.
DigiPlus attributed the decline to the delinking of e-wallet in-app access to its licensed online gaming platforms and tempered consumer sentiment amid the ongoing global fuel crisis.
Total revenue for the quarter dropped 25 percent to P17.2 billion from the same period last year, while EBITDA contracted 42 percent to P2.6 billion.
A share buyback program allows a listed company to purchase its own shares from the market, which can help improve shareholder returns, support the stock price and optimize the company’s capital structure.
In March, DigiPlus chairman Eusebio Tanco purchased 63.119 million shares, equivalent to 1.4 percent of the company’s total issued and outstanding shares, in a deal worth P1 billion. Jenniffer B. Austria
Manila to reach customers across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, reflecting nationwide demand for accessible and flexible financial solutions, the company said.
Atome’s product portfolio in the Philippines also includes lending, savings and insurance, broadening access to financial services for Filipinos underserved by traditional banking channels.
The peso-denominated facility reflects AUB’s confidence in Atome’s
AUB executive vice president and IT and operations head Wilfredo Rodriguez Jr. said the credit facility reflects the bank’s commitment to supporting responsible fintech platforms that strengthen the Philippine financial ecosystem.
AUB executive vice-president and account management head Ernesto Uy said the partnership advances financial inclusion while maintaining rigorous credit standards.
Atome Philippines president and country manager Christian Quiros said the closing of AUB’s P5-billion facility validates Atome’s market po
“Built on AUB’s deep understanding of our credit profile, this facility strengthens our ability to grow while diversifying our funding mix with competitive local capital,” Quiros said.
“It supports the Philippine economy and our mission to responsibly serve millions of underbanked Filipinos seeking accessible financial tools,” he said.
Atome is among Southeast Asia’s largest digital finance platforms, offering services including buy now, pay later (BNPL), cards, savings, insurance and lending.
By Jenniffer B. Austria
TOPLINE Equity Corp., the private parent company of fuel retailer Top Line Business Development Corp., said it is entering the offshore services business through a partnership with Singapore-based Aesen Pte. Ltd.
Topline Offshore Inc., a Topline subsidiary, formed Aesen Topline Offshore Corp., a joint venture that will offer maritime solutions to support the Philippines’ growing offshore wind, offshore energy, marine civil construction and maritime infrastructure sectors.
The venture will primarily engage in marine asset chartering and leasing to support offshore wind developments, bridge construction, land reclamation, coastal development and other large-scale infrastructure projects requiring specialized offshore vessels and marine capabilities across the country.
Topline chairman, president and chief executive Eugene Erik Lim said Thursday the partnership positions the company to capture opportuni-
equity participation in the 54.26-megawatt Cadiz 1 solar project in Negros Occidental, while the remainder will go toward pre-development work, including the 49.99-megawatt Mabini wind project in Batangas. Basic Energy Corp. chief executive Oscar de Venecia
ties from an estimated P600 billion in investments in offshore wind, bridge construction and land reclamation projects in the coming years.
“By expanding access to specialized marine assets and offshore capabilities in the Philippine market, we are building a platform that can support developers in completing complex projects more efficiently. This is how we see Topline contributing to the infrastructure and energy investments that will support the country’s sustainable growth,” Lim said.
The joint venture combines Topline’s local market presence with Aesen’s marine assets and technical expertise. It will also provide integrated supply chain services, including cargo handling, transportation, customs clearance and freight coordination, to support offshore and marine infrastructure projects.
Aesen chief executive Darren Ang said the Philippines represents one of the region’s fastest-growing markets for offshore energy and marine infrastructure as investments in renewable energy and transport projects accelerate.
GAMING technology provider PhilWeb Corp. said Thursday it signed an exclusive partnership with international gaming content provider Pragmatic Play to expand its technologyenabled gaming services for licensed gaming operators in the Philippines.
The partnership will let licensed operators access Pragmatic Play’s gaming services through PhilWeb’s hosted technology platform, subject to regulatory approvals and contractual arrangements, the company said in a statement Thursday. PhilWeb expects the rollout within the third quarter of 2026. Under the agreement, PhilWeb will provide hosted services through its remote technology infrastructure and application programming interface (API)enabled integration, allowing operators to offer Pragmatic Play’s portfolio of gaming content to their customers.
