Manila Standard - 2026 July 7 - Tuesday

MARCOLETA, DEFENSOR IN JAIL AFTER SANDIGAN ORDERS ARREST

By Vince Lopez, Joel Zurbano, Jimbo Gulle

SENATOR Rodante Marcoleta was arrested Monday after the Sandigan-

bayan Third Division ordered his arrest in connection with a non-bailable plunder case over the alleged nondisclosure of P75 million in campaign donations he received for his 2025 senatorial bid.

The anti-graft court also ordered the arrest of former Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Michael Defensor and businessmen Joseph Varias Espiritu and Aristot-

Chiz presides over VP trial

Says 16 votes needed to convict, but issue may be

VP

By Joel E. Zurbano and Charles Dantes

VICE President Sara Duterte was a no-show on the first day of her impeachment trial at the Senate.

Meanwhile, Malacañang urged the Vice President to present her defense before the Senate impeachment court instead of issuing public statements attacking President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

In a press conference, lawyer Michael Poa repeated what the Vice President said in a recent statement: choosing to appear before the impeachment court only through counsel “does not diminish accountability or imply a lack of transparency.”

“In accordance with the impeachment rules, it is her right to appear through counsel,” Poa said.

By Maricel V. Cruz, Joel E. Zurbano, Katrina Manubay and Pot Chavez

SENATOR Francis Escudero was elected presiding judge of the impeachment court as the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte began yesterday.

Senator-judges engaged in an hour-long heated floor clash over the election of a presiding officer, with the Cayetano siblings questioning the move. But according to impeachment court spokesman

Lawyer

Reginald Tongol, Escudero’s election was valid and has a legal basis.

He said the ar- rangement will allow Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, who still sits beside Escudero during the trial, to focus on his legislative duties.

“When it comes to the impeach-

hits move to use Bonoan vs. ex-Speaker

A LAWYER has questioned efforts to link former Speaker Martin Romualdez to anomalous flood control projects, saying there was no evidence to link him to questionable government infrastructure.

Abdiel Dan Fajardo, Romualdez’s lawyer, cited the Ombudsman’s announcement that former Public Works

By Charles Dantes and Rio N. Araja

Secretary Manuel Bonoan will serve as witness against the former Speaker. He said Romualdez is “far removed” from the process of fund allocation, bidding, and disbursement of flood control projects executed by the Department of Public Works and Highways, which is at the center of the allegations.

“This has sprouted like a mushroom with Secretary Bonoan under hospital arrest because of his pending cases for plunder before the Sandiganbayan (anti-graft court). Then we hear that the Ombudsman is using him as a state witness against the former Speaker,” Fajardo said.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy (DOE) said Monday that “the worst is over” for the oil industry as it announced a mixed movement in pump prices this week.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said gasoline prices are projected to either decrease by P1.75 per liter or increase by P0.25 per liter.

Garin added that diesel prices are expected to increase by P1.57 to P3.57 per liter, while kerosene may go up by P1.70 to P3.70 per liter.

“The good news is that, as of last week, the average Dubai crude price had al-

ready fallen below $80 per barrel,” Garin said. “The industry is calming down, and I think it’s a matter of adjustment before we reach pre-war price levels.”

“But it will take time,” she added. “It won’t happen in just one or two weeks. It may take a few weeks or even a few months. But I think the worst is over, and hopefully prices will continue adjusting toward pre-war levels.”

DOE Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said world oil prices have been easing, noting that Dubai crude fell below the agency’s $80-per-barrel benchmark to around $76 per barrel last week.

By Jeremiah Sevilla

“They will help each other with their division of labor. It’s a very amicable and very friendly agreement,” Tongol said.

“I cannot hazard a guess if this will be declared null and void...The majority vote stands and is valid until the Supreme Court says it is not valid,” he added.

Senator Alan Cayetano raised a point of order over the election of a presiding order, arguing that it was the duty of the sitting Senate President.

He underscored the importance of adhering to Constitutional guidelines, adding: “Even if I were chosen as presiding officer, I would not accept it because it is wrong. That is not what is written in the Constitution.”

Senator Pia Cayetano said any amendments to the impeachment rules must happen in the impeachment court.

“Today we disregarded the framers of the Constitution,” she said.

Senator Francis Pangilinan argued the Constitution does not mandate the Senate President to preside over impeachment trials, adding that Congress has the authority to establish its own rules, which were amended and approved during special sessions in June.

Chiz: 16 votes to convict Escudero, who was elected with 12 votes, vowed to maintain impartiality and constitutional fidelity, affirming his commitment to the integrity of the trial – the first of its kind for a vice president in the Philippines.

“As Presiding Officer, I shall do my

“However, this is not immediately reflected in pump prices because they are pegged to MOPS, or the Mean of Platts Singapore, which serves as the trading benchmark for gasoline and diesel products,” Sales said. “At present, MOPS prices for diesel and gasoline remain elevated.”

Sales said he hopes MOPS prices will stabilize within one to three months, noting that around 30 percent of oil shipments have resumed passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Saudi Arabia has reported that it has returned to about 90 percent of its production capacity,” Sales said. “The United Arab Emirates has already restored 100 percent of its production. These two countries are the largest oil producers in the Gulf, and we hope the downward price trend continues in the coming months.”

The DOE also reported that the country’s total fuel inventory remained stable at about 46.5 days, up from 41 days last week.

Meanwhile, Garin said the global energy landscape is now far more uncertain and interconnected than when the Oil Deregulation Law was enacted nearly three decades ago. She said recent geopolitical developments underscore the need to equip the government with stronger tools to respond to supply disruptions and protect Filipino consumers.

Garin said the DOE has proposed amendments to the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998, which are now under consideration by the Senate Committee on Energy and the House of Representatives.

part to uphold the fairness and integrity of this process and shall see it through to its proper conclusion,” Escudero said.

“I did not seek nor did I ask for this responsibility. But neither will I shirk from fulfilling this duty without fear or favor,” he added.

He reminded his fellow senator-judges that a conviction will still require at least 16 votes.

“The charter provides that the Senate shall be composed of 24 senators, without a tinge of doubt, two-thirds of the figure or not less than 16 members is an unquestionable compliance with the requisite number of votes mentioned in Section 21 of Article 7,” he said.

“It behooves, therefore, all of us, to observe the same fidelity to the Constitution, in this trial, which affects not only the mere ratification of a treaty, but more so affects the substantial rights of the respondent, as well as the sovereign will of the people as expressed in the overwhelming mandate given to her,” Escudero added.

Escudero, however, said those who disagree with him may take the matter up before the Supreme Court.

Prosecution: Article IV first

The House prosecution panel said it will present first Article IV -- which accuses Duterte of uttering death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

This will be followed by the first (alleged misuse of confidential funds), third (alleged bribery) and second (alleged unexplained wealth) articles of

impeachment, prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno said.

Escudero approved the request of the prosecution team to require the attendance of lawyer Jeremy Lotoc, regional director of the NBI, and senior NBI agent John Mark Calilung, on July 6, 7 and 8.

The clerk of court said their testimonies are “material, relevant, and necessary to establish the allegations under Article 4 of the articles of impeachment as well as matters necessarily incidental thereto.”

The request also said the witnesses would testify “for purposes of the identification and authentication of other evidence before the impeachment court.”

Defense: Be fair in seeking justice

For her part, Duterte’s lead counsel, Sheila Sison, said the trial must take into account Constitutional safeguards as she called for fairness in the pursuit of justice.

“The prosecution now comes before this court to remove a Vice President chosen by an overwhelming number of the electorate… The clear objective behind these allegations is to oust the Vice President, who was elected by over 32 million Filipinos and is the product of their decision,” Sison said.

“Justice includes accountability. Justice includes fairness. Without fairness, there is abuse,” she added.

The Vice President skipped the first day of the trial, opting instead to have her legal defense team represent her.

Sison rejected the prosecution’s request to have Duterte arraigned, argu-

tion campaigns, and carry out preemptive evacuations in high-risk areas.

As of Monday afternoon, Super Typhoon Bavi remained outside the PAR, moving west-northwest over the Philippine Sea.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said tropical cyclone wind signals may be raised over northern and eastern Northern Luzon as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, with Signal Nos. 2 or 3 likely in affected areas. Wind signals may also be hoisted over parts of Southern Luzon and the Visayas.

Speaking at a Malacañang briefing Monday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President relayed his directives through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as authorities prepare for the storm, which is forecast to enter the PAR late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

Castro said Mr. Marcos ordered disaster management agencies to immediately conduct pre-disaster risk assessments and scenario planning, place national and regional response clusters on standby, intensify public informa-

Authorities were also instructed to prepare evacuation centers, designate areas for livestock, preposition rescue teams and relief supplies, identify alternate transport routes, enforce sea travel bans when necessary, inspect critical infrastructure, and monitor possible flood-related diseases.

“This is a whole-of-government approach, so all agencies involved must act. Those are the President’s instructions,” Castro said.

At 3 p.m. Monday, Bavi was estimated at 2,120 kilometers east of Southern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 250 kph. Its strong winds extended up to 800 kilometers from the center. Pagasa said the cyclone may slightly weaken before re-intensifying over the Philippine Sea but is expected to remain a super typhoon as it passes near Batanes on Friday without making landfall over the Philippine mainland. It is forecast to exit the PAR on Saturday.

The weather bureau warned that Bavi will significantly enhance the southwest monsoon beginning Thursday, bringing heavy rains over Northern and Western Luzon through the weekend. Earlier, Pagasa said the storm’s intensi-

ing that she is properly represented.

BIR box returned

As this developed, the impeachment court ordered the return of the BIR box that reportedly contains the tax records of Duterte and her husband.

It also deferred action on prosecution requests bank and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records involving the Vice President and Carpio.

“This box was turned over to the Senate as part of the documents, including the articles of impeachment. However, the court is not yet in custodia legis (in the custody of the law) of this box,” Escudero said.

He said the box had not been marked or offered as evidence, prompting the order to send it back to the BIR “closed, sealed, and as it is received.”

Escudero said the return of the box would be without prejudice to any action the court may take should either party file a motion for the issuance of a subpoena.

The impeachment trial will continue under an initial schedule of Mondays through Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. until July 27, before shifting to Tuesdays through Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. after the State of the Nation Address within a capped 92-day evidentiary timeline.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on May 11 after 257 lawmakers endorsed the verified complaint accusing her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

Only a guilty verdict by two-thirds of the bitterly divided Senate can strip Duterte of the vice presidency and permanently bar her from elected office.

ty could be be comparable to Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which devastated Eastern Visayas in 2013.

Meanwhile, authorities in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands reported extensive damage after Bavi swept through the US Pacific territories with Category 5-equivalent strength. Fallen trees, downed power lines, flooding, damaged roads, and widespread power and communication outages were reported, particularly on Rota, where about 1,500 residents were affected.

“Stay off the road. Any additional vehicles on the road hinder emergency responders and delay the expedited clearing of the roads,” Guam’s Joint Information Center warned as recovery operations continued.

No fatalities had been reported as of Monday evening, although officials said damage assessments were still underway.

Residents who had only recently recovered from Super Typhoon Sinlaku in April said they had prepared for Bavi but hoped electricity and other essential services would be restored quickly after the storm. Local authorities also opened shelters as businesses and residents boarded up buildings ahead of the typhoon. With AFP

“For now, we can say that she will not attend today. She is appearing through counsel.”

While absent from the trial, the Vice President reacted to a Palace statement quoting President Marcos, Jr. as saying that Duterte’s personal appearance at her impeachment trial would help clarify the issues.

Mr. Marcos did acknowledge that the ultimate decision lies with the vice president and her legal team.

Duterte countered by saying that the opinion of a sitting president carries no weight in an impeachment proceeding, stressing that the trial should be governed by the Constitution, due process, and the rule of law rather than personal views.

“The opinion of a President in an impeachment proceeding is of no importance. Impeachment proceedings must be guided by the Constitution and due process. The respondent has the right to be represented by counsel, and the decision to personally testify is a matter of legal strategy and constitutional rights,” she said.

Mr. Marcos remarked that the impeachment process would be clearer and more straightforward if Duterte addressed the allegations personally, rather than relying on lawyers or other representatives.

He noted that in a similar situation, he would likely insist on appearing to address the accusations, even if his legal team advised against it.

The remark from Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro came after Duterte released a statement saying a president’s opinion “is of no importance” in an impeachment proceeding and that impeachment cases must be guided by the Constitution, due process and the rule of law.

In response, Castro said Duterte should focus on addressing the allegations against her before the impeachment court rather than making statements outside the proceedings.

“Sa impeachment court na lang magpaliwanag at magpahayag si VP Sara ng kanyang mga salaysay,” Castro said in a message to Palace reporters.

(Vice President Sara should explain and make her statements before the impeachment court.)

Castro also challenged Duterte to follow the principles outlined in her own statement.

“VP Sara should practice what she preaches now.”

The Palace official said Duterte’s public remarks criticizing the president would not help clear her name.

“Any statement she makes against the President and the President’s remarks, if made outside the court, will not help clear her name,” Castro said.

trol controversy.

le Baluyut Viray, who were identified as Marcoleta’s alleged campaign donors.

Associate Justice Karl Miranda announced the arrest order after the court denied motions filed by Marcoleta seeking the dismissal of the case, ruling that probable cause exists to proceed with the plunder charges.

Marcoleta, who was already at the Sandiganbayan’s Office of the Clerk of Court when the order was issued, surrendered as an “act of good faith,” according to his lawyer.

Personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) confirmed Marcoleta’s arrest and escorted him to the courtroom for the return of the warrant.

Plunder is a non-bailable offense.

Marcoleta and his co-accused must first seek bail through a motion before they can be granted temporary liberty.

“That’s why it is alarming for us because former Secretary Manny Bonoan never mentioned the name of former Speaker Romualdez in his interviews or even formal testimony (before the Senate and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure).”

“I can plainly say that the (former) Speaker and former Secretary Bonoan,

The respondents are set to be committed to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas pending further proceedings.

The court also gave the prosecution three days to comment on the motions filed by Marcoleta, Defensor, and Espiritu seeking to quash the information charging them with plunder.

Not just plunder charge

In addition to the plunder case, Marcoleta and his three co-accused are facing separate charges for alleged violations of Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officials from directly or indirectly receiving gifts, presents, or other benefits in connection with their official duties.

Marcoleta faces three counts of violating PD 46, while Defensor, Espiritu, and Viray each face one count.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed the charges before the Sandiganbayan on Friday.

“Today, we filed a plunder case

whether on a personal basis or directly or indirectly through their offices, they did not talk about flood control programs. That’s why we were surprised (by the Ombudsman’s assertions) because we didn’t think about it…We really don’t remember any occasion (Romualdez and Bonoan discussed the projects) because the former Speaker had no connection to the Secretary,” Fajardo added.

He said it appears the Office of the Ombudsman is scrambling to gather witnesses and testimony related to the

against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta before the Sandiganbayan. This was not a decision made lightly or by choice. The evidence includes three cash donations totaling P75 million, undeclared in the senator’s SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth) and campaign finance reports. This leaves our office no discretion to look away,” the Ombudsman said. According to the Ombudsman, Marcoleta allegedly received the donations on three separate occasions: P30 million on Jan. 6, 2025, P25 million on Jan. 8, 2025, and P20 million on Jan. 9, 2025. The Ombudsman also said the donor’s tax on the P75 million was paid only in December 2025, which prosecutors argued was belated and indicative of concealment.

