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5,000 illegal vape products seized

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) seized 5,385 illicit vape products worth P7 million at a festival.

The BIR’s Illicit Trade Task Force found that the vape products for sale did not have the required internal revenue stamps.

In a statement, BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. warned celebrities, influencers and endorsers to not involve themselves with companies selling illegal vape products.

“By doing so, you are complicit in helping these illicit vape traders sell illegal products,” he said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

UST law dean fined for misconduct

PHOTO BY MIKE GONZALEZ

THE SUPREME COURT (SC) has fined the law school dean of the University of Sto. Tomas P100,000 for simple misconduct after he sponsored trips of Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) officers to aid his bid for IBP governor in 2023.

The full court in a decision written by Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, ruled lawyer Nilo T. Divina’s sponsorship of the trips were inappropriate because it raised questions about the integrity and independence of the lawyer’s group.

“These gifts create a sense of obligation on the recipients to repay Atty. Divina’s gratitude in the future,” the tribunal said.

The trips to Balesin Island in 2022 and to Bali, Indonesia in 2023 benefited the IBP officers and not its constituents, the High Court said. He also gave the officers cash and gift checks, it added.

“I fully trust in the wisdom of the honorable Supreme Court, the legal process and in the rule of law,” Mr. Divina said in a Viber message, adding that he would appeal the ruling.

“My commitment to upholding the highest standards of professional conduct remains unwavering and I reaffirm my dedication to ethical practices in all my professional dealings and interactions.” — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Village official, wife die in ambush

MAX KLEINEN-UNSPLASH

COTABATO CITY — Gunmen killed a village chairman and his wife in an ambush late Sunday in Barangay Bulibod in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, causing panic among villagers as bursts of automatic gunfire reverberated through the air.

The victims died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds, Brigadier General Prexy D. Tanggawohn, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, told reporters on Monday, citing a report from the Sultan Kudarat Municipal Police Station. — John Felix M. Unson

Dawlah Islamiya terrorists flee

COTABATO CITY — An Army unit seized combat rifles, anti-tank rocket and grenade launchers of fleeing members of the Dawlah Islamiya in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao del Sur on Sunday morning.

The terrorists fled and left behind an M16 rifle, two M14 rifles, an Ultimax rifle, two M1 Garand rifles, a .50 caliber bolt-action Barrett sniper rifle, a B-40 rocket launcher, an M79 grenade launcher and large improvised explosive devices after sensing advancing government troops, Major General Antonio G. Nafarrete, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told reporters on Monday. — John Felix M. Unson

Cannabis plantations torched

CRYSTALWEED CANNABIS-UNSPLASH

BAGUIO CITY — Mountain Province policemen and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents discovered P10.8 million worth of marijuana shrubs in two plantations in Mt. Balitoc, Saclit village in Sadanga town at the weekend.

The plantation sites, planted with 54,000 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants, were immediately torched after enough samples were taken, Cordillera police Director Brigadier General David K. Peredo said.

He said police units were investigating the case to identify other marijuana plantations. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Child disaster safeguards pushed

BETH MACDONALD-UNSPLASH

THE UNITED Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has partnered with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation to improve disaster risk safeguards for Filipino children.

The partnership will focus on improving social protection, health, education, climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene,” UNICEF said in a statement on Monday.

“UNICEF Philippines is working with decision-makers to improve policies and budgeting on high-quality, inclusive, climate-smart and shock-responsive social services for children,” it said.

The partnership will also seek to increase resilience, capacities and awareness on business-led and child-centered humanitarian actions at the regional, national and sub-national levels, it added. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Lawmaker justifies drug probe

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE REVIVAL of a congressional probe of ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s war on drugs is not politically motivated, a lawmaker said on Monday.

“What we [are] seeing now is more of a search for accountability of the Filipino people against the Duterte family, who spread terror and violence during their reign,” Party-list Rep. France L. Castro said in a statement.

“Face the issues head on and fight fairly instead of what they previously did to victims under their regime,” she added in Filipino.