PhilWeb president Edgar Brian Ng said the partnership forms part of the company’s strategy to significantly expand its technology-enabled gaming services business.
“By collaborating with one of the industry’s leading international gam-
ing services providers, we are positioned to broaden our commercial relationships with licensed operators while creating a scalable and recurring revenue stream through technology-enabled services,” Ng said.
PhilWeb said Pragmatic Play’s gaming products are already used by a majority of online gaming platforms licensed to operate in the Philippines. The company expects the exclusive commercial arrangement to deepen relationships with existing operators while attracting new clients as more operators adopt its hosted gaming services.
PhilWeb also said the deal provides a platform for pursuing similar partnerships with other international gaming service providers as it seeks to build a broader portfolio of technology offerings for the regulated Philippine gaming market. Pragmatic Play, headquartered in Gibraltar, is owned by a private group of investors led by Veridian (Gibraltar)
Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), led by
chief executive Hussein Pangandaman (right), joins President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and fellow government-owned
(GOCCs) at the
GOCCs’
at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañan Palace on July 8, 2026. AFAB was recognized for its P138.12 million dividend remittance to the national government, reflecting the agency’s continued financial contribution to the country’s development agenda. With them are Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and Finance Secretary Frederick Go. Joseph Muego
Mindanao Railway-displaced families find hope
FOR more than three decades, Marian, a beneficiary of the government’s housing project for families affected by the Mindanao Railway Project (Tagum Segment), called a small informal settlement home. It was the place where she grew up, built memories, and raised her family.
“It’s a bit bittersweet for me since I lived there for 30 years,” she said. “Moving means adjusting to something new.”
But as she received the keys to her new government-built home in Barangay Mankilam, the uncertainty of relocation was matched by something stronger—hope.
“I am also happy because the DOTr did not neglect us. They guided us and gave us hope that
lauded by GPPB-TSO for procurement compliance, transparency
THE Department of Transportation
(DOTr) has earned recognition from the Government Procurement Policy Board – Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO) for its full compliance with the FY 2026 Final Annual Procurement Plans (APPs) submission.
“The GPPB-TSO commends your office for its commitment to transparency, accountability, and compliance with public procurement reporting requirements. Your continued cooperation contributes significantly to the promotion of good governance and the effective monitoring of procurement activities across government,” the GPPB-TSO said in its letter to the DOTR. This recognition reflects the DOTr’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability and good governance in all its procurement activities, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. which is to uphold the highest standards of responsible and effective public service.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez is proud of the recognition, stressing that transparency and accountability in procurement are essential in delivering quality public service which the transport agency is staunchly advocating.
“At DOTr, we are committed to ensuring that every peso of public funds is spent wisely, transparently and judiciously with the end goal of achieving value for money for the best interest of every Filipino. This recognition is a reflection of our team’s hard work and dedication to upholding the highest standards of good governance,” Lopez said.
Since 2017, the DOTr has been livestreaming its public bidding activities as mandated by law, promoting transparency in its procurement process.
we could have a place to call our own home,” Marian said. Marian is among the 159 families of informal settlers who have been relocated by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to make way for the Mindanao Railway Project’s Tagum Segment. Rather than simply clearing the project’s right-of-way, the government first ensured that affected families would have safe,
permanent housing.
The relocation fulfills President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive that families displaced by major infrastructure projects be provided with decent homes before right-of-way acquisition proceeds.
“The President’s directive is clear: we go beyond just constructing railways. We must also ensure that affected families have proper relocation, adequate support, and the opportunity for a decent and safe life,” Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said.
The relocation site spans 4.2 hectares in Barangay Mankilam, where the government has completed 62 quadruplex buildings, providing a total of 248 housing units for families affected by the railway project.
Through a Memorandum of Agreement between the DOTr and the Tagum City government, the national government shoulders the bulk of the housing costs. Beneficiaries will pay an affordable monthly amortization of P1,500 over 25 years, making homeownership more accessible.