The payment was reportedly made only after Marcoleta explained the omission of the donations from his campaign expenditure statement.

infrastructure scam before the President makes his fifth State of the Nation Address this month – a year after his famous “Mahiya naman kayo” callout to corrupt government officials implicated in the scandal.

Fajardo said Romualdez’s legal team will remain focused on monitoring the Ombudsman’s actions while asserting the lack of basis for the allegations.

Romualdez earlier squarely denied the allegations against, adding that he will not be a scapegoat in the flood con-

two-time Grand Slam finalist and doubles winner Paolini in the endgame of their nerve-racking Round of 16 match that lasted for two hours and 13 minutes. Still, it was a historic campaign worth celebrating for the 21-year-old Filipina star, who marked a bevy of firsts in Philippine tennis history.

The world No. 32 Eala became the first Filipino tennis player to be seeded in a Grand Slam singles (29th) and the first to win a match in the prestigious Wimbledon. Eala also emerged as the first Pinoy, male or female, to reach the fourth round at the All England Club, which she achieved by sweeping no less than reigning champion Iga Swiatek on Center Court, 7-6 (11-9), 6-2.

On top of making one historic feat after another on the grass courts of Wimbledon, Eala bagged the biggest

The former Speaker said he had no part in the bicameral conference committee and the small committee budget deliberations, where insertions were allegedly made.

“I will not be a scapegoat for actions I did not commit…The truth is not afraid of scrutiny—and neither am I,” Romualdez said.

“I have nothing to hide. Let the Filipino people judge the truth based on evidence—not on speculation or politics,” he added.

purse of her career yet, securing a combined £309,000 or P25.3 million prize from her singles and doubles stints. Eala mounted a gutsy comeback from 1-4 down in the first set as she broke the No. 17 Paolini (13th seed) to move within 4-5, but back-to-back unforced errors enabled the Italian to seize the opening lead. The Filipina ace bounced back in the second frame, hitting two break points and holding her nerve to send the match into a win-or-go-home set.

Eala fought tooth-and-nail against the aggressive Paolini, holding her own serves for a 3-3 scoreline. However, Paolini, playing in her 27th Slam, showed veteran poise as she smashed a forehand winner, 4-3, then took advantage of Eala’s errors to score a crucial break point, 5-3. Eala tried to keep her Wimbledon dream alive by taking a 30-love lead in the ninth game, but Paolini delivered an ace, then forced Eala to commit errors to close out the match.

IN BRIEF

More than 130 stalls destroyed in Batac fire

MORE than 130 stalls were destroyed in the fire that razed portions of the Batac City Public Market, according to Market Master Danilo Agulay.

Agulay said the blaze damaged the Imee Building, Main Building, and Karinderia Building. An SUV, an L300 van, and several tricycles and motorcycles owned by stallholders were also destroyed.

He said market personnel are coordinating with affected vendors to help them retrieve any remaining goods from their stalls.

Agulay added that he received reports of alleged looting after the fire but clarified that no official complaint has been filed. More than 400 stall owners are registered at the Batac City Public Market. Dave Leprozo

DOJ multi-purpose facility rises in Cordillera region

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a multi-purpose facility to support its personnel and partner agencies serving in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida led the inauguration of the DOJ Cottage in Baguio City on June 24.

“The DOJ Cottage is more than a shelter; it is an investment in the well-being and productivity of those who serve the public,” Vida said, adding that the facility reflects the administration’s commitment to uphold the rule of law and deliver justice.

The facility will serve as official accommodation for DOJ officials and personnel on regional assignments and as a venue for conferences, training, and other institutional activities. Pot Chavez

Students get rainy season aid from Binondo biz club

HUNDREDS of youngsters in Binondo, Manila benefited from a community outreach activity conducted by the Binondo Salesmen Club, Inc. (BSCI).

Led by Manila Third District Councilor Jefferson Lau, the activity provided raincoats to children from Barangay 292 to help protect them during the rainy season.

“During the rainy season, these raincoats will greatly help our students. They will keep them dry and protect their school supplies and books while traveling to school,” Lau said.

Lau thanked Barangay Chairman Kerwin Gaw and the barangay council for their support and assistance in ensuring the success of the outreach program. Itchie G. Cabayan

Palace denies seeking deportation of Filipinos after Canada incident

By Charles Dantes M

ALACAÑANG on Monday said it did not file any complaint against the Filipinos who confronted members of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s delegation during the President’s recent visit to Canada, disputing social media claims that those involved could face deportation.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said neither she nor members of the presidential delegation reported the incident to Philippine or Canadian authorities, stressing that they had

no intention of escalating the matter. “I did not file a complaint. I did not immediately report it because I had no intention of making the incident bigger,” Castro said.

MARKET BLAZE. Fire damages several buildings of the Batac City Public Market, destroying more than 130 stalls, authorities reported. David Leprozo

Castro said the delegation proceeded directly to another venue after the confrontation to continue filming videos highlighting the President’s official engagements in Canada. She added that they did not even inform PCO Secretary Dave Gomez about the incident.

She said they only learned that the confrontation had gained widespread attention after videos began circulating online.

“We did not file any complaint. We did not report the incident,” Castro said. According to Castro, the videos did

QC reports rise in mild COVID-19 cases manageable

By Rio N. Araja

THE Quezon City government on Monday assured the public that there is no cause for alarm over the increase in mild COVID-19 cases.

While confirmed COVID-19 cases have increased over the past three weeks, city health officials maintained that there is no cause for alarm because all reported cases have been mild, with no evidence of clustering or severe illness.

Mayor Joy Belmonte assured QCit-

izens that while the city is closely monitoring the situation, the current trend remains manageable.

“We assure the public that the city government is closely monitoring these developments. While there has been an increase in cases, they still represent a very small percentage of our total population. We are not seeing any clustering of cases, and all reported infections have been mild and isolated,” she said.

Belmonte said the Quezon City Health Department will continue to

provide appropriate medical interventions through the city’s health centers and hospitals for residents experiencing COVID-like symptoms.

“We encourage everyone to remain vigilant, but there is no need to panic. The best thing we can do is seek medical attention early if symptoms develop and continue practicing simple preventive measures that protect ourselves and those around us,” she added.

Based on data from the Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance

Division (CESD), gathered from hospitals and health centers, the city recorded 23 confirmed COVID-19 cases from May 21 to June 10. The number increased to 84 confirmed cases from June 11 to July 1.

The CESD also noted that other Metro Manila cities recorded increases in COVID-19 cases during the same period. Since the start of 2026, Quezon City has logged a total of 146 confirmed COVID-19 cases through its proactive surveillance system.

PNP notes 30.43% drop in June crime rate

By Vince Lopez

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

on Monday announced that the nationwide crime rate dropped by 30.43 percent in June compared with the same period last year.

Nartatez said the police recorded 2,138 focus crime incidents in June, down from 3,073 during the same period in 2025.

“The PNP recorded a total of 2,138 focus crime incidents during the period, representing a decrease of 935 incidents, or 30.43 percent, compared to the 3,073 incidents recorded during the same period last year,” Nartatez told reporters during a press briefing at Camp Crame.

not come from members of the presidential delegation.

“We did not record any video. The video did not come from us—it came from them,” she said.

Castro said any decision by the Philippine Embassy in Canada or the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) regarding possible action should be addressed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Tess Lazaro.

The Palace official was responding to reports circulating on social media alleging that Filipinos who confronted the delegation during Mr. Marcos’ visit to Canada could be deported.

SC upholds VAT refund for foreign tourists in PH

By Pot Chavez

THE Supreme Court (SC) announced on Monday its decision upholding the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 12079, which grants value-added tax (VAT) refunds on certain local purchases made by non-resident foreign tourists.

In its decision, the SC En Banc dismissed the petition filed by John Barry Tayam challenging the validity of the law.

“A mere difference in treatment, without more, does not violate the equal protection clause. Granting VAT refunds to foreign tourists was not arbitrary. It is a policy decision based on legitimate state interests, particularly the need to remain competitive as a global tourist destination,” the decision read.

The High Court found that the law validly distinguishes foreign tourists from Filipino citizens and residents. It said the classification is directly related to the law’s objective of promoting tourism and encouraging visitors to purchase local products.

The Court emphasized that the law does not discriminate against Filipinos. Instead, it grants a specific incentive to foreign tourists as part of the State’s effort to strengthen the tourism industry.

Nartatez said the figures reflect the continuing effectiveness of intensified police operations, increased police visibility, focused crime prevention strategies, and stronger collaboration with communities and local government units.

“These results reflect the continuing impact of our intensified police operations, increased police visibility, focused crime prevention strategies, and the strong partnership we continue to build with local government units, partner agencies, and the communities we serve,” he said.

Focus crimes include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, motor vehicle theft, and motorcycle theft. Motor vehicle theft posted the biggest improvement, declining by 66.67 percent from 27 cases to nine. This was followed by rape, which dropped by 57.25 percent from 697 to 298 cases, and physical injury, which declined by 40.15 percent from 406 to 243 cases.

The SC also said the VAT refund system follows the basic VAT principle that goods are taxed where they are consumed. It rejected claims that the law unfairly disadvantages foreigners holding long-term visas, explaining that non-resident foreign nationals may still qualify for VAT refunds as long as they take the goods out of the country within 60 days and consume them abroad.

The Court noted that VAT refund programs for foreign tourists are widely practiced around the world, including in Asian countries and member states of the European Union.

92 dead, 1,316 hurt, 20 missing in 7.8 earthquake

By Rex Espiritu

THE death toll in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Maasim, Sarangani has climbed to 92, while 1,316 people were reported injured and 20 still missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Monday..

NDRRMC said that of the total fatalities, nine have been validated, while 83 deaths are still undergoing verification.

Only one injury has so far been validated, with 1,315 others still being validated by authorities. All 20 missing persons remain under validation.

Region 12 reported the highest number of casualties at 71 deaths, 1,236 injuries, and seven missing persons. Of these, 71 fatalities and 1,236 injuries are still being validated, while all seven missing persons also remain under verification.

Region 11 reported 21 deaths, 79 injuries, and 13 missing persons. Authorities have validated nine deaths and one injury, while 12 deaths, 78 injuries, and 13 missing persons are still undergoing validation.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao recorded one injury, which has yet to be validated. No deaths or missing persons have been reported in the region.

Authorities said the figures remain subject to change as validation and assessment operations continue in the affected areas.

IN BRIEF

Bill raises LGUs’ share of NTA over five years

BATAAN 1st District Rep. Antonino Roman has filed House

Bill No. 9488, also called Local Fiscal Autonomy Enhancement Act, seeking greater fiscal autonomy for local government units (LGUs) by increasing their share of national taxes to improve the delivery of basic public services.

Roman said the measure would grant LGUs an additional fivepercent share on top of the existing National Tax Allotment (NTA), providing LGUs with more funds for healthcare, social welfare, infrastructure, disaster response, and other essential services. Under the bill, the additional allocation would be implemented gradually over five years through a onepercent annual increase.

The measure also provides for the automatic release of the additional funds while ensuring that the current NTA shares of LGUs will not be reduced. Butch Gunio

New vessel to push PN modernization program

THE Philippine Navy marked another milestone in its modernization program with the launch of its future landing dock vessel at the PT PAL Indonesia shipyard in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The event was held on June 30, with Navy flag officer-in-command Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio

Ezpeleta joining the Armed Forces of the Philippines delegation led by vice chief Lt. Gen. Rommel Roldan.

Hosted by PT PAL Indonesia, the launch highlighted the partnership between the Philippine Navy and the Indonesian shipbuilder in advancing the country’s naval modernization efforts. Rex Espiritu

Marines stage coastal defense exercise 2026

THE Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) has rolled out it the Archipelagic Coastal Defense Preparedness Exercise (APEX) "Acero" 06-2026, a unilateral military exercise aimed at strengthening the Corps' territorial defense capabilities across the country's archipelagic environment.

The drill, which began on July 3, is being conducted simultaneously by Marine operating forces deployed nationwide to validate the implementation of territorial defense operations and assess operational proficiency, efficiency, and inter-unit coordination in carrying out critical coastal and maritime missions.

The PMC said the exercise goes beyond routine training by providing a comprehensive platform to enhance coordination among Marine units while refining operational plans and doctrines through realistic and complex scenarios. Rex Espiritu

Isabela gov’t regulates traffic along highway cutting across Sierra Madre

By Jessica M. Bacud

THE provincial government of Isabela has restricted access to the 82-kilometer Ilagan-Divilacan Road even as rehabilitation works accelerate across the Sierra Madre, turning the long-awaited highway into a scheduled corridor under Executive Order No. 22 signed by Gov. Rodolfo T. Albano III.

The road stands as one of Isabela’s most strategically vital infrastructure projects. Crossing the Sierra Madre mountain range, it establishes the first land connection between the province’s mainland and its Pacific coastal municipalities of Divilacan, Palanan, Maconacon, and eventually Dinapigu.

For decades, these communities relied almost entirely on boats and small aircraft for transport.

Under the EO, the Isabela Police Provincial Office will implement the restrictions at checkpoints in Ilagan City and Dicambangan in Divilacan. Only residents of the four coastal towns and officially deployed non-

resident personnel may use the route while construction is ongoing.

Travel is limited to Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Vehicles from Divilacan to Ilagamust pass the Dicambangan checkpoint from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., while trips from Ilagan to the coast must use the Sitio Disipon checkpoint in Barangay Sindon Bayabo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

No movement will be allowed during severe weather.

Only four-wheel-drive vehicles and high-ground-clearance motorcycles are permitted. Sedans, vans, tricycles, and light scooters are barred. Travelers from Ilagan heading to the coastal towns must secure a travel pass from the Provincial Public Safety Office.

The EO provides exemptions for

health emergencies, official government travel, and other authorized missions. An express lane will also be maintained for perishable goods leaving the coastal municipalities. Violators will face sanctions under existing traffic and safety laws. While the road is meant to end decades of isolation for Isabela’s Pacific towns, the new schedule now forces farmers and fisherfolk to fit shipments of fresh produce into two-hour windows or wait days for the next opening, raising concerns over livelihoods. Officials stressed the measure is temporary, aimed at preventing accidents and speeding up construction. For now, the highway to the Pacific remains open only on schedule and only for those cleared to pass.

By Minerva Newman

PUTTING classrooms and learners first, Cebu

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro led the ceremonial groundbreaking for eight Temporary Learning Shelters (TLS) in four southern Cebu towns on Saturday, July 4, to directly address classroom shortages while permanent facilities are being built, a key pillar of the Baricuatro administration’s education agenda: “No Cebuano learner left behind due to lack of classrooms.”

Under the provincial government’s accelerated school infrastructure program, the P9.12-million project will deliver three TLS units for El Pardo Elementary School, Boljoon; two TLS units for Mantalongon Elementary School and Obong Elementary School, Dalaguete; two TLS units for Bala-as Elementary School & Langtad Elementary School, Argao; and one TLS unit for Pasol-Pugalo Integrated School, Alcoy.

