P135-M road projects launched in Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Apayao

Inquirer.net - Oct 3, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru) has broken ground on P135 million worth of road projects in Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga and Apayao to improve access in conflict-affected communities. Opapru said Saturday that Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento joined local officials in the three provinces on

Read full article

More News

Tinio seeks full disclosure of BARSc budget amendments

Oct 3, 2026

Tinio seeks full disclosure of BARSc budget amendments

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio on Saturday called for the full disclosure of government programs that received amendments during House deliberations on the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027. The House Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc) began reviewing the amendments on Thursday. Tinio said P77.86 billion, or

2 students die after electrocution at Cauayan City fun run

Oct 3, 2026

2 students die after electrocution at Cauayan City fun run

CAUAYAN CITY — Two students, aged 7 and 8, died after being electrocuted along with two other children during a Color and Bubble Fun Run at Cauayan South Central School here on Saturday morning (Oct. 3), police said. The fatalities were identified by relatives and witnesses as an 8-year-old Grade 3 pupil, and a 7-year-old

P18/kg LPG price hike in October blunts excise tax suspension -- LPGMA

Oct 3, 2026

P18/kg LPG price hike in October blunts excise tax suspension -- LPGMA

The P18-per-kilogram increase in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices expected this October will offset the recently implemented suspension of the excise tax on the fuel, the LPG Marketers Association (LPGMA) said Saturday.

Yape named PH flag bearer for Asian Games closing 

Oct 3, 2026

Yape named PH flag bearer for Asian Games closing 

TAEKWONDO gold medalist Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape has been named the flag bearer for Team Philippines during the parade of athletes at the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games closing ceremony on Sunday. Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino praised the selection ahead of the event scheduled for 5 p.m. (Manila time) at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium. “He’s deserving of that honor,” Tolentino said on Saturday. “It will be a recognition not only for Jeus but also for taekwondo, which finally won its first Asian Games gold medal since 1994, when the sport became a medal event in the games.” Yape secured the top spot in mixed virtual taekwondo—an open-gender event combining combat sports with virtual reality and motion-tracking technology—on Friday. His victory highlighted a record 1-3-1 gold-silver-bronze haul for the Filipino jins. He also earned a bronze medal in men’s individual poomsae. Joining Yape in the closing ceremony are fellow taekwondo medalists Juliana Mykhail Candelaria, Tachiana Keizha Mangin, and Kurt Barbosa, alongside boxing silver medalist Carlo Paalam. Paris Olympics boxing bronze medalist Aira Villegas and world junior weightlifting champion Albert Ian de los Santos previously served as the country’s flag-bearers during the opening ceremony on September 19. Meanwhile, the future is bright for Alas Pilipinas women’s beach volleyball after collegiate players Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara brought the Philippines to the Asian Games podium for the first time. Progella and Pagara turned heartbreak into history, rallying from a semifinal loss to capture a historic Asian Games bronze medal—they fought back to stun China’s Cao Shuting and Dong Jie, 13-21, 23-21, 15-13, on Friday at Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court. Alas Pilipinas beach volley coach, Brazilian Joao Luciano Kioday, relished the rise of Philippine beach volleyball, with the pair from University of Santo Tomas proving that the program is in good hands after giving the country its best Asian Games finish in beach volleyball since the sport was introduced at the 1994 Hiroshima Games. “I think results are always a reference, right? So I think we’ve improved a lot with the beach volleyball that we deserve a spot on the mix, right? I know Philippine is a country very passionate for the indoor volleyball,” Kioday said.  “A lot of things going on about the indoor volleyball that I think they deserve it what they have it. But don’t forget beach volleyball also deserve it,” Kioday added. “This is for the PSC, POC, PNVF. So we do have a lot of possibilities. I always told them when I have a chance,” he said. “The potential we can have it, so I think this is the time we take the flow and use this medal in a good way, not just for one team, but for the whole program.”