For another beneficiary, Lilia, the new house represents more than a new address—it offers comfort and security her family had long hoped for.
“We are happy because we now have a decent home. It won’t leak when it rains, and we won’t have to bail out water from inside the house anymore,” she said.
She also praised the quality of the construction, saying the homes were well-built and the surroundings clean and orderly.
While families begin settling into their new community, the DOTr continues to push forward with preparations for the Mindanao Railway Project.
TEAM members from Aboitiz InfraCapital Bohol Airport Corporation (ABAC), operator of Bohol–Panglao International Airport (BPIA), recently completed specialized Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) training to further strengthen operational readiness, technical capability, and compliance with international aviation standards. Well-trained Airfield Lighting and Power Technicians help ensure the continuous operation of runway, taxiway, and approach lighting systems that guide aircraft day and night. For travelers, these critical systems support reliable operations, helping airlines maintain schedules and enabling passengers to navigate Bohol’s main gateway safely—particularly during nighttime operations and periods of
reduced visibility.
The program follows a similar training initiative recently completed at Laguindingan International Airport by Aboitiz InfraCapital Laguindingan Airport Corporation (ALAC), reflecting AIC Airports’ continued commitment to investing in technical expertise across its growing network.
Conducted from June 29 to July 3, 2026, the Airfield Ground Lighting Airside Electrical Safety (AGL1) and Airfield Ground Lighting Maintenance and Compliance (AGL2) training was facilitated by the Airfield Training Company (ATC), a UKbased, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)-accredited provider. The program brought together 25 ABAC personnel, including Airfield
DOTr assistant secretary for right-of-way and site acquisition Irish Calaguas said the agency is prioritizing the resolution of right-of-way concerns to keep the project moving.
“Secretary Lopez is expediting all right-ofway matters, upon the directive of President Marcos Jr., because that is the proper course of action,” Calaguas said.
She said the success of the government’s infrastructure program depends on close coordination with local government units, particularly in ensuring that communities affected by development are properly assisted. Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy thanked the DOTr for providing permanent housing to displaced families and reminded beneficiaries to value the opportunity they have received.
“You are very lucky to have these houses. You are truly fortunate to have been given a home of your own,” Uy said during the turnover ceremony.
The relocation underscores the government’s effort to balance infrastructure development with social responsibility. For the families moving into Barangay Mankilam, the transition marks not just the beginning of a railway project but the start of a new chapter in their lives.
The Mindanao Railway Project Phase 1 will connect Tagum, Davao City, and Digos through a 100-kilometer railway with eight stations across Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur. Once operational, it is expected to serve more than 100,000 passengers daily, improving mobility and driving economic growth across the Davao Region. Darwin G. Amojelar
Batangas Transport drivers receive government fuel subsidy
Batangas Transport Cooperative (BATRASCO) president Romeo Macailao welcomes the digital disbursement of their fuel subsidy.
Lighting and Power Technicians (ALPTs) and other airfield operations and maintenance staff. The training enhanced participants’ skills in the inspection, maintenance, and troubleshooting of AGL systems, covering electrical safety, fault diagnosis, and global industry best practices. By aligning with international standards established by the ICAO, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the initiative ensures BPIA maintains the strict technical capabilities required for safe, continuous operations. Upon passing their examinations, participants will receive internationally recognized AGL1 and AGL2 certifications.
AirAsia, PNP AVSEGROUP strengthen partnership to combat travel fraud
Philippines and the Philippine
Group (PNP
are ramping up
combat travel fraud and
operations following a
of
document interceptions. In 2025, AirAsia Philippines caught 114 individuals attempting to fly using fraudulent travel documents and stolen identities. During a recent courtesy meeting, AirAsia Philippines Head of Security Larry Valdevilla and PNP AVSEGROUP Director PBGEN Dionisio B. Bartolome Jr. agreed to deploy deeper intelligence resources to track down the syndicates
manufacturing and facilitating the use of these falsified IDs. “OurpartnershipwithPNPAVSEGROUP reflects our shared commitment to keeping air travel safe, secure, and seamless for all passengers. We aim to give our guests greater confidence every time they fly with AirAsia Philippines,” Anna Victoria Lu said, AirAsia president and general manager said. To strengthen efforts against travel fraud, PNP AVSEGROUP committed to coordinating with local authorities and deploying intelligence resources to investigate the sources of fraudulent identification documents and individuals or groups facilitating their use.