The lawmaker said Filipinos deserve nothing less than full transparency and accountability from their leaders. “We must not allow baseless claims of political harassment to derail our pursuit of truth and justice.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Revamped TNT starts defense of Governor’s Cup vs NorthPort

TNT TROPANG GIGA — PBA.PH

Games Today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. — Blackwater vs Rain or Shine
7:30 p.m. — NorthPort vs TNT

WITH a new-look crew, TNT coach Chot Reyes is tempering expectations as the Tropang Giga carry out their title-retention drive in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.

“I think the best way to describe us is we are a work in progress,” Mr. Reyes said ahead of TNT’s opening assignment tonight against NorthPort at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Prolific import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson returns from a neck injury that cut short his stint in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup. RHJ previously led TNT in winning the 2023 Governors’ Cup.

Back for another run with the one-time Best Import are veterans Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams, top gunners Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy and comebacking big Poy Erram, who missed a good portion of Season 48 due to an MCL tear and bone spurs.

The Tropang Giga acquired guard Rey Nambatac from Blackwater in a trade, signed up rookie Calvin Payawal and enlisted their 3×3 aces Almond Vosotros and Ping Exciminiano to join the holdovers from the past campaign.

“Almost half the team are new faces and if I’m not mistaken, we’re one of the oldest teams, if not the oldest. We feel now’s the time to make some changes but still with the end goal of continuing to win and being competitive because that’s the expectation of our management,” Mr. Reyes said.

“All other teams have retooled, have gotten more talented, better, stronger. And I think it’s going to be very difficult for us to keep up with the competition. But it is what it is and we’re trying our best to cope with the competition.”

First challenge up in the 7:30 p.m. Group A play are the Batang Pier and their debuting import Taylor Johns, who last saw action in the Indonesian league.

Arvin Tolentino, Joshua Munzon, William Navarro and Cade Flores spearhead the local cast as NorthPort deals with injuries to Paul Zamar (ACL), Fran Yu (knee) and newly-acquired Jio Jalalon (hand) early in the season-opening conference.

Meanwhile, Blackwater and Rain or Shine launch their bids in a Group B faceoff at 5 p.m.

The Elasto Painters look to build on their impressive semifinal showing in the previous Philippine Cup with returning import Aaron Fuller and quality newbies Caelan Tiongson and Felix Lemetti joining forces with seasoned Beau Belga and rising stars Jhonard Clarito, Adrian Nocum, Andrei Caracut, Leonard Santillan and Keith Datu.

For their part, the Bossing tapped former NBA player Ricky Ledo and fancied Fil-Am rookies Sedrick Barefield and DJ Mitchell to reinforce the core of Troy Rosario, Jvee Casio, Christian David and Rey Suerte. — Olmin Leyba

Farm Fresh eyes last-quarter slot in clash with red-hot Akari

PVL.PH

Games Today
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
1 p.m. — Galeries Tower vs Capital1
3 p.m. — Nxled vs Cignal
5 p.m. — Farm Fresh vs Akari

FARM FRESH aims to catch the last bus to the quarterfinal round as it clashes with solo leader Akari today in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

A win for the Foxies would catapult Farm Fresh straight to the knockout phase and complete the quarters cast. Farm Fresh is currently holding on precariously to the No. 8 spot with a 3-4 record.

Their 5 p.m. showdown is with the Chargers, who have defied expectations by zooming to a hot, head-turning 7-0 start.

Apart from Akari, Cignal (6-1), Creamline (5-2), PLDT (5-2), Chery Tiggo (5-2), Petro Gazz (4-3) and Capital1 (4-3) have booked tickets to the next round.

Choco Mucho, which is currently at No. 9 with a 2-5 mark and fighting for dear life, is hoping and praying for a Farm Fresh defeat.

If that happens, the Flying Titans could snatch the last berth with a win over PLDT Thursday.

Also part of the three-game bill are the duels pitting Capital1 with Galeries Tower (0-7) at 1 p.m. and Cignal with Nxled (1-6) at 3 p.m. — Joey Villar

GM Frayna ties for 37th at German tournament

JANELLE MAE FRAYNA — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

JANELLE MAE FRAYNA bested FIDE Master Timo Kuppers of Germany to salvage 37th place and earn rating points in the Sparkassen Chess Trophy in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday night.