“Education is the foundation of everything. If our children don’t have proper classrooms today, we are delaying the future of Cebu. That’s why we’re acting now,” Baricuatro told teachers, parents, and students at the event.

For Baricuatro, first, building spaces to learn now, she said that the TLS rollout is part of a larger push to make schools safer, more accessible, and more conducive to learning across Cebu.

She also announced that additional funding is already lined up for selected schools in the south that will receive two-storey classroom buildings — the

TEMPORARY SCHOOLS BREAK GROUND. Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro leads the groundbreaking for eight ‘temporary Learning Shelters’ in four southern Cebu towns meant to address classroom shortages while permanent buildings are under construction. Minerva Newman next phase of the province’s plan to permanently close the classroom gap. Joining Baricuatro at the ground-breaking event were key education and local leaders who echoed the priority--Dalaguete Mayor Nelin Tambis; Argao Mayor Allan Sesaldo and Vice Mayor Atty. Orvi

Ortega; Second District PB Member Raymond Calderon; Boljoon Councilors

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has arrested an alleged gun-forhire leader and one of the most wanted fugitives in MIMAROPA (Region 4B) during an intelligence-driven operation in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro. The suspect was identified as Noel Pedro Manuel, also known as “Tawi,” a former member of the Philippine Army Special Forces who, according to police, headed a gun-for-hire group operating in Oriental Mindoro and Batangas.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. described the arrest as a significant accomplishment in the PNP’s campaign against violent offenders and organized criminal groups, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify operations against wanted persons.

“This is a major accomplishment because we removed a high-value fugitive who was involved in gun-forhire activities in Oriental Mindoro and Batangas,” Nartatez said. Manuel was arrested on July 2 in Sitio Upper Odiong, Barangay Odiong, Roxas, through an intelligence-led operation conducted by the PNP Intelligence Group and the Regional Intelligence Unit of the Police Regional Office-MIMAROPA (PRO-4B). Police served four warrants of arrest against Manuel for murder and frustrated murder. All of the charges carry no recommended bail. The suspect was listed as the No. 3 Most Wanted Person in PRO-4B, the No. 1 Most Wanted Person of the Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Office, and the No. 1 Most Wanted Person of the Roxas Municipal Police Station.

OPINION

Honor Blanco Cabie

Reverse-Engineering a case: Witnesses over evidence

(Last of two parts)

EVEN more concerning, these same witnesses reportedly refused to attend legitimate Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings where their claims could have been legally tested in a public forum, under oath, and through rigorous crossexamination.

If their testimonies are factually and legally solid, why actively avoid the very venue designed to validate their evidence?

In the interest of justice, credible witnesses do not fear scrutiny—they welcome it. Furthermore, doubts regarding these accounts did not originate solely from Congressman Martin Romualdez’s camp; lawmakers themselves raised serious questions about their reliability.

Former Blue Ribbon chairs and senior senators expressed profound reservations. Most notably, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag publicly testified that investigators uncovered glaring inconsistencies in the witnesses’ statements, rendering them highly unreliable. This distinction is critical. If law enforcement authorities and investigative agencies themselves identified material inconsistencies in these narratives, it begs a fundamental legal question: on what legal basis are these same witnesses now being elevated into the pillars of a major prosecution?

The public should also be told whether any benefits, considerations, or accommodations were offered to these witnesses.

Their lawyer, Levi Baligod, has reportedly sought the dismissal of various cyberlibel cases filed against them. There may be no public proof of any deal, but the timing and circumstances are enough to justify a demand for transparency.

Were any cases discussed?

Were any assurances made?

Were any concessions offered?

Were any benefits promised in exchange for testimony?

These are fair questions. They go directly to motive, credibility, and reliability.

This is not a minor matter. A witness facing legal problems may have every reason to say what prosecutors want to hear. That does not automatically make the testimony false, but it does mean the testimony must be treated with extreme caution.

That is why corroboration matters. Where are the documents showing Congressman Romualdez ordered, controlled, implemented, inspected, approved, or benefited from the alleged anomalous flood control projects?

Where is the paper trail?

Where is the transaction trail?

Where is the official act?

Where is the direct instruction?

Where is the evidence that connects a budget process in Congress to actual procurement and implementation in the executive branch?

Without that, the case begins to look less like a prosecution built on evidence and more like a political narrative being propped up by unstable witnesses.

A strong case does not need discredited witnesses to carry its weight. A strong case stands on documents, records, transactions, official acts, and credible firsthand testimony.

If, after more than a year, the Ombudsman’s case still depends on a former implementing official seeking favorable treatment and a group of so-called “18 kargadors” whose stories have repeatedly been questioned, then the public has reason to worry.

A strong case stands on documents, records, transactions, official acts, and credible firsthand testimony

Because this is how weak cases are dressed up as strong ones. First, find a political target. Second, search for witnesses. Third, patch the gaps with affidavits. Fourth, call it evidence.

But justice cannot work that way. Justice is not built by forcing a legal theory to fit unreliable witnesses. Justice is built by allowing reliable evidence to lead to the truth.

The danger here goes beyond Congressman Martin Romualdez. If this standard is accepted, then any person can be accused first and investigated later. Any unstable witness can be recycled. Any shifting story can be repackaged. Any political narrative can be turned into a legal case. That is not accountability.

That is persecution dressed in legal language.

The Ombudsman has a solemn duty to fight corruption. But that duty also requires fairness, discipline, and fidelity to evidence. The fight against corruption is weakened—not strengthened—when prosecutions appear to rely on witnesses whose credibility is already badly damaged.

The Filipino people want accountability. But they also want fairness. They want the guilty punished. But they also want the innocent protected from fabricated, exaggerated, or politically convenient accusations.

That is the balance the justice system must preserve.

So the question remains:

After more than a year, is this really the best the Ombudsman can produce?

A former DPWH chief whose role in implementation raises obvious questions?

Remulla’s Washington vow: More than just another speech?

ANOTHER Philippine official, standing on foreign soil, promising to bring back stolen billions. We’ve heard this song before—a four-decade remix from the PCGG’s 1986 mandate to every Ombudsman’s press conference since.

But Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla’s June 22 declaration at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. might actually have a band behind the singer.

“We are here to make sure the US is no longer a safe haven for ill-gotten wealth from the Philippines,” Remulla told the Filipino community.

He named no names, cited no case numbers. Critics immediately pounced on the vagueness. But discretion isn’t evasion— it’s the difference between recovering assets and watching them vanish into a Cayman Islands trust while your press release is still trending. The context matters. Remulla arrived fresh from the UN’s 7th Global Conference on SDG16, where he discussed the flood control scandal that has already produced asset freezes, travel bans, and Sandiganbayan indictments against senators and a former House Speaker.

This isn’t a fishing expedition. This is a

man holding a net already heavy with catch, looking for the ones that slipped offshore.

The scale of theft is staggering. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto estimates the economy lost ₱42.3 billion to ₱118.5 billion to ghost flood control projects from 2023 to 2025.

The Filipino people have earned the right to demand receipts. Show us the money—then we’ll believe the speech

Some of that money almost certainly fled to American real estate, bank accounts, and Delaware LLCs.

Here’s how the grift works: Corrupt official awards inflated contract to crony contractor, receives kickback, then funnels cash through shell corporations in secrecyfriendly US states where forming an LLC requires less identification than getting a library card.

Skirting the stand

THE Senate, acting as an impeachment court, has shifted the gear Monday in the historic impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the second high government official tried by the Senate since 2000.

But her absence from the opening of her impeachment trial symbolizes a strategic retreat from democratic accountability. By hiding behind her legal counsel and invoking attorney-client privilege regarding the decision, she projects an image of detachment, signaling a refusal to engage directly with the Constitutional process.

The empty defendant’s chair in the plenary hall becomes the loudest presence in the room. It visually communicates a basic abdication of responsibility, reinforcing the narrative that the official is evading the reckoning the public deserves.

Her decision not to appear physically before the Senate impeachment court echoes a long-standing political dynasty’s belief that they are above public scrutiny. By delegating her voice to spokespersons, she insulates herself from the immediate gravity of the accusations. By pointing out that it is her right under the impeachment rules to appear only through lawyers, Duterte weaponizes procedure. It frames her absence not as an admission of guilt, but as an arrogant display of defiancewhere Constitutional accountability is reduced to a minimum legal

threshold. Her choice to stay away starkly contrasts with her previous remarks calling for a “bloodbath.” Her no-show subverts expectations of a fiery confrontation, showing instead a calculated reluctance to subject her narrative to direct crossexamination in open court.

Ordinary Filipinos expect the trial to be a transparent pursuit of truth rather than a political spectacle

When a leader’s defense is “here through counsel,” it signifies that survival depends on technicalities rather than truth. Her team’s invocation of privilege to shield the rationale behind her absence frames the proceedings as a political game to be managed, rather than a moral duty to the public.

The first government official, the fifth in leadership succession under the Constitution, was Chief Justice Renato Corona (2012), impeached

by the House and convicted by the Senate for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution due to his failure to disclose his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). He was removed from office. With the trial, calendared for 92 days, the Philippines confronts a critical test of democratic accountability. While political fortunes are decided, ordinary Filipinos struggle with high inflation, currently hovering around 6 to 7 percent, alongside stagnant wages.

This trial – three times a week from Monday to Wednesday – is fully covered live on television and open to the public via official online live streams , and transcends politics, representing a fight for integrity in governance.

The allegations—ranging from the misappropriation of confidential funds to the disturbing reports of ghost flood control projects— highlight a deep-seated issue of public resources being diverted while citizens face economic hardship.

Ultimately, this trial must show that the law applies to everyone, offering accountability for the nation’s financial suffering and ensuring that public office is used to serve the Filipino people, not to shield the elite from scrutiny.

Ordinary Filipinos expect the trial to be a transparent pursuit of truth rather than a political spectacle.

Turkey eyes F110 fighter jet engines as Trump comes to town

ISTANBUL – US President Donald Trump’s visit to Ankara for the NATO summit could help secure Turkey’s acquisition of dozens of fighter jet engines, but won’t resolve the F-35 dispute that has soured ties, analysts say.

The July 7-8 summit, which is being hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will bring together leaders from the military alliance’s 32 member states.

Last month, Trump promised to make Erdogan “very happy” when asked about Turkey looking to secure F110 jet engines and being readmitted to the F-35 fighter jet programme.

Analysts said it would likely mean freeing up fighter jet engines Turkey wants to use in its flagship KAAN stealth fighter project.

“It’s likely to be the green light for the F110 GE engines for the KAAN fighter plane, about 40 of them. There had been obstacles to that supply and very possibly those are now being removed,” Sinan Ulgen, director of the Istanbul-based Edam think tank, told AFP.

“Turkey has produced a couple of prototypes which are flying with the F110 engine, but it has been waiting for the supply of additional engines to increase the number of KAAN platforms,” he said.

KAAN is a twin-engine stealth fighter being developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to replace the Turkish Air Force’s fleet of F-16s as Ankara seeks to join the exclusive club of nations producing fifth-generation combat aircraft, notably the US, China and Russia.

Although Turkey will eventually fit the fighter with its own domestically-produced engine -- the F110s lacking stealth capability -- that project is still in the preliminary design phase, Defense Minister Yasar Guler said in September.

Turkey received a first batch of 10

That LLC buys a Miami condo or parks cash in an American bank. The official’s name appears nowhere. The paper trail dead-ends at a nominee director who may not exist. The legal tools to dismantle this system exist.

The 1994 Philippines-US Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty explicitly covers forfeiture proceedings and asset repatriation. I t worked in 2011, when the US returned $132,000 to then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. Small, yes. But it proved the plumbing functions.

The UN Convention Against Corruption’s Chapter V makes asset recovery a “fundamental principle,” while US civil forfeiture law under 18 U.S.C. § 981 operates against the asset itself, requiring only a preponderance of evidence.

The Supreme Court reinforced this

F110s in September, and talks with the US government to acquire 80 more were “ongoing”, he said.

Indigenous defense systems

But that’s been held up by a lack of political clearance linked to Turkey’s 2017 acquisition of a Russian S-400 missile defence system, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in September.

Infuriated, Washington expelled Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet programme in 2019 and imposed CAATSA sanctions a year later, hampering Turkish defence projects and souring ties.

The July 7-8 summit will bring together leaders from the military alliance’s 32 member states

“The CAATSA issue must be resolved. The US needs to take steps both regarding the F-35 and the engines for KAAN. KAAN’s engines are currently awaiting approval in the US Congress,” Fidan said, his remarks raising eyebrows back home as Turkey had said the KAAN would be entirely domestically produced.

Ankara’s F-35 exclusion has forced it to refocus on self-sufficiency.

“Some argue we should not buy F-35s and invest that money into our own fifthgeneration fighter jet programme. And that’s exactly what’s happening with President Trump’s decision to export jet engines,” Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, head of the German Marshall Fund in Ankara said.

“Without those engines, Turkey cannot produce the KAAN jet.”

framework in Heirs of Ligot v. Republic, ruling just this March that third-party registration doesn’t defeat forfeiture presumptions.

The counterarguments deserve airing.

Remulla’s own SALN declares a net worth of ₱461.1 million—legally documented, but optically challenging for a man tasked with auditing everyone else’s wealth. His brother Jonvic is DILG Secretary; three children hold Cavite elective posts. Dynasty isn’t criminality, but it complicates the impartial corruption-fighter narrative. The historical base rate is terrible. The PCGG recovered perhaps 10-15 percent of Marcos-era billions over 40 years. Witnesses like Orly Guteza have gone missing; whistleblower Niruh Kyle Antatico was killed. Yet partial success is still success. Every

F-35 deadlock drags on

With a KAAN delivery date many years away, only Indonesia has placed an order, signing a $10bn contract to buy 48 fighters, although the NATO summit could generate further interest, Ulgen said.

“Looking at the failure of the GermanFrench FCAS initiative, there may be some interest. Spain could potentially become a partner and there may be interest from the Gulf as well... But there are more obstacles to be overcome for it to become a credible offer on the international stage,” he said.

Experts expected little progress on the lingering F-35 dispute: for Congress to lift the CAATSA sanctions, Ankara would have to get rid of the S-400 -- but selling it to a third country would require Moscow’s approval, and returning it to the Russians was not on the cards.

“The US administration might wish to... put this issue behind it and sell Turkey some F-35, but that will go to Congress and changing the congressional decision won’t be easy,” said Professor Mustafa Aydin, an international relations expert at Istanbul’s Kadir Has University.

But Matthew Bryza, a retired US envoy and former senior White House and State Department official, said Trump could move to resolve the matter as the F-35 was an executive decision which he could easily reverse.

“President Trump can certainly declare that the S-400/F-35 dispute is finished. It’s the CAATSA sanctions that require congressional action. Whether he can persuade Congress to do that, depends on how much political capital he’s willing to expend,” he told AFP of a move that could be “politically costly in the lead up to the midterm elections” due to Turkey’s opponents in the Greek and Armenian diaspora. AFP

asset frozen abroad isn’t funding a politician’s next campaign.

Every MLAT request honored strengthens the bilateral norm that Delaware LLCs aren’t invisibility cloaks.

