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EALA BEATS PARIS SILVER MEDALIST IN AUCKLAND By Peter Atencio ALEXANDRA Eala’s steady rise on the global tennis stage continued at the 2026 ASB Classic as the young Filipina pulled off a gritty 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory against seasoned Croatian star Donna Vekic to advance to the next round of the women’s singles on Tuesday in Auckland, New Zealand.
Eala drew energy from a large and vocal group of mostly Filipino supporters, who packed the Manuka Doctor Center Court, cheering her through a grueling two-hour and 40-minute battle against the Paris Olympics’ silver medalist as she clawed back from a set down to seal the statement victory. “This is so special, this one in 2026. A whole lot of people came out and saw me play,” said the fourth-seeded Eala.
STRONG START.
Alexandra Eala outlasts Paris Olympics silver medalist Dona Vecik of Croatia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to enter the round of 16 at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. ASB Classic Facebook page
The 20-year-old Eala, who received a standing ovation after her upset win, will next face another Croatian, Petra Marcinko, who survived a three-set thriller of her own against Camille Osorio, 6-4, 0-6, 7-6(7-2). Vekic, 29, also a semifinalist at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, appeared increasingly unsettled as the match wore on. Next page
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 326 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026
No letup in getting ‘big fish’ More cases to be filed in flood control mess soon—Palace Budget veto affects 259k contractuals, JOs—Tinio
By Charles Dantes and Pot Chavez
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is himself waiting for key resolutions from the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice on anomalous flood control projects, the Palace said as it assured the public that more cases will be filed amid criticisms that not a single “big fish” has been held accountable.
By Maricel V. Cruz
NEARLY 260,000 job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) workers in government will be affected by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s veto of a portion of unprogrammed appropriations in this year’s P6.793-trillion national budget, House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio said. “I strongly condemn the veto by President Marcos Jr. of P43.245 billion intended ‘For Payment of Personnel Services Requirements’ under the [UA],” Tinio said. He said the appropriation was originally included in the National Expenditure Program submitted by
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in just over four months, the administration has recorded unprecedented developments in corruption cases tied to flood control projects. “When the President said some people would not have a merry Christmas, those who were jailed definitely did not have a merry Christmas… The President’s term is not yet over. Many more things will happen,” she said.
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DepEd goes after ‘ghost’ SHS students
MAYON RUMBLES. Mayon Volcano, pictured here at 1 p.m. of January 6, 2026, is experiencing an eruption and lava flow as Phivolcs raises the alert level to 3. Inset shows a closeup of Mayon’s crater. Screen grab from PIA Albay, Screengrab from Phivolcs.
By Charles Dantes THE Department of Education (DepEd) has filed cases and strengthened screening safeguards in the senior high school voucher program after state auditors flagged the presence of “ghost students” that could skew the release of public subsidies. Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said seven cases are already pending and about a dozen more are under evaluation in connection with suspected irregular entries in student lists used for voucher payments. “We filed cases several months Next page
Nazareno 2026 – Road closures –
By Rex Espiritu
Forced evac ordered as Mayon throws up rocks By Rex Espiritu THE Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) on Tuesday ordered the preemptive evacuation of residents within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano following the raising of the volcano’s
alert status from Level 2 to Level 3. An advisory issued by Albay Gov. Noel Ebriega Rosal through PDRRMC– Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) said the move was prompted by increasing volcanic unrest at Mayon, as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
AFP rebuffs Chavit, vows loyalty to charter
City and municipal disaster risk reduction and management offices (C/ MDRRMOs) were directed to immediately evacuate villagers within the six-kilometer PDZ and to maintain 24hour monitoring, with regular situation reports submitted to APSEMO. Classes at all levels were suspended for Next page
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it will remain firmly within its constitutional mandate and chain of command, responding to public statements by former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson urging AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. to take a public stand against alleged corruption in government. In a statement, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military “has taken note” of Singson’s remarks but stressed its unwavering adNext page
PNP to strictly enforce gun, liquor ban during Traslacion By Charles Dantes, Vince Lopez and Vito Barcelo PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered yesterday the strict enforcement of liquor and gun bans as part of the security measures for the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9. This as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared Friday, Jan.9, a special non-working day in Manila to accommodate millions of devotees expected to attend the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene, and ensure an orderly procession (Tralacion). Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Next page
TIGHT SECURITY. Road closures, a liquor and gun ban, are
among the measures authorities will impose to ensure a safe Traslacion for hundreds of thousands of devotees expected to participate in the annual procession on January 9. See list road closure on A2. MMDA/ Diana Noche