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COA upholds P73.3M refund order against VP Duterte DATELINE USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Fil-Am Mayor Todd Gloria demands Trump apology over San Diego remarks White House disputes interpretation of president's comments on Iran; Trump later pledges to protect American cities
Audit commission rejects appeal over 2022 confidential spending; vice president and two OVP officials held liable as defense plans Supreme Court challenge by AJPress
MANILA - The Commission on Audit has upheld a P73.287-million refund order against Vice President Sara Duterte and two officials of her office, after finding that the Office of the Vice President failed to properly document confidential expenditures recorded during the final 11 days of 2022. In a resolution dated Oct. 5 and made public Oct.
7, the COA Commission Proper rejected a motion for reconsideration filed by Duterte, OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta and chief accountant Julieta Villadelrey. It affirmed an April 10 decision sustaining a notice of disallowance issued on Aug. 8, 2024. The disputed amount was part of P125 million in confidential funds released to the OVP on Dec. 20, 2022. The notice covers expenditures reported for Dec. 21 to 31 of that year. Duterte’s defense has
Percy Lapid’s son in U.S. immigration custody as asylum application remains pending
SAN DIEGO — Filipino American Mayor Todd Gloria has called on President Donald Trump to apologize for remarks naming San Diego and Los Angeles as potential targets of an Iranian attack, drawing attention to the president's responsibility to protect American communities amid the continuing war with Iran. Gloria issued the demand Tuesday, October 6, after Trump referred to the two Southern California cities during a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, the previous day. Speaking about the economic costs of the war and higher gasoline prices, Trump described those costs as “a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe.” He then raised the possibility of Iran attacku PAGE 3
US seeks to revoke citizenship of two Filipino Americans in 40-case federal effort Separate lawsuits in California involve allegations of concealed criminal conduct and marriage fraud as federal authorities expand denaturalization proceedings. LOS ANGELES — Two Filipino Americans are among 40 naturalized U.S. citizens facing federal lawsuits seeking to revoke their citizenship, part of an expanded Justice Department effort targeting individuals accused of obtaining naturalization unlawfully. The Department of Justice identified the two as Arnel Dacumos Tabafunda, 47, and u PAGE 2
Lawyer seeks bond hearing before Nov. 5 immigration proceeding; Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles tells Asian Journal it is coordinating with Mark Mabasa, his family and counsel by AJPress
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. meets with FedEx executives in Singapore to strengthen the Philippines’ position as a regional logistics hub. PCO file photo
by AJPress
MANILA - A Makati court has issued an arrest warrant for Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste over an alleged violation of the Public Service Act, but the Department of Justice said Thursday, Oct. 8, that he has not yet been classified as a fugitive from justice. His mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, is meanwhile seeking another extension of her medical leave from the Senate, which is due to expire Oct. 9. The DOJ clarification followed a statement Wednesday by National Bureau of Investigati-
on Director Melvin Matibag describing Leviste as a fugitive because the court had ordered his arrest while he was overseas. Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Herbert Calvin Abugan said authorities must follow the required legal process before making that determination and that Leviste would be given an opportunity to appear in court. The Makati Regional Trial Court's Branch 235 issued the warrant Oct. 5, setting bail at P72,000. The case concerns an alleged violation of Section 25 of Commonwealth Act No. u PAGE 3
The amendments, adopted by the court en banc on Wednesday, October 7, apply to petitions under Article 26(2) of the Family Code, which addresses the right of a Filipino spouse to remarry after a qualifying divorce involving a foreign spouse. The court announced the changes Thursday, October 8. Until now, petitioners generu PAGE 2
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Mark Villar joined the Senate majority on Thursday, October 8, securing the chairmanship of the Committee on Public Works and a seat on the Commission on Appointments in a reorganization that increased the majority's membership to 14 senators and reduced the minority to 10. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri moved for Villar's election to both positions during
Rodrigo–Sara Duterte joint account October 5–8 hearings also examine P55-million transactions, P319-million foreign remittances and tax filings by AJPress
MANILA - A Bank of the Philippine Islands official traced a P41.7-million time deposit in an account bearing the names of Vice President Sara Duterte and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, through a series of manager’s checks during testimony this week at the Senate impeachment trial. Prosecutors also questioned a separate P55-million the plenary session. The motions transaction stream, examining were approved without objection. whether checks that remained Villar replaced Senate President outstanding could obscure funds Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III as from year-end bank balances. The October 5–8 hearings public works committee chairman and Zubiri on the Commission on brought together bank records, reAppointments, the congressional ports submitted to the Anti-Money body responsible for reviewing Laundering Council and the coucertain presidential appointments. ple’s tax filings. They also coinThe Senate also elected Minori- cided with a Commission on Audit ty Leader Alan Peter Cayetano to ruling upholding the disallowance the Commission on Appointments, of P73.287 million in confidential replacing Sen. Loren Legarda, expenses of the Office of the Vice President. The defense challenged who has been on medical leave. Cayetano wished Villar well the prosecution’s interpretation of u PAGE 3 the financial evidence.
Minority leader Cayetano wishes senator Petitioners must still obtain court well, pledges continued oversight recognition under new rules that shift the burden of rebutting certain evidence to by AJPress opposing parties MANILA — Filipinos asking Philippine courts to recognize a foreign divorce will no longer have to establish the applicable foreign divorce law when filing their petitions, under rule changes approved by the Supreme Court that shift part of the evidentiary burden to those opposing recognition.
LOS ANGELES — Mark Mabasa, son of slain Philippine broadcaster Percival Mabasa, professionally known as Percy Lapid, remains in U.S. immigration custody in Southern California while pursuing asylum in the United States, as his lawyer seeks a bond hearing that could determine whether he can be temporarily released while his case proceeds. u PAGE 2
DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL | WEEKLY REPORT Arrest warrant issued for Leviste; DOJ says lawmaker not yet a fugitive BPI details P41.7M check trail in
Supreme Court drops initial foreign- Mark Villar joins Senate majority, law proof in divorce recognition cases takes public works chairmanship
by AJPress
disputed the prosecution’s separate assertion that the entire P125 million was spent within those 11 days. COA found inadequate support for P69.787 million recorded as rewards to informants, including P10 million in cash, P34.857 million in goods and P24.93 million in medicines. It also disallowed P3.5 million in reported purchases of tables, chairs, desktop computers and printers that the OVP said u PAGE 2
BPI division head Marwin Galvez testified that a time deposit with a principal of P40.65 million was opened at the bank’s Julia Vargas branch on January 22, 2010. After 12 renewals, it had grown to about P41.72 million. The money was transferred to a settlement account in March 2011 and used to purchase a manager’s check. When the check remained unused, a replacement was issued in October of that year, according to records presented to the impeachment court. Galvez explained that a manager’s check is a liability of the issuing bank, rather than a deposit remaining in the purchaser’s account. House prosecutor James Bryan Ibrahim Alih argued that repeatedly issuing checks without presenting them for payment could keep funds out of balances reported at year-end. He identified another P55-million time deposit that he said followed a similar route. The evidence did not establish that the checks were issued to u PAGE 3
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OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
Percy Lapid’s son in U.S. immigration custody... PAGE 1 Mabasa has been held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center since Sept. 21. The specific immigration ground for his detention has not been publicly disclosed. Mabasa’s lawyer, John Perry, said he filed a request for bond redetermination on Oct. 2, the day of Mabasa’s first immigration court appearance, and expects a separate bond hearing before a Nov. 5 master calendar hearing. Under federal immigration court procedures, bond proceedings are separate from the underlying immigration case and may determine whether an eligible detained person can be released while proceedings continue. Perry also said a merits hearing had been set for Nov. 16, although the schedule could change if Mabasa is released. No publicly available case-specific immigration court notice reviewed by the Asian Journal confirms those dates, so they remain attributed to Mabasa’s counsel. The Adelanto Immigration Court operates under the U.S. Department of Justice. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security, is holding Mabasa. In response to an inquiry from the Asian Journal, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles said: “The details of Mr. Mark Mabasa’s case are being handled by his lawyer. “The Consulate General is closely coordinating with Mr. Mabasa, his family, and his lawyer but will not provide updates in observance of privacy laws and in deference to the family's request for privacy.” The consulate did not provide additional information about Mabasa’s immigration proceedings. Mabasa is a Filipino singer and was among the finalists on the first season of “The X Factor Philippines” in 2012. Since moving to the United States, he has continued performing, including at Filipino American community events in Southern California. Mabasa went to the United States in February 2023 after receiving death threats following his father’s killing and sought
asylum. Human Rights Watch reported that his uncle, journalist Roy Mabasa, told the organization that Mark holds U.S. employment authorization. Mabasa had performed in Chicago earlier in September and was detained by ICE after returning to Los Angeles, according to Human Rights Watch. Sen. Risa Hontiveros has urged the Philippine government to assist Mabasa and called for his release. She said she had raised the case with Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton and Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Adelio Angelito Cruz. Killing of Percy Lapid Percival Mabasa, professionally known as Percy Lapid, was a veteran broadcaster and commentator who hosted “Lapid Fire.” He was 63 when he was shot and killed while driving in Talon Dos, Las Piñas City, at about 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 3, 2022. Police said two gunmen on a motorcycle attacked Lapid while he was inside his vehicle. The Philippine National Police formed a special investigation task force and examined whether his work and commentaries provided a motive. Investigators later focused in part on Lapid’s reports about then-Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag. In November 2022, then-Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said authorities were examining Lapid’s “Cinderella Man” report concerning Bantag’s alleged wealth and properties as a possible trigger for the killing. That remained an investigative theory, not an adjudicated finding against Bantag. The inquiry extended into New Bilibid Prison. National Bureau of Investigation lawyer Eugene Javier said sworn statements from inmates indicated an alleged line of communication from Bantag and then-BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta to inmate Denver Mayores, then to inmate Alvin Labra and gang leader Aldrin Galicia. Investigators alleged that Galicia used gang members and contacts outside the prison to reach Joel Escorial and the group accused of carrying out the shoot-
ing. Bantag and Zulueta denied involvement. Zulueta specifically denied contacting Mayores or the other inmates. Investigators also identified New Bilibid Prison inmate Cristito “Jun” Villamor as an alleged intermediary between prison contacts and the gunmen. Villamor died inside the prison on Oct. 18, 2022, the same day Escorial was presented publicly after admitting his role in Lapid’s killing. Authorities pursued a separate murder case over Villamor’s death. Prosecutors later found probable cause to charge Bantag and several others with murder. The Las Piñas Regional Trial Court archived the case against Bantag in 2025 because he remained at large, with proceedings subject to revival if he is arrested or surrenders. Several defendants have been convicted in proceedings arising from Lapid’s killing. New Bilibid Prison gang leaders Aldrin Galicia, Alvin Labra and Alfie Peñaredonda were convicted as accessories to the murder. Denver Mayores, a person deprived of liberty who initially faced a murder complaint as a principal by indispensable cooperation, later pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of accessory to murder. In December 2023, the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court sentenced him to two to eight years in prison. Escorial, who admitted shooting Lapid, entered a plea agreement and was found guilty as an accomplice to murder. In May 2024, the Las Piñas court sentenced him to between eight years and eight months and 16 years in prison. Bantag has denied involvement and has not been convicted in the Lapid case. He remains wanted by Philippine authorities. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said in May 2026 that Interpol had issued a Red Notice for Bantag. A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person pending possible extradition, surrender or similar legal action. It is not an international arrest warrant. n
COA upholds P73.3M refund... PAGE 1 were intended for safe houses. Under Joint Circular No. 2015-01, confidential funds can be used for authorized operations, but payments for informant rewards require records linking the information provided to successful information-gathering or surveillance activities. The circular was issued by COA and four other government bodies. According to the commission, the OVP submitted acknowledgment receipts and a list of activities involving the vice president and satellite office personnel but did not document specific results from the purported confidential operations. COA concluded that the submissions did not satisfy the audit requirements. The commission also considered a certification detailing security activities performed by the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group. It said routine work by salaried military personnel could not justify payments reserved for eligible outside informants. As for the furniture and computer equipment, COA found insufficient evidence connecting the items to confidential operations or explaining why they could not have been purchased
through ordinary government procurement procedures. The audit body rejected the officials’ argument that the acknowledgment receipts and other documents were sufficient to support the disbursements. It sustained the finding that the questioned transactions did not comply with the governing rules. COA identified Duterte as the official who approved the transactions, Acosta as the officer responsible for the cash advance and disbursements, and Villadelrey as the accountant who certified the supporting papers. The three were held liable under the audit ruling. The disallowance requires the return of public funds but does not, by itself, establish criminal guilt or that the named officials personally received the entire amount. The OVP said Wednesday that it had not yet received an official copy of the Oct. 5 resolution and had prepared to respond through the available legal and institutional channels. On Thursday, lawyer Michael Poa said Duterte’s defense intended to petition the Supreme Court for review. Although COA said it had affirmed its ruling with finality, the phrase refers to the conclusion of reconsideration before the
audit commission. The decision may still be challenged before the Supreme Court under Rule 64 in relation to Rule 65. Filing such a petition does not automatically suspend enforcement unless the court orders otherwise. No completed petition had been confirmed as of Thursday. COA has separately issued notices disallowing P375 million in OVP confidential expenses recorded during the first three quarters of 2023. Those notices involve different transactions and do not share the procedural status of the Oct. 5 ruling. The December 2022 expenditures are also part of the evidence examined in Duterte’s ongoing Senate impeachment trial. Article I of the impeachment case concerns allegations involving P612.5 million in confidential funds, comprising P500 million allocated to the OVP and P112.5 million to the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary. House prosecution lawyer Lorna Kapunan said the panel was considering placing the latest COA resolution before the impeachment court. The Senate must assess the impeachment charges separately from COA’s administrative findings, and Duterte has denied wrongdoing. n
US seeks to revoke citizenship of two Filipino... PAGE 1 Ramon Navarro, 68, in an October 5 announcement detailing denaturalization cases filed in federal courts across the United States. Both lawsuits were filed in California but involve different allegations. The filings do not themselves revoke either man's citizenship. The government filed its case against Tabafunda on September 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleging that he concealed child sexual abuse during his naturalization proceedings. According to the Justice Department, Tabafunda became a naturalized American citizen in September 2005. A California jury subsequently convicted him of two counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts involving a child younger than 14. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. Federal authorities said the abuse began in February 2005, before his naturalization, and continued through November of that year. The government alleges that Tabafunda's conduct during the period when he was required to demonstrate good moral character, along with his alleged failure to disclose it, made him ineligible for citizenship. Although the criminal conviction is part of the government's case, whether Tabafunda unlawfully obtained citizenship remains a separate question for the federal court. In Navarro's case, the Justice Department filed a complaint on October 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
Federal authorities allege that Navarro entered into a fraudulent marriage to obtain lawful permanent resident status and subsequently used that status, along with false representations to immigration officials, to secure U.S. citizenship. The complaint contains four claims seeking to revoke his naturalization based on alleged marriage fraud and related misrepresentations. The department's public account did not identify a criminal conviction establishing the allegations against Navarro. Those claims remain subject to judicial determination. Expanded federal enforcement The two cases are part of a nationwide initiative that the Justice Department described as its largest group of denaturalization filings during a single period under the Trump administration. Attorney General Todd Blanche characterized the October 5 announcement as the largest denaturalization effort in modern U.S. history. That description reflects the administration's assessment. The announced cases involve allegations of immigration fraud, concealed criminal conduct and offenses involving national security. Some defendants have prior criminal convictions, while other allegations must still be established in court. The expanded initiative follows a June 2025 Justice Department directive making denaturalization an enforcement priority for its Civil Division. The directive identified national security concerns, serious criminal offenses and fraud in the
naturalization process among areas warranting particular attention. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also updated its denaturalization referral guidance in September 2026, clarifying procedures for identifying and referring potential cases. The update did not change the existing statutory grounds for revoking citizenship. Legal safeguards govern citizenship revocation Under Section 340(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, codified at 8 U.S.C. Section 1451(a), the federal government may seek to revoke naturalization if citizenship was illegally procured or obtained through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation. A criminal conviction does not automatically result in denaturalization. The government must establish that legal grounds for revocation exist, including whether the individual satisfied the requirements for citizenship when naturalization was granted. In civil denaturalization proceedings, federal courts require clear, unequivocal and convincing evidence before citizenship may be revoked. The filing of a complaint does not itself terminate citizenship. The government must obtain a judicial determination, and the individuals named in the lawsuits have an opportunity to contest the allegations. The Justice Department expressly stated in its October 5 announcement that the complaints contain allegations and that no determination of liability had been made. (AJPress)
Supreme Court drops initial foreign-law...