Concrete benchmarks are now essential: formal MLAT requests within months, named cases with evidence packages robust enough for US courts, and publicly reported outcomes.

Congress must pass automatic bank secrecy waivers for public officials. The AMLC needs a dedicated international recovery unit.

Remulla’s vow will be measured not by its eloquence but by frozen accounts, forfeiture complaints, and checks deposited in the Bureau of Treasury.

The Filipino people have earned the right to demand receipts. Show us the money— then we’ll believe the speech.

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026

NATO summit offers Turkey chance to shine as defense security partner

ISTANBUL – Ankara hopes its hosting of an upcoming NATO summit will cement its rise as a key European security partner, building on the rapid growth of its defence industry despite resistance from some allies.

The two-day summit opens on Tuesday with the Defence Industry Forum -- once a sideline event, now formally part of the program -- at which some 3,500 companies will be showcasing the best of Turkey’s burgeoning defense technologies.

“It is inconceivable to establish European security without Turkey,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said while pushing relentlessly for Turkey’s “inclusion” in all of Europe’s defence and security structures, notably the EU’s 150-billion-euro ($176-billion) SAFE program.

Turkey boasts NATO’s second-biggest army after the United States with 355,000 troops and another 378,000 reservists, with its defense industry notably booming over the past decade.

But its desire to switch from supplier to a strategic partner has been held in check.

“Turkey has been largely left out of

Europe-wide programs and projects. That is what Turkey wants to change... And to do that, it will use the summit to showcase its capabilities,” said Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, head of the German Marshall Fund in Ankara.

Turkey’s defense industry -- which ranks 11th in the world, accounting for 1.8 percent of the global arms market, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) -- saw exports grow by 48 percent in 2025, up from 29 percent a year earlier, officials said.

“We now achieve in one week what we used to achieve in one year,” Erdogan said last month of Turkey’s exports of drones, tanks, armoured vehicles and warships, one of which was delivered to Romania, becoming “the first export of a military ship to an EU and NATO member country.”

“We do not want to be seen only as a supplier. We want to be regarded as a strategic partner.. (for) joint production and technology cooperation,” Haluk Gorgun, head of Turkey’s SSB Defence Industry Agency told Defence24 news website last month. AFP

Russian strike kills 14 on eve of NATO meet

KYIV – Russia fired missiles and drones into apartment buildings in Kyiv for the second time in a week on Monday, killing at least 14 people on the eve of a crucial NATO summit, authorities said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the alliance to take “strong decisions” on boosting Ukraine’s air defences following the strike, which came just days after another Russian attack killed more than 30 people in Kyiv.

The European Union also said that Ukraine needs air defense reinforcements.

The morning strike punched a crater into a multi-story apartment block in the Ukrainian capital, ripping its top floors into two.

AFP reporters heard more than 10 explosions during a ballistic missile alert during the night, with flashes in the sky as the blasts rang out.

It was the second attack in a week in which Russia deployed the hard-tointercept ballistic missiles -- triggering Zelenskyy’s desperate new appeal for allies to send advanced missiles for the US-made Patriot air defence systems.

He is to discuss the war with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, which begins Tuesday.

“It is critically important that the world –- first and foremost the United States and our European partners –come out of the NATO Summit in Ankara with strong decisions in support of our air defense, and thus the protection of ordinary people’s lives,” he said on social media.

At least 14 people were killed in Kyiv and the surrounding region, with around 60 more wounded, he said.

Russia fired 68 missiles and 351 attack drones, he added.

Officials in the Kyiv suburb of Vyshneve said they were evacuating residents due to the possibility of unexploded munitions in the debris.

Locals in the northern Podilsky district of the capital said their area had

been targeted heavily in recent Russian strikes.

“At 1:30 am, a powerful hit occurred. A blast wave, all the windows blew out. And then it hit three more times,” Oleksandr Bakhlukov, who lives in a nearby building, told AFP.

“Glass was falling down. There wasn’t a single pane of glass left in the apartment,” the 68-year-old added.

Russia’s defense ministry said it had carried out a “massive strike” using missiles and drones against what it described as “military-industrial enterprises,” fuel and energy complex facilities in several Ukrainian regions.

Around 30 residential buildings in Kyiv were hit, with rescuers still sifting through the rubble hours after the attack, officials said.

Zelensky said Ukraine’s army had shot down the Russian drones and cruise missiles, but had “insufficient supply of interceptor missiles” to stop the ballistic missiles.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the attack showed that Ukraine “urgently” needs more air defence and that this would be discussed at the NATO meeting. AFP

Venezuela quake deaths pass 3,000

CATIA LA MAR, Venezuela – Deaths from Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes rose to at least 3,342 on Sunday as officials began to bury dozens of bodies left unidentified 11 days after the disaster. The June 24 double shocks, one of Latin America’s worst quake disasters, toppled scores of buildings in the La Guaira coastal area north of Caracas and left thousands of people missing.

As international rescue teams packed up and ended attempts to find survivors, attention shifted to mourning those lost and burying the remains that families have recovered from the ruins.

In a secluded area of La Esperanza cemetery in La Guaira, gravediggers buried more than 150 bodies still unidentified since the earthquakes, AFP journalists saw.

A line of simple white crosses with small bouquets at their foot marked a long row of individual graves. Each one had the same date of death: June 24, 2026. Two excavators were working to dig more graves in the light brown earth. AFP

Netanyahu: Some want to be ‘annexed’

JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said some Christian villages in southern Lebanon had asked to be annexed by Israel, in order to be protected from Hezbollah militants. Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East war on March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, where its troops now occupy territory near the border.

“Christian villages in Lebanon, some of them have actually asked to be annexed to Israel, because we protect them against the Hezbollah, Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them, and we do the same things with Christians everywhere,” Netanyahu told Fox News show “The Sunday Briefing”. AFP

Huge crowds expected at Khamenei funeral

TEHRAN — Massive crowds are expected on Monday for the funeral procession of late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, with authorities hoping to avoid a repeat of the chaos that accompanied his predecessor’s funeral.

After lying in state in Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex for two days, Khamenei will be processed through the city for 10 to 12 hours starting at 6:00 am (0230 GMT), organisers said. The 1989 funeral of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, drew some 10 million people, according to state news agency IRNA, and crowd surges killed more than 10 people and injured over 10,000.

Thousands had filled the Grand Mosalla on Sunday, where they paid their respects to Khamenei and four family members, all killed on February 28 in Israeli airstrikes based on US intelligence.

Massive concrete walls separated the public from the coffin to prevent stampedes.

It is unclear what level of access and proximity the public will have during the procession, but authorities are mindful that in 1989 they were forced to use a helicopter to transport Khomeini for burial after mourners stormed his vehicle, causing his burial shroud to tear and his body to fall to the ground. AFP

PVL pre-season spectacle On Tour heads to Isabela

VOLLEYBALL fever heads north as the 2027 PVL On Tour Showdown gets underway Wednesday (July 8) in Ilagan City, Isabela, with four of the league’s top clubs seeing action in the opening doubleheader of a seven-stop preseason tour that promises competitive matches, innovative rules and a closer connection with fans across the country.

Following the opening leg in Ilagan, the tour will continue in Batangas on July 11, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur on July 25, Polomolok, South Cotabato on August 1, City of Santiago on August 8, Lanao del Norte on August 15, before concluding on August 22 in a province that will be announced at a later date.

The preseason showcase will once again highlight the league’s commitment to expanding its reach beyond Metro Manila while providing clubs with meaningful competition ahead of the new PVL season.

“The PVL on Tour is our way, together with the teams, of bringing the game closer to our fans during the preseason. It allows supporters from different parts of the country to experience PVL volleyball firsthand, while giving our teams valuable opportunities to build chemistry and prepare for the season ahead,” said PVL Control Committee chairman Sherwin Malonzo.

Adding further incentive to every contest, each winning team in the PVL On Tour Showdown will receive P100,000, while the losing side will still take home P50,000, ensuring that every preseason match will still be competitive.

To emphasize player development and maximize participation, the PVL has introduced a mandatory playing-time rule for the On Tour matches.

All 14 players on each team’s roster must see action by the end of the second set, with every player required to participate in at least three rallies before the conclusion of the frame. After the second set, coaches will have full discretion over their lineups, with modified substitution rules remaining in effect.

The league also reaffirmed its policy regarding national team athletes.

Players who are officially part of the Philippine national team delegation for an international tournament, or those actively engaged in official national team activities, will not be allowed to suit up in PVL On Tour matches.

National team members may only participate if they are not included in an official delegation and there are no scheduled national team commitments.

LUBAO, Pampanga – Chanelle Avaricio returns to action brimming with confidence after a dramatic comeback victory in Baguio, but the multi-title campaigner knows the challenge awaiting at Pradera Verde will be an entirely different test. With the demanding Pinewoods layout giving way to a longer course that rewards power as much as precision, Avaricio expects another fierce battle as she chases a second straight victory in the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship beginning Tuesday (July 7) at the Arayat course here.

The P750,000 fourth leg of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour shifts from Pinewoods’ tight, uphill layout that demanded patience, discipline and exceptional course management to a venue where length off the tee, accuracy and smart decision-making could prove equally decisive. While Pradera appears more scoreable on paper, its constantly changing character, highlighted by strategically placed hazards, bunkers and unpredictable winds, promises to challenge even the tour’s most accomplished campaigners.

Fresh from rallying from five strokes behind in the final round to snatch a thrilling one-shot victory over Harmie Constantino and Tiffany Lee, Avaricio hopes to ride the momentum of that triumph that not only marked a successful return to the winner’s circle but also thrust her back into serious contention for the season-long Order of Merit title after opening her campaign with a seventh-place finish at Lakewood and opting to skip the Caliraya Springs stop.

Alegado sweeps Prague skate meet with 2 golds

By Randy M. Caluag

FILIPINO skateboarding sensation Mazel Paris Alegado made waves on the international stage by capturing two gold medals after sweeping both the women’s bowl and women’s vert competitions at the prestigious Mystic Sk8 Cup in Prague, Czech Republic.

Ranked No. 23 in the world, Alegado first struck gold in the women’s bowl event after posting a winning score of 79.67, narrowly defeating Spain’s Nahia Castro, who finished with 78.00. Norway’s Maja Spatscheck settled for the bronze medal with 69.00.

The 12-year-old Southeast Asian Games champion completed a golden sweep later in the tournament by dominating the women’s vert event with an impressive 83.67 points. Castro once again finished runner-up, while Great Britain’s Lilly Strachan claimed the bronze medal.

Alegado made history by becoming the youngest Filipino athlete to win a gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games after reigning supreme in the women’s park event in Thailand at just 12 years old. Her success in Prague comes at a time when Philippine athletes continue to make headlines on the global stage, highlighted by Alexandra “Alex” Eala’s historic run at Wimbledon. With another successful international campaign under her belt, Alegado sets her sights on three major competitions scheduled later this year—the World Skate Championships in Asuncion, Paraguay, the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in

Paris Alegado

Japan this September, and the World Skate Tour Street World Cup in Utsunomiya, Japan, in November.

URCC Fight Nights returns on July 18 at Octopus Bar

IT’S going to be a big night at the Octopus Bar in Makati on July 18 when Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) holds an event — Fight Night — featuring some of the best and toughest MMA fighters in the country.

“I can’t wait for the next event as always; we show the most exciting and entertaining fights as URCC fighters always go all out. Bakbakan na!,” URCC president Alvin Aguilar said.

Jongin Choi (Mandance MMA) takes on Emmanuel Isuekpe (T-Trex) in the 155 lbs. main offering of a five-bout event, with kickboxers also taking center stage.

Sung Nak Chan of the Korean Zombie Team goes

Still, Avaricio refuses to get carried away.

The comeback queen stressed that staying patient, committed and focused remains her biggest priority, knowing that every course presents its own unique demands and that momentum alone guarantees nothing on a tour loaded with talent.

Her confidence, however, will be severely tested by a field eager to deny her a

second straight title.

Constantino, who dominated the Caliraya Springs leg before finishing a stroke short at Pinewoods despite a spirited closing rally, is determined to regain the winning form, while Lee seeks redemption after squandering a four-shot lead in Baguio. Despite a late charge, she ran out of holes, making Pradera the perfect stage for another crack at the title.

But the expected title chase extends well beyond last week’s top three.

Yvon Bisera, Daniella Uy, Mafy Singson and Princess Superal all possess the firepower and experience to contend, each carrying different motivations as they bid to emerge on top in what shapes up as another wide-open championship. Success at Pradera will likely hinge on striking the right balance between aggressive play and disciplined course management, particularly if the wind becomes a significant factor over the 54-hole tournament.

The championship could likewise produce a breakthrough winner.

Martina Miñoza, Marvi Monsalve, Pamela Mariano, Kayla Nocum, Rev Alcantara, Angela Mangana and Monica Mandario are all capable of taking advantage of the course’s scoring opportunities, hoping consistency over the next three days finally translates into a long-awaited maiden LPGT victory.

Veteran campaigners Chihiro Ikeda and Gretchen Villacencio likewise remain dangerous contenders, both eager to put together the kind of all-around performance that could propel them back into championship contention.

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

England, Norway advance

LOS ANGELES—England battled past Mexico into the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday and Norway stunned Brazil as a FIFA decision to reprieve United States star Folarin Balogun after an intervention from Donald Trump triggered uproar.

A day of gripping drama on and off the field was crowned by an epic contest at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca as 10-man England dug deep to defeat Mexico 3-2 in a match that more than lived up to the hype.

Jude Bellingham looked to have put England firmly on the road to the quarter-finals after scoring twice in 98 seconds to give the Three Lions a 2-0 lead after 38 minutes. Mexico hit back through Julian Quinones to make it 2-1 at half-time and were given a huge boost on 54 minutes when England defender Jarell Quansah was given a straight red card after a VAR review. England though shrugged off that setback to make it 3-1 with a Harry Kane penalty.

Mexico refused to roll over and another controversial VAR review saw them awarded a penalty by Australian referee Alireza Faghani, Raul Jimenez slotting in to make it 3-2. England’s increasingly weary line-up resisted wave after wave of Mexican pressure to hold on for a famous victory.

“It was a crazy game. We had the occasion, everything against us, but we found a way,” captain Kane said.

Man-of-the-match Bellingham described it as the “best night of my England career.”

“In big pressure moments in years gone by watching as a fan, as a kid, England probably would have crumbled but we stuck together until the last second,” Bellingham added.

Haaland wrecks Brazil

The win sends England into a quarter-final in Miami next Saturday where they will face Norway, who defeated Brazil 2-1 in another gripping knockout battle earlier Sunday.

Two late goals from star striker Erling Haaland set up the win for the Norwegians to shatter Brazil’s hopes of a sixth world title.

Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland produced a sensational display and saved a first-half penalty from Bruno Guimaraes before Haaland struck twice in the last 11 minutes to stun Brazil at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

“I dreamed of playing in the World Cup with Norway and taking them to the World Cup, but I never expected to win against Brazil, let’s be honest,” Haaland said. “I thought it was not possible to do some things, but I guess I’m wrong.”

Haaland’s brace took him level with Lionel Messi on seven goals for the tournament.