Enriquez snags silver in Asian Games jiu jitsu

Oct 3, 2026

Enriquez snags silver in Asian Games jiu jitsu

ALEXANDRIA Luz Enriquez spearheaded the Philippine fight in the 20th Asian Games jiu jitsu competitions, taking a silver medal in the women’s -63kg on the final day of the continental meet in Japan on Saturday. With world champions Annie Ramirez and Kimberly Custodio suffering early exits, Enriquez rose as the gold medal contender for the Filipinos by reaching the final. Unfortunately, Enriquez bowed to Orapa Senatham of Thailand in a tightly-contested bout at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall Mat 2. Despite a 0 scorecard, the Thai won over the Filipino as she scored an advantage for a near-pass or near-sweep. Senatham almost held Enriquez down, but she rolled over and scrambled out before getting a point. In jiu-jitsu, a player must hold their opponent down for at least three seconds to earn a point from the judges. Enriquez started her campaign with wins over Palestinian Dania Obaid and Kazakh Marian Zhuravleva in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively. The 27-year-old then defeated Mongolian Narakhishig Baasanjargal in the semifinals to enter the gold medal round. A gold medalist at the Asian Beach Games, Enriquez increased the Philippine jiujitsu team’s medal haul this Asian Games to two after Kaila Napolis’ bronze on Friday. Napolis defeated Mongolian Tsagaanbileg Altangerel, 2-0, in the women’s 52kg division battle for third place. Meanwhile, another Filipino bet Andea Lois Lao finished just outside the podium after a 0-2 loss to Baasanjargal. Other Philippine jiujitsu artists Vito Luis Luzuriaga and David Miranda suffered early exits on Saturday, falling to Mongolian counterparts. Luzuriaga yielded to Altangerel Bayarkhuu in the men’s 85kg round of 32, while Miranda bowed to Batbayar Batsukh also in the round of 32 in the same weight division.

PBA expects crop of talent   

Oct 3, 2026

PBA expects crop of talent   

DESPITE the exodus of Filipino cage talents who now play overseas in Japan and South Korea, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial remains optimistic that the pro league’s next rookie draft in Jan. 2027 will welcome a fresh influx of talents from the collegiate ranks. Marcial said the pro league will be holding the annual PBA Rookie Draft on Jan. 17, 2027. “I’ve heard from many of our basketball friends that the coming draft will be talent heavy, especially those coming from the UAAP and the NCAA since the tournaments are already done by December,” Marcial told The Manila Times in Filipino. Even players from the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League are expected to join the draft, which could bring in young blood for Asia’s first professional league. Geo Chiu, who helped the Abra Weavers win the 2025 MPBL championship, in fact, emerged as the top pick in last year’s rookie draft. The talent depth could potentially attract former Ateneo big man Kymani Ladi, recent Asian Games Gilas 3x3 player Nic Cabanero, former Adamson forward Cedrick Manzano, Forth Padrigao, along with Fil-Americans DJ Fenner and Remy Martin, who recently played for Strong Group in the Williams Jones Cup. While the pro league has significantly lost major Filipino basketball talents, as some have opt to sign and play in the Japan B. League and Korean Basketball League, Marcial welcomed the competition from overseas. The league chieftain also maintained that the PBA remains unique, in that, it continues to provide a solid path for players who used to play overseas to continue their careers in the Philippines. “(Playing overseas) It has been there to provide livelihood for the players. That’s fine with us in the PBA. And they (Japanese and Korean pro leagues) are not threats,” he said. “We also know some of them will still come back and play in the PBA.”

Drug den dismantled in Cotabato, 3 suspects arrested

Oct 3, 2026

Drug den dismantled in Cotabato, 3 suspects arrested

COTABATO CITY — A drug den was dismantled in Midsayap, Cotabato, with three high-value targets arrested and two fragmentation grenades and P47,000 worth of shabu recovered, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said. The operation was conducted at 1:45 p.m. Friday in Barangay Upper Labas by the PDEA-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM). Eugene