The country’s first and only Woman Grandmaster (GM) ended up tied for 37th with 5.5 points, earning her 23 rating points to improve from 2162 to 2185.

Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda,  collected 51 rating points to zoom from 2089 to 2140.

The results came just more than a week after Ms. Frayna ended up tied for 13th with 6.5 points and Ms. Fronda in a share of 16th with six points in a tournament in Vlissingen, in the Netherlands.

Another Filipina, reigning national women’s champion Ruelle Canino, finished at five points with a rating gain of 96 points to move up from 1908 to 2004.

The 16-year-old Far Eastern University standout had to forfeit her first three games due to travel problems.

The trio, whose trip is financed by the Philippine Sports Commission, will then proceed to Barcelona for the Open Internacional d’escacs Santis-Ciutat de Barcelona between Aug. 23 and Sept. 1.

They will join Shania Mae Mendoza and Bernadette Galas for the World Chess Olympiad on Sept. 10-22 in Budapest.  — Joey Villar

‘Just take the best shot’ — PBA gunners feeling out new four-point line

THE PHILIPPINE Basketball Association’s (PBA) leading long-distance shooters ought to be salivating about the potential of the four-point line, but Magnolia sniper Paul Lee said the excitement the line promises should be balanced against the need to make good shot decisions.

“It makes the game more exciting,” said Magnolia sniper Paul Lee, who was the third player in history to score from the 27-foot line on Sunday, after Meralco’s Chris Banchero and Jolo Mendoza.

Mr. Lee noted how the four-point shot gave the Hotshots a crack at the go-ahead with the Bolts up by three, 97-94, going to the last 10. 3 seconds. Import Glenn Robinson III, though, missed his contested long bomb then Meralco sealed the deal on Allen Durham’s free throws, 99-94. “We we down by three but we got a chance to tie (with a triple) or lumamang pa ng isa (with a four-pointer). I think iyun ang mas nakaka-excite. Hanggang dulo, mahirap masabi kahit lamang ka pa ng sampu, na panalo ka na,” he said.

“Dahil sa four points, baka bad decision lang kayo, makatakbo iyung kabila, then maka-shoot ng dalawa, dikit na agad. So I think nakakatuwa and nakaka-excite.”

While a helpful tool, Mr. Lee didn’t see the four-point shot as the new bread and butter of teams.

“We’re not looking to it. If you’re open, just take it and alam naman sa team namin kung sino lang iyung mga tumitira talaga doon. So we’re not going to force na, o sige, tira ka ng ganun,” he said.

It’s the same for Mr. Banchero. “You don’t want to force it just because it’s a four-point line. You kind of want to catch a rhythm,” he said.

Mr. Banchero converted the league’s first 4-point shot, knocking one down at 10:25 of the second period.

“It’s always good to be in the record books. (Strength and conditioning) Coach Diego (Lozano) said a couple of weeks ago that I’d be the first one to make it. I’m just happy that we got the win,” the Fil-Italian guard said.

“It’s fun playing with it. We’ll see how it goes this conference. We’ll see if they want to keep it,” he added.

Under-18 women’s softball team leaves for Dallas World Cup

JOSE MORALES/UNSPLASH

THE PHILIPPINE Under-18 (U18) women’s softball team embarks on another World Cup campaign, with the squad departing for Dallas for the group stages starting Aug. 29.

Fil-Am Sky Ellazar, a member of the Blu Girls senior squad, will coach the U18 team with Sheirylou Valenzuela and Esmeraldo Tayag, former Blu Girls themselves, as assistants.

“Our Blu Girls are a talented group. This is a great opportunity for them to learn and gain experience and share the exceptional talent we have in Philippine softball,” Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier said.

“I believe they will make a significant impact and continue to elevate the sport in our country,” he added.

Opening the campaign is a showdown with Australia on Aug. 29 in Group C, which also includes the United States, Canada, Ireland and Mexico.

The top two teams in the four-day meet will claim a spot in next year’s finals, with the venue yet to be determined. — Joey Villar

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