For Brazil, who hired Carlo Ancelotti in a bid to end a 24-year World Cup drought, it is the sixth straight tournament where they have been knocked out by European opposition. AFP

Hidilyn’s niece breaks 2 world marks, bags 3 golds in IWF tilt

By Peter Atencio

FILIPINA bet Alexsandra

Ann Diaz set two world records as she snared three gold medals on Day 1 on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Youth Weightlifting Championships in Cali, Colombia.

The 17-year-old Diaz, the niece of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, made the biggest contribution for Team Philippines after deciding to move up in weight to the new 48-kg class.

According to the event’s official website, Diaz first shattered the world record in the clean and jerk with a lift of 98 kilograms. She then posted a total lift of 175 kg, surpassing the previous world standards of 97 kgs in the clean

Alexsandra Ann Acode Diaz FB

and jerk and 173 kgs in total for her category.

Team Philippines, which sent a seven-athlete delegation, finished the opening day with three gold medals, one silver, and one bronze.

Teammate Jay-R Colonia claimed the silver medal in the junior men’s 56-kg category, while Althea Bacaro secured the bronze in the

women’s 44-kg division. Romania’s Adelina Lorint settled for the silver behind Diaz after lifting 74 kg in the snatch and 90 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 164 kg. Osorio del Valle took the bronze with a total of 162 kg. Last year, Diaz competed in the 45-kg division and won two gold medals at the 2025 edition in Lima, Peru. She captured the golds in the snatch and total events, while also taking the bronze in the clean and jerk.

Colonia recorded lifts of 109 kg in the snatch and 140 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 249 kg to earn the silver medal in the men’s 56-kg category. He finished behind Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Ojaian, who totaled 253 kg and also established two new world records. Italy’s Christian Di Maria claimed the bronze with a total of 239 kg.

Bacaro captured the bronze medal in the women’s 44-kg event after lifting 60 kg in the snatch and 80 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 140 kg. Aurora Van Luft of Aruba won the gold medal with a total of 162 kg, followed by Turkey’s Asel Senel (143).

Defensive ace Romero, Sarza shine in Phenom’s Cebu title run

By Jeremiah Sevilla

ERNEST John “EJ” Obiena soared to a new outdoor season-best jump of 5.81 meters as he finished fourth in the Fly Athens 2026 Street Pole Vault at the Panathenaic Stadium in Greece early Monday (Philippine time).

The 30-year-old Filipino pole vault star cleared the bar on his first attempt to surpass his previous season-high mark of 5.75m, which he tallied in the Raiffeisen Austrian Open Eisenstadt 2026 to seize his second outdoor gold medal just a few days back.

“Teamwork makes the dream work,” Obiena wrote in an Instagram story, tagging his Polish coach Marcin Szczepansk, Italian physiotherapist Christian Ferdinandi, and meeting director Harry Karalis.

The two-time Olympian settled for a fourthplace finish as world No. 2 Emmanouil Karalis of Greece also leapt 5.81m on his first try to take the bronze medal on countback.

Christopher Nilsen of the United States ruled the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event after clearing 5.91m in one attempt while Thibaut Collet of France nabbed the silver after jumping past the same height on his third try. Despite missing out on the podium in the 10-strong elite event, the defending Asian and Southeast Asian Games champion has been showing steady progress in the outdoor season.

After opening his campaign last month with 5.74m to seize the silver in the Eurowings Flight Circus in Germany, Obiena plunged to 5.42m to finish last in the Wanda Diamond League Doha leg in Qatar, then posted 5.64m to end up fourth in the FBK Games in the Netherlands.

The World Championships silver winner bounced back with a 5.72m performance to top the Czeslaw Cybulski Memorial in Poland before tallying 5.75m in the Austrian Open Eisenstadt for back-to-back titles last week.

Obiena has yet to announce his next tournament as he continues his outdoor stint, which is part of the buildup for his title defense in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and qualification campaign for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Obiena’s season-best good for 4th

DEFENSIVE ace Santi Romero and Finals MVP Mark Sarza stepped up and steered the Phenom Bluefire to a 66-62 escape of the hometown bets University of Cebu (UC) to rule the Sinag Liga Asya (SLA) Junior World Showcase 23-Under Championships at the Cebu Coliseum on Sunday, July 5.

Both named to the tournament Mythical Five, Sarza spearheaded the attack on the offensive end for Phenom while the 6-foot-3 Romero, a member of La Salle training pool, anchored the pesky Bluefire defense all throughout the five-day competition. Sarza threw his weight around and collected 15 points and 16 rebounds — including some crucial plays down the stretch that quelled the Webmasters rally — earning him the Finals MVP honor.

And Romero?

The former Gilas Youth member was a monster on the defensive end. Romero, on the other hand, typified the team’s defensive efforts, emerging as the crew’s designated import stopper all-tournament long. And he did it so with no complaints.

A fan favorite throughout the competitions, what with his radiant personality and good looks, Romero embraced the challenge of guarding many of the event’s top international scorers behind his pesky on-ball pressure, disciplined positioning, and hustle plays, the impact of which goes beyond the stat sheet.

During his NCAA days with La Salle Greenhills, he finished No. 2 in the steals department while also figuring well in the rebounding department.

Power takes over as ICTSI Pradera Verde unwraps

LUBAO, Pampanga—From one of the country’s most demanding mountain layouts to one of its most expansive courses, the Philippine Golf Tour undergoes a dramatic shift this week as the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship blasts off Tuesday (July 7), promising a test where power could finally take center stage without diminishing the premium on precision and patience.

Unlike Pinewoods, where accuracy often outweighed distance, Pradera Verde’s Arayat course encourages players to attack off the tee. But its sprawling layout presents challenges of its own. Stretching over a demanding 7,314 yardage and expected to be buffeted by strong winds, the course still demands disciplined course management, precise approach shots and patience over four rounds.

It is a layout that appears inviting from the tee but punishes poor execution, making it a contest not simply of power but of knowing when to attack and when to play conservatively.

That balance is exactly what Pinewoods champion Lloyd Go hopes to carry into the P2 million championship, the fourth leg of

this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas

Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Fresh from a commanding victory in Baguio, where he carved out a 16-under 272 to finish 12 shots ahead of Jeffren Lumbo, Go is looking to ride the momentum toward a second straight victory.

“Going back-to-back would be special,” said Go. “But I know it won’t be easy. The competition is tough but my focus this week is to believe in my preparation, stick to my game plan and stay patient.”

Those qualities fueled one of the Tour’s most dominant victories in recent years. While many players struggled to cope with Pinewoods’ relentless demands, the Cebuano ace methodically dismantled the course with a calculated performance that earned him his second PGT title.

“I believe that if I execute my game plan, I’ll have a good chance,” he said.

Ironically, Go heads into another unfamiliar venue. Just as he conquered Pinewoods without a practice round, he will only get his first look at Pradera Verde

during Monday’s official practice.

5.8% $4,850 3.0%

Average growth, 2021-2025

GNI per capita in 2025

First-quarter GNI growth

BSP: Economy to absorb one more rate hike

THE Philippine economy can still absorb another interest rate hike, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said Monday.

“It can still be handled because 25 basis points is small. That’s nominal, if you subtract the inflation, that’s low,” Remolona told reporters during the BSP’s anniversary luncheon.

The BSP on June 18 raised its key benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 4.75 percent, its second straight hike to anchor inflation expectations and mitigate secondround effects.

The policy action also brought the interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities to 4.25 percent and 5.25 percent, respectively.

Monetary Board officials raised the key rate because core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy items, remains high and could stay above 4 percent through the year.

The BSP will likely continue raising interest rates in the second half of 2026 to curb persistent inflation despite a recent dip in consumer prices, Citi said in a report. Citi expects two more identical hikes, which would push the benchmark terminal rate to 5.25 percent by October 2026.

The BSP adjusted its average inflation forecast for 2026 to 6.4 percent from 6.3 percent, and for 2027 to 4.5 percent from 4.3 percent. Remolona said he also expects economic growth to rebound in the second half of 2026, citing the need for improved government spending. Thony Rose Lesaca

launch and turnover ceremony at Makati Diamond Residences on June 29, 2026. Acting BOI director Francis Peñaflor receives the roadmap from Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Policy Research and Innovation director Ma. Theresa Faustino during the ceremony.

PH unlikely to lose UMIC status despite challenges

By Thony Rose Lesaca

THE Philippines is unlikely to slip back into lowermiddle-income status despite a difficult first half of 2026, Department of Economy, Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Monday, but he warned that sustaining the new upper-middleincome ranking will require continued reforms.

“The possibility of us going back to lower-middle-income class is quite remote, unless you have certainly a very bad development in our political economy. But we don’t see that, and we hope that we continue to progress in our push for reforms,” Balisacan said during the agency’s mid-year press chat.

The World Bank classified the Phil-

ippines as an upper-middle-income country last week after 39 years as a lower-middle-income economy, a milestone reflecting the country’s economic performance through 2025.

The Philippine economy grew by an average of 5.8 percent annually from 2021 to 2025, outpacing both the average for upper-middle-income

economies and the country’s Southeast Asian neighbors. Gross national income per capita reached $4,850 in 2025, surpassing the World Bank’s threshold for the classification.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the country’s GNI grew 3.0 percent in the first quarter of 2026.

Balisacan said the Philippines faced a difficult first half of 2026 as domestic and external shocks slowed growth and pushed up inflation even after the country achieved the milestone. The economy continued to feel the lagged effects of developments in the latter half of 2025, which hurt business and consumer confidence and coincided with a marked slowdown in public infrastructure spending, weakening one of the economy’s key growth drivers, he said.

PH lags on most 2030 sustainable development goals

TEN of the Philippines’ 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) have progressed since 2015, but eight of them are moving too slowly to hit their 2030 targets, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said based on data as of May 7, 2026.

Two goals, SDG 3 (health) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities), have reversed course entirely, signaling setbacks in health outcomes, urban development and disaster resilience. Five other goals, SDG 5, 10, 13, 16 and 17, lack enough indicators to calculate a reliable pace-of-progress score, it said.

The findings come from the PSA’s Updated SDG Pace of Progress report, which measures how far the country has moved toward the 2030 targets set under the United Nations’ global development agenda to end poverty, protect the planet and secure peace and prosperity for all.

At the indicator level, the picture is more strained. Of 99 indicators tracked, only 23, or 23.2 percent, are on pace to meet their 2030 targets under current rates of progress. Another 51 indicators, or 51.5 percent, need to accelerate to reach their targets on time. The remaining 25, or 25.3 percent, are regressing and would need to reverse direction entirely to meet the 2030 goal. Those 99 indicators roll up into 62 SDG targets. The pattern holds at that level too: 51.6 percent of targets require faster progress to be achieved by 2030, the PSA said.

The report uses two measures: a current status index, which shows how much progress the country has made since 2015, and an anticipated progress index, which projects whether the 2030 numerical targets set by the government will be met at current rates.

With less than four years left before the 2030 deadline, the data underscore an uneven track record, with clear gains in some areas and reversals or data gaps in others, the PSA said.

Upper middle income ccountry status opens strategic opportunities–PEZA

THE Philippines’ reclassification as an upper-middle-income country (UMIC) by the World Bank opens strategic opportunities for the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the broader investment promotion ecosystem, but also raises expectations from investors, enterprises and global partners.

The World Bank said the Philippines achieved the reclassification through broad-based expansion, with gross domestic product growing at an

average of 5.8 percent per year over five years. Growth came from gains across major industries rather than a single-sector boom.

The Department of Economy, Planning and Development attributed the country’s new status to sustained growth, sound macroeconomic management and long-term structural reforms.

The government pursued structural reforms, improved the investment climate, passed the CREATE MORE Act and positioned the Philippines as

DOE eyes sanctions against power plants ignoring show-cause orders

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ENERGY

Secretary

Sharon Garin said Monday she is considering sanctions against power generators that failed to respond to show-cause orders issued by the Department of Energy (DOE).

Sixty-five percent of on-grid power plants issued show-cause orders by the DOE did not respond, while 24 percent of off-grid plants failed to take action, she said.

Garin said the DOE sent 174 showcause orders to on-grid plants and 114 companies took no action.

“They did not even respond or request an extension. These 114 will be evaluated, and we will take the proper action against them should they be unable to justify their noncompliance,” Garin said.

“We will determine whether they should be penalized, but this will be assessed by our legal department,” she said.

Garin said the DOE issued 29 showcause orders in off-grid areas and seven companies did not respond. These consist of five diesel plants, one solar plant and one hydropower plant. The plants are mostly located in Mindoro, with one in Mindanao.

The enforcement actions follow a department circular the agency issued in February, which established a stricter accountability policy for power generation entities. The circular aims to reinforce energy security and protect electricity consumers through more stringent operational standards and transparent performance reporting.

a competitive destination for global investors under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. PEZA said the milestone validates its efforts to attract new investments, enable the expansion of existing locators and generate more quality jobs for Filipinos.

PEZA said that from 2022 to 2025, it maintained an upward trajectory in investment approvals, posting an average annual growth rate of 22.9 percent. In 4.6 years, PEZA approved

a total of P932.17 billion in ecozone investments, surpassing the P877.8 billion approved during the previous administration.

Ecozone exporters account for around 60 percent of the country’s annual exports of goods and services. Across 436 operating economic zones, 4,388 locator companies generate more than 1.8 million direct jobs for Filipinos and contribute approximately 13.53 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, PEZA said.

Group’s intervention forces suspension of Quirino piggery

A PIGGERY accused of polluting a village in Maddela, Quirino province has been ordered suspended after anti-crime and corruption advocacy group IpaBitag Mo Inc. (IBMI) intervened on behalf of residents. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENREMB) Region 2 served the suspension order on Golda Farm just 20 minutes before a June 26 public hearing called by the Quirino provincial government to address the complaints. EMB legal unit chief Kathleen Aquino said the suspension followed a last-

minute surprise inspection conducted to document the farm’s violations. A joint on-site inspection pushed by IBMI and led by advocate Ben Tulfo, alongside provincial and local officials, confirmed severe odor and the absence of a waste disposal system at the farm. Residents of Barangay Villa Hermoza Sur had appealed to IBMI and media outfit BITAG on May 19 over health hazards and improper waste disposal linked to the farm. The group’s investigation prompted the provincial government to convene the hearing.

DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR

SUBJECT : TRANSITORY GUIDELINES FOR THE LICENSING OF ESTABLISHMENTS AND REGISTRATION OF VETERINARY DRUGS, PRODUCTS, BIOLOGICS, AND LICENSING AND OFFICIAL LISTING OF OTHER RELATED ANIMAL HEALTH PRODUCTS AND DEVICES PURSUANT TO REPUBLIC ACT NO. 12308

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State to advance the animal industry through robust regulatory and development institutions, adequate resources for production support especially for small farmers and producers, sound laws and regulations, effective coordination and collaboration with stakeholders, and credible standards and measures for safety and quality of animal products.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 3639, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is mandated, in general, to promote the development of the livestock industry of the country;

WHEREAS, RA No. 3720, as amended by RA No. 9711, otherwise known as the “Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009,” provides the jurisdiction of all drugs and products, including veterinary drugs and products under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); WHEREAS, by virtue of RA No. 10711 and RA No. 31012 in accordance with RA No. 3639, BAI exercises regulatory oversight of veterinary drugs and biologics;

WHEREAS, RA No. 6675, otherwise known as the “Generics Act of 1988,” likewise applies to veterinary drug preparations, ensuring the production, distribution, and acceptance of drugs identified by their generic names;

WHEREAS, RA No. 8203, otherwise known as the “Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs,” and RA No. 9165, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,” likewise apply to veterinary drug preparations, ensuring protection against counterfeit, dangerous, and controlled substances in veterinary practice;

WHEREAS, RA No. 10611, otherwise known as the “Food Safety Act of 2013,” establishes the Department of Agriculture (DA) as the competent authority for food safety in the primary production and postharvest stages of the food supply chain, including the regulation of veterinary drugs, biologics, and animal health products that may impact food safety and public health;

WHEREAS, Article 4, Section 7 of RA No. 10611, otherwise known as “Food Safety Act of 2013”, provides that the State shall maintain food safety regulatory system anchored on a transparent and risk-based approach;

WHEREAS, RA No. 10918, otherwise known as the “Philippine Pharmacy Act of 2016”, governs the practice of pharmacy and prescribes the qualifications and responsibilities of licensed pharmacists, including those engaged in the dispensing and compounding of veterinary drugs;

WHEREAS, RA No. 11032, otherwise known as the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018,” mandates all government agencies to streamline processes, simplify requirements, adopt time-bound transactions, and promote transparency and accountability in the delivery of public services, including regulatory processes for licensing and registration;

WHEREAS, RA No. 11967, otherwise known as the “Internet Transactions Act of 2023,” seeks to promote and maintain a robust electronic commerce (e-commerce) environment in the country by building trust between online merchants and consumers, guaranteeing effective regulation of e-commerce to protect consumer rights and data privacy, encourage innovation, promote competition, secure internet transactions, uphold intellectual property rights, ensure product standards and safety compliance, and observe environmental sustainability;

WHEREAS, RA 12308, expanded the functions of BAI and reclassified it from staff agency into a line agency attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA), with regional and provincial offices;

WHEREAS, Section 22 of the RA No. 12308 mandates the BAI as the sole regulatory agency for veterinary drugs, products and biologics, and other related animal health products and devices, including the licensing and monitoring of veterinary drug and product establishments and transferred all regulatory processes for veterinary drugs, products, biologics, and other animal health products and devices from other agencies, such as the FDA, to the BAI;

WHEREAS, the Philippines, as a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Codex Alimentarius Commission, is bound to align national regulations with international standards on veterinary drug residues, veterinary biologics, and animal health products, particularly under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures; WHEREAS, relevant stakeholders and associations, such as Asian Animal Health Association (AAHA), Association of Veterinary and Agri-Quality Assurance Laboratories of the Philippines Inc. (AVAQAL), Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. (PAFMI), Philippine Association of Pharmacists in the Pharmaceutical Industry (PAPPI), Philippine College of Veterinary Feed Practice Inc. (PCVFP), Philippine Society of Animal Nutritionists (PhilSAN), Philippine Veterinary Drug and Nutrition Association (PVDNA) were consulted and participated in the formulation of this Circular; WHEREAS, there is a need to harmonize and improve existing national policies to reflect the current legal framework, international obligations, and best practices, and to provide clear, comprehensive, and enforceable guidelines on the licensing of establishments and outlets, and the registration of veterinary drugs, products, and biologics, and other related animal health products and devices; WHEREAS, the DA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Joint Advisory on 28 November 2025 detailing the transfer of key regulatory functions over veterinary drugs, products, and biologics, and other animal health products and devices, from the FDA to BAI effective October 28, 2025; NOW, THEREFORE, this Circular is being issued as a transitory guidelines on the licensing of establishments and the registration of veterinary drugs, products, and biologics, and licensing and official listing of other related animal health products and devices intended for food animals, companion animals, laboratory animals, aquatic animals, and exotic animals in view of the effectivity of the RA No. 12308 pending the approved reorganizational structure. RULE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Coverage – This Circular applies to the licensing of establishments and the registration of veterinary drugs, products, and biologics, and licensing and official listing of other related animal health products and devices intended for food animals, companion animals, laboratory animals, aquatic animals, and exotic animals.

Section 2. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Circular, the following terms are defined:

a. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient – refers to substance or compound that is intended to be used in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical product as a therapeutically active compound (ingredient);

b. Advertise or advertising – refers to any representation, promotion, marketing communication, publication, announcement, or activity intended to directly or indirectly promote the sale, use, prescription, recommendation, distribution, or consumption of veterinary drugs, biologics, products, and other related animal health products and devices;

c. Applicant – refers to any person, business entity/ enterprise, partnership, cooperative, corporation, association, institution, or other entity seeking authority or recognition to conduct regulated activity whether for personal or business purposes;

d. Aquatic Animal – refers to animals living in freshwater, brackish water, or marine environments, including fish, crustaceans, mollusks, amphibians, and other aquatic species;

e. Bureau - refers to the Bureau of Animal Industry or otherwise called as “BAI”

f. Cease and Desist Order – refers to a written order directing a person or establishment to immediately stop a specified activity that violates or is believed to violate applicable laws, regulations, permits, licenses, or public health requirements;

g. Certificate of Official Listing (COL) – refers to an official document issued by the Bureau certifying that a product has been officially listed in accordance with applicable regulations and may be legally marketed under the conditions specified therein;

h. Certificate of Veterinary Product Registration – refers to the official document issued by the Bureau evidencing the approval and registration

lawful order issued by the Bureau due to serious violations, public health risks, or non-compliance;

j. Companion Animal – refers to domestic, domesticated and captive-bred animals intended for protection, utility, companionship, therapy, values formation and breeding;

k. Confiscation – refers to the seizure and taking into custody by the Bureau products, materials, records, or articles found to be in violation of applicable laws and regulations;

l. Company Authorized Personnel – refers to an individual who is a full-time, part-time, consultant, outsourced, or projectbased personnel (including organic or full-time employees) of an establishment and who possesses technical competence related to the establishment’s activities and health products by virtue of his or her profession, training, or experience;

m. Distribution – refers to the act of selling, supplying, delivering, transporting, storing, handling, or otherwise making veterinary drugs, biologics, products, and other related animal health products and devices available through commercial channels;

n. Establishments – refer to any person, partnership, corporation, or organization involved in the manufacture, importation, exportation, repacking, labeling, advertising, and/or distribution of veterinary drugs, products, and biologics, and other related animal health products and devices. These refer to entities engaged in the upstream and intermediary stages of the veterinary drug supply chain;

o. Exotic Animal – refers to animal species not native to the Philippines or not commonly maintained as conventional food-producing or companion animals and kept for commercial, zoological, research, conservation, or recreational purposes;

p. Exporters – refer to establishments that export raw materials, active ingredients, and finished products to another country;

q. Exportation – refers to the act of shipping or transporting veterinary drugs, products, biologics, and other related animal health products and devices from the Philippines to another country;

r. Food Animal – refers to any domestic animal slaughtered for human consumption such as cattle, carabaos, , buffaloes, horses, sheep, goats, hogs, deer, rabbits, and poultry;

s. Importers – refer to establishments that import raw materials, active ingredients, and finished products for their own use or for wholesale or distribution to other establishments or outlets;

t. Import or importation – refers to the act of bringing into the country by sea, land or air foreign veterinary drugs, products, and biologics, and other related animal health products and devices;

u. Inspection Team – refers to a group of duly authorized Bureau personnel tasked to conduct inspections, audits, investigations, or compliance verification activities;

v. Labeling – refers to all written, graphic or printed matter:

i. upon or attached to a final container of a biological product;

ii. appearing on any immediate carton or box used to package such final container; and

iii. appearing on any accompanying enclosures (leaflets, inserts, or circulars) on which required information such as the product name, dosage, directions for use, target species, warnings, storage conditions, manufacturer details, and expiration date, which ensure proper use, safety, and compliance with applicable regulations;

w. Laboratory Animals – refers to an animal that is intended for use in research. In most cases, such animals are purposebred to have a defined physiological, metabolic, genetic or pathogen free status;

x. Licensing – refers to the process by which the Bureau grants authorization to an establishment, outlet, facility, or person to engage in activities regulated under this Circular upon determination of compliance with applicable requirements;

y. License to Operate (LTO) – refers to the permission embodied in a document granted by BAI to a person, whether natural or juridical, business entity/enterprise, partnership, cooperative, corporation, association, institution, or other entity with application to operate an establishment or engage in the manufacture, import, export, repacking, labeling, advertising, and/or distribution of veterinary drugs, products, and biologics, and other related animal health products and devices;

z. Long-Term Suspension – refers to a suspension imposed for a specified extended period, such as 365 days, during which regulated activities are prohibited;

aa. Mandatory Corrective Measures – refers to actions ordered by the Bureau requiring a regulated entity to correct deficiencies, prevent recurrence, and restore compliance with regulatory requirements;

ab. Manufacture or Manufacturing – refers to any operation performed by the manufacturer;

ac. Manufacturer – refers to establishments engaged in the production of veterinary drugs, products, and biologics, and other related animal health products and devices, including propagation, processing, compounding, finishing, filling, and repacking. For purposes of this Circular, the compounding and filling of prescriptions by duly licensed pharmacies or drug stores shall not be deemed manufacturing operations;

ad. Notice of Deficiencies – refers to a formal written communication issued by the Bureau identifying deficiencies, non-conformities, or incomplete requirements that must be addressed by the applicant;

ae. Official Listing – refers to a regulatory mechanism whereby products determined by the Bureau to require listing rather than full registration are recorded in an official registry and authorized for marketing under specified conditions;

af. Other related animal health devices – refers to any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, appliance, software, reagent, or related article used exclusively for veterinary purposes that does not achieve its primary action through chemical, pharmacological, or immunological means. These include, but not limited to, (a) reagents for animal diagnostics; (b) laboratory analyzers and in vitro diagnostic equipment; (c) animal identification devices (e.g., microchips, RFID tags); (d) monitoring or surveillance instruments for animal health; and (e) software-based diagnostic platforms used in veterinary practice. Other related animal health devices shall not be subject to product registration but shall instead be entered into the BAI Registry pursuant to Rule IV of this Circular.

ag. Other related animal health products – refer to animal hygiene and care products such as, but not limited to, nonmedicated grooming aids (e.g., shampoos, conditioners, soaps, sprays, wipes, cleansers, and deodorizers), oral hygiene products, and other preparations intended for animal care and management that do not contain pharmacologically active substances. These products, as listed in Annex B, shall not be subject to registration but shall instead be entered into the BAI Registry pursuant to Rule V of this Circular;

ah. Outlets – refer to any establishments that sell or offer to sell veterinary drugs and products directly to the general public, including but not limited to the following:

i. Drugstores, pharmacies, boticas, and drug outlets where registered veterinary drugs and products, chemical products, active pharmaceutical ingredients, proprietary medicines, or pharmaceutical preparations are compounded and/or dispensed, including veterinary hospitals, clinics, and farm storage facilities where drugs and products are stored for their exclusive use.

ii. Veterinary, agricultural, and aquaculture supply stores, including livestock and poultry supply stores, and any other outlets selling prescription veterinary drugs and products.

iii. Retail Outlets for Non-Prescription Veterinary Drugs (RONPVD), including traditional outlets such as supermarkets, grocery stores, and veterinary agricultural and aquaculture supply outlets, where registered non-prescription, over-thecounter (OTC), or self-service (SS) veterinary drugs and products are sold in their original packages, bottles, or containers, or in small quantities not in their original containers.

iv. Other veterinary drug and product establishments, such as pet shops, pet grooming or salon shops, and pet hotels.

v. E-retailers selling or offering veterinary products for sale directly to the public through its own website, webpage, or application/online platform, except for veterinary drugs and products that require a prescription.

ai. Packaging – refers to all materials and containers of veterinary drugs, products, and biologics used to protect, contain, store, and deliver the product, ensuring that it remains safe, effective, stable, and easy to use until it reaches the end user.

i. Primary or immediate packaging refers to materials that are directly in contact with the product.

ii. Secondary packaging refers to materials used for additional protection and for providing information, as applicable.

aj. Permanent Revocation – refers to the indefinite withdrawal of a license, product registration, permit, or authorization without eligibility for reinstatement except as may be provided by law;

ak. Product Registration – refers to the authorization embodied in a document granted by BAI to an applicant for a veterinary drug, product, or biologic, after evaluation and approval process, prior to manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, marketing, or distribution;

al. Qualified Personnel – refers to an organic or full-time employee, contracted personnel, or any duly authorized personnel of an establishment who possesses the technical competence and is engaged in the registration, regulation, and monitoring of veterinary drugs, products, and biologics.

i. For veterinary drugs and products with therapeutic or pharmacological effects, the designated Qualified Personnel shall be a registered and licensed pharmacist, chemist, and veterinarian.

ii. For biological products, the designated Qualified Personnel shall be a registered and licensed veterinarian and pharmacist.

The Qualified Personnel has the responsibility of ensuring compliance with the technical requirements of BAI, discussing or clarifying matters with BAI when submitting technical requirements, and engaging with BAI officials during the conduct of inspection or postmarket surveillance and pharmacovigilance activities. The Qualified Personnel may also be the Company Authorized Personnel of the establishment.

am. Recall – refers to an action taken by an establishment to remove or retrieve a veterinary drug, product, or biologic following a violation of this Circular or upon a finding that it poses a risk to animal health, public health, or safety, after it has been distributed or made available for sale. A recall may be initiated voluntarily by the responsible establishment or upon order of BAI, and may involve the destruction and/or replacement of the affected product, as appropriate.

an. Registration – refers to the process wherein the Bureau records the information on a veterinary drugs, products, biologics, and other related animal health products and devices;

ao. Registry – refers to the official listing maintained by BAI for other animal health products and Other related animal health devices. The purpose of the Registry is post-market surveillance only. A Certificate of Official Listing (COL) shall be issued as proof of registry inclusion;

Repacking – refers to the transfer of a product, except veterinary drugs and biologics, into smaller quantities in a separate container and/or secondary packaging, including but not limited to relabeling, stickering, and bundling for promotional packs, for purposes of storage, distribution, or sale, without altering the product’s formulation, strength, quality, or intended useOnly the original manufacturer or its duly authorized repacker as approved by the BAI in accordance with the licensing requirements prescribed under this Circular, shall be allowed to engage in repacking activities. Repacking shall not involve any manufacturing, compounding, or modification of the product itself.