PAGE 1 ally had to prove both that the divorce occurred and the content of the foreign law under which it was obtained. Under the amendments, proof that the divorce took place will suffice for that initial evidentiary requirement. The change does not prevent the opposing party from contesting whether the divorce was valid or absolute. The revisions introduce Section 48-A of Rule 39, creating a rebuttable presumption that a foreign divorce involving a Filipino and a foreign spouse allows the foreign spouse to remarry under the relevant foreign law. That presumption does not apply when the divorce document expressly identifies the dissolution as limited. The burden of rebutting the presumption falls on the party challenging recognition. Such a party may introduce evidence of the applicable foreign law, including a certified copy and English translation obtained through the Office of the Court Administrator, which is to maintain a repository of foreign laws. The rules also presume that an English translation of a foreign divorce document is accurate if the translator certifies its accuracy under oath. An opposing party may submit contrary evidence to challenge that presumption. Judicial recognition remains
mandatory. The Supreme Court said the amendments do not change the substantive requirements of Article 26(2), and challenges may still be raised on grounds including lack of jurisdiction, inadequate notice, fraud or a clear mistake of law or fact. Article 26(2) was added to the Family Code in 1987 to address situations in which a foreign spouse could remarry after a divorce while the Filipino spouse remained bound by the marriage under Philippine law. The Supreme Court subsequently clarified that a Filipino spouse may seek recognition even when the Filipino initiated the foreign divorce proceedings. The amendments do not establish a general divorce procedure for marriages between Filipino citizens. The revisions also follow decisions that had required petitioners to prove foreign law. In a 2024 case involving a Filipino woman and a Japanese husband, the Supreme Court held that divorces secured abroad by mutual agreement, rather than through a foreign court, could qualify for recognition. The woman nevertheless had to establish the relevant Japanese law. In a separate ruling announced in June 2025, the court said the applicable law to be proved was that of the jurisdiction granting the divorce.
The case involved a divorce obtained in Kentucky by the Peruvian husband of a Filipino woman. The Supreme Court said the Department of Foreign Affairs had identified practical difficulties in obtaining foreign family laws, including differences among jurisdictions, the absence of officials authorized to certify legal records and limited availability of official English translations. The court said those obstacles particularly affected overseas Filipino workers. The amendments were approved on the recommendation of Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, following consultations involving Associate Justices Amy Lazaro-Javier and Jhosep Lopez and a judicial working group concerned with overseas Filipinos. The Supreme Court has also approved plans for a collection of authenticated and updated foreign laws on divorce, nullity and annulment of marriage. An agreement involving the Office of the Court Administrator and the Department of Foreign Affairs is scheduled for signing October 21. The changes will take effect 15 days after posting on the Supreme Court website. The court said the full text of its resolution, A.M. No. 25-03-14-SC, would be made available on the website. n
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Fil-Am Mayor Todd Gloria demands Trump... Mark Villar joins Senate majority, takes public... PAGE 1 ing an American city, saying, “Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.” The remarks prompted criticism from California officials who interpreted the reference as suggesting that attacks on American cities could be considered acceptable. The White House disputed that interpretation, saying Trump was warning about the consequences of allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. In a statement released by his office, Gloria said San Diego plays a central role in American national defense, citing its military installations, servicemembers, shipbuilding operations and scientific research institutions. The mayor said the nearly 1.4 million residents of San Diego should not be portrayed as expendable in discussions of national security. “President Trump should retract these remarks and apologize to the people of San Diego,” Gloria said. Gloria, who also serves as president of the United States Conference of Mayors, emphasized that the president's responsibility to
protect Americans extends to every community, regardless of political affiliation or geography. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung responded that Trump's comments were being misinterpreted. He said the president was describing the threat American cities could have faced had Iran obtained nuclear weapons, rather than calling for attacks on the United States. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also criticized the remarks. Newsom directed the California State Threat Assessment Center to monitor the situation, while Bass raised concerns about the possible implications for public safety. The criticism extended beyond Democratic officials. Jim Desmond, a Republican congressional candidate and Navy veteran from San Diego County, said American cities and families should never be regarded as acceptable casualties of war. The United States Conference of Mayors separately condemned the initial remarks. Its chief executive and executive director, Tom Cochran, said the protection of American communities must remain a
responsibility shared by elected officials of both parties. On Wednesday, October 7, California's Democratic congressional delegation, joined by U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, called on Trump to apologize. The lawmakers said his remarks appeared to invite an attack on American cities, an interpretation rejected by the administration. The controversy also raised questions about the hypothetical threat Trump described. In its March 2026 assessment, the U.S. intelligence community said Iran had demonstrated technology that could support development of an intercontinental ballistic missile before 2035 if Tehran pursued that capability. The assessment did not establish an imminent Iranian missile threat to California. Trump addressed the issue again Wednesday during a campaign rally in San Antonio, Texas, warning that missile strikes against San Diego or Los Angeles would have devastating consequences. “We're not going to let that happen. We protect our cities. We protect our country,” Trump said. (AJPress)
Arrest warrant issued for Leviste; DOJ says... PAGE 1 146, as amended by Republic Act No. 11659. That provision addresses knowing and willful failure to carry out duties required under the Public Service Act. The arrest warrant does not establish criminal liability. Justice Department prosecutors filed the case Sept. 29 against Leviste and two officers of Solar Para sa Bayan Corp., Hazel Iris Lafuente Buencamino and Irma Flaminiano. It followed a complaint filed by the Department of Energy in May alleging that the company had not fulfilled obligations to establish electricity services in remote or underserved communities under its congressional franchise. The company received a nonexclusive franchise in 2019 under Republic Act No. 11357 to establish and operate distributed renewable-energy facilities and microgrids in specified areas. The law also subjects the franchise holder to the Public Service Act. Prosecutors said they found sufficient preliminary evidence to bring the charge, but the disputed legal and factual questions remain for the trial court. Matibag said Wednesday that Buencamino and Flaminiano each posted P72,000 bail. Leviste had not posted bail as of the latest reports Thursday. The DOJ said he would first have to submit to the court's jurisdiction, through arrest or voluntary surrender, before being eligible for bail. Officials have discussed possible action involving Leviste's passport and a request for Interpol assistance. The DOJ said it had not initiated passport-cancellation proceedings, and there was no confirmed issuance of an Interpol Red Notice. Leviste has been outside the Philippines since
Aug. 2. His spokesperson, lawyer Antonio La Viña, previously said the lawmaker was assisting Legarda during medical treatment in France. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Wednesday that his department's latest information suggested Leviste was in Germany. His present location has not been independently verified. La Viña said Leviste intends to return to the Philippines and personally appear in court to post bail, although he gave no date. He also disputed the prosecution's legal basis, arguing that Solar Para sa Bayan is not a public utility and that the Energy Department failed to provide necessary implementing rules and designate service areas. The court has not ruled on those arguments. In a separate preliminary investigation, the Office of the Ombudsman is examining plunder and graft allegations involving Leviste, Legarda and former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi over renewable-energy service contracts. Ombudsman officials have cited more than P10.44 billion in alleged unpaid obligations arising from terminated contracts. Legarda and Leviste submitted counter-affidavits in September denying wrongdoing, and their camp disputes the allegations. A Commission on Audit review of the Energy Department's 2025 operations separately identified approximately P10.77 billion in outstanding obligations from 37 terminated solar-energy contracts, including about P10.39 billion attributed to companies in the Solar Philippines group founded by Leviste. The findings concern disputed contractual obligations and possible government collection efforts; they are not findings of criminal guilt. Leviste's arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 26. n
PAGE 1 following his departure from the minority bloc and said the group's responsibilities would remain unchanged despite shifts in Senate alliances. He said minority senators would continue scrutinizing government actions and serving as constructive opposition members. Villar's sister, Sen. Camille Villar, remains with the minority. The realignment followed differences within the minority over the voting threshold in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial. On September 23, Mark Villar
was the only minority senator to vote in favor of revising the formula for determining the two-thirds majority required to convict an impeached official. The impeachment court approved the change by a 13-1 vote, with six senator-judges not participating and four others absent. The ruling replaced the previously fixed 16-vote requirement with a calculation based on senators legally and factually capable of participating when judgment is rendered. Cayetano had earlier maintained that Villar remained a minority
member despite their differing positions on the issue, emphasizing the independence of senators in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities as impeachment judges. The revised voting formula faces a new challenge before the Supreme Court following the dismissal of three earlier petitions on procedural grounds. Villar previously served as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways under former President Rodrigo Duterte before his election to the Senate in 2022. n
BPI details P41.7M check trail in Rodrigo–Sara... PAGE 1 conceal assets. Other documents examined by the prosecution included four instructions for P20-million transfers from the account to insurance products in March 2014, totaling P80 million. Galvez also identified a manager’s check dated May 30, 2016, for approximately P16.85 million, with Davao businessman Samuel C. Uy named as payee. The identification of the payee did not establish an improper payment or personal involvement by the vice president. Defense lawyer Michael Poa said Duterte did not recall the joint account and had not participated in the questioned transactions. Galvez confirmed that the check applications shown to him bore Rodrigo Duterte’s signature, not his daughter’s. The witness could not establish from those documents whether she knew of or controlled the transactions. The bank testimony forms part of Article II, which concerns allegations that Duterte failed to disclose assets and business interests properly in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, or SALNs. House prosecutors identified accounts involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, across eight banks and cited combined year-end balances of approximately P59 million in 2022, P71.3 million in 2023, P22.2 million in 2024 and P39 million in 2025. The prosecution said the figures raised questions about cash not separately itemized in the SALNs. The defense maintained that cash holdings were included under other personal properties and disputed attributing every amount in jointly held accounts to Duterte.