WITH the effects of the fuel crisis rippling across sectors, public transport is among the most severely impacted. Jeepney drivers are bearing the brunt of this volatility as rising costs threaten both their livelihoods and national mobility. The impact is felt far beyond the roads; this means tightening the budget of many Filipino households as well.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier rolled out a fuel subsidy program for public utility vehicle drivers and operators nationwide. The initiative aims to help cushion the impact of the crisis, which also drove up the prices of basic commodities and utilities. GCash works hand-in-hand with the DOTr, LTFRB, and other relevant government agencies to deliver the financial aid efficiently. The nationbuilding thrust of GCash enables drivers and operators to receive the subsidy straight to their e-wallets, making the disbursement process seamless and safe. Digitizing the payout eliminates the need to travel or wait in long lines, ensuring that aid reaches them without further delaying their livelihood.
Among the recent recipients are the drivers and operators of Batangas Transport Cooperative (BATRASCO) in Lipa, Batangas. Romeo Macailao, president of the transport group, said that about 70 percent to 80 percent of their members were able to secure their financial aid already via GCash.
The new housing community for families affected by the Mindanao Railway Project in Barangay Mankilam, Tagum City
DOTr Assistant Secretary for Right-of-Way
Site Acquisition Irish Calaguas promised to expedite the right-of-way acquisition for the Mindanao Railway Project during the turnover of government-built housing units to affected families.
PBGEN Dionisio B. Bartolome Jr., PNP AVSEGROUP Director together with. Larry Valdevilla, AirAsia Philippines’ head of security (Photo from AirAsia Philippines)
Beneficiaries of the GovernmentBuilt Housing Units for the Mindanao Railway Project
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
MANY people saw Dolly de Leon ’s breakout role in Triangle of Sadness as a stroke of luck. What they didn’t see were the three decades of work that came before it.
SHOWBIZ
to
nominations from both the BAFTA Awards and the Golden Globe Awards, De Leon had been steadily building an impressive portfolio since beginning her career in
From theater and independent films to television and international productions, she spent years refining her craft before Hollywood finally took notice. Those decades of perseverance were on full display during Talent: Dolly De Leon on Craft, Career and What’s Next, an exclusive media conversation hosted by talent management CSA that gave the Philippine press a rare opportunity to hear the actress speak beyond the red carpets and premieres.
Hosted under CSA’s “Beyond Talent” initiative, the event explored De Leon’s creative journey, the discipline behind her craft, her experiences working with internationally acclaimed filmmakers and actors, and the growing opportunities for Filipino talent on the global stage. She also discussed how she chooses meaningful roles, sustains a career across international markets, and what lies ahead.
From Philippine stages to Hollywood productions,
de Leon continues to build a global career grounded in preparation, consistency, and craft
Asked by Manila Standard Entertainment about the quiet years of her career, when recognition was
ABS-CBN Entertainment has reached 55 million subscribers on YouTube, maintaining its position as Southeast Asia’s most-subscribed media and entertainment channel on the platform.
According to Tubular and YouTube Analytics data, the channel had accumulated 76 billion lifetime views as of July 3.
The channel offers full episodes of current ABS-CBN programs, classic shows, highlights, exclusive videos, and the 24/7 livestream service Kapamilya Online Live, which streams both current and archived programs for viewers worldwide.