Products subject to repacking shall bear labels that faithfully adopt essential information from the original label, including but not limited to the principal product name or active ingredient, original brand name or trademark, formulation, name and address of the establishment undertaking the repacking, batch or lot number, storage, handling, and transit conditions, manufacturing date, directions for use, and expiration date.

ap. Revocation – refers to the formal withdrawal by the Bureau of a previously granted license, permit, product registration, official listing, or authorization due to violation of applicable laws, regulations, or conditions;

aq. Suspension – refers to a withdrawal or restriction of a license, product registration, official listing, permit, or authorization pending compliance, investigation, corrective action, or final disposition of a regulatory matter;

ar. Trader – refers to an establishment, which is a registered owner of the veterinary drug or product, procure the raw materials and packaging components and provide the production monographs, quality control standards and procedures and/or subcontracts the manufacture of such veterinary drugs and products to a licensed manufacturer. In addition, a trader may also engage in distribution and/or marketing of its veterinary drugs and products;

as. Technical Evaluator – refers to a duly authorized competent Bureau personnel who is responsible for conducting the scientific and technical review, assessment, and evaluation of applications for product registration, licensing, variation, permits, and other regulatory submissions, including dossiers, studies, data, reports, and supporting documents, to determine compliance with applicable laws, regulations, standards, guidelines, and requirements governing veterinary drugs, biologics, products, and other related animal health products and devices;

at. Temporary Suspension – refers to a regulatory action prohibiting specified activities pending investigation, compliance verification, or corrective action;

au. Verifying Officer – refers to an authorized competent Bureau personnel responsible for reviewing, validating, and verifying submitted applications, documents, records, and compliance requirements;

av. Veterinary Drugs, Products, and Biologics – refer to any substance including biological products, applied or administered to animals for food production and processing (such as for livestock and poultry), for companion, aquatic, laboratory, and other exotic animals, whether used for therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic purposes or for modification of physiological functions or behaviors;

aw. Wholesalers – refer to establishments that procure raw materials, active ingredients, and finished products from local establishments for local distribution on a wholesale basis.

RULE II.

LICENSING OF VETERINARY ESTABLISHMENTS

Section 3. General Policy. – No establishment shall manufacture, trade, import, export, distribute, or sell veterinary drugs, products, biologics, and other related animal health products and devices as defined under Section 2 of this Circular without first securing an LTO from BAI. Establishments applying for an LTO are required to fully disclose all pertinent documentation and information about their business operations, as specified in Section 5 of this Circular.

Any violation shall be subject to applicable administrative, civil, and criminal liabilities under this Circular, RA No. 12308, and other applicable laws and regulations.

Only establishments with adequate facilities, qualified personnel, and systems ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of veterinary drugs, products, and biologics shall be granted an LTO.

Section 4. Applicability. – This Section shall cover establishments as defined in Section 2 of this Circular.

Section 5. Requirements for LTO. – Establishments shall comply with the requirements to establish legitimacy as a business entity and technical capability listed below:

Application Form* 2. Proof of Business Registration, as applicable: a. Photocopy of Registration from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), for Sole Proprietorship; b. Photocopy of Registration and Articles of Incorporation/ and By-Laws from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), for Corporations and Partnerships;

c. Photocopy of Registration from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), for Cooperatives.

3. Valid Mayor’s Permit*

Outlet: Pharmacist or Veterinarian as may be applicable

For veterinary biologics (biological products) i. Manufacturer: Veterinarian and Pharmacist

Trader: Veterinarian and/or Pharmacist

Distributor-importer/exporter, wholesaler:

1. Failure to comply with the terms, conditions, limitations, or restrictions of the issued LTO; 2. Refusal to permit or obstruction of any lawful inspection, audit, investigation, sampling, monitoring, or compliance verification conducted by duly authorized Bureau personnel; 3. Failure to implement corrective actions or comply with lawful orders, directives, notices, or enforcement measures issued by the Bureau within the prescribed period; 4. Failure to maintain compliance with the minimum licensing requirements prescribed under this Circular; 5. Any act or omission that poses a significant risk to animal health, public health, food safety, or otherwise compromises the integrity of the veterinary regulatory system. The suspension or revocation of an LTO shall be without prejudice to the imposition of other administrative sanctions and the institution of appropriate civil or criminal actions as may be warranted under existing laws. Except where immediate action is necessary to protect animal health or public health, no LTO shall be

PNB Holdings readies P56.3-b stock exchange listing

PHILIPPINE National Bank said Monday that its real estate subsidiary, PNB Holdings Corp., is continuing preparations for a planned listing by way of introduction on the Philippine Stock Exchange.

In a disclosure, PNB said the property arm is undertaking the documentation and other preparatory requirements needed for the proposed listing, a process that allows a firm to list on the exchange without an initial public offering.

“PHC continues to move forward with its listing plan and make its shares available to the investing public,” PNB said. The subsidiary said the move is a key

step in broadening its investor base, improving access to the capital market and creating long-term value for shareholders.

PNB said it remains confident in the strategic merits of the proposed listing. The timing, however, will depend on the subsidiary’s assessment of market conditions and other relevant factors to achieve the best outcome for shareholders. LT Group Inc., the parent company of PNB, earlier said it may postpone the listing due to recent market volatility.

The Securities and Exchange Commission approved the property firm’s listing by way of introduction in March, involving 46.93 billion com-

Stocks climb above 6,200 as inflation likely eases

PHILIPPINE shares opened the trading week in the green as foreign buying and gains in banking stocks lifted the market. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index climbed 35.96 points, or 0.58 percent, to 6,223.99, while the broader all shares index gained 18.03 points, or 0.54 percent, to 3,388.97.

“The PSEi traded firmly alongside constructive Asia, briefly testing the 6,300 level before late profit-taking trimmed gains,” AB Capital Securities said in a market report.

The brokerage firm noted that the rally was broad-based as foreign investors accelerated net buying, primarily targeting banking heavyweights BDO Unibank Inc. and Bank of the Philippine Islands. Analysts said investors continued to hunt for bargains on expectations that inflation will start to ease due to declining global fuel prices.

Value turnover reached P4.99 billion, while foreign investors ended Monday’s session as net buyers with inflows at P491 million. Most sectoral indices ended higher, led by financials, which rose 1.86 percent. Holding firms gained 1.69 percent, industrials advanced 1.18 percent, property added 1.07 percent and mining and oil increased 0.66 percent. The services index was the lone loser, slipping 1.72 percent.

ACEN Corp. was the day’s top index gainer, climbing 3.55 percent to P3.21, while Puregold Price Club Inc. was at the bottom, declining by 2.78 percent to P40.20.

The peso depreciated slightly to 61.491 to the U.S. dollar on Monday from 61.415 on Friday.

Asian markets were mixed Monday as last week’s late tech recovery petered out, with traders turning their focus to the upcoming earnings season.

After a tough end to June -- fueled by worries that valuations linked to the AI boom may have been overdone -- the mood was lifted on Thursday by data showing fewer US jobs than expected were created last month.

That soothed fears the Federal Reserve could hike interest rates soon to bring down inflation, and fueled a healthy bounce across Asia, led by Seoul.

However, traders remain edgy and tech firms once again saw big moves Monday, with Seoul swinging from a near two percent gain to a more than two percent loss. The Kospi closed slightly lower. Jenniffer B. Austria

mon shares. With an initial listing price of P1.20 per share, the company will have an initial market capitalization of P56.32 billion.

The planned listing follows PNB’s 2021 decision to declare property dividends covering 51 percent of its shares in the subsidiary. Once fully distributed, the move is expected to expand the company’s base to more than 30,000 shareholders.

Under the stock exchange’s amended rules, securities of an unlisted firm may be listed when they are distributed as property dividends by a listed company to its own shareholders.

Jenniffer B. Austria

TELUS expands in PH, targets healthcare, AI

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CANADIAN technology company TELUS Corp. is expanding its investments in the Philippines, with plans to grow its operations in artificial intelligence-related services, healthcare support, software engineering and workforce development.

The planned expansion was discussed during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent state visit to Canada, where he met with Amith Nair, TELUS Digital global vice president and general manager for AI and data. Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go also attended the meeting.

TELUS has invested more than $175.6 million in the Philippines since 2018 and expects to continue making significant investments in capital expenditures and employment, though it did not disclose specific figures for its future expansion. The company said it would continue to reinvest in infrastructure, facilities, technology, employee training and workforce development to support its growing operations in the country. Roque said in a statement that TELUS’ continued growth in the

executive vice president Marilou Villafranca witnessed the signing.

Grab campaign drives 30% order spike for small food merchants facing inflation

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GRAB Philippines has rolled out targeted support to help local restaurant owners cope with rising utility bills and food costs that continue to squeeze small-business margins.

From May 21 to June 20, Grab Philippines fully funded a monthlong demand-boost campaign for select homegrown food merchants. The initiative allowed participating restaurants to offer deals to consumers while protecting thin profit margins at a critical time when inflation continues to drive up ingredient and operating costs for micro, small and medium enterprises.

The campaign delivered tangible results, with two out of three participating merchants recording higher order volumes during the promotional period. Most posted double-digit growth.

lifeline for those hit hardest, our goal was simple: help them keep their doors open.”

Beyond increasing demand, Grab introduced measures to help ease cash flow pressures brought about by the country’s ongoing energy challenges. Merchantpartners severely affected by rising costs were offered debt relief options, including alternative payment arrangements and loan holidays for eligible borrowers with existing cash loans.

Among the businesses that recorded gains, order volumes increased by an average of 30 percent, while the fastest-growing merchant-partners saw growth ranging from 145 percent to 158 percent.

EJ dela Vega, Grab Philippines chief commercial officer, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to supporting merchant-partners when they need it most.

“It’s easy to be a partner when times are good,” dela Vega said. “But with utility and ingredient costs spiking, the daily math just wasn’t making sense for our local merchants. They didn’t need business advice; they needed actual orders and protected margins. By shouldering the cost of demand-boosting initiatives and providing a concentrated

The company’s support extends beyond immediate financial assistance.

Through the Grab Asenso: Digital Diskarte Program, developed in partnership with local government units, Grab equips small businesses with practical digital skills to help strengthen operations over the long term. The program covers topics such as artificial intelligence fundamentals for small businesses, social media strategy and digital marketing.

Grab also continues to help restaurants grow their offline presence through Grab InStore Solutions+, which includes Grab Dine Out Deals and Grab Payment Solutions.

The platform enables merchants to digitize payments, streamline checkout processes and launch targeted promotions to encourage dine-in traffic.

Although the one-month demand campaign has ended, the initiative reinforces Grab’s broader approach of providing targeted support during periods of economic uncertainty. It follows the company’s P350 million Bayanihan Fund, which previously provided assistance to driver-partners during periods of extreme fuel price increases.

Philippines reflects the country’s strong position as a global hub for higher-value digital services.

“TELUS has been with the Philippines for more than two decades, creating quality jobs for Filipino talent and helping move the country from traditional outsourcing to higher-value digital work,” Roque said. “Its growth in AI, healthcare support, software engineering and workforce development supports our goal of preparing Filipino workers for the next stage of the global services economy.”

TELUS Digital Philippines employs more than 24,000 workers across nine sites in Metro Manila and Iloilo, making it one of the largest Canadian employers in the country. Its Philippine operations provide customer experience, digital services, technical support, financial services, back-office operations and AI-enabled services for global clients.

IN BRIEF

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

Baguio, Cordillera communities agree to back circular economy

MORE local governments in the Cordillera region are joining the transition to a circular economy as the European UnionPhilippines Green Economy Partnership convenes its first assembly with the six local government units under the Metropolitan Baguio–La Trinidad–Itogon–Sablan–Tuba–Tublay Development Authority (MBLISTTDA).

Local governments, along with national agencies, civil society, private sector partners, innovators, academe, youth and community groups met to explore how circular economy solutions can move beyond individual city

or municipal initiatives and strengthen cooperation on shared waste management and resource challenges. The partnership assembly forms part of the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership, a €60-million European

The jeans you wear has a hidden environmental cost, warns UNEP

First of 3 parts

FEW garments are as universal as a pair of jeans.

Since 1873, when copper rivets were added to denim worker pants to strengthen the pockets, a design patented by businessman Levi Strauss, blue jeans have crossed borders, classes and generations. From farms to festivals to high-fashion runways, jeans are everywhere.

Despite their often-humble look, jeans are the product of an intricate global value chain. Behind each garment is a planet-spanning web of natural resource extraction, manufacturing and transport, not to mention product design and marketing.

“The complexity of what it takes to make one pair of jeans is mind-blowing,” said supermodel and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador Amber Valletta on a recent visit to a denim factory in Tunisia. “There are hundreds of hands that go into making one pair of jeans. It’s incredible.”

But can such a vast and complex system stay in line with environmental boundaries?

That is a question Valetta recently set out to answer in a new UNEPproduced documentary.

She toured Tunisian denim factories to see sustainable manufacturing practices in action and speak with those leading the push for more planet-friendly jeans.

Fashion and textiles are among the

world’s most polluting industries. It also stokes climate change and consumes huge amounts of natural resources. And denim is one of the industry’s most resource-intensive products.

A single pair of jeans can require 3,800 liters of water to produce, found the brand Levi’s. Many jeans also need large quantities of energy and chemicals to achieve certain colors and special effects.

While much of the world’s denim is produced and manufactured in Asia, Tunisia is among the top suppliers of finished denim garments to the European Union (EU), holding about 8 percent of the market share last year. The North African nation’s proximity to Europe allows quick-turnaround times, which helps brands respond to the market and stay atop trends.

Tunisian manufacturers are regularly audited on EU rules and expectations, which have focused increasingly on traceability, transparency, durability and environmental performance.

“The industry now is under strong pressure,” said Bilel Ben Miled, Sustainability Manager at Gonser Group near Tunis, two factories of which were featured in the film. “Brands, customers, final consumers, and even governments are demanding sustainable products with low impact.” (To be continued)

Written by Gabrielle Lipton and reviewed by Claudia Giacovelli, Bettina Heller

Union-funded program through the Global Gateway investment strategy. It will be implemented until 2028 in partnership with the Philippines, led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Its Green LGUs component, co-led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), supports local governments in strengthening leadership, cooperation, and practical action for the transition to a circular economy. With the partnership in its second phase of implementation, the municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay have been

identified as collaborators under the inter-local cooperation framework, with Baguio City sharing its ongoing experience.

The assembly served as a key platform for mainstreaming a circular economy into the development plans of newly onboarded municipalities, and promoting capacity building, peer learning and partnership-building among local chief executives, national government agencies, development partners,and local stakeholders.

Mayor Alfredo B. Dacumos Jr. of Sablan, Benguet, Mayor Bernard S. Waclin of Itogon, Benguet, and Mayor Clarita P. Sal-ongan of Tuba, Benguet were present during the assembly. UNDP Philippines News

Aboitiz Foundation and ING Hubs Philippines have teamed up to equip four public schools in Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT), Bulacan, with digital learning systems powered by renewable energy and enhanced internet connectivity.

The initiative aims to expand access to quality digital education in one of Central Luzon’s geographically isolated communities.
Implemented through AuroraPH, Aboitiz Foundation’s flagship initiative for last-mile schools, the partnership supplied Kawit Elementary School, Basyo Elementary School, Bato Elementary School and Pinag-anakan Integrated School with solar power systems, battery storage, satellite internet connectivity, television sets and learning supplies.
The installation of solar panels at Kawit Elementary School allows students and teachers to gain access to digital learning resources through clean and reliable electricity AuroraPH supports the Department of Education’s Last Mile Schools Program by bringing solar energy, internet connectivity and digital learning technologies to underserved schools across the country.

Beyond improving classroom instruction, the initiative seeks to strengthen the role of schools as community hubs that connect learners, educators and families to broader opportunities.

