PBBM ribs son Sandro on his 32nd birthday: Where’s my apo?
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VOL. XL • NO. 26 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES MARCH 8, 2026
Even higher oil price hikes likely
Eala survives Indian Wells debut, sets Gauff rematch
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his son, House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos
By Charles Dantes
DOE – Diesel: P19/l; Gasoline: P9/l; Kerosene: P31/l
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shared a lighthearted birthday greeting for his eldest son, Sandro Marcos, praising him for the man he has become while jokingly asking about future grandchildren. “We are so proud of the good man you have become. Who would have known that our little child would grow into such a kind, industrious and talented man?” Mr. Marcos said in a message posted on his social media account. The President ended the message with a playful remark: “On a final note… where’s my apo?” First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, in a separate post, said: “Happy birthday, Sandro. You make us proud every day — with your heart, your discipline, and your sense of duty,” she said. “Keep shining and keep going. The journey is just beginning,” she added. Sandro Marcos, who turned 32 yesterday, serves as representative of Ilocos Norte’s 1st district.
Iran launches massive wave of drone attacks vs. Israel, UAE, Kuwait IRAN’S army said Saturday its navy had launched a wave of drone attacks targeting Israel as well as US bases in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, as the regional war raged into its second week. “The Iranian Navy targeted American bases and occupied territories with a massive wave of drone attacks,” the army said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency. Dubai airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic, suspended operations Saturday before partially resuming services, after an air defense interception in the area during attacks from Iran. “We have partially resumed operations from today, 7 March, with some flights operating out of DXB and DWC,” it said, referring to Dubai’s main airport as well as the city’s Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International. “Please do not travel to the airport unless you have been contacted by your airline that your flight is confirmed, as schedules continue to change,” it told passengers. Turn to A4
AHEAD OF THE PRICE SURGE. Motorcyclists line up at a gasoline station in Quezon City ahead of Tuesday’s big-time fuel price increase. Edd Castro
By Charles Dantes, Alena Mae Flores, Rex Espiritu, Joel Zurbano and Maricel Cruz
A
S the conflict in the Middle East entered its second week with no signs of letup, an official of the Department of Energy said yesterday.
In an interview on dzBB, DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau director Rino Abad said the “minimum estimates” for Tuesday’s pump price hikes are as follows: diesel at P19 per liter, gasoline at P9 per liter, and kerosene at P31 per liter. Industry sources, however, gave a higher estimate: diesel at P20.10 to P20.30 per liter and gasoline at P10 to P10.20 per liter, adding that it may even go higher by Monday. Abad acknowledged that the DOE
estimates were “minimum” since premiums, freight and insurance costs have yet to be factored in. On Friday, industry sources estimated diesel prices to go up by P17.28 per liter next week, gasoline at P7.48 per liter and kerosene at P32.35 per liter due to the volatility of world oil prices. Malacañang, for its part, urged the public to stay calm as the country has sufficient fuel supply. Presidential Communications Of-
fice Undersecretary Claire Castro said the government is preparing for potential spillover effects from the Middle East conflict. “The President wants us to be ready for any situation, especially since the current conditions in the Middle East have not yet subsided. This is not the time to be sleeping soundly. We will all lose if the government becomes complacent,” Castro said. In a separate statement, the DOE assured the public that the country has adequate fuel supply. “There is no reason for panic buying. The country has adequate fuel supply, and government agencies are actively monitoring the situation to ensure that the public is protected,” the department said. Turn to A4
Alex Eala Photo credit Jhay Otamias
By Randy Caluag PHILIPPINE tennis sensation Alex Eala proved once again that she belongs on the world’s biggest stage, hacking out a gritty 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska to barge into the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time). In a grueling battle of nerves and baseline firepower that spanned over two hours, the 20-year-old Filipina pride showed big, fighting heart under the blistering desert sun, outlasting the former Australian Open semifinalist in a third-set thriller. Eala, currently ranked world no. 31, refused to blink against the heavyhitting Yastremska. After snatching a seesaw opening set, the Pinay ace momentarily stumbled in the second as the Ukrainian found her rhythm on the return. The decider turned into a literal game of “break-back,” with both players struggling to hold serve. However, with the score pegged at 5-all, Eala displayed the veteran composure that has characterized her historic rise, breaking Yastremska in the 12th game to seal the deal and ignite the crowd at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The victory sets the stage for a rematch against world no. 4 and reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff. The two recently crossed paths in the Dubai quarterfinals last February, where the American superstar dealt Eala a stinging 6-0, 6-2 defeat. This time, the Filipina trailblazer is looking to flip the script. Gauff eased past Kamilla Rakhimova to secure her own spot in the third round.
Cuba ‘next’ after Iran, says Trump WORLD / A4
Gov’t workers told: Report spy offers NEWS / A2
Gov’t to link displaced OFWs to potential employers By Vito Barcelo and Rex Espiritu OVERSEAS Filipino workers who have been displaced by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East will be linked to possible employers, the Department of Labor and Employment said. Over 1,100 Filipinos have returned from the Middle East since the conflict broke out a week ago, including 442 who arrived yesterday morning, the Department of Migrant Workers said.
RUN, DADDY, RUN!
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the delivery of government support. Affected OFWs will be profiled and skills-assessed through the nationwide network of Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) and registered in the PESO Employment Information System to support targeted job matching based on their qualifications, education, and work background. For those seeking to shift to new occupations or industries, DOLE said it will help facilitate training and career development pathways through
the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for skills training, testing, and certification. The Philippine National Police, for its part, said it has created a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to assist lead agencies in ensuring the safe and orderly return of affected OFWs. The team will help conduct interviews and screenings of returning OFWs to identify possible victims of illegal recruitment or human trafficking. Turn to A4
ICC appeals chamber rules Rody to stay in detention
Thousands of fur parents and their pets participate in the Pet Express Doggie Fun Run at the SM Mall of Asia Complex on Saturday, March 7, 2026. This fur baby, however, prefers to be carried by his human. Norman Cruz
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A Filipina caregiver, Mary Ann Velazquez de Vera, was killed in Tel Aviv during retaliatory strikes last week. A Filipino-American Army reservist, Robert Marzan of Sacramento, was killed during the March 1 incident in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, while supporting “Operation Epic Fury.” The Labor department said it has begun coordinating with the DMW to obtain available data on repatriated workers and those whose deployment may be affected to facilitate
By Pot Chavez FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte will remain in detention after judges of the International Criminal Court Appeals Chamber unanimously upheld an earlier decision rejecting an appeal for his interim release. The appellate court upheld the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I’s Jan. 26 decision to continue holding the expresident at the ICC Detention Center in The Netherlands due to flight risk concerns. “The Appeals judges unanimously confirm the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I, which had remanded Mr.
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Duterte in detention,” ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet said on Friday night. “The Appeals Chamber rejected or dismissed all of the Defense’s arguments and rejected the Defense’s ground of appeal in its entirety.” The defense earlier raised one ground of appeal and made a case that the Pre-Trial Chamber I “erred in fact and in law and abused its discretion” when it disregarded a report concerning Duterte’s health condition. The Appeals Chamber, however, argued that the defense’s report does not include any new information concerning Duterte’s health condi-
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tion, as the two medical practitioners it selected did not conduct any new examination of the former president. Duterte, who was president from 2016 to 2022, was arrested in Manila in March last year, flown to the Netherlands and has since been held at the ICC’s detention unit at Scheveningen Prison where he faces three counts of crimes against humanity. The first of three counts against Duterte concerns his alleged involvement as a co-perpetrator in 19 murders carried out between 2013 and 2016 while he was mayor of Davao City. Turn to A4
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