The annual balances are snapshots at different dates, not sums that may be added to calculate a single pool of wealth. Another major disclosure came on October 5 from AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura, who testified that financial institutions reported approximately P4.4 billion in covered and suspicious transactions involving Duterte and Carpio from 2007 to 2025. The total included roughlyP1.63 billion in inflows, P1.31 billion in outflows and P1.46 billion that could not reliably be classified either way. The P4.4-billion figure measures reported transaction activity over many years, not assets currently held by the couple or money found to have been obtained unlawfully. Buenaventura said a bank reporting error had been validated and corrected in the data available to the court. Defense lawyers questioned the records’ accuracy, confidentiality and relevance. The AMLC testimony also identified approximately P319.33 million in remittances from China and Hong Kong to Cale88 Foods Corp., a company linked to Carpio. National Security Adviser Eduardo Oban said the National Security Council would examine possible security implications. No finding established that the payments originated with the Chinese government or reached Duterte personally. On October 8, Bureau of Internal Revenue official Anne Loraine Garcia-Marquez testified that a search of the agency’s records found no documentation of a reported transfer of Cale88 shares or related tax payments. When a prosecutor characterized the pur-
ported sale as fictitious, presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero sustained the defense’s objection and struck the statement. The absence of a BIR record does not, by itself, prove that a sale was fabricated. Garcia-Marquez also presented records indicating that Duterte and Carpio reported approximately p85.34 million in combined after-tax income from 2007 through 2025. The prosecution compared that with an increase in declared net worth from about P7.25 million in 2007 to P98.66 million in 2025. Income over a period and net worth at a point in time are different measures; the comparison alone cannot establish unexplained wealth. A 2023 tax certificate also listed the Davao City government as a source of compensation for Duterte, who left office as mayor in 2022. The hearing did not determine whether the payment related to earlier service or another explanation, and no violation was established. Separately, the Commission on Audit, in an October 5 resolution made public October 7, denied reconsideration of its P73.287-million disallowance covering confidential expenses incurred from December 21 to 31, 2022. It found insufficient supporting documentation for P69.787 million recorded as rewards to informers and P3.5 million in equipment purchases. The decision is an administrative audit ruling, not a criminal conviction or the Senate’s determination of any impeachment charge. The Office of the Vice President said it was preparing a legal response, while Poa said the defense intended to seek Supreme Court review. n
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OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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Manila's economy remains above P1 trillion as growth slows to 1.9% Philippine capital ranks third among city economies, but 2025 expansion trails national and Metro Manila rates by AJPress
COURTESY VISIT. Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh arrives at Bicol International Airport and meets with Albay officials to explore partnerships for Bicol’s future, including a direct PHIsrael flight to boost tourist arrivals. Photo courtesy of Albay PTCAO
Philippine developers cut spending as Metro Manila condo supply stays high by AJPress M A JOR Philippine propert y developers are t r imming planned spending and putting more money into malls, offices and other businesses that generate steady rental income as condominium sales remain under pressure in Metro Manila. S&P Global Ratings said Ayala Land, Megaworld, SM Prime Holdings and Robinsons Land collectively reduced their 2026 capital spending plans by 25% from their original budgets. Residential sales among the four companies fell 7% from a year earlier in the first half of 2026, an improvement from the 11% decline recorded in 2025. The slowdown, however, does not mean the Philippines has too much housing overall. The oversupply is concentrated largely in parts of Metro Manila’s condominium market, while demand remains stronger for more affordable homes. Leechiu Property Consultants
counted 82,900 unsold condominium units in Metro Manila in the second quarter, the highest level since it began tracking the market in 2016. The firm estimated that the inventory was equal to about 34 months of supply. Buyers have not disappeared. Leechiu also reported that condominium sales rose 6% in the first half to 14,500 units, suggesting that demand continues even as developers work through a large number of unsold units. Colliers projects Metro Manila residential vacancy to reach 25.6% by the end of 2026 before beginning to ease as fewer new condominium projects are completed. The property consultancy said economic and affordable housing were among the stronger parts of the residential market, while developers increasingly looked outside Metro Manila for new projects. Higher living and borrowing costs are adding pressure on buyers. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported Tuesday that inflation rose to 7.2% in Septem-
ber from 6.1% in August, further squeezing household budgets. Developers are responding by becoming more selective about where they invest. S&P said companies are directing a larger share of spending toward malls, offices and other properties that provide recurring rental income, while slowing some residential development. Gover n ment housi ng programs are also focusing more heavily on affordability. Under the Expanded 4PH program, qualified buyers may obtain Pag-IBIG financing for approved vertical and horizontal housing projects. A recent project in Dasmariñas, Cavite, offers condominium-style units priced at P1.5 million, with qualified socialized-housing borrowers eligible for a subsidized 3% annual interest rate. Developers are a lso placing greater emphasis on lower-priced housing and projects outside Metro Manila as they reduce existing condominium inventory. n
MANILA — Manila's economy surpassed P1 trillion for the second consecutive year in 2025, although growth slowed markedly from the previous year and fell below the national and Metro Manila averages, according to figures released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The capital's gross domestic product (GDP) reached P1.06 trillion, compared with P1.04 trillion in 2024. Economic growth slowed to 1.9 percent from 5.4 percent a year earlier, based on the PSA's October 6 report. The figures are measured at constant 2018 prices to account for inflation. Manila remained the country's third-largest city economy, behind Quezon City, which recorded P1.40 trillion in output, and Makati, with
P1.27 trillion. Including provinces, Manila ranked fourth nationwide, behind Laguna, whose economy reached P1.14 trillion. These four economies were the only provinces or highly urbanized cities to exceed the trillion-peso threshold in 2025. Manila accounted for 4.6 percent of the Philippines' total economic output, although its 1.9 percent growth lagged the 4.4 percent national expansion and Metro Manila's approximately 4.4 percent increase. Services remained the city's principal economic sector, accounting for 77.4 percent of GDP, while industry contributed 22.6 percent, according to the Manila city government. Transportation and storage posted the fastest industry growth at 10 percent, followed by human health and social work activities at 9.4 per-
cent and education at 6.4 percent. Performance was weaker elsewhere. Construction contracted by 4.8 percent, while electricity, steam, water and waste management declined by 1.4 percent. Wholesale and retail trade grew by 0.4 percent, and manufacturing expanded by 0.1 percent. Across Metro Manila, all 16 highly urbanized cities and the municipality of Pateros recorded economic growth in 2025. Pasig posted the region's fastest expansion at 5.8 percent, followed by Pasay at 5.5 percent. The PSA also reported that Manila's GDP per capita reached P565,047, an increase of 1.6 percent from 2024 and above the Metro Manila average. GDP per capita measures economic output relative to population and does not represent residents' average income or wages. n
Millions of Medicare beneficiaries to receive one-time $90 rebate About 20.8 million Original Medicare Part B enrollees qualify; Medicare Advantage members are excluded by AJPress WASHINGTON — The federal government is sending a one-time $90 payment to about 20.8 million Medicare beneficiaries this month, with most eligible recipients scheduled to receive the money by direct deposit on or around Oct. 8. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said the payment, formally called the Medicare Improvement Fund Premium Rebate, is intended to offset part of the cost of Medicare Part B coverage. It is a single payment, not a recurring monthly benefit or a permanent reduction in Medicare premiums. President Donald Trump announced the rebate Oct. 2. The money is being drawn from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which Congress created in 2008
to support improvements in the traditional Medicare program. Eligibility is limited to qualifying beneficiaries enrolled in Original Medicare Part B who live in the United States, do not receive Medicaid assistance paying their Medicare premiums and do not pay the additional income-related Medicare premium known as IRMAA. People enrolled in Medicare Advantage are not eligible. The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, up from $185 last year. The $90 payment therefore offsets less than half of one month's standard premium. CMS said most eligible beneficiaries will receive the money through Social Security direct deposit on or around Oct. 8. Those who do not receive payments electronically are expected to receive a
Treasury check later in October. No separate application has been announced. Beneficiaries with questions about eligibility may call 1-800-MEDICARE, or 1-800-6334227. CMS said people checking the status of an expected payment should contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 beginning Oct. 15. The administration says roughly $2 billion is available for the rebates. At $90 each for about 20.8 million beneficiaries, the payments would total approximately $1.87 billion if all projected eligible recipients receive them. The rebate does not change the formula used to determine future Part B premiums. Medicare trustees currently project a standard monthly premium of $209.50 in 2027, but that figure is not final and will be set separately. n
MVP agrees to P2.19-billion Former Philippine Prime Minister Cesar Virata dies at 95 Meralco share deal with San Miguel Longtime finance chief and economic technocrat served through much of the Marcos administration by AJPress MANILA — Cesar E.A. Virata, a former Philippine prime minister and the country’s longest-serving finance chief, died Oct. 2 at age 95, ending a public and private-sector career that spanned government, banking and academia. Virata died of natural causes, his family said. He is survived by his wife, theater actress and director Phylita “Joy” Gamboa Virata; their children Steven, Gillian and Michael; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., where Virata had served as a director since 1995 and corporate vice chairperson for 26 years, announced his death in a regulatory disclosure. Virata served as finance secretary and later finance minister from 1970 to 1986 and as prime
minister from 1981 to 1986 under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. He also represented the Philippines at the World Bank and Asian Development Bank and served on the Monetary Board. His tenure placed him at the center of Philippine economic policymaking during the martial-law years and the severe debt and economic crisis of the early 1980s. He was widely identified with the technocratic wing of the Marcos government, which managed fiscal policy and negotiations with international financial institutions. Before government service, Virata taught at the University of the Philippines and served as dean of its College of Business Administration. The university renamed the school the Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business in 2013. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Mar-
Photo courtesy of Foundation for Economic Freedom
cos visited Virata’s wake at Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig on Oct. 7. Marcos later praised Virata’s “quiet dignity, discipline and sense of duty” and extended condolences to his family. n
by AJPress
MANILA. Manuel V. Pangilinan has agreed to buy P2.19 billion in Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) shares from San Miguel Corp.’s power subsidiary, the second agreement in a week to transfer part of San Miguel’s investment in the electricity distributor to Pangilinan and a company he leads. Under a contract signed Oct. 6, San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMGP) agreed to sell Pangilinan 3,767,080 Meralco common shares at P580.99 apiece. The block represents about 0.33 percent of Meralco’s outstanding common shares. Pangilinan is making the acquisition in his personal capacity, separately from Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC). His direct and indirect personal interest in Meralco is expected to reach approximately 0.34 percent if the transaction closes.
In the earlier agreement, signed Oct. 1 and disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange the following day, SMGP agreed to sell MPIC 21,414,758 Meralco shares for about P12.4 billion. That block represents approximately 1.9 percent of Meralco. The MPIC purchase would increase the company’s combined direct and indirect interest in Meralco to around 49.4 percent from 47.46 percent, according to transaction disclosures. The two agreements cover approximately 25.18 million shares valued at a combined P14.6 billion. The agreements specified closing conditions. The agreed price of P580.99 a share is about 16.2 percent above Meralco’s 90-day volume-weighted average price of P500.09 as of Sept. 30, according to transaction information disclosed earlier this month. The shares being sold are part of a larger holding acquired by SMGP
from the government-owned Land Bank of the Philippines through stock exchange transactions in 2025. The transfer followed litigation involving a purchase arrangement dating to 2008. In an Oct. 7 statement, SMGP said it had agreed in 2008 to pay P90 per share when Meralco stock was trading at approximately P57. It said the delay in obtaining the shares meant it received no dividends for about 17 years. SMGP estimated dividends it did not receive during that period at P13 billion, or approximately P21 billion after taking account of the cost of money. The figures are the company’s estimates, not adjudicated losses. SMGP said it plans to direct proceeds from the sale to MPIC toward renewable energy investments and businesses in which it has a more direct operating role. INSIDE PAGES - Pangilinan agrees to P2.19-billion Meralco share deal with San Miguel. n
Philippine senators clash over stripped office and cost of renovations
UN forecasts December El Niño peak Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian disputes Jinggoy Estrada’s claim that removing office fixtures is customary, as as Philippine drought risks grow the space awaits turnover to Vicente Sotto III. by AJPress
M ANILA — El Niño is expected to intensify and peak in December, possibly reaching record st rengt h, t he United Nations’ weather agency said Thursday, October 8, as Philippi ne aut hor it ies repor ted drought in seven provinces and growing pressure on farms and irrigation systems. T he World Meteorological Organization projected a seasonal sea-surface temperature anomaly of about 3.7 degrees Celsius in the central tropical Pacific during October through December. That would exceed the previous comparable record of 2.6 degrees in 2015-2016, although the forecast has not yet been borne out by observations. The anomaly measures regional ocean temperatures, not a rise of that magnitude in global air temperatures. T he W MO sa id t here was a nearly 100 percent l i kel ihood that El Niño would persist through February 2027. That probability concerns the event’s
continuation, not whether it will break the intensity record. The phenomenon can disrupt rainfall worldwide, bringing drought to some areas and heavier precipitation to others. In its October 7 advisory, the Philippine weather bureau PAGASA said strong to very strong El Niño conditions were already present and could continue into the first half of 2027. Seven provinces experienced meteorological drought in September: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Negros Oriental, Samar and Siquijor. Three others recorded dry spells and 30 experienced dry conditions, according to PAGASA. T he agenc y for e c a st b e low-normal rainfall in much of Luzon, the Visayas and Caraga i n October. A sepa rate outlook projected that 17 provinces could face meteorological drought by the end of December. PAGASA cautioned that tropical cyclones and other weather systems could still bring heavy rain. Agricultural effects are being reported. In Leyte, the National
Irrigation Administration said six irrigation systems had below-normal water levels in the first week of October, prompting coordination with agricultural officials on conservation and assistance. In Western Visayas, a regional agriculture official reported that about 3,500 hectares of rice land had been affected, with production losses estimated at P130 million as of September 25. Officials reported 26 small water-impounding projects, 12 completed. In Isabela, the Department of Social Welfare and Development reported paying P41.63 million in emergency aid to 7,930 rice farmers across 24 local government units between September 14 and October 3. Each qualified recipient received P5,250. For longer-ter m planning, the Philippine Rice Research Institute and PAGASA signed a September agreement to share weather forecasts and rice-production data, intended to help farmers decide when to plant and how to manage limited irrigation water. n
by AJPress MANILA — A dispute over the removal of fixtures from a Philippine Senate office has raised questions about renovation expenses after the space previously occupied by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was left largely stripped of its fittings ahead of its turnover to Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Wednesday, October 7, that dismantling an office in such a manner was not standard Senate practice, challenging an explanation offered by Estrada’s staff. Gatchalian acknowledged that Estrada had used personal funds to renovate the office but said leaving some fixtures intact would have reduced the expense of preparing the premises for another senator. The Senate provides an allocation of approximately 700,000 pesos for office renovations, according to Gatchalian, who said government funds would now be needed to restore the space. Photographs and videos circulated earlier in the week showed sections of the sixth-floor office
with floor tiles, lighting fixtures, electrical fittings and bathroom installations removed. Estrada’s office defended the dismantling in an October 6 statement, saying most of the removed materials, including tiles, glass panels, lighting fixtures and cabinets, had been purchased with the senator’s personal funds because the Senate’s renovation allocation had not covered the full cost of improvements. His staff said the materials would be transferred for reuse in Estrada’s new office and maintained that removing privately financed improvements was an accepted practice in the Senate. The statement also said Estrada’s chief of staff, lawyer Racquel Mejia, had informed Sotto’s office before the October 5 deadline that the fixtures, furnishings and other materials would be taken to the senator’s new workplace. Gatchalian nevertheless said advance coordination about the extent of the removal would have been appropriate, particularly because Sotto needed to occupy the premises without unnecessary delays.