Among the programs available on the platform are primetime series Coco Martin’s Sigabo Blood vs Duty , and The Alibi: Ang Buong Katotohanan ; variety shows It’s Showtime and ASAP XP ; the nightly newscast TV Patrol ; and weekend game shows Kapamilya Deal or No Deal and Everybody Sing
ABS-CBN has also expanded its digital offerings with YouTube-exclusive content, including the celebrity podcast Hot Takes , the Bisaya talk show Kuan on One hosted by Melai Cantiveros, and The Next Big Band , the company’s first music docu-reality series created for YouTube.
The milestone comes as ABS-CBN continues to grow its digital presence by making its entertainment and news content available to audiences in the Philippines and abroad.
“There were so many lessons,” she said. “I learned something from every set I stepped on, every director I worked with, and every coactor I shared the screen with.” She credited veteran actors for shaping her professionalism and generosity.
“They taught me to be welcoming and inclusive, especially toward newcomers on set. I noticed that many of the veterans were even warmer than some of the younger actors,” she said. Those experiences also taught her to always come prepared, remember people’s
names, and respect everyone’s work.
“There were so many lessons, and everything I learned during those years is something I still carry with me today,” she noted.
When asked what advice she would give aspiring Filipino artists hoping to build international careers, De Leon said success begins long before landing a breakthrough role.
“It’s actually very simple. Keep working, even when you’re not getting work,” she said.
She encouraged aspiring actors to keep reading scripts, rehearse with friends, watch films and television, and learn from accomplished performers.
“For me, acting is about doing it. It’s about constantly exposing yourself to art and surrounding yourself with creative people. Even if no one’s hiring you at the moment, keep
SCARLET Chua of Taguig City was named Mrs. Universe Philippines-Pacific 2026, while Mrs. Universe Philippines 2026 Fatima Figueroa Alvarez of Pampanga was crowned Mrs. Universe Philippines 2026 during the grand coronation of Mrs. Universe Philippines 2026, held recently at the Manila Hotel Tent City.
Alvarez and Chua will carry the national colors at the 49th Mrs. Universe 2026 pageant, to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from Oct. 18 to 25.
Chua, a Filipino-Chinese mother and entrepreneur, also took home several special awards, including Best in Runway, Best in Evening Gown, Best Styled Candidate, Darling of the Press, Popularity Award, and Face of Yokosuka.
“I look back with a heart overflowing with gratitude. This journey challenged me, strengthened me, and transformed me in ways I never imagined,” said Chua after her crowning.
It reminded me that true success isn’t measured solely by the crown you wear, but by the woman you become along the way. This milestone is one I will forever carry with pride, humility, and purpose,” she added.
Alvarez, a 58-year-old entrepreneur, works as an ambassadress for MUSA Fabric, which champions sustainability and empowerment by providing livelihood opportunities for artisans, indigenous communities, and persons deprived of liberty.
She is also a volunteer at the Foundation for Philippine Medical Missions, a nonprofit, all-volunteer grassroots organization with a mission to provide free medical care to poor communities in the Philippines. Alvarez bagged the Best in Talent, Best in National Costume, and People’s Choice special awards.
Other titleholders crowned were Mrs. UPh North Philippines Clarie May Tamondong,
Award-winning actress Dolly de Leon opens up about how every role, set, and collaborator helped shape the performer she is today
creating with your friends. You’re preparing yourself for whatever opportunity comes next.”
Following Triangle of Sadness, De Leon has continued to establish herself as one of the Philippines’ most accomplished international actors. She stars as Detective Gonzalez in Apple TV+’s Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, portrays the royal twins Lo and Li in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, and joins the voice cast of DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, an original feature inspired by Philippine mythology. The projects span prestige television, global streaming franchises, and major studio animation.
The conversation also echoed CSA’s philosophy that lasting careers are built on more than talent alone.
“At CSA, we believe talent is only the beginning,” said Anter “RJ” Agustin , president and CEO of CreaZion Studios and the visionary behind CSA. “A lasting career is built through dedication, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Dolly De Leon embodies everything Beyond Talent stands for. Her journey from the Philippine stage to becoming one of the world’s most respected actresses is proof that Filipino artists can thrive on the global stage without losing sight of who they are.”
Agustin said CSA remains committed to developing artists whose influence extends beyond entertainment through professionalism, purpose, and lasting impact.
