Probe of water contracts sought

May 5, 2025 | 8:44 pm

A PHILIPPINE Senator on Monday called for an investigation of water concessionaires and their government contracts amid bad service.

“These water concessionaires need to be looked at because too many of our countrymen are thirsty for good service from them, especially this summer,” Senator Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel said in a statement in Filipino.

In Senate Resolution No. 1352 dated May 5, the lawmaker plans to conduct hearings on the joint venture agreements between water districts and private companies.

The had been issues and irregularities in the deals, she said, citing a Commission on Audit report. — Adrian H. Halili

BSP denies dealings with UNA

May 5, 2025 | 8:43 pm

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has denied association with an entity accused of illegally using the central bank’s likeness to collect fees and personal information.

“The BSP has received reports that an entity named UNA Financing Corp. is fraudulently using the BSP’s name and logo and the names of BSP employees and officers,” it said in a statement on Monday. “The BSP clarifies that it is not connected to and has no dealings with UNA Financing Corp.

The BSP said UNA was collecting fees and personal information supposedly to secure the central bank’s clearance for the loan releases sought by some people.

“The BSP further emphasizes that in performing its official functions, neither the BSP nor its personnel will solicit money or request information that could compromise financial accounts,” it said. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

2 soldiers drown in Maguindanao

May 5, 2025 | 8:42 pm

COTABATO CITY — Two soldiers who went missing after the scout boat carrying them capsized in a deep stretch of the Butalo River in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur on Friday were both found dead about 20 hours later.

The victims, who both belonged to a unit of the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division, were in one of the two small scout boats that capsized while its skipper was navigating through a wide and deep portion of the river.

They and their companions were out on a routine riverine anti-terror security mission when one of the two scout boats flipped.

Military rescuers and village officials found the victims on Saturday, Major General Donald D. Gumiran, commander of the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division, told reporters on Monday. — John Felix M. Unson

DFA retirement benefits expanded

May 5, 2025 | 8:42 pm

DFA-FB- — DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FACEBOOK PAGE

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., has signed into law a bill that would expand the retirement benefits of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) workers, giving them increased pension and gratuity benefits.

According to a document dated May 2, Republic Act No. 121811 or the Adjusted DFA Retirement Benefits Act entitles retired officers and employees who served the DFA for at least 15 years to enhanced retirement benefits, including a monthly pension differential.

This is the difference between the DFA-adjusted pension and the actual monthly pension provided by the Government Service Insurance System, multiplied by an adjustment factor initially set at 50%, subject to review after five years. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Senate bet eyes disaster body

May 5, 2025 | 8:42 pm

A SENATORIAL candidate on Monday proposed the creation of a government body that will monitor active volcanoes and earthquakes and develop response strategies for natural disasters.

In a statement, ex-Interior Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. said his proposed government commission would help address gaps in the country’s disaster response framework, promising to file the bill if he is elected to the Senate.

“It’s about establishing a commission that would respond not only to Taal, Kanlaon, Mayon and other volcanoes, but also to earthquakes, including the ‘Big One,’” he said.

He noted that when he was the Interior and Local Government secretary, they had been working on local resiliency protocols with the Office of Civil Defense and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

“The system works well for minor disasters, but our challenge lies in handling catastrophes as massive as the one that struck Myanmar,” he added.

Experts have raised concerns that a 7.2-magnitude earthquake triggered by the movement of the 100-kilometer West Valley Fault than run across the Philippine capital could lead to thousands of deaths and cause widespread damage to infrastructure. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Sara hit for ‘mudslinging’

May 5, 2025 | 8:42 pm

Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio’s campaign strategy for her allied political candidates centers on criticizing the Marcos government while being mum on the Philippines’ sea dispute with China, a congressman said on Monday.

“It seems she knows nothing about campaigns but to engage in political mudslinging… as her stone-etched template,” House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V said in a statement. “She’s been going around hitting almost everybody, but never China.”

The Office of the Vice-President did not immediately reply to an e-mail seeking comment.

Once close political allies, the Marcos-Duterte alliance publicly started crumbling last year after Marcos allies at the House of Representatives stripped Ms. Duterte of hundreds of billions of pesos in secret funds and subsequently impeached her. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Eala rises to career best rank of No. 70

May 5, 2025 | 7:44 pm

THERE is no stopping Alex Eala.

Ms. Eala rose to yet another career best world ranking of No. 70 ahead of her much-awaited main draw debut in the French Open later this month.

The 19-year-old Filipina pride slightly improved from a previous high of No. 72 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) following a second-round stint in the elite Madrid Open last week.

Ms. Eala drubbed Bulgaria’s Victoriya Tomova, 6-3, 6-2, in Round 1 but bowed to a familiar foe in Poland’s Iga Swiatek, 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, in the next for a gallant exit.

That served as Ms. Swiatek’s revenge on the teen sensation, who beat her in the Miami Open last March, 6-2, 7-5, in the Round of 8 to make history as the first-ever Filipina WTA semifinalist.

Still, Ms. Eala gained enough with 897 points in 29 tourneys this season to climb the ranks that should serve handy in her French Open debut on May 25 to June 8 in Paris.

Before that, Ms. Eala will have a chance to fine-tune her bearings in the Italian Open in Rome starting on Tuesday until May 18.

Italian Open is a WTA 1000 tourney like the Miami Open, where Ms. Eala had Cinderella run marked by wins over three Grand Slam champions and Top-10 players including Ms. Swiatek.

Ms. Eala’s unbelievable campaign in Miami, ended by