Recalling his first Senate term in 2016, Gatchalian said former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III had turned over an office to him in usable condition, limiting the need for additional renovations. Sen. Panfilo Lacson separately disputed Estrada’s assertion that the same office had been left bare when Estrada took possession in 2022. Lacson said he had left permanent improvements intact because government funds had been used to refurbish the premises. He said furniture purchased with public money had been returned to the Senate property custodian, while only personal belongings were removed. Estrada’s office maintained that no public funds had been wasted in dismantling the fixtures and said the matter had been explained to the resident auditor of the Commission on Audit. No audit finding approving or disapproving the removal was established in the records reviewed. Nor was a final cost available for renovating the office for Sotto’s use. n
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244 apprehended in Philippine POGO raids as trafficking probe widens Authorities investigate suspected online scams and possible official involvement after raids on illegal gaming facilities in Mindanao by AJPress
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday (Oct. 8, 2026) meets with new South Korean Ambassador to Manila Lee Dong-gy during an introductory call at at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. The two committed to advancing defense strategic partnership between the Philippines and South Korea. Photo courtesy of the DND
Philippine foreign reserves fall to threeyear low as peso sets record close by AJPress MANILA — The Philippines' international reserves slipped below $100 billion in September, reaching their lowest level in three years as the central bank reported foreign exchange operations, valuation losses and government withdrawals that reduced the country's holdings of foreign assets. Preliminary figures from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed gross international reserves declining to $99.997 billion at the end of September from $104.846 billion in August, a decrease of approximately $4.85 billion, or 4.6 percent. The balance was the lowest since September 2023, when reserves stood at $98.12 billion. It was also 8.3 percent below the $109.06 billion recorded a year earlier. The BSP attributed the decrease primarily to its net foreign exchange operations, downward valuation adjustments affecting gold and foreign currency-denominated reserve assets, and withdrawals from national government foreign currency deposits, including funds used for
external debt payments. Other reserve assets, a category that includes certain shortterm investments and accrued interest receivables, fell to approximately $10 billion from $15.47 billion in August. Gold holdings declined to $17.82 billion from $19.11 billion, while foreign currency securities increased slightly to $64.44 billion from $64.04 billion. Currency and deposit holdings rose to $3.08 billion from $1.54 billion. The September balance was also substantially below the $113.26 billion recorded in February, the highest monthly reserve level so far this year. Despite the decline, the BSP maintained that the country's reserves remained sufficient to meet external payment requirements and provide a buffer against financial disruptions. The latest holdings were equivalent to 6.3 months of imports of goods and payments for services and primary income, down from 6.6 months in August. They also covered approximately 3.2 times the country's short-term external debt based on residual maturity. International reserves provide the central bank with foreign currency and other assets that
can be used to meet external obligations and manage disruptions in foreign exchange markets. The decline comes amid continued pressure on the Philippine peso, which closed at a record low of P62.90 against the U.S. dollar on Thursday, October 8, compared with P62.75 the previous day. The latest closing rate surpassed the previous record of P62.86 set in September. Although the BSP's foreign exchange operations affect reserve levels, the preliminary figures do not establish how much of the September decline resulted specifically from efforts to moderate currency volatility. The peso's weakness also poses challenges for import-dependent businesses, which face higher peso costs for dollar-priced goods. Meanwhile, Philippine Statistics Authority figures showed annual inflation accelerating to 7.2 percent in September from 6.1 percent in August, driven principally by faster increases in food, housing and utility, and transportation costs. Transport prices rose 14.6 percent from a year earlier, while rice prices increased 20.3 percent. n
MANILA — Philippine authorities are investigating possible human trafficking, online fraud and government involvement following raids on suspected illegal offshore gaming operations in the southern Philippines, where the Bureau of Immigration reported apprehending 244 foreign nationals. The October 2 operations targeted facilities in Siay and Alicia, two municipalities in Zamboanga Sibugay province on the Zamboanga Peninsula in western Mindanao. Immigration officials described the raids as the country's largest crackdown this year on suspected illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators, commonly known as POGOs. The investigation has since expanded to determine whether some of those apprehended were victims of forced labor, whether the compounds were used for other illicit online activities and whether government officials facilitated their operations. On Wednesday, October 7, military personnel helped transport 50 foreign nationals from Pagadian Airport to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City for further processing. A Filipina was also reported among the passengers, bringing the group to 51. The transfer was part of efforts to identify possible trafficking victims and distinguish them from individuals suspected of organizing or managing the operations. The raids were conducted by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The targeted locations were in Barangay Kimos in Siay and Barangay Tandiong Muslim in Alicia. According to the BI's initial report, 113 foreign nationals were apprehended in Siay, including 110 Chinese nationals, two Cambodians and one person identified as being from Hong Kong. Another 131 were apprehended in Alicia, predominantly Chinese nationals, along with individuals
from Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar. The bureau said their identities and nationalities remained subject to verification. Other agencies have reported different preliminary totals, which have not been publicly reconciled. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said investigators were examining suspected human trafficking, physical abuse and coercion, along with online romance and investment fraud schemes allegedly conducted from the facilities. Authorities are assessing reports that some workers were recruited under misleading circumstances or compelled to participate in fraudulent online activities. Matibag said the NBI had also identified foreign nationals suspected of involvement in managing the operations. On October 6, he said four individuals were being brought to Manila for possible proceedings involving human trafficking allegations. The investigation is examining whether the compounds were used for coordinated online influence activities, commonly described as troll farms. The BI reported recovering approximately 3,000 mobile phones, 78 computer monitors, laptops and SIM cards from the Casa de Coco Pension House compound in Siay. Matibag subsequently cited a larger quantity of mobile phones and other telecommunications equipment recovered during the operations. The NBI is examining the devices to determine their use and potential connection to online fraud or other unlawful activities. Authorities have not announced a final forensic finding establishing that the compounds were used as troll farms. Investigators are also scrutinizing how the facilities were established and whether government officials played any role in permitting or supporting their operations. Matibag said the NBI intended to obtain construction permits and other local government records to determine whether any officials participated in unlawful
activities or violated anti-corruption laws. No particular government official has been publicly established as criminally responsible for the operations. Separately, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed police commanders to intensify intelligence operations against suspected offshore gaming and online scam networks. He instructed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Anti-Cybercrime Group to conduct follow-up inquiries into the Zamboanga Sibugay operations, including possible connections to similar facilities elsewhere in the country. The raids occurred nearly two years after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the nationwide shutdown of POGOs amid longstanding concerns about organized crime, online fraud and human trafficking linked to parts of the industry. Executive Order No. 74 formalized the prohibition in November 2024. Republic Act No. 12312, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, subsequently established a statutory ban on offshore gaming operations and related activities. Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the BI would continue enforcing immigration laws against foreign nationals found to have violated the conditions of their stay. The bureau is investigating possible immigration violations, including unauthorized employment, improper documentation and illegal entry. Those found liable for deportable offenses may face removal proceedings and restrictions on future entry, subject to applicable legal requirements. Possible criminal violations involving human trafficking, financial fraud and other offenses are being investigated separately. Authorities have yet to announce final determinations on the individual roles of those apprehended, as investigators continue reviewing electronic evidence, immigration records and documents related to the establishment and operation of the compounds. n
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Opinion
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OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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Beyond the POGO ban: Dismantling the networks that remain A ban is a legal act. Dismantling the networks that survive it is a test of governing capacity. That is the larger lesson from the apprehension of 244 foreign nationals in Zamboanga Sibugay on Oct. 2 during operations targeting suspected activities linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs. POGOs were businesses that conducted online gambling from the Philippines primarily for customers abroad. PAGCOR brought the sector under a licensing system in 2016. By August 2019, the regulator said it had licensed 58 operators employing more than 130,000 people and had received nearly P12 billion in remittances from 2016 through 2018. But the expansion also exposed serious enforcement problems. Authorities increasingly encountered illegal operators and criminal activity associated with some POGO-linked operations, including fraud, money laundering and human trafficking. PAGCOR stopped accepting new license applications in 2019 while reviewing concerns involving security, legality and the social effects of the industry. The government ultimately abandoned the regulatory model. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a nationwide ban in 2024, and Executive Order No. 74 required licensed offshore gaming
operations to cease by Dec. 31 of that year. Republic Act No. 12312, the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, later made offshore gaming operations unlawful. The policy question has therefore changed. The issue is no longer whether POGOs should be allowed to operate legally, but how government should respond when illegal remnants become smaller, more mobile and harder to detect. The Zamboanga Sibugay operation illustrates the challenge. The Bureau of Immigration said simultaneous operations in Siay and Alicia targeted suspected POGO-related activities. At the Siay site, authorities recovered 78 computer monitors, roughly 3,000 mobile phones, laptops, SIM cards and other technical devices that the bureau said were believed to have been used for online scams. The allegations remain under investigation. Immigration violations have not been finally adjudicated, possible human trafficking offenses are being examined, and individual culpability must be established through evidence. Most of those apprehended were reported to be Chinese nationals, but nationality is not evidence of criminal responsibility. The Anti-POGO Act recognizes that an illegal operation can depend on more than the people
Editorial
babe’s eye view Babe Romualdez
WE call our overseas Filipino workers modern-day heroes, and rightly so. Their sacrifices sustain families, educate children and help keep our economy moving. But when a worker faces an abusive employer, an immigration problem or a criminal accusation in a foreign country, praise offers little protection. What that person needs is competent legal counsel, available promptly and able to act where the case is being heard. This is why I believe the budget of the Department of Migrant Workers must be increased to strengthen access to experienced, reputable lawyers in countries and localities where our workers live and work. Legal protection should be a dependable government service, with resources commensurate with responsibilities we have assumed toward our citizens overseas. I have been in touch with Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who I hope will champion this advocacy. My hope is that she and her colleagues will help translate this concern into a practical budgetary commitment. Protecting Filipino workers abroad should
PEDDLER OF HOPE George Royeca ON Aug. 20, 2025, the President of the Philippines stood on a riverbank in Barangay Piel, Baliwag, Bulacan. Public Works records said a 220 meter river wall had been built there for P55.7 million, finished on June 30 and paid. In front of him was the river and nothing else. “Kahit isang araw hindi nagtrabaho,” he said. Not even one day of work. The district engineer later told a House hearing that he had signed the completion certificate without inspecting the site. Bulacan floods every rainy season, and some of its towns sit in water for weeks. The families there, like families everywhere, pay about P4 of every P10 of their medical bills themselves. The wall that was never built was supposed to protect them. The money that paid for it came from them.
ManilaTimes.net photo
found inside a site. The law prohibits aiding, protecting or abetting offshore gaming, including allowing buildings, computer systems, digital platforms and other facilities to be used for prohibited activities. It also covers specified acts involving fraudulent travel documents and treats violations of the law as unlawful activity under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. That framework should guide enforcement.
Our migrant workers deserve SOCIAL CLIMATE more than gratitude command support across political lines. Their families deserve to know the government takes their security seriously, regardless of political affiliation. There is already a foundation on which to build. Republic Act 11641, which created the Department of Migrant Workers, established the AKSYON Fund for legal and other assistance to OFWs. The department’s assistance framework includes engaging lawyers and paying attorney’s fees and litigation expenses for employment disputes, immigration matters, criminal cases, illegal recruitment and trafficking. The challenge is to make this protection accessible and effective when needed. A legal assistance program must be judged by what happens to the worker who asks for help. How quickly is the request assessed? Is a qualified lawyer available nearby? Can counsel intervene before an important deadline passes? Does the worker understand the advice being given? These questions should guide decisions about funding and the delivery of services. Consider a domestic worker seeking unpaid wages, a seafarer unjustly deported and blacklist-
ed or contesting an employment claim, or a caregiver threatened after reporting abuse. Each situation requires its own assessment. A worker may hesitate to complain because losing a job could mean losing accommodation or facing uncertainty about immigration status. Early consultation can help identify lawful options before fear forces an uninformed decision. Experienced local counsel matters because legal systems differ. A Filipino lawyer can provide valuable guidance, but representation before a foreign court or tribunal may require a lawyer licensed in that jurisdiction. Familiarity with local labor laws, procedures and available remedies can be decisive. We should engage counsel with the relevant expertise and a demonstrated commitment to serving vulnerable clients. The United States illustrates the importance of matching expertise to location. Employment and immigration concerns can involve different authorities and procedures, and appropriate legal responses depend on the facts. From Washington, my conviction is that diplomatic support works best when it can u PAGE 10
Who should be the next president of the Philippines? Remember that riverbank. It explains our economy better than any lecture. Multiply the wall. Between July 2022 and May 2025 the government spent P545 billion on flood control. Fifteen contractors took a fifth of it. By October 2025, inspectors had checked 8,000 projects and found 421 that did not exist. The central bank governor says growth last year would have been 4.7 percent instead of 4.4 without it. Now go back to 1960. That year the average Filipino earned $269, more than the Malaysian and far more than the Korean, who earned $159. Today the Korean earns about $36,000, the Malaysian $13,000 and the Filipino about $4,200. Even Thailand and Indonesia have passed us. This was not bad luck. For 60 years we were out governed, and the riverbank in Baliwag shows how. The 2026 budget is P6.8 trillion, and P950 billion of it goes to
interest on debt, more than the entire health and social welfare budgets combined. The national debt is now about 66 percent of GDP, the highest in more than two decades. We borrow to fund the leak, pay interest on the leak, then borrow again. The deficit and the corruption are not two problems. They are one problem seen from two sides. Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and India were all corrupt while they grew. The difference is what the bribe bought. There, corruption was a tax on production. A firm paid for its permit, then built the factory, hired the workers and exported. Here, corruption became a substitute for production. The money is made inside the budget itself: the insertion, the ghost project, the contractor who is also the legislator. When the surest road to wealth runs through the budget, talent goes into politics, not enterprise. Manufacturing is 15 u PAGE 9
Mahar Mangahas THE effort to improve the well-being of the Filipino people is not a competition against any other people. It is not some kind of contest or sport, with winners and losers, and their corresponding statistics. Rather, it is an effort to improve the lives of Filipinos at present compared to their lives in the past. It is also an effort to prepare for the tasks of maintaining and further advancing Filipino well-being in the future. To measure progress from the past, the statistics for scoring well-being should obviously be periodic. They should have been measured in the past, and the records permanently kept; they should tell about the present, and keep telling about the future as it happens. Ranking is incidental. There’s no need to aspire for a high world ranking in “Happiness,” for instance. Finland is the perennial No. 1 in the World Happiness Index, but that’s no reason to envy the Finns. I think the 0-10 scale, “from the lowest possible to the highest possible satisfaction with
ON THE MOVE
Segundo Eclar Romero THE Philippines does not lack people who care. Every day, millions of Filipinos demonstrate compassion through volunteering, donations, community initiatives, disaster response, and countless acts of kindness. Our young people are passionate about issues they care about: climate change, poverty, education, health, inequality, corruption, and social justice. But caring alone is not enough. The country’s most difficult problems cannot be solved by goodwill alone. They are wicked problems—problems that are interconnected, constantly changing, and shaped by multiple systems, institutions, behaviors, and historical conditions. Poverty is not only a lack of income. It is connected to education, health, housing, transportation, employment, governance, and social protection. Flooding is not only a drainage problem. It is connected to land use, settle-
Raids remain necessary when supported by evidence and lawful authority, but the number of people apprehended or devices seized cannot be the principal measure of success. Investigators must be able to trace financial flows, preserve digital evidence, identify connections among sites and combine immigration, corporate, property and financial records into a coherent case. u PAGE 10
We compete against the past life,” just happens to work well in Scandinavia, including Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Consider the alternative of ACSA. An alternative life-satisfaction scale is from -5 to +5, “from the best time in one’s past life to the worst time in one’s past life.” Very few Filipinos give a negative answer to this scale (see “Social Weather Report: Anamnestic Self-Assessment (ACSA) falls to record low +1.72 in November 2025, surpassing previous low of +1.97 in May 2021,” www.sws.org.ph, 3/30/26). The ACSA median response has been steady at 3.00 during 2017-2025, though it was not surveyed in 2020 due to the pandemic. The ACSA arithmetic mean started at 2.82 in 2017, and by 2023 was back at 2.76 before falling again last year. Whatever the scale, an advance from the past is good, and backsliding is a problem that needs fixing. Well-being has many dimensions. The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (sdgs.un.org) make a highly acceptable agenda. The first five, and surely the most important, are: 1. No poverty, 2. Zero hunger, 3. Good health, 4. Quality education, and 5. Gender equality. Their general priority is to
minimize the number who are badly off, rather than to maximize the number who are well-off: to eliminate child wasting and stunting; to reduce infant mortality; to achieve universal completion of basic education—first junior high school, then senior high school; to equalize opportunities by gender. One can discern good governance as an implicit goal. The statistics should refer to people, rather than to things like production. Getting awards in areas of human endeavor is certainly good for national pride. In fact, one of our three most important sources of pride is achievements in sports (“Sports and national pride,” and “Pride from international sports,” inquirer.net, 12/7/19 and 8/3/24), in addition to our history and our achievements in the arts. However, the enhancement of national pride per se is not among the SDGs. Social Weather Stations (SWS) measures what it can, within its resources; its most important surveys are the quarterlies, which is the most we can afford to do. Other institutions are welcome to fill the gaps and to compete in subjects we already work on. Being a market-oriented economist, I believe that compeu PAGE 10
Thinking like a mayor ments, livelihoods, ecosystems, climate change, infrastructure, and political decisions made over decades. The challenge is therefore not only to produce citizens who care. The greater challenge is to produce citizens who can see the whole system and act within it. This is why we need to promote one simple but powerful habit of mind: Think like a mayor. Not because everyone should become a mayor. But because the mayoral perspective represents one of the highest forms of social responsibility. A mayor cannot afford to think in silos. A mayor cannot say: “Education is DepEd’s problem.” “Health is DOH’s problem.” “Flooding is DPWH’s problem.” “Poverty is DSWD’s problem.” The mayor inherits the reality that all these problems exist simultaneously in one place, affecting the same families, the same communities, and the same future. The mayor must ask: Who are the people affected? Why are they experiencing these difficulties? What systems produce these conditions? Who must work together to create solu-
tions? What resources are available? What happens if we succeed? What happens if we fail? This is systems thinking applied to public responsibility. Thinking like a mayor transforms how we understand social responsibility. At the most basic level, social responsibility begins with responding to suffering. We provide relief. We help people survive. This is necessary. But mature social responsibility moves further. The next question is: How do we help people build capabilities to improve their own lives? This means investing in education, skills, livelihoods, health, and opportunities. The next level is: How do we help communities organize themselves so they influence decisions that affect their lives? This requires participatory governance, empowered communities, and citizens who are not merely recipients of programs but partners in development. The highest level is: What future are we creating for the next generations? This is where sustainability, resilience, and intergenerational responsibility emerge. u PAGE 10
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Philippine airport concession proposal awaits additional documents P21.64-billion Davao, Bicol and Siargao plan remains in pre-approval review by AJPress
The New Clark City in Tarlac is being touted as a green, smart, and disaster-resilient urban community development project of the BCDA. BCDA file photo
The Luzon Economic Corridor needs one plan, not another map by Scott Campbell Philstar.com
At the Luzon Economic Corridor forum last month, one request stood apart from the rest of the program. The subject-matter expert who oversees where cargo actually moves in the Philippines said he wished the corridor had one master plan. He was not asking for another map. The government has already drawn the belt: Subic Bay on the west, Clark and New Clark City inland, Manila on the bay, Batangas to the south. It has listed ports, railways, airports, power lines, and industrial parks. Investors were invited to choose from the list. That is a menu. A master plan is different. It is a sequence. It says what must happen first, who is late when a date slips, and how a box of goods leaves a factory and reaches a ship. Without that, the corridor is four locations joined by hope and by trucks. Most cargo in this belt still moves on rubber. The freight railway that would tie Subic, Clark, Manila and Batangas together is still being studied. That study matters. It will not carry a container this year or next. The passenger railway now being built will move workers. It will not move factory lots. Those are two jobs. Naming them in the same speech does not put them on the same track. Clark’s airport is the exception. Air cargo there is already growing. Courier companies are expanding. A second runway is in design. If a factory in New Clark City needs to fly a high-value shipment in the next few years, the airport can help. If it needs to send heavy loads to a port every week, it will use the same expressways everyone else uses. That is not a scandal. It is the calendar. An honest plan would say so on one page. Adding more projects will not fix this. We have plenty of projects. What the belt needs are
four plain rules a mayor, a plant manager, and a customs officer can all read. First, put the work in order. Say clearly what the next five years will run on trucks and aircraft, and what must wait for the freight railway. Do not sell a tenant a train that does not exist. Do not tell a town the trucks will disappear next year. Publish the order. Update it when a study slips. People can live with a slow railway. They cannot live with a story that changes at every ceremony. Second, name the person who owns the calendar. Not a company that owns Luzon. Not another layer of bureaucracy. One official whose job is to say, this quarter, which link is the bottleneck — the rail study, the Clark runway, the fuel line from Subic, the road into New Clark City — and to raise a missed date immediately. When everyone is in charge, no one is in charge. And the truck waits. Third, make the papers as simple as the road. A factory can sit on a good site and still lose a week because the zone, the freeport, and Customs keep three different files on the same shipment. Shippers already know this. Families feel it in the price of goods. The country is also trying to connect its clearance systems with its ASEAN neighbors. That only works if a shipment inside Clark is visible to national Customs as it happens, not after a pile of letters. Create one path for the papers. Publish how long cargo sits at Clark air cargo and at Subic and Batangas. Fourth, try the rules in one place before asking the whole island to follow them. New Clark City is the right test. It is already a planned city on public land. Part of that land has been offered for advanced manufacturing. The city is not the factory, and the factory is not the city. The city has a river park, housing and a long horizon. The
industrial site is a campus that needs power, water, and a single gate. If government cannot run those as one process on that one site — one door for investors, a public list of power and water already approved, no construction ahead of the environmental permit — how are we expected to believe it will run a four-port corridor? That is not asking Manila to bet the country on a slogan or an AI-generated map. It is asking Manila to prove a method on a few thousand hectares and then copy it. And host towns belong in the same plan. Capas, Bamban, and their neighbors will carry the traffic and the jobs. They should see a clear share of lease and tax revenue when the site works, not a bargaining chip when a permit is pending. People who live next to a project will support it faster if they can read the deal. None of this needs a new law or constitution. It needs a short operating plan for the Luzon belt, issued this quarter, with names and dates. The deal book can stay. The forum can stay. What cannot stay is the habit of announcing the corridor as if the trains were already running. When someone who works at the gates of the country’s trade asks for one master plan, that is a warning, not a theme for the next conference. Write the sequence. Name the clock. Unify the papers. Test it at New Clark City. Then the map on the brochure will finally match the road. *** reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Scott Campbell is a non-resident fellow at the think tank Stratbase Institute and the founder of SilicaSentinel. Prior to his current role, he served as the operations manager for Samaritan’s Purse International Relief in the Middle East.