Alex Eala shifts focus back to WTA Tour

Oct 3, 2026

Alex Eala shifts focus back to WTA Tour

ALEX Eala is quickly turning the page after her gold-medal bid fell short at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, shifting her full attention to her upcoming return to the WTA Tour. The Filipina netter must swiftly move past her disappointing campaign as she prepares to compete in the Wuhan Open in China from Oct. 12 to 18, followed immediately by the Ningbo Open, also in China, from October 19 to 25. “I’m going to Wuhan and continue the Tour,” Eala said after her impressive run was halted in the semifinals. Eala suffered a tough 6-3, 3-6, 2-6 defeat against China’s Wang Xiyu, settling for the bronze medal. Despite the setback, she expressed deep gratitude to those who supported her, emphasizing that she gave her absolute all on the court against her Chinese opponent. Reflecting on her stint, Eala remains positive about the experience, highlighting the valuable lessons learned and the specific areas of her game she plans to refine moving forward. “Happy that I was able to have this experience,” she shared. The exit was particularly heartbreaking as Eala entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and highest-ranked player, making her a strong favorite for the championship. Furthermore, she opted to skip the WTA 1000 Beijing Open—a mandatory WTA event—putting her at risk of penalties. However, Eala has no regrets about her decision, holding her head high over the privilege of representing the Philippines in a prestigious event held only once every four years.  With her national duty complete, her sights are now set entirely on her upcoming professional schedule on the WTA Tour.

Marcial echoes Paalam’s Asian Games heartbreak

Oct 3, 2026

Marcial echoes Paalam’s Asian Games heartbreak

TWO-TIME Olympic medalist Carlo Paalam’s split-decision loss in the 2026 Asian Games gold-medal bout struck a familiar chord with fellow Olympic boxer Eumir Marcial, who experienced a similar defeat against a host nation. Paalam was poised to end the Philippines’ 16-year Asian Games boxing gold medal drought on Friday at the Nishio Gymnasium in Aichi, Japan. However, he fell short in a narrow 3-2 decision against Japan’s Rui Yamaguchi in the men’s 52-kilogram division. The outcome mirrored Marcial’s run at the 2022 Hangzhou Games (held in 2023), where he claimed silver in the men’s 80-kilogram division after a tight final against China’s Tanglatihan Touhetaerbieke. Both Filipino boxers lost their respective gold-medal bouts to fighters competing on home soil. Following the match, Paalam voiced frustration with the officiating, claiming the referee repeatedly disrupted his rhythm. “I was performing well, but the referee kept intervening. It wasn’t a good decision. Every time I gained momentum, he stopped me. It felt like he was focusing entirely on me,” Paalam said in Filipino via the Philippine Olympic Committee. Reflecting on the match, Marcial shared a message of solidarity on Facebook, recalling his own experience in Hangzhou. “Back at the 2023 Asian Games, I felt I was robbed in the finals as well. I believed I won and was bringing home the gold,” Marcial posted. “Losing to the host country isn’t new. But whatever the decision, we have to accept it, move forward, and keep chasing the dream. Congratulations, brother. Salute.” Marcial opted out of the 2026 Asian Games following a recent professional bout in the United States, where he secured a knockout victory over Omar Ulises Huerta. The Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) and Marcial mutually agreed to skip the tournament to avoid the physical risks of rapidly transitioning back to the amateur format.

Pistons, Duren agree to $200M extension

Oct 3, 2026

Pistons, Duren agree to $200M extension

DETROIT — The lengthy negotiations between the Detroit Pistons and star center Jalen Duren didn’t leave any lingering animosity, at least not in the mind of head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Duren, an All-NBA Third Team selection last season, agreed to a five-year, $200 million contract. There were reports during the offseason that the restricted free agent sought sign-and-trade options and even felt disrespected by the front office. Duren, who was not made available to the media, underwent a physical and other testing on Friday and is expected to start practicing as early as this weekend. Bickerstaff brushed aside any suggestion that Duren might not be fully invested in rejoining the team. “The most important thing for us was having JD back with us and I know JD wanted to be back,” Bickerstaff said. “All that stuff that was floating (around), we know what’s real. It’s a negotiating process and we went through the process and we knew he’d be back.” Duren had little leverage, other than to sign a $9.6 million qualifying offer — which expired on Thursday night — and become an unrestricted free agent after this season. President of basketball operations Trajan Langdon repeatedly stated he had no interest in dealing his starting center. Duren was eligible for a five-year contract worth up to $287 million but the fully guaranteed deal will still make him one of the top 10 centers in terms of annual salary. “There’s never been any bitterness between the group and how we feel about him and I know how he feels about us,” Bickerstaff said. Duren averaged a career-high 19.5 points last season, along with 10.5 rebounds per game on 65% shooting. He struggled in the playoffs, averaging 10.2 points as the top-seeded Pistons failed to get out of the second round.