Dolly
Dolly de Leon (right) looks back on the discipline, perseverance, and lessons behind her decades-long career
LIFE & SHOWBIZ C
Justin Bieber joins BTS, Madonna in historic World Cup final halftime show
JUSTIN Bieber has been added to the star-packed lineup of the first-ever World Cup final halftime show as organizers confirmed Wednesday that the entire musical performance
Canadian megastar Bieber joins Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop sensation BTS for the Super Bowl-style halftime show on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin is curating the extravaganza, a first for a football World Cup final and one that has raised concerns over how long the game’s halftime break will be.
The laws of football allow a halftime interval “not exceeding 15 minutes.” Even an 11-minute musical performance could still require the break to be extended, given the time likely required to set up and disassemble the show.
But the announcement will assuage concerns raised by previous speculation that the World Cup final halftime show itself
could stretch for as long as 25 minutes. FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has said the halftime show will be “definitely the biggest stage ever,” with “a couple of billion” expected to tune in. The show, which will also feature characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, will support FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative working to raise $100 million for children worldwide during the World Cup.
“The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can,” Bieber said in a statement.
“I’m grateful to be part of this halftime show, and even more grateful knowing it’s already helping expand access to education for children around the world,” added the “Stay” and “Love Yourself” hitmaker. Also added to the lineup in Wednesday’s announcement were Nigerian singer-songwriter Burna Boy and Venezuelan classical conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
Coldplay will feature in a collaboration with PS22 Chorus, an acclaimed choir of students from a New York public elementary school. AFP
WATCHING House of the Dragon isn’t just another TV night. It’s a weekly appointment with dragons, betrayals, and enough family drama to make your group chat feel healthy.
Whether you’re Team Black, Team Green, or simply rooting for whichever dragon causes the biggest scene, here’s how to turn your living room into the hottest spot in Westeros.
1. Keep Fire & Blood close by Keeping track of shifting alliances, royal bloodlines, and dragon lore is much easier with a copy of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood on your coffee table. It’s both a conversation starter and the ultimate companion for every episode.
2. Indulge in an inspired feast
You can’t summon the strength of a dragon rider on an empty stomach. Skip the usual chips and dip for a themed menu worthy of the Red Keep. Serve “Dragon’s Breath” chicken wings with a fiery glaze or order charcoal-crust pizzas that look like they were blasted by Balerion himself. For drinks, whip up a Steel Elixir, a deep red berry mocktail, or serve a smoky dark roast iced coffee in pewter mugs or chalices to complete the medieval feel.
3. Set the mood with ambient lighting
Transform your living room into Westeros with smart LED light strips set to deep crimson or green, depending on which side you’re backing. Add amber or cedar-scented candles to create a warm, rustic atmosphere worthy of the Seven Kingdoms.
4. Collect House of the Dragon figures Show off your fandom by decorating your space with Funko Pop! figures of your favorite House of the Dragon
characters. They’re a great way to keep the excitement alive before the episode begins and long after the credits roll.
5. Subscribe to PLDT Home Fiber Unli All Plan 2499 with HBO Max A premium watch party deserves a premium streaming experience. PLDT Home Fiber Unli All Plan 2499 bundles unlimited fiber internet, unlimited landline calls, a standard HBO Max subscription, and more, making it an ideal entertainment package for the whole household.
That means you can stream every new episode of House of the Dragon in crystal-clear high definition the moment it drops while enjoying fast, reliable connectivity for everyone at home.
Upgrade your home entertainment with PLDT Home Fiber Unli All
Enjoy fast fiber internet, unlimited landline calls, an HBO Max subscription, plus access to Cignal and more, all in one package. Visit pldthome.com/ fiber-unli-all to learn more.
CELEBRATING the Fourth of July last weekend was extra special, given that it was the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Along with members of my family, including my brother’s kids, who just relocated from the Philippines, we went to a spacious park here in Southern California and waited for the aerial fireworks show scheduled at 9:00 p.m. on that beautiful Saturday summer night.