National study cited by educators found 80% of surveyed children and young adults had experienced violence MANILA — The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) has called on Catholic schools to strengthen procedures for identifying and responding to child abuse, citing longstanding national evidence of violence against children and the need for coordinated protection services. The association urged schools to give greater attention to the government's revised protocol for managing cases involving child abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination, known as CANE+D. The framework sets out procedures for reporting suspected abuse, coordinating investigations and connecting affected children with appropriate services. CEAP referred to the government's Fourth National Plan of Action for Children, covering 2023 to 2028, which cites findings that 80 percent of Filipino children and young people surveyed had experienced some form of violence in their homes, schools, workplaces, communities or dating relationships. The figure originates from the 2015 National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children, conducted by the Council for the Welfare of Children with UNICEF. The research involved 3,866 respondents ages 13 to
24 from 172 randomly selected villages nationwide. Its findings were released in 2016 and published in a peer-reviewed medical journal in 2022. Because the survey included young adults and was conducted more than a decade ago, its findings do not establish the prevalence of violence among Filipino children in 2026. Separate government figures underscore the volume of reported incidents. In 2023, the Philippine National Police's Women and Children Protection Center received 18,756 reports of violations of children's rights, including 17,304 involving violence against children, according to figures presented by the Council for the Welfare of Children in 2024. The totals represent reports received, not independently verified offenses or a measure of nationwide prevalence. Online abuse remains another concern. A 2022 study by UNICEF, ECPAT International and Interpol estimated that one in five internet-using Filipino children ages 12 to 17 had experienced online sexual abuse or exploitation during the preceding year. The revised CANE+D protocol, launched nationally by the Department of Justice in August 2025, updates guidelines introduced in 2013. It establishes a coordinated approach to identifying suspected abuse, mana-
ging cases and providing legal, medical and social welfare assistance. Provincial implementation initiatives followed in Cavite in March 2026 and Cebu in July. The Department of the Interior and Local Government also issued Memorandum Circular No. 2026-036 in June, directing local governments to adopt the revised procedures and establish coordinated referral and case-management systems. In a separate statement Thursday, October 8, UNICEF called for broader protections against online harm, emphasizing safer digital platforms, accessible reporting mechanisms and stronger child protection systems rather than relying solely on proposed social media restrictions. The Department of Education's Child Protection Policy, issued in 2012, already requires public and private elementary and secondary schools to maintain safeguards against abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination and bullying. CEAP said schools must be prepared to recognize warning signs, respond appropriately to disclosures and ensure that children receive protection and continuing support. The association also emphasized specialized training for educators and other frontline personnel involved in handling suspected abuse. n
The PPP Center determined that the consortium's original submission was complete in June 2025 and endorsed it for agency review. The implementing agencies granted original proponent status on June 4, 2026. The September finding concerns a later submission; the project registry does not indicate that the consortium's original proponent status has been withdrawn. Original proponent status does not constitute approval of a concession contract. Under PPP rules, an approved unsolicited proposal is opened to competing offers, with the original proponent permitted to match or improve on the strongest qualifying financial bid. Del Rosario said at a transportation forum organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines that negotiations were nearing completion. The PPP Center continues to describe the proposal as being in the pre-approval stage, and its published record gives no firm date for a competitive challenge. n
Go, Padilla take impeachment voting dispute to Supreme Court by AJPress
MANILA - Senators Robinhood Padilla and Christopher “Bong” Go have asked the Supreme Court to overturn a Senate impeachment court ruling that could allow Vice President Sara Duterte to be convicted with fewer than 16 votes, renewing a dispute over the constitutional requirement for removing an impeachable official. In a petition for certiorari and prohibition filed October 6, the two senator-judges joined PDP-Laban, former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and several lawyers and private individuals in challenging the impeachment court’s September 23 decision. The case has been reported as docketed under G.R. No. E-08751. Article XI, Section 3(6) of the 1987 Constitution requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all Senate members for an impeachment conviction. The Constitution separately provides for a 24-member Senate. Padilla and Go argue that these provisions require at least 16 affirmative votes, irrespective of how many senators are able to take part in The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints the final vote. expressed by the author do not necessarily The impeachment court voted
Philippine Catholic schools urged to strengthen safeguards against child abuse by AJPress
MANILA — A P21.64-billion proposal to modernize and operate three Philippine airports has been marked incomplete in a government documentation review, leaving pre-approval requirements outstanding. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center's project record shows that the Department of Transportation, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and Davao International Airport Authority submitted the project for a completeness check on September 1. The center recorded an incomplete assessment on September 14. Its public listing does not identify the missing documents. CAAP Director General Raul del Rosario said Thursday, October 8, that the private proponents could provide additional documents within the timelines permitted by Philippine PPP rules. He said he expected them to meet the requirements. The proposal covers Francisco
Bangoy International Airport in Davao, Bicol International Airport in Albay province and Sayak Airport on Siargao island. It was submitted by the Philippine Regional Airports Consortium, comprising Filinvest Infra-Solutions Ventures Inc., JG Summit Infrastructure Holding Corporation and Asian Infrastructure and Management Corporation. Filinvest and JG Summit are associated with the Gotianun and Gokongwei business groups, respectively. Under the proposed rehabilitate-operate-transfer arrangement, the concessionaire would develop and operate the Davao and Bicol airports for 30 years and the Siargao airport for 15 years. The plans include passenger terminal expansion and cargo facility improvements in Davao, along with additional aircraft parking space, a parallel taxiway and expanded access roads. Bicol would receive terminal renovations and expanded boarding facilities, while Siargao's passenger terminal would be enlarged and renovated.
13-1 on September 23 to reconsider an earlier ruling by presiding officer Francis Escudero that fixed the conviction requirement at 16 votes. Six senator-judges did not participate in the September vote, including Padilla and Go. Under the revised interpretation, the two-thirds requirement would be calculated using senators legally and actually capable of participating when judgment is rendered. That does not automatically set a new, lower figure: the impeachment court would have to determine whether individual senators qualify for exclusion. The issue resurfaced after Senator Erwin Tulfo sought clarification of how the voting requirement would apply if senators could not participate because of legal restraints or other circumstances. The House prosecution previously said its duty to prove the impeachment allegations would remain the same regardless of the voting threshold. The new petition argues that senators do not cease to be members of the chamber because they are detained, suspended, ill or absent. The petitioners contend that excluding them from the calculation would improperly alter the constitutional standard. They seek a temporary restra-
ining order, a status quo ante order or preliminary injunctive relief while the court considers their challenge. The filing follows the Supreme Court’s September 30 dismissal of three earlier petitions brought by former Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, Berteni Cataluña Causing and lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. The court cited procedural grounds, including lack of legal standing and prematurity, without deciding whether the Senate’s interpretation was constitutional. Go and Padilla argue that their roles as sitting senator-judges give them a direct interest in the voting rule, unlike the private individuals behind the earlier challenges. Whether that distinction is sufficient to establish standing remains for the Supreme Court to decide. House prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan said on October 7 that the challenge was premature because the impeachment court had not yet voted on Duterte’s conviction or acquittal. Prosecution legal spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said the panel respected the petitioners’ right to seek judicial remedies but maintained that the Senate’s revised interpretation had a sound legal basis. n
Who should be the next president...
PAGE 8 percent of our economy, against 27 percent in Korea. We consume, we remit, we import. We do not build. Nor is the private sector innocent. The 50 richest Filipinos are worth $79 billion, about a sixth of GDP, and those fortunes sit in power, water, telecoms, ports, malls and banks, where the decisive asset is proximity to government, not a better product. Our startups raised $119 million last year, two percent of Southeast Asia’s total. A country that exports the region’s best nurses and engineers cannot grow a hundred companies that matter. That is a sign of closed doors. Then there is the money Congress steers. Activists count nearly P700 billion in the 2026 budget that individual legislators inserted for projects of their choosing, parked in district engineering offices and soft programs. That is the real power of Congress: not what it spends on itself, but what it gets to decide for everyone else. So what does the job take? An operator. Someone who treats
the budget as the country’s most important moral document and defends it line by line. Someone who publishes every project, proponent and contractor on the day it is funded, so the next ghost wall is caught by a barangay captain with a phone, not by a president with a motorcade. Someone who takes the champions and the new companies public on the exchange, so that Filipinos own what gets built and a million small shareholders with audited books police what no regulator can. Korea did not get rich by eliminating corruption first. It got rich by making production more profitable than plunder. That is the whole job. And here is the hopeful part: everything the job needs, we already have. We have the workers. The world hires them every day. We have 1.2 million registered firms. We even have the money. Those P700 billion of insertions are roughly our health and social welfare budgets combined. We will not stop the leak in one term. But we can shrink it and point the pipe at the people, at a few programs big enough to carry
DILG, CWC link Unified 911, MAKABATA 1383 for faster child protection response.