“Through AuroraPH, we are helping create learning environments where students and teachers can connect to knowledge, opportunities, and resources that were previously difficult to access. We hope to empower schools to become stronger centers of learning and community development,” said Jowelle Ann Cruz, Assistant Vice President for Impact Programs of Aboitiz Foundation.

GCash,Wovoka planting 1 million trees in two provinces

CLIMATE tech project development company Wovoka Philippines and GForest, the sustainability initiative of GCash, signed a memorandum of agreement to plant over one million native trees and mangrove species from 2026-2030 across forest and coastal communities in the provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Camarines Norte.

The partnership reaffirms the shared commitment of Wovoka and GCash to nation-building and longterm ecosystem restoration in observance of Philippine Arbor Day.

Deforestation and coastal degradation continue to heighten the effects of climate change in vulnerable areas, reducing biodiversity and exposing towns to floods and storm surges.

The ongoing environmental decline destroys resources that communities depend on, directly harming traditional industries and increasing vulnerability to climate and financial risks.

Ecosystem restoration is one important nature-based solution that complements broader climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Through science-based restoration planning and long-term monitoring, Wovoka Philippines and GCash will strengthen ecological resilience by restoring watersheds, improving coastal protection, enhancing biodiversity and reducing erosion in Oriental Mindoro and Camarines Norte.

The five-year collaboration estab-

species in five years. lishes a structured timeline committed to planting native trees across both upland and coastal zones. This large-scale initiative aims to restore degraded upland forests and coastal ecosystems, increasing their capacity to naturally store carbon while strengthening biodiversity and climate resilience.

Through GForest, users can support this initiative and help local communities simply by earning green energy points through everyday digital transactions.

These points can be converted into tree-planting efforts, making it easy for more Filipinos to participate in environmental conservation.

“This tech for good partnership with Wovoka Philippines, we are utilizing the scale of GCash to build real-world ecological barriers and secure green livelihoods for the communities that need them most,” said Michelle Fernandez, general manager of Sustainability and Corporate Communications of GCash.

Maya shifts to recycled plastic cards, readies full transition

MAYA has started rolling out cards made from recycled Polyvinyl Chloride (rPVC), or plastic, with plans to transition all newly-produced prepaid cards to recycled materials by the end of the year.

The move is part of the company’s broader sustainability efforts and aims to reduce reliance on virgin plastic while maintaining the same secure and reliable payment experience that customers expect.

The transition will cover Mayaissued prepaid Mastercard and Visa cards, which can be used for ATM withdrawals and purchases at more than 150 million merchant locations worldwide where Mastercard and Visa are accepted. New cards produced will feature a “Made from 100% Recycled Plastic” mark on the back, making the shift visible to customers while maintaining the same security, durability and

functionality.

“The most meaningful sustainability efforts are often the ones that become part of how a business operates,” said Shailesh Baidwan, Group President of Maya and Co-Founder of Maya Bank. “By transitioning our card portfolio to recycled plastic, we’re integrating more responsible practices into products used by our customers every day. It reflects our belief that sustainability should be embedded into how we build and grow our business.”

The rollout forms part of Maya’s broader sustainability agenda, which spans financial inclusion, responsible innovation, customer trust, employee wellbeing and environmental stewardship.

Coinciding with Philippine Environment Month last month, the initiative highlights Maya’s continuing efforts to reduce its environmental footprint through practical and scalable measures.

Since 2022, Maya has monitored and reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions as part of its broader sustainability commitments.

The card transition complements other sustainability efforts across the organization, including #MayaSWITCH, an employee-led initiative that promotes energy conservation and the reduction of single-use plastics in the workplace.

As Maya continues to expand its digital financial ecosystem, the company remains committed to creating long-term value for customers and stakeholders through innovation that is inclusive, secure and responsible.

SHOWBIZ

HQuezon dominated the 9th Entertainment Editors’ Choice, or The Eddys, on Sunday,

best actor Jericho Rosales and best actress Maris Racal turned their acceptance speeches into heartfelt tributes to Philippine cinema and the stories they believe deserve to be told.

award to his family, including his mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease, and thanked actress Janine Gutierrez for supporting him during difficult days on set. He ended by paying tribute to Philippine cinema.

“Philippine cinema is a treasure. Let’s keep it forever.”

Racal, meanwhile, centered her speech on women’s choices, resilience, and second chances after winning best actress for Sunshine, a film that tackles abortion in the Philippines.

She recalled reading the script during the pandemic and immediately recognizing the responsibility of portraying a story that deals with one of the country’s most sensitive issues.

“When I read the script for Sunshine during the pandemic, I knew right away that this story carried a huge responsibility because it talks about abortion in the Philippines,” she said. Racal said Sunshine’s story mirrors the struggles of many women who stumble, question themselves, and wonder whether they still deserve to pursue their dreams.

“I know what it feels like to lose everything, to ask yourself if you should just stop, if you no longer deserve your dreams.

But no.” She dedicated the award to women fighting for the right to make decisions about their own bodies.

“This award is for all the Sunshines in this world, for all the women who believe in our right to choose what happens to our own bodies, and for everyone who has fallen. You are not alone. Wipe away your tears and remember who you are.”

Aside from Racal’s acting prize, Sunshine also won best editing.

The best supporting actor award ended in a tie, with Will Ashley recognized for Bar Boys: After School and Rico Blanco for Manila’s Finest Rochelle Pangilinan won best supporting actress for Child No. 82

Other winners included Salvage Land for best cinematography, Manila’s Finest for best sound and best musical score, and Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins for best visual effects.

The ceremony also recognized artists and

personalities through special awards. Box Office Heroes awards were presented to Vice Ganda for Call Me Mother; veteran actress Maricel Soriano and the cast of Meet, Greet, & Bye, with the award accepted by Meryll Soriano; screen partners Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino for My Love Will Make You Disappear, with Attorney Nico Antonio accepting on their behalf; and Richard Gutierrez for Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins The Isah V. Red Award was presented to Chaye Cabal Revilla and Donny Pangilinan for their contributions to community service.

Director and songwriter Joven Tan received the Joe Quirino Award, while television reporter Lhar Santiago was honored with the Manny Pichel Award for his contributions to entertainment journalism.

This year’s Movie Icons were John Arcilla, Rio Locsin, Edgar Mortiz, and Janice de Belen Hosted by Pops Fernandez and Kim Atienza, the ceremony featured performances by Fred Moser, Kanata, the cast of I’m Perfect, Isha Ponti, Jamie Rivera, Andrea Gutierrez, and David Young. Dingdong Dantes, chairman and founding president of AKTOR PH, also presented the organization’s initiatives developed in partnership with SPEEd and Unilab. The award show was directed by Calvin Neria As in the previous years, auditing firm Chan Robles & Company, led by Juancho Robles, handled the vote counting and ensured tranparency in the selection process. The 9th Entertainment Editors’ Choice was presented by Newport World Resorts, PlayTime Entertainment, and Echo Jham Productions, with Gold Sponsors Globe Telecom and Unilab Inc.; Silver Sponsors SoundCheck Inc. and Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival; and Major Sponsors Luxent Hotel, Luxxe

SHOWBIZ

Shticks

Joseph Peter Gonzales

Alden Richards, Andrea Torres enjoy the pulse of ‘Code Grey’

By Angelica Villanueva

GOOD chemistry among cast members often makes long taping days easier, and that appears to be the case for GMA’s upcoming medical drama Code Grey

In a recent television interview, Alden Richards and co-star Andrea Torres said they have enjoyed filming the series despite the demands of portraying medical professionals.

“Even if we underwent lots of challenges in our training, we enjoy the camaraderie among the cast members built on the set. We’re just like one big, happy group.

“In fact, the production people always tell us not to be altogether happy all the time because we’re shooting separate scenes and we need to finish. Every time our director says, ‘Cut!’, everyone will laugh and joke with one another. That’s how fun the group is!” Alden said strong camaraderie helps bring out better performances.

“It’s hard to do a project if you’re not at ease with your fellow stars. This is not the case in Code Grey. Everybody’s a friend.”

He also looks forward to working with Christopher de Leon, Romnick Sarmenta, Christian Bautista, Kristoffer Martin, Shuvee Etrata, Faith Da Silva, Jon Lucas, Allen Ansay, and Joross Gamboa

“We are hoping that viewers will support our offering because it’s the first time, I believe, that a soap will revolve around the medical profession,” Alden said. The cast’s off-camera bond may prove to be one of Code Grey ’s biggest strengths when the series premieres.

*

AS television networks continue to open their doors to collaborations, many young actors are seeing more opportunities than ever. Among them is TV5 talent Dylan Menor, who welcomed the growing partnership between TV5 and ABS-CBN.

“Honestly, I’m happy that slowly, TV networks are getting open to doing collaborations,” Dylan said. “It feels good because I believe that it should have been that way ever since so that there would be no network war.”

For the showbiz newcomer, the arrangement benefits not only the networks but also the artists, who now have more chances to work with performers from different companies.

“Yes! It’s nice if the stars get comfortable with one another even if they belong to different networks. Now that ABS-CBN has collaborated with TV5 and maybe GMA-7 in the future, I feel so good as an artist and generally for all artists who aspire to work with lots of highly competent actors.”

Asked which Kapamilya star he hopes to work with someday, Dylan did not hesitate to name Anne Curtis “She’s my childhood crush and still is. Sharing the screen with her will be great! Apart from her physical beauty, I’m hats off as well to her as an actress.

“Her personality is the best. She’s very charismatic and bubbly. I love that! Definitely, I’ll be happy with whatever role is assigned to me as long as I’m with her.”

FOR The Juans , joining Hopia, Mani, Popcorn 3 was not just about recording another cover. It was a chance to study the roots of OPM, honor the artists who shaped the industry, and test how far the band could take a song without losing its original heart.

The band covered Ogie Alcasid ’s “Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka” for the third installment of the compilation, which was released on June 12. The album brings together current OPM acts for new versions of Filipino classics.

The Juans frontman Carl Guevarra said revisiting older songs matters because it connects today’s artists to the people who helped build the local music scene.

“It’s important to be connected to the forefathers of OPM, where this industry we are part of began. First and foremost, it’s about giving honor to those who first built this industry,” Carl told Manila Standard Entertainment

For him, arranging Ogie’s song meant entering the songwriter’s world. He said the process made them think about the motivation behind the song, the techniques used at the time, and the melodic lines and chord structures that shaped the original.

He said the challenge was to “respect the form” while giving the song a fresh take.

The Juans approached “Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka” by looking past its reputation as a vocal contest piece. Carl said

The Juans revisits OPM roots in tribute album

many versions of the song rely on big notes and vocal acrobatics, but the band wanted to return to its story.

For them, the song is about dreaming of being with someone and finally seeing that dream stand before you. The band’s version had to feel good while staying committed to the emotion of the song.

“We wanted to stick and commit to the feeling that it will generate when people hear it,” he said.

He added that the project pushed the band outside its usual habits. While The Juans has its own sound, he said artists also need to reinvent themselves as music continues to evolve.

For the band, what remains constant is storytelling.

“As long as we’re faithful to the storytelling, as long as the music allows

the story to flow, then we’re able to retain our identity regardless of the style or the genre,” he continued.

Carl said Hopia, Mani, Popcorn 3 also reflects the growth of the OPM scene, where artists now have more listeners, more support, and more spaces to explore their sound.

He said the local scene feels healthier than before, with musicians becoming more open to working together.

“It feels like there’s space for collaboration all the time. Instead of fighting, it’s more like, let’s work together,” Carl said.

Aside from The Juans, the album also features UDD with Bea Lorenzo on South Border’s “Losin’ My Mind,” Cuatro on Caleb Santos’ “I Need You More Today,” Magnus Haven on Ogie’s “Pangako,” Soapdish on Freestyle’s “Bakit Iniwan Na,” Midnight Talking on Rivermaya ’s “Posible,” Healy After Dark on Rico Blanco’s “Wag Na Init Ulo Baby,” and Mayonnaise on Rene and Dennis Garcia’s “Sa Isip Ko.”

THE latest chapter in the lowbrow but lucrative Minions franchise debuted atop the North American box office this weekend, edging out another popular animated series, Toy Story , industry estimates showed Sunday.

Universal’s Minions & Monsters , featuring the gibberish-spouting yellow creatures who stole the show in multiple Despicable Me films, pulled in $36.4 million in the Friday-to-Sunday period, which Exhibitor Relations said was the franchise’s lowest opening.

The film, a chaotic, gag-filled take on early Hollywood, raked in an additional $98 million from international showings. Minions displaced Toy Story 5 from the top spot two weeks after the DisneyPixar offering took home the year’s best opening weekend in North America at $160 million.

The sequel, featuring Woody the cowboy, Buzz Lightyear, and their gang of toys fighting for survival against competition from screen-based

technology, came in second with another $31 million.

Debuting in third place with $20.8 million over the Independence Day weekend was the historical epic Young Washington , about an American

second weekend. Holding on to fifth place was the Steven Spielberg -directed sci-fi thriller Disclosure Day , which earned $6 million for a current total of $105 million.

With an ensemble cast led by Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor , the action-packed Universal film follows an effort to reveal a decadeslong cover-up of extraterrestrial visitations. Rounding

By Jasper Valdez

IN Furne Amato’s hands, bridalwear stepped away from the expected and entered the realm of fantasy and the sacred. His latest collection, “Harvest,” imagined the wedding dress as a statement, untethered from earthly convention.

When angels walk the earth

Furne Amato’s ‘Harvest’ brings an otherworldly edge to bridal couture

At Conrad Manila’s Inspired Beginnings 2026, the Dubai-based Filipino designer opened the hotel’s three-day bridal showcase on June 26 with the avant-garde bridal couture collection, setting the tone for a fashion presentation built on maximalist spectacle.

For Conrad Manila’s 10th anniversary theme, “A Decade of Love,” Amato offered a bolder reading of romance with a design philosophy that leaned on craft, structure, and attention to detail. Known for his theatrical eye, Amato presented bridalwear that looked soft from afar but carried power up close. The gowns had sculpted shapes, lavish embroidery, and a polished finish that gave each look a sense of grandeur.

In “Harvest,” abundance was felt through form, texture, and movement. The gowns carried volume and detail, yet they moved with a lightness that softened even

the most dramatic shapes. As the models walked, the collection leaned fully into the divine, making them look like angels walking among mortals. Even with its scale and spectacle, the collection did not lose sight of the bride. Amato did not strip the wedding dress of its romance; he expanded its language. His vision showed that bridal couture can still carry softness and meaning while also feeling bold and extravagant.

The collection also reflected how many modern brides now see fashion as part of the wedding experience, not simply as an outfit for the day. After all, a gown can set the tone, shape the mood, and say something about the bride before she even speaks.

A preppy state of mind

to personalize their experience while reinforcing the maritime-inspired concept. The opening also featured a VIP photocall attended by Jang Won Young, Japanese model and style personality Shiho, and musician Tarzzan , who wore looks from the summer collection.

use immersive retail spaces to connect with consumers, turning seasonal collections into experiences that extend beyond traditional shopping. In the Philippines, Tommy Hilfiger is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists Inc. (SSI), with boutiques located in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Pampanga, as well as through selected online retail platforms.