Observing the families who put up their tents and chairs at their chosen spots was like watching an American movie. Their looks, get-ups, and the way they did things made me think how American they are.
At some point before the fireworks show, a group of cyclists who had decorated their bikes with sparkling lights paraded through the park. Booming from the speakers on one of the decorated bikes was the Bruce Springsteen classic “Born in the U.S.A.” It was a thrill to experience such visuals and sounds, emphasized by chants of “U.S.A.!” from people in the park, many of them obviously immigrants.
My sister, who moved to the U.S. back in the ‘90s when she was 26, reiterated her view that the Fourth of July is an important day for Americans and that they celebrate it more with fireworks than they do New Year’s Eve. She said the birth of America was rooted in liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which makes it different from some other countries. Here, she said, you can dream and make that dream come true simply by banking on hard work and a system that rewards it.
It’s frustrating that some Filipinos who moved here allegedly committed fraud to gain more money and are now facing the consequences.
As is often implied, here in the U.S., one only needs to work diligently or set up a business legally, and real success is usually achievable. Resorting to illegal practices is not necessary and is therefore a sign of disrespect for a system that pays well and appropriately.
Watching the fireworks to commemorate Independence Day is also a moment to embrace one’s belief in the American Dream. For all that is being said about it, that it is a concept very different from what it supposedly once was, it all boils down to your belief.
I watched the fireworks and quietly said some prayers because, yes, I believe in the
American Dream.
There is one thing those who were born and raised in the Philippines and later moved to the U.S. have that empowers this belief: Filipino resilience.
It’s a kind of advantage that has propelled many Filipino Americans to comfort and happiness without having to resort to corruption or shady practices.
In the Philippines, this resilience may be pictured in the form of flood victims traversing and surviving dirty waters with smiles on their faces. Here, it is the daily grinder living in style, forging a life they likely would not have had had they not reached American soil.
This latest Fourth of July is a reminder that the world’s most powerful nation was built by men who believed that we are all equal in the pursuit of a good and just life. It is also a
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Living and leaving with purpose
“TO be God’s love in every person I encounter, meet, talk to, and work with.”
Those were the words that closed my 2024 interview with Patricia Anne Martin, known to many of us as Yish, for my column. I wrote about her and the purpose-driven talent management company she founded. Looking back today, after her untimely passing on July 7, those words now define the story of her life.
Yish built Purpose Artist Management on a simple but powerful belief. For her, success meant little if it was detached from purpose. While she helped content creators and artists grow their careers, she also encouraged them to discover the deeper reason behind what they do.
In an industry often defined by competition, image, and constant pressure, she chose authenticity, compassion, and service. Her work reflected her faith, and her faith gave meaning to her work. I was introduced to her through a virtual prayer and Bible study group at the height of the pandemic.
I cannot claim that we were close. In fact, about 90 percent of our interactions happened through Zoom in 2021 and 2022. Our virtual sessions became a source of hope and comfort during uncertain times. Week after week, she appeared on my screen with the same warmth, openness, and quiet sincerity that made everyone feel welcome.
Even after losing her mother to COVID-19, she continued showing up for others with grace. She never demanded attention or tried to dominate a conversation. Instead, she listened patiently, responded kindly, and created a space where people felt safe being themselves. She embodied the very mission she often spoke about: to let others experience God’s love in every encounter.
The last time I saw Yish in person was during the Disney cruise preview sailing, where we took our first and last selfie together. I remember telling her how proud I was of everything she had built. It was heartwarming to see her purpose unfold before her eyes. The agency she founded had grown into a home for creators, with a roster of talents working with international streaming platforms and global brands, including Disney.
More than her professional success, I admired the way she never lost sight of why she was doing what she did. She proved that it is possible to pursue excellence while serving others and to build a career without compromising one’s faith.
Her passing is a painful reminder of how fragile and fleeting life can be. We make plans, chase milestones, and assume there will always be more time. Then, without warning, life asks us to pause and remember what truly matters.