the next generation: a well-fed child in its first thousand days, a teacher in every classroom, a clinic that treats you before it asks how you will pay. Lee Kuan Yew said a nation is made great not by its size but by the will and cohesion of its people and the quality of its leaders. Nobody doubts the will of Filipinos, or our cohesion. Every typhoon proves it: the neighbor with the boat, the stranger with the rope, the barangay kitchen that feeds a street. What the people need is leadership of the same quality. That is the vote in 2028. So who should be president? Not the most popular. We have tried popular. Not the strongest. We have tried strong. The most responsible: the one who checks the wall before signing the check. The Filipino was never the problem. Give the builders a fair field, and watch what this country does. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
DILG file photo
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OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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Pangilinan seeks Senate probe of rice shipments as government steps up smuggling cases by AJPress MANILA — Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has asked the Senate to examine the interception of two vessels carrying roughly 20,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam, bringing renewed attention to whether large agricultural-smuggling cases lead to prosecutions rather than ending with the detention of shipments. Pangilinan told senators Thursday, Oct. 8, that the Bureau of Customs, working with the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Navy, intercepted the vessels in separate operations on Sept. 17 and 21. He requested a referral to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, which he chairs. The senator identified the ships as MV Tay Son 2, carrying an estimated 12,500 metric tons of rice, and MV Lucky Star, with about 7,500 metric tons. According to his office, the first was intercepted after reportedly attempting to leave the Port of Davao without completing Customs procedures. The second was held at the Port of Limay after authorities reported discrepancies between its cargo and import permit. Pangilinan said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno had confirmed the interceptions to him. The vessels’ reported documentation problems are allegations under examination, not findings that their owners, operators or importers committed crimes. He put the shipments’ combined value at approximately P700 million. But his stated reference price of $420 per metric ton would place 20,000 metric tons
at $8.4 million, leaving the basis for the peso estimate unclear. An independently verified valuation was not included in the materials released by his office. Pangilinan’s call for Senate scrutiny follows his questioning of justice officials during a Sept. 24 hearing on the Department of Justice’s proposed 2027 budget. He criticized the lack of progress in cases involving major agricultural smuggling operations and urged the DOJ and National Bureau of Investigation to demonstrate that well-financed suspects would not be shielded from prosecution. In that hearing, Pangilinan said 35 of 45 agricultural economic sabotage complaints referred to the DOJ as of May 2026 had been sent back for further case preparation. Those figures were presented by the senator and do not establish how many cases subsequently resulted in charges or convictions. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said prosecutors were seeking the documentation required to advance cases. On Sept. 28, the DOJ, Customs and NBI signed an agreement to improve intelligence-sharing, evidence evaluation, case preparation, criminal investigations and prosecutions. The agreement was signed by Vida, Nepomuceno and NBI Director Melvin Matibag. Customs said it had endorsed 15 complaints involving 20 respondents for alleged violations of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. It separately reported 30 agriculture-related cases involving 127 respondents filed under customs law since 2025. The numbers cover different enforcement categories and are not
conviction totals. Customs also announced six criminal complaints over imported shipments declared as chicken products that the bureau said actually contained 15,029 sacks of white onions and 2,164 boxes of carrots without the required clearances. The bureau later asked immigration authorities to issue a lookout bulletin covering 13 people connected with the complaints. A lookout request is not an arrest warrant or a determination of guilt. The controversy has renewed scrutiny of the penalties available under Republic Act No. 12022, enacted in September 2024. The law classifies specified fraudulent agricultural imports valued at P10 million or more, using its statutory Daily Price Index, as economic sabotage. Penalties vary by offense and role; certain convictions carry life imprisonment and fines tied to the value of the products. Sen. Robinhood Padilla previously proposed capital punishment for Customs, military, police and other law enforcement personnel involved in agricultural smuggling. His Senate Bill No. 2214 was filed in May 2023 and substituted by another measure later that year; it was not enacted. The Philippines has prohibited the death penalty under Republic Act No. 9346 since 2006, and the 2024 agricultural sabotage law does not authorize executions. Pangilinan’s Oct. 8 statement did not identify charges filed specifically over the two rice vessels. His proposed Senate examination would add legislative oversight while investigators determine whether the cargo documents, permits and other evidence support criminal cases. n
We compete against the past... PAGE 8 tition benefits both demanders and suppliers. The SWS data are addressed to everyone, in all sectors, public and private, domestic, and international. The best judges of their adequacy and quality are the Filipino people. Why is the Chinese government recalling its Chinese-language teachers from the Philippines? It occurs to me that these teachers, being academics, are in a good position to tell their friends and neighbors back in
China the truth about their government’s unjust and unlawful behavior in the West Philippine Sea. “How many of the Chinese people know about the 9-dash and 10-dash claims that their government is still making? How many of them know about the Philippine victory in the 2016 ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal on the Law of the Sea? How many of them know that their government refused to take part in the case that we raised at the tribunal? How
many of them will fail to draw the conclusion that their government knew from the start that it lacks evidence for its claims?” (see “What is Chinese public opinion?” inquirer.net, 7/19/25.) (Inquirer.net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: mahar.mangahas@sws.org.ph
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joins the nation in celebrating National Teachers’ Day on Monday, honoring educators for their sacrifices and vital role in shaping the country’s future. PCO file photo
Our migrant workers deserve more... PAGE 8 connect a Filipino facing difficulty with the professional assistance the situation requires. Good intentions need practical support behind them. Our embassies, consulates and migrant workers offices have essential roles in assisting citizens and coordinating with host authorities. They should be supported by a dependable network of vetted lawyers, with clear arrangements for referrals and urgent cases. Where appropriate, partnerships with legal aid organizations, bar associations and community groups can extend that network. Volunteer assistance is valuable, but sustained government funding must carry the responsibility. An increased allocation should therefore come with a credible plan. The DMW should assess demand by country, identify gaps in legal coverage and establish reasonable arrangements for consultations and representation. Funding should recognize that complex proceedings can continue beyond a single budget cycle. A worker should not be left wondering whether an ongoing case will lose support before it reaches a conclusion. Accountability is equally necessary. Lawyers must be selected transparently, checked for conflicts of interest and evaluated for their quality of service. Fees and expenses should be documented. Congress should
My Second Encounter with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos
IT was my second encounter with Philippine First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, or FL LAM. It happened during the opening of “LIKHA 5: Likha Ko, Lahi Ko,” where she was the guest of honor. Upon entering the LIKHA Tent at the Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls, I saw Joanne Rae M. Ramirez of The Philippine Star, and we had our photo taken together. I then saw Social Undersecretary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco and greeted her. She is the daughter of my late boss, Congressman Iggy Arroyo. I remember serving as a management consultant in her father’s congressional office at the Batasang Pambansa. It was also Dina Tantoco who took my first photo with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos during the opening of Likhang Filipino in January 2026. I also saw Leah Pulido Ocampo, executive director of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), a former officemate from the time Mina T. Gabor served as CITEM’s first president and CEO. Next, I had a photo taken with Social Secretary Bianca Zobel and Social Undersecretary Dina Tantoco. I also saw Vivian Recio, events director at the Office of the Social Secretary. Later, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos saw me. To my surprise, she walked toward me, and we had a photo taken together as I handed her my Asian Journal calling card. I recalled meeting her years earlier with her husband, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., now the 17th president of the Philippines, in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. Those encounters took place while the late Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Chairperson Honeygirl S. De Leon was my immediate superior. “LIKHA 5: Likha Ko, Lahi Ko,” which was open to the
(From left) Asian Journal columnist Rogelio Constantino Medina, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and Yayot Garcia.
Social Secretary Bianca Zobel with Yayot Garcia (right).
(From left) Rogelio Constantino Medina, Social Undersecretary Dina Tantoco and Yayot Garcia.
Siyabit artisan from Maibung, Sulu.
National Commission for Culture and the Arts Chairman Eric B. Zerrudo, Ph.D. and Department of Trade and Industry’s Assistant Secretary Al M. Valenciano (right).
Artist/wood carver James Liwanagan of Marinduque.
receive meaningful reports on response times, access to counsel and case progress while safeguarding confidential information. Success cannot be measured by favorable judgments alone; fair representation and informed decisions also matter. When workers receive sound advice early, they can preserve evidence, understand contracts and avoid actions that could weaken their position. Employers and recruiters should understand that Filipino workers have access to professional help when a legitimate grievance needs attention. Workers must also know how to seek help. Information should be understandable and available through channels they actually use. Procedures should allow urgent concerns to be assessed quickly, with safe communication for those who fear retaliation. Legal assistance should connect with shelter, interpretation and other support when necessary. A person in distress cannot always navigate several offices or assemble documents without guidance. We must respect the laws and judicial processes of host countries. Providing counsel does not guarantee a particular outcome,
nor does it excuse wrongdoing. It helps ensure that a Filipino understands the process, can present a defense or pursue a legitimate claim, and receives the protections available under applicable law. That is a responsible exercise of our duty to our citizens. For the families waiting at home, a legal crisis abroad is deeply personal. School fees, household expenses and hopes for the future may depend on the person suddenly facing that crisis. We should remember those families when deciding what protection deserves in the national budget. I hope Senator Hontiveros will help bring this advocacy forward. Our migrant workers carry enormous responsibilities for their families and our country. When their rights are threatened far from home, they should be able to count on their government to stand beside them, with a capable lawyer ready to help. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
Beyond the POGO ban... PAGE 8 Enforcement must also reach beyond workers physically present during a raid. If evidence establishes that property owners, businesses, recruiters, financiers or public officials knowingly enabled prohibited operations, accountability should extend to them. That is not guilt by association. Liability must rest on knowledge, participation and proof. The proposed National Anti-Scam Hub could strengthen that effort if it reduces the fragmentation that gives cybercriminal networks time to move money, accounts and evidence across institutions and jurisdictions. Its value will depend less on the number of agencies involved than on whether it produces faster lawful information sharing, coordinated investigations and action before funds and digital trails disappear. The government must be equally precise in identifying victims. Scam centers across Southeast Asia have been linked to trafficking schemes in which people were recruited for legitimate-looking work and then
coerced into committing online fraud. That reality makes screening essential when large groups are found inside suspected scam or offshore gaming compounds. A serious enforcement policy must distinguish organizers from employees, willing participants from trafficking victims, and financial beneficiaries from people working under coercion. It must identify who financed an operation, who knowingly provided infrastructure or protection, who profited from it and who may have been exploited, then build cases capable of surviving judicial scrutiny. The ban removed the legal foundation of the POGO industry. The harder work is dismantling the systems that can continue without licenses: financial channels, digital infrastructure, recruiters, property arrangements and protection networks. The measure of enforcement will not be whether government can close the next site. It will be whether operating an illegal offshore gaming network in the Philippines becomes too difficult, too risky and too costly to sustain. (AJPress)
Thinking like a mayor...
Some employees of the Center for International Trade, Rogelio Constantino Medina with Joanne Rae Exposition and Mission with CITEM executive director Leah Tau_t Bato Otar weavers from M. Ramirez of The Philippine Star (extreme Punta Baja, Rizal, Palawan. Pulido Ocampo (3rd from right, standing). right).
public free of charge from October 2 to 4, 2026, celebrated traditional Filipino craftsmanship and featured more than 100 artisans, designers and makers from across the country. Implemented in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, the LIKHA program seeks to support local creative industries and help preserve traditional handweaving and crafting techniques that are at risk of disappearing. First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos has become a visible supporter of Filipino arts, culture and heritage through a number of preservation and promotional initiatives. Her involvement has included efforts to support local artisans and promote the restoration and renewed use of historic landmarks. Among the cultural and heritage projects associated with the current administration are the restoration and revitalization of historic properties within the Malacañang complex, including the Laperal, Teus and
Goldenberg mansions, as well as Bahay Pangulo. Major heritage sites have also undergone restoration and rehabilitation in recent years, including the Philippine International Convention Center and the Coconut Palace, both of which have been reopened following preservation work. The First Lady’s background as a lawyer and educator also provides context for her interest in culture and heritage. Her advocacy has drawn attention to the importance of documenting, preserving and promoting the country’s cultural resources for future generations. I also admire her interest in urban renewal and cultural tourism. Beyond individual exhibitions, she has supported initiatives aimed at bringing renewed attention to historic districts. One example is a cultural and tourism illumination initiative in Manila’s Binondo Chinatown, highlighting the district’s centuries-old Chinese-Filipino heritage while promoting it as a destination for visitors.
Through LIKHA and other cultural and heritage initiatives, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos has helped bring greater public attention to Filipino craftsmanship, historic landmarks and traditions that form part of the country’s identity. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Associate Professor III Rogelio Constantino Medina is an award-winning Filipino international journalist, columnist and academic. He is well regarded for his extensive contributions to Philippine media and major international news publications. His career spans several decades and covers a wide range of fields, including news, business, travel, lifestyle, science, sports and health. He has written for major international publications such as the Far Eastern Economic Review in Hong Kong, The Japan Times in Tokyo and Gulf News in Dubai. Notably, he made history as the first Filipino journalist to interview Japan’s first astronaut, Dr. Mamoru Mohri. He is also credentialed with the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Press Centers in New York City and Washington, D.C. *** Email: rogelio.medina@asianjournalinc.com
PAGE 8 A mayor must operate at all four levels simultaneously: responding to today’s needs, building tomorrow’s capabilities, transforming systems, and protecting the future. The mayoral mindset is also an antidote to a common weakness among young leaders: aspirations without operational competence. Many young people have admirable dreams: “I want to help communities.” “I want to change society.” “I want to make a difference.” These aspirations are important. But leadership requires more than intentions. It requires understanding relationships, incentives, institutions, resources, logistics, and implementation. A good idea that cannot mobilize people, organize resources, manage risks, measure results, and sustain partnerships remains only an idea. Thinking like a mayor teaches the discipline of turning knowledge into action. This mindset is particularly important for the Filipino youth. Many leadership programs focus on developing individual excellence. This is necessary. But the Philippines needs something more: A generation of leaders who understand that their talents are not only personal assets. They are public
resources. Scientists, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, professionals, and community organizers may never occupy elected office. Yet they can all think like mayors. Teaching people to think like mayors may also produce better mayors. A mayor who thinks like a mayor even before becoming one is already developing the mental discipline required for responsible governance. The Philippines needs more citizens who are able and willing to step into positions of leadership. Random heroes will not solve the Philippines’ wicked problems. They will be solved by generations of citizens who can see connections, build relationships, mobilize resources, and work together across time. That is the promise of thinking like a mayor. It is not a pathway only for elected officials. It is a mindset for every Filipino who believes that the Philippines’ future is not merely inherited; it is something we collectively build. (Inquirer. net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: doyromero@gmail.com
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Features
ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2026
11
JOUR N AL Friday, October 9, 2026
INSIDE >>> L I F E S T Y L E • C O N S U M E R G U I D E • C O M M U N I T Y • M A R K E T P L A C E
Aiko Melendez, Onemig Bondoc engaged Dennis Trillo says protecting family guided after proposal at her father’s resting place response to Patrick Garcia interview by AJPress
by AJPress MANILA — Actress and Quezon City Councilor Aiko Melendez has accepted a marriage proposal from actor Onemig Bondoc during a visit to the resting place of her late father, nearly three decades after their first romantic connection. The engagement was documented in a video released October 6 on Bondoc’s YouTube channel. During the visit to Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park in Quezon City, Bondoc presented Melendez with white flowers before kneeling with a ring and asking her to marry him. Melendez initially laughed in surprise and questioned whether he was serious before accepting the proposal. Bondoc said he had consulted Melendez’s mother, sibling and two children beforehand. He chose the location because of its significance to Melendez, who visits the resting place of her father, actor and former Quezon City councilor Jimi Melendez, around his October 31 birthday. Melendez later said she had expected an ordinary day of recording video content with Bondoc, whom she calls Uno, and had no advance knowledge of his plans. In an Instagram post on October 7, Melendez reflected on their history dating back nearly 29 years. Their earlier romantic connection in the 1990s did not lead to a lasting partnership, and both subsequently pursued separate lives before reconnecting. “29 years later… I said YES,” she wrote, emphasizing that their decision to marry was based on their present commitment to each other. The couple publicly confirmed their renewed relationship in February 2026. During a Septem-
Photo from Instagram/@aikomelendez
ber 23 appearance on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, they discussed how an invitation for Bondoc to appear on Melendez’s YouTube channel helped bring them back into contact. Bondoc became known to Philippine television audiences through the youth series T.G.I.S., while Melendez has maintained her entertainment career alongside her responsibilities as a councilor representing Quezon City’s fifth district. Following the engagement announcement, the couple thanked those who had sent congratulations. Melendez also renewed an invitation for television host Boy Abunda to serve as a principal sponsor at their wedding. Abunda accepted the invitation during the October 7 broadcast of his television program.
Katrina Halili, Kris Lawrence put family priorities at center of reunion Couple describe gradual reconciliation, shared parenting responsibilities and future plans by AJPress MANILA — Actress Katrina Halili and singer Kris Lawrence say their renewed relationship developed from a friendship they rebuilt while working more closely together to raise their daughter, Katie. The couple discussed their reconciliation at a product endorsement event in Muntinlupa City on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Halili said Lawrence’s increased involvement in family responsibilities helped her become open to resuming their relationship. She said having his help in dealing with household concerns and matters involving Katie had made daily life easier. Lawrence said both had grown more mature since their earlier relationship and were making more deliberate choices. Lawrence traced the rebuilding of their friendship to January. He said they first improved their relationship as co-parents, allowing their connection to develop without immediately pursuing a romance. In April, Lawrence said on GMA’s Fast Talk with Boy Abunda that they were not romantically involved. By June, he had begun courting Halili again. They announced their reunion on Sept. 27 in a video posted on Halili’s YouTube channel. Their daughter identified Sept. 13 as the date they had officially resumed their relationship. The actress and singer were together for about
Photo from Instagram/@imkrislawrence
five years before separating more than a decade ago. Katie was born in 2012. At the Oct. 7 event, Halili said the couple were saving for their daughter’s future. She also said they had purchased two parcels of land together. Their professional schedules have overlapped as well. Lawrence appeared in the Oct. 8 episode of GMA’s afternoon drama Kamao as David Baltazar, a character who expresses romantic interest in Nadia, played by Halili. Asked whether they were engaged, Lawrence said no. He said he had a vision for their future but would not disclose specific plans.