Novak Djokovic survives China Open scare

Oct 3, 2026

Novak Djokovic survives China Open scare

BEIJING — Novak Djokovic survived a scare to beat outsider Bu Yunchaokete 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the second round of the China Open on Friday night in Beijing. It was not an easy fight for the 39-year-old Serbian, a firm favorite in China who has never lost in Beijing in 31 matches. Pumped-up home hope Bu, 24, threatened to spoil the party in the marathon two-hour 52-minute match, frustrating Djokovic by pushing him back and forth across the baseline. The former world number one needed a medical timeout for his torso after giving back a break in the second set, but held on in a tense tie-break to force a deciding third. Back with better tennis, 11th-ranked Djokovic won four games in a row and held serve before sinking a backhand winner. “Amazing atmosphere tonight,” Djokovic told an electrified crowd, adding he “tried to give my all”. Ongoing health issues have clouded the tennis star’s 2026 season, his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam ending with a shock first-round exit at the US Open after vomiting and cramping on court. But feeling refreshed in Friday’s decider was a welcome change from “investing my emotional, mental... and physical” energy on those issues rather than his game, he told reporters in Beijing. “Finally that I get to play tennis, you know, without really thinking about all the other things happening,” he said. He will play either Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the top seed in Beijing, or Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng in the quarter-final. Just before the men’s late-night thriller on centre court, Aryna Sabalenka sent down 11 aces as she dismissed Renata Zarazua 6-1, 6-3 to launch her China Open title charge. The world number two from Belarus next faces Czech player Nikola Bartunkova in the round of 32 in the women’s 1000-level event. Sabalenka groaned over a smattering of unforced errors during the 62-minute match but had the clear edge over Mexico’s Zarazua, ranked 94th, breaking to win on the second time of asking. “I was just trying to stay focused on myself. Tried to stay aggressive on my serve, on the return as well,” the 28-year-old said. “So happy with the game I played today.” Earlier on Friday, Japan’s Naomi Osaka wrestled back control to survive her second-round clash with Uzbekistan’s Maria Timofeeva 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. The four-time Grand Slam champion next plays Sara Bejlek of the Czech Republic. French Open champion Mirra Andreeva of Russia overcame a first-set wobble to beat Chinese wildcard Yuan Yue 3-6, 6-0, 6-0. Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova, a 2025 Beijing finalist, beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-4, 6-1. Andreeva next faces Uzbekistan’s Polina Kudermetova and Noskova will meet Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic in the third round. Elsewhere in the men’s draw, a series of searing forehands from Daniil Medvedev sent qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta home 6-4, 6-2, earning the Russian world number six a second-round meeting with Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.

Messi returns home for Argentina farewell

Oct 3, 2026

Messi returns home for Argentina farewell

BUENOS AIRES — Lionel Messi arrived in Argentina on Friday (Saturday in Manila) ahead of his farewell game with the national team. Messi is set to play in a friendly match against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday in a final appearance for the team he led to a World Cup title in 2022. The Argentine Football Association said the goal of the match is to ensure “the best player in the world gets the home send-off he truly deserves.” Messi, who announced his international retirement on Aug. 31, flew in from Miami on a private jet with his family, landing in his hometown of Rosario, 300 kilometers (about 190 miles) north of Buenos Aires. Several fellow 2022 World Cup champions will join the celebrations. However, Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina were unable to attend after Roma declined to release them. Messi’s decision brings the curtain down on a historic 21-year international career in the Albiceleste jersey, leaving behind a legacy that includes 125 goals and reaching two more World Cup finals — losing to Spain this year and Germany in 2014. Messi is not taking part in any of Argentina’s other games in this international window. The team beat Bolivia 4-0 on Wednesday and will also play Burkina Faso on Saturday.

Recommended