Perhaps that is Yish’s final lesson for those of us left behind. Finding our purpose is not something we should postpone until someday. We should seek it, embrace it, and live it out with love while we still can. Tomorrow is never promised, but we have today. The measure of our lives will not simply be what we accomplished but how we made others feel, the lives we lifted, and the love we shared along the way.
Yish did exactly that. She left warmth where there was uncertainty, hope where there was grief, and kindness wherever she went. Though her life was far too short, her purpose continues through the countless lives she touched. I pray that she now rests in the presence of the God she faithfully served until the very end. I hope that the woman who tirelessly introduced people to God is finally home in Heaven.
This is a tribute to Yish and a message of comfort for her dear friends and faith siblings, Emcy Ate Gie, Pink, and Jimpy For your random thoughts, e-mail the author at randomrepublika@gmail.com.
Farah Ramos champions fashion and volunteerism
By Nickie Wang
HEN Farah Ramos took the helm as president of the Rotary Club of Mandaluyong Uptown, she set out to merge two worlds she knows best: fashion and community service.
The founder and CEO of Farah Models is encouraging models and young creatives to use their influence beyond the runway by taking part in volunteer work and humanitarian initiatives through Rotary. Leading the effort is beauty queen and professional model Vienne Luna,
International model Laziz Rustamov expresses his commitment to community service as he supports the Rotary Club of Mandaluyong Uptown’s initiatives
one of Farah Models’ top talents and co-managed by Star Worx, who now serves as president of the Rotaract Club of Mandaluyong Uptown, Rotary’s youth organization.
Joining the Rotaract chapter are television reporter Su Jin Kim, model and content creator Eula Arielle, and several talents from Farah Models and Farah Models Camp.
Former Pinoy Big Brother housemate and international model Laziz Rustamov, though not yet formally inducted, said he is committed to volunteering, recalling his participation in Brigada Eskwela, where he helped repaint classrooms at a public school.
Model and New Flame member Venus Perol, along with longtime Farah Models talent Riona Johnston, also expressed interest in joining upcoming service projects.
Among the club’s flagship initiatives is HearForward: Helping Ears Access Restoration, a program that will provide hearing aids,
Rotary Club of Mandaluyong Uptown’s youth initiatives
earmolds, batteries, and related services to individuals with hearing impairment to improve communication and daily living.
Another major project, The Dream Big Project: Building Confident Leaders and Future Changemakers, is a partnership between the Rotary Club of Mandaluyong Uptown and Farah Models that aims to equip public school students with leadership, confidence, and life skills through mentorship and workshops led by the agency’s talents.
“We have so many meaningful projects lined up for this Rotary year, and we are excited to create lasting impact together with the members of RCMU, our Rotaractors, volunteers, and community partners,” Ramos said.
The club’s initiatives are being supported by Rotary International District 3800 District Governor Celso Montalla, who continues to encourage clubs across the district to expand their community service efforts.
Ramos, who has carried on a family legacy of talent management that has shaped Philippine entertainment for decades, brings her own stamp to the business. Her aunt, the late Ethel Ramos, handled stars including Aga Muhlach, Angel Locsin, Claudine Barretto, and Ina Raymundo. Her mother, Chit Ramos, guided the careers of Maja Salvador, Niño Muhlach, and Matt Ranillo III
Financial and Inter-Industry Pride Karir Career Fair, where it reached more than 450 job seekers.
To coincide with the celebrations, rainbow arches bearing the message “Love Ko All” were installed at McDonald’s Ligaya Quezon Avenue in Quezon City and McDonald’s North Reclamation Area in Cebu City. The installations will remain until July 13. The campaign also underscores the company’s broader hiring and development initiatives. McDonald’s Philippines said it directly hires its restaurant managers and crew members, a practice it has maintained since opening its first store in 1981 under founder Dr. George T.
Beyond
Farah Ramos leads a new Rotary year with programs that bring together fashion, mentorship, and humanitarian work for communities in
Rotary and Farrah Models leaders, volunteers, and guests gather to celebrate the club’s anniversary while reaffirming its commitment to service
Shara Quesada (left) and Su Jin Kim hosted the event that introduced the organization’s new set of officers