Maui Taylor says Viva Hot Babes remain open to SexBomb Girls collaboration by AJPress
MANILA — Maui Taylor said the Viva Hot Babes remain open to performing with the SexBomb Girls, although no joint appearance has been confirmed for the Viva group's reunion concert later this month. Taylor said the Viva Hot Babes had previously been invited to take part in a SexBomb reunion show but could not coordinate their schedules because members had separate commitments during the holiday season. The interest is mutual, according to Andrea del Rosario, who said in a September television interview that the Viva Hot Babes had also invited the SexBomb Girls to their concert. At a recent media conference, Taylor said an appearance by SexBomb performers was still being explored, even if only two members could participate. The published concert lineup does not include the SexBomb Girls. The Viva Hot Babes' reunion show, “Bulaklak,” is scheduled for October 23 at 8 p.m. at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City. The announced performers are Taylor, Del Rosario, Katya Santos, Gwen Garci, Sheree Bautista, Jaycee Parker, Ella V. and Jennifer Lee. GB Sampedro is directing the production. Taylor said rehearsals had been taking place almost daily as the group prepared its routines. The Viva Hot Babes also released a new single, “Kumendeng Tayo,” on October 2, which Taylor said they intend to perform at the concert.
Photo from Facebook/@therealmauitaylor
Formed in 2003, the Viva Hot Babes became known for songs such as “Bulaklak” and “Kikay,” as well as appearances in film and television. The SexBomb Girls rose to prominence through televised dance performances and recordings. Although the groups were frequently compared, their members have described their relationship as friendly rather than competitive. Taylor is also hosting “Pantaxa Laiya: Uncut,” a VMX special directed by Carlo Alvarez and scheduled to begin streaming October 13. It features previously unreleased material from the 2023 reality competition “Pantaxa Laiya,” in which Taylor and Santos served as mentors.
MANILA — Actor Dennis Trillo said he felt a responsibility to defend his wife, Jennylyn Mercado, and their family after her former partner, Patrick Garcia, publicly revisited their separation. He also signaled a willingness to settle their differences through direct conversation. Trillo spoke to reporters on October 4 after the Golden Screen Awards: Dekada Awards in Pasig City, where he received two trophies recognizing his performances in Felix Manalo (2015) and Green Bones (2024). He said the decision to respond publicly was his own, not an arrangement he had made with Mercado. Defending his family, he said, was part of his responsibility as a husband and father. The renewed attention followed Garcia’s September 29 interview with entertainment host Ogie Diaz about his relationship with Mercado, which ended in 2008 while she was pregnant with their son, Alex Jazz. Garcia disputed the characterization that he had abandoned Mercado, although he acknowledged that he was not present during her pregnancy. He said he chose to discuss the past after his teenage daughter faced hostile comments online about him. Garcia also said he last saw Jazz in December 2017 and acknowledged that financial support stopped after their contact ended. He maintained that he had tried to reconnect. Those statements reflect Garcia’s account; Mercado has not publicly addressed those specific claims in the current exchange. In a statement, Aguila Entertainment said Mercado would not comment on Garcia’s interview out of respect for both families’ privacy and peace of mind. The agency also urged the public to stop directing hostile comments at Garcia’s relatives, particularly his daughter. Star Magic, which represents Garcia’s daughter, separately called for the public to leave her out of the dispute and said it was prepared to take appropriate action over continued harassment. Trillo’s earlier social media responses drew scrutiny, including a response to actress Gelli de
Photo from Instagram/@dennistrillo
Belen after she urged adults to consider the children affected by the public disagreement. Trillo subsequently said he was not angry with de Belen or anyone else, describing his remarks as an effort to protect his family from further distress. Asked whether Garcia might see Jazz again, Trillo said he saw no objection in principle, but acknowledged that the public exchanges had complicated the situation. He said the matter could be discussed privately and expressed openness to reconciliation, adding that people deserved opportunities to change. Trillo also appealed for an end to online attacks and asked that children not be drawn into disagreements among adults. He did not announce any new arrangement between Garcia and Jazz. On October 7, Mercado posted photographs of a family meal with Trillo and their children, captioned “Together is the best place.” She did not address Garcia’s statements in the post.
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OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
HEALTH @HEART
Features
Genders in Sports
genders playing against their own kind, transgenders, men Philip S. Chua, against men (only), and women MD, FACS, FPCS against women (only). No intermixing. If transgenders want to split up, so be it: transgenTHE ongoing controversy, der women, transgender men, which started in 1970, fifty years LGBTQ plus… ago, about men and transgender I honestly do not understand people in women’s sports appears to be a dilemma not only why all the powers-that-be and in the United States but around experts in various pertinent the world, including the Philip- fields are having a difficult time pines. While brilliant leaders in figuring out the solution to this, society and in the government what they consider a “complex” seem to be at a stalemate, and dilemma, which to me is a simthe equitable solution manifests ple problem, with the answer as unattainable, I personally glaring at us. The question is, will our legthink, using common sense, the just remedy is simple and clear. islators have enough common I remember the days of de- sense, be pragmatic enough, cades past when there were only and have the wisdom and courtwo sexes, female and male. age to adopt this simple solution There was no confusion, unlike and finally achieve fairness and today, where a woman candidate justice for women in sports? We must all respect and proto the US Supreme Court did not even know her gender. For tect all women, not only in sports heaven’s sake, that is the high- but in all other challenging areest judicial house, the pinnacle nas of life. Let’s revive chivalry. Hot drinks and cancer of brain power, whose members A large new study from the are supposed to be among the brightest minds in the country UK reveals that drinking hot and who at least knew their sex- beverages “was associated with ual orientation lucidly; how this a threefold higher risk of develconfused judge was able to join oping esophageal squamous cell the other 8 was mind-boggling carcinoma (ESCC) than consuming warm beverages.” to me. If the link is causal, consumA segment of modern society, seemingly oblivious of his- ing beverages “hot” instead of tory, is even favoring socialism, “very hot” could prevent an estiMarxism, and communism over mated 14% of new ESCC cases, democracy. While victims of or 440 cancers each year in the those oppressive and collaps- UK, researchers reported. “The study of nearly 1 million ing nations are escaping to the United States to run away from people is consistent with previdespotism and tyranny and en- ous research from countries such joy freedom in a genuine Amer- as Iran and China, where ESCC ican democracy, many mentally is much more common, and with disjointed Americans, a majority the International Agency for Reof whom are Gen Zs and Millen- search on Cancer classification nials, are embracing idiocy to of beverages consumed above abolish the Police, ICE, nation- 65 °C (149 °F) as “probably caral borders, and government, as cinogenic” to humans based on we know it. This is the height of limited epidemiologic and exstupidity, to say the least. Thank perimental evidence.” – MS Kratom: new killer God, we do not see this degree Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), of lunacy in the Philippines. Going back to gender in sports. which contains more than 40 God created men and women to chemical compounds, alkaloids, be equal, perhaps mentally, but is a tropical evergreen tree nanot physiologically, emotionally, tive to Southeast Asia and has or physically. There is nothing been used in traditional medifair or just about allowing men cine for centuries. It was in the or transgender people to play late 20th century (1980s, 1990s) in women’s sports. The results that immigrants brought it to the have been clear and one-sided. United States and Europe. Kratom mimics opioids in And expectedly so. As I said earlier, the solution larger doses and can cause seis simple; it is staring us in the vere, life-threatening adverse face, right under our noses. And reactions, especially among common sense is magnifying it! children. Symptoms include Since society has added one seizures, severe agitation, tremmore gender, then, to be just ors, hallucinations, tachycardia, and fair, we must add a new cat- spike in blood pressure, slowed egory for transgender athletes, breathing, and comas. This deadly “all-energy, since they, too, have a right to compete, but only against their all-natural booster,” as it is defellow transgenders, not women. ceptively advertised, comes in Therefore, I propose that bright, sweet-flavored packagtransgender athletes (even sub- ing sold at gas stations, where divided into their true birth sex) adults and teens get them. Very have their own category: trans- dangerous to pregnant women
and their babies. It might sound ridiculous, but at the national level in the United States, Kratom remains federally legal to possess and buy, and is not listed as a controlled substance. My question is: why? Killer substances with medicinal use must be completely banned in public and legally allowed only for medical use. We already have too many dangerous, deadly substances around; legislators do not have to approve more. Look at what happened to recreational marijuana. More and more clinical data and studies are showing various health hazards among users, their families, and the people around them. Drugs have been known to destroy empires, nations, and people. Let us learn from history; otherwise we shall be doomed to repeat it, and this time around, labelled “stupid” also on our tombstone. Diagnosing Dengue Recognizing and diagnosing dengue in the United States is not an easy task because it is rare and mimics other viral infections like Zika and chikungunya. Diagnostic tests help in the diagnosis. In the Philippines, even a medical intern could smell it miles away. Filipino physicians almost always clinch the diagnosis even before blood test confirmation arrives. There are now about 2,008 cases of dengue in the 40 jurisdictions of the United States, with Florida ranking first with a record-breaking outbreak. There is one confirmed death. While there is no specific direct treatment for dengue, the supportive management available today here and in the Philippines results in over 99.5 percent success and recovery with early diagnosis *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
SB19 performs ‘Together in Motion’ for Philippine ASEAN chairship Tourism department release links P-pop group’s performance to regional cooperation campaign by AJPress MANILA — The Department of Tourism has released a music video of Filipino pop group SB19 performing “Together in Motion,” which it is promoting as an official song of the Philippines’ 2026 chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Issued in early October, the video features Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken and Justin, along with scenes depicting destinations and communities in Southeast Asia. Anya Lagman composed the music; Jimmy Antiporda and Louie Ocampo arranged it. Lagman identifies the piece on her professional website as an official theme song for the Philippine chairship. Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said SB19 was cho-
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sen partly for its contribution to Filipino culture and its ability to connect with younger audiences. She also said the group projects hope and positivity. SB19 was named a Philippine tourism ambassador in July. In August, the department introduced travel microsites for SB19 and fellow P-pop group BINI, featuring members’ dream destinations and discounted packages from accredited tourism partners. The initiative forms part of the department’s “Discover More to Love” campaign, launched in June to encourage domestic travel. The Philippines’ ASEAN chairship operates under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.” Its three stated priorities are Peace and Security Anchors, Prosperity Corridors and People
Empowerment. In February, the Presidential Communications Office introduced a separate ASEAN 2026 song, “One Vision, One Ocean.” A March 31 presidential memorandum circular directed national agencies and public and private educational institutions to play that song’s music video after flag ceremonies and during relevant official events, while encouraging local governments to do the same. ASEAN’s longstanding institutional anthem is “The ASEAN Way.” The 49th ASEAN Summit and related summits are scheduled for Metro Manila from Nov. 16 to 18. The government has designated those dates special nonworking days across the National Capital Region to ease traffic congestion and accommodate security arrangements.
Photo from Facebook/@SB19Official
Will I Have Enough? worked so hard to build. And when the plan no longer works, we discover whether our trust was in the cushion or in the One who helped us fill it. The Israelites experienced this lesson through manna in the A FRIEND going through a wilderness. God provided food divorce recently shared a fear for an entire nation, but He did that many people quietly carry: it one morning at a time. They “What will happen to me finan- could not stockpile it for the future. Each new day required cially now?” The life she had planned sud- them to trust that provision denly looked uncertain. Her would appear again. question felt familiar because Jesus echoed this same princiI have asked it too, especially as I approach retirement and ple when He taught His disciples wonder whether I have saved to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Not yearly bread. enough. We live in a culture built Not enough bread to guarantee around accumulation and safe- that nothing difficult would ever ty margins. We are told to save, happen. Daily bread. This does not mean we should invest, prepare for emergencies, and build enough wealth to pro- neglect saving, investing, or pretect ourselves from the unex- paring for retirement. For some, pected. All of that is wise. Scrip- this may be a wake-up call to ture itself encourages planning, begin. But for those who started late, saved too little, or watched diligence, and stewardship. But without realizing it, we their plans unravel because of can begin to place so much circumstances they never exconfidence in our savings and pected, it is also an assurance: investments that we believe we Your financial history is not a are secure only when every fu- verdict on your future. When I look back over my own ture need has already been aclife, including the financial crash counted for. Then life changes. A marriage ends. A job disap- of 2008, the pandemic, and the pears. A business slows down. painful years of rebuilding after Interest rates rise. The market my marriage ended, I can say crashes. An unexpected ex- this with confidence: God has pense consumes the cushion we always provided for me.
His provision did not always arrive according to my timetable or in the form I expected. Sometimes it came through one client, one opportunity, one open door, or simply enough strength and resources for that day. But it came. And it was more than enough to help me move forward, rebuild, and eventually help others do the same. If God could provide for me during seasons when I could not see the way ahead, I believe He can do the same for you. Plan wisely. Save what you can. Keep moving forward. But never mistake the size of your cushion for the size of God’s provision. Tomorrow is not here yet, but the One who will meet you there already is. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Kathy Current is a financial coach, mortgage advisor, and author of Heal Your Money Wounds God’s Way, where she combines more than three decades of financial experience with biblical wisdom. Readers who wish to send comments to the author or inquire about purchasing a copy of her book may email Kathy Current at kccurrent@gmail.com.
Michael V. finds unexpected career highlight in ‘Family Feud’ hosting role Veteran Filipino comedian fulfills a longstanding ambition while temporarily taking over for Dingdong Dantes by AJPress MANILA — After years of working in television comedy, Michael V. has returned to game show hosting through an assignment he says he had long hoped to receive. The veteran Filipino comedian, popularly known as Bitoy, described his temporary stint presenting GMA Network’s Family Feud as one of his professional highlights of 2026, an opportunity that came as a welcome surprise. Michael V. said he had often wondered what it would be like to host the Philippine version of the internationally known game show. He recalled watching previous editions presented by Richard Gomez, Ogie Alcasid, Edu Manzano and Luis Manzano. The opportunity arose when regular host Dingdong Dantes took a temporary break to concentrate on filming The Master Cutter, GMA’s primetime action-drama series. Michael V. made his hosting debut on September 17, with cast members of his long-running sitcom Pepito Manalotoparticipating as contestants. The opening episode featured two teams drawn from the sitcom’s ensemble. Team Bahay included Manilyn Reynes, Jake Vargas, Arthur Solinap and Mosang, while Team Office featured Chariz
Solomon, John Feir, Maureen Larrazabal and Tony Lapeña. Although Michael V. is closely associated with GMA’s comedy programs Bubble Gang and Pepito Manaloto, hosting is an established part of his television career. He previously appeared as a host on Eat Bulaga! and presented programs including Bitoy’s Funniest Videos and Hole in the Wall. He credited those experiences with helping him adapt to the demands of Family Feud. The comedian said his preparation involves learning about contestants and developing material appropriate to their personalities. At the same time, he relies on spontaneous exchanges, an important element of a program built around contestants’ answers and reactions. He acknowledged initially being cautious about allowing jokes to run too long, given the show’s production requirements. He subsequently learned that some material could be edited for television, with additional exchanges potentially appearing on social media. Dantes welcomed Michael V.’s temporary appointment. Michael V. recalled receiving a congratulatory message from Dantes before the hosting arrangement had been finalized. Michael V. said he appreciated the encouragement and was
Photo from Instagram/@michaelbitoy
pleased to take on the assignment while Dantes concentrated on his acting commitments. The comedian has also expressed interest in a possible future episode featuring his family competing against the Dantes family. The idea has not been announced as a confirmed production. Dantes has said he intends to resume his regular hosting duties, although GMA has not announced a specific return date. The temporary hosting assignment has allowed the veteran comedian to revisit a familiar aspect of his television career while continuing his regular commitments to Bubble Gang and Pepito Manaloto.
Luis Manzano says Vilma Santos’ legacy goes beyond National Artist recognition The television host says his mother's decades in Philippine entertainment speak for themeselves, while Santos accepts the government's latest selection. by AJPress MANILA — Actor and television host Luis Manzano said his mother, veteran actress and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, does not need the National Artist title to establish her contributions to Philippine entertainment, following her absence from the latest list of honorees. In an interview with The Philippine Star published Oct. 9, Manzano said his mother’s extensive work in film and television, as well as her years in public service, had already established her record of achievement. He said the family would welcome the distinction if Santos eventually received it, but emphasized that her sense of fulfillment did not depend on the award. Santos, he added, takes pride in her accomplishments, particularly her roles as a mother and grandmother. He also thanked her longtime supporters, known as Vilmanians, for continuing to advocate for her recognition. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. conferred the Order of National Artists on 10 Filipinos under Proclamation No. 1414, signed Sept. 1, 2026, and announced Sept. 11. The recipients, designated National Artists for 2025, include screenwriter Armando “Bing” Lao, recognized posthumously, and cultural scholar Nicanor Tiongson. The distinction is the Philippines’ highest state recognition for artistic achievement. Recipi-
ents are selected by the president upon the joint recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Santos was not among those named. Santos, 72, had addressed her nonselection during a Sept. 20 screening of the restored 1984 film Sister Stella L. at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila. “If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,” she said during a discussion following the screening, according to the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph). She expressed gratitude for the opportunities and recognition she had received during her 63-year entertainment career and said the selection process should be respected. Santos congratulated the newly proclaimed National Artists and urged supporters to avoid personal attacks over the decision. She said her priorities included her family’s well-being, the health of loved ones and maintaining her peace of mind. She also reaffirmed her commitment to serving her constituents in Batangas. Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairman Jose Javier Reyes separately said Santos’ omission did not lessen her importance to Philippine cinema. Reyes, whose remarks were reported by PEP.ph in September, called for mutual respect amid discussions about the award. The restored Sister Stella L., directed by Mike de Leon, was
Photo from Facebook/@luismanzanoofficial
presented at Manila’s Metropolitan Theater on Sept. 20 as part of Philippine Film Industry Month. The 1984 political drama follows a nun’s growing involvement in a labor struggle and remains among Santos’ notable screen performances. Manzano also reflected on growing up as the son of Santos and actor Edu Manzano, acknowledging that their established careers provided opportunities when he entered the entertainment industry. He said maintaining a career, however, depended on continued work and the trust of audiences. Asked about a possible return to politics after losing his bid for Batangas vice governor in 2025, Manzano said he was not currently considering another campaign. He also expressed gratitude for the support he received from voters.
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CARSON CITY, Nev. — Gov. Joe Lombardo has asked Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar to consider using the federal SAVE system for individualized citizenship checks before Nevada’s Nov. 3 election. The request followed a Sept. 25 U.S. Supreme Court order temporarily allowing use of an expanded Department of Homeland Security database while litigation continues. The court said federal law permits individualized inquiries during the 90-day period in which systematic voter-roll removals are restricted.
Lombardo said Nevada should use legal tools to verify voter eligibility. Aguilar has questioned the database’s accuracy and warned that eligible voters could be wrongly flagged. He has said Nevada already has safeguards against ineligible voting. An April Pew Research Center survey found 85% of U.S. adults considered it important that no ineligible voters be permitted to vote. The same survey found 90% considered it important that eligible voters not be prevented from voting.
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Documentation dispute delays Social Lombardo presses for SAVE Security cards for Clark County foster youth checks as Nevada election nears LAS VEGAS — More than 1,300 Clark County foster children are awaiting Social Security cards because of a documentation dispute, according to U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Rep. Steven Horsford. The Nevada Democrats have asked the Social Security Administration to process the pending applications, saying Clark County Family Services and officials have tried for months to resolve the issue. The lawmakers said a December 2025 SSA directive requires certified paper documents that Nevada stopped maintaining more than 15 years
ago after shifting to streamlined electronic procedures. Without Social Security numbers, the lawmakers said, affected youth may face delays in obtaining federal health coverage, permanent placements and employment. SSA guidance says state or state-licensed foster care agencies with legal custody may begin Social Security number card applications online, subject to required evidence. Cortez Masto and Horsford urged the agency to accept Nevada’s documentation process and clear the outstanding applications.
LAS VEGAS — Southern Nevada’s housing market cooled in September, with lower sales and more homes sitting without offers, according to Las Vegas Realtors. The median price for existing single-family homes was $470,000, down 1.1% from August and unchanged from September 2025. The figure remained below the record $490,000 reached in May and June. Condo and townhome prices had a median of $290,000, down 1.4% from a year earlier and below the October 2024 record of $315,000.
A total of 2,169 existing homes, condos and townhomes sold during September. Compared with a year earlier, single-family sales fell 7.4%, while condo and townhome sales declined 12.6%. At month’s end, 7,995 single-family homes were listed without offers, up 6.6% year over year. Another 2,796 condos and townhomes were without offers, up 7.3%. Las Vegas Realtors President George Kypreos said recently rising mortgage rates are playing a larger role in the market this fall.
Nevada renews outdoor recreation Southern Nevada housing cools as inventory builds pact with federal agencies
Traffic-safety grants expand Boulder City enforcement campaign
BOULDER CITY — Boulder City Police Department will participate in Nevada’s Joining Forces traffic-safety campaign and a speed-enforcement program through grant funding from state and federal agencies. The campaign, scheduled to run from October 2026 through September 2027, brings together 38 Nevada law enforcement agencies for education and enforcement ef-
forts, according to the department. Police Chief Tim Shea said the funding will support work aimed at reducing traffic incidents and promoting safer driving, with attention to motorists as well as bicyclists, e-bike riders and scooter users. Joining Forces focuses on violations including distracted and impaired driving, speeding and seatbelt use, along with pedestrian,
motorcycle and bicycle safety. The Boulder City department said its participation is funded through grants from the Nevada Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The program uses high-visibility enforcement and public education to encourage compliance with Nevada traffic laws
Henderson adds manufacturing courses as Haas hiring ramps up HENDERSON, Nev. – The City of Henderson and College of Southern Nevada are adding three advanced manufacturing programs at the Center of Excellence in West Henderson, with the first cohort beginning Oct. 19. The offerings include a fourweek Manufacturing Assembler Training program, a five-week, 100-hour Technician course and a 14-week, 180-hour Trades Technician One program. The city said the assembler curriculum was developed with input from Haas trainers, hiring managers and industry executives. It also said more than 90% of participants in the Technician and Trades Technician One programs complete their training and that graduates have found manufacturing jobs.
File photo/www.cityofhenderson.com
The Center of Excellence is near Haas Automation’s new Henderson factory, where hiring is already underway. The training is intended to prepare residents for manufacturing positions at
Haas and other employers. Haas says its Henderson facility is expected to begin supporting operations in the fourth quarter of 2026 as production ramps up.
Henderson seeks nominees for annual kindness honor
HENDERSON, Nev. – Nominations are open through Oct. 15 for Henderson’s 2026 Heart of the City Award, which recognizes residents and city employees for exceptional acts of kindness and service. Eligible nominees include community members and municipal employees who have gone beyond their usual roles to help others. The city lists coaches, teachers, students and community leaders among those who may be nominated. Selection criteria include efforts that improve academic performance, provide mentoring or en-
richment opportunities, recognize others, raise morale or demonstrate exceptional cooperation, a positive attitude and willingness to assist. The award is presented annually to a resident or city employee whose actions have enriched the lives of others in Henderson. The nomination period opened Sept. 14, according to the city’s event calendar. Additional information and the 2026 nomination form are available through the City of Henderson’s “Be Kind” program webpage. Previous recipients are also listed on the city website.
Disability Awareness Day brings resources to Lorenzi Park
LAS VEGAS — The 35th annual Disability Awareness Day will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza in Lorenzi Park, 720 Twin Lakes Drive. The free event will bring together representatives from more than 30 organizations serving people with disabilities. Services and information will cover employment, indepen-
dent living, recreation, legal assistance, benefits counseling, adaptive equipment, transportation, housing and financial planning. American Sign Language interpreters will be available. The program also includes live entertainment, door prizes and a Halloween costume contest. Free lunch will be provided to the first 250 participants, and
limited parking is available. Attendees will also have opportunities to meet elected officials during the event. The event is sponsored by the city of Las Vegas, Southern Nevada Centers for Independent Living and The Challenger newspaper. October is National Disability Awareness Month. For information, call 702-8894216 or visit sncil.org.
Las Vegas lines up Halloween activities through Oct. 31 LAS VEGAS — The city of Las Vegas has scheduled free and lowcost Halloween activities through Oct. 31, with events for families, children and older adults. Barktoberfest opens the schedule Oct. 10 at Veterans Memorial Community Center with a pet costume contest, pooch parade and trick-or-treating. Other events include Halloween painting and luncheons for adults 50 and older, an Oct. 16 trunk-or-treat and “Hotel Transylvania” screening at Bruce Trent Park, and Spook and Splash Oct. 17 at Pavilion Center Pool. Family events later in the month include an Oct. 23 showing of “Coco” at Stewart Place Park; Ward 6 Haunted Harvest, Mirabelli Trunk or Treat and the East Las Vegas Fall Festival on Oct. 29; and
Halloween Safe Night and Stupak Trunk or Treat on Oct. 31. Some programs require advance registration, active-adult
membership or admission fees. City offices and recreation centers will be closed Oct. 30 for Nevada Day.
LAS VEGAS — Nevada has renewed a state-federal agreement coordinating outdoor recreation planning, public-land stewardship and related economic development. Gov. Joe Lombardo and participating agencies renewed the Nevada Agreement for Recreation Shared Stewardship, first signed in 2022. The partnership brings together state and federal agencies overseeing public lands, wildlife, transportation, tourism, parks and natural resources. The agreement calls for agencies to coordinate recreation priorities, share information and resources, pursue funding opportunities and promote responsible use of public lands. A Nevada Division of Outdoor
File photo/ www.gov.nv.gov
Recreation economic analysis released in 2025 estimated that outdoor recreation generates $13.7 billion in annual economic output across Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin, supports more than 75,000 jobs and contributes
$8.8 billion to gross domestic product. The study found nearly 40% of the sector’s economic benefits are realized in rural counties, which account for about 10% of Nevada’s population.
Women artists featured in Civic Center Gallery exhibition LAS VEGAS — “Her Story Through Art: Las Vegas Women Artists” will hold a free public reception Saturday, Oct. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Las Vegas Civic Center Gallery, 525 S. Main St. The exhibition brings together 17 women-identifying artists whose work spans generations and disciplines. It is curated by Las Vegas Arts Commissioner Joan De Santis and Amanda “Rawky” Lozano, founder of Raw Femme Media. The reception will feature music by DJ Lo Dino, light refreshments and opportunities to meet artists. An interactive installation by Janel Raihl and Robin Slonina will invite visitors to contribute messages. The exhibition continues through Dec. 30. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, excluding holidays. Admission is free, and visitors may receive two hours of validated parking at the garage across from the gallery at 500 S. Main St. Additional programs are planned during the exhibition.
File photo/ www.lasvegasnevada.gov
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Four tips to help you plan a holiday “staycation” H
oliday travel can be exciting, but between costs, crowded airports and packed schedules, sometimes the idea of staying home can be much more appealing. If you still want to get away without the hassle of an actual getaway, consider a holiday staycation. By remaining close to home, you can experience your city from a fresh perspective without the stress of a long trip. Whether you book a night at a local hotel, check out a new neighborhood or just finally get around to seeing that landmark attraction that’s been on your to-do list, you can make staying at home feel like a real getaway. Here are four tips you can use to create an amazing holiday at home this season: 1. Treat your hometown like a destination One common theme surrounding area attractions is that they’re more likely to be packed with tourists than locals. If that popular museum, tour or other institution is always “there,” it can be easy to avoid it and say you’ll get there eventually. A staycation provides a great opportunity to approach those kinds of places like a tourist. Start by making a short list of places or experiences you’ve always wanted to try but never seem to prioritize. You might include a museum, holiday market, historic site, restaurant or neighborhood, or you might attend a holidayrelated performance that’s an annual late fall or winter tradition in your area. “A great staycation starts when you treat your hometown like a destination - book one ‘anchor’ experience, stay somewhere that changes your scenery, and leave room for a little spontaneity,” said Steve Orens, President of FROSCH by Chase Travel, a leading travel agency. “My favorite staycation tip is to make it easy on yourself: choose a walkable area, plan one highlight each day, and let the hotel do the heavy lifting - warm beds, quick breaks, and fewer logistics.” 2. Spend the night away A hotel stay can provide a change of scenery that makes you feel like you’re enjoying a getaway. Consider a traditional hotel, bed and breakfast or rental property where you can walk to restaurants, shopping, entertainment or holiday activities. An upscale hotel can also be the centerpiece of your staycation, allowing you to enjoy fine dining, a fitness center, spa services or other on-site experiences. If you want a quieter, more relaxed experience, find a hotel “off the beaten path,” but still close to home, to enjoy the rhythms and sounds of nature. 3. Be flexible If your schedule allows, plan your staycation for a weekday or less crowded period — like the days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve — rather than a peak weekend. Hotel rates in the middle of the week tend to be cheaper, and it might be easier to grab a restaurant reservation or performance tickets. Locations might be less crowded as well during the week, making it easier to get around. Book some experiences in advance to save money but stay open to spontaneous opportunities once you arrive. You might find some great last-minute deals.
4. Try something new Even if you think you’ve seen everything your hometown has to offer, there’s always something new to explore or discover. Check out a neighborhood you usually drive through and visit the local shops and other businesses. You can also try a new cuisine at a neighborhood restaurant or kitchen. Sometimes what’s old can be new again during the holiday season, so if you want to go back to your favorite restaurants and other popular spots, do so with fresh eyes. Order from the eatery’s holiday menu or take a walk when lights, decorations and seasonal programming transform many communities. Other helpful tips Although staying at home can eliminate major travel costs, expenses can still add up quickly. Make a staycation budget and then consider ways to help keep costs down. “A ‘smart’ staycation is one you can pay for comfortably: choose dates with better rates, book flexible options, and keep a small buffer for surprises,” added Orens. “The goal of a staycation is a real reset. Even if you’re close to home, give yourself permission to unplug and find moments to treat yourself - say yes to room service, a spa hour, or a new restaurant you’ve been saving for ‘someday.’” If you have rewards points from credit cards or loyalty programs, put them toward your hotel to get a free or cheaper night’s stay. Local museums, cultural institutions and attractions often have resident discounts, reduced-price admission days or seasonal offers. Community calendars can provide information about free or low-cost events like holiday concerts, light displays, markets, park activities and other events. If a performance doesn’t normally sell out, wait until the day before or day of to buy tickets, as prices are often reduced and you can find great seats. With a little creativity, you might find everything you’d want in a holiday vacation. You can enjoy good food, new experiences and an escape from your daily routine – all right at home. For more financial health tips, visit https://www.chase.com/ travel/guide. *** For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content. Deposit products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender. © 2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co. Photo credit: Images By Tang Ming Tung/Digital Vision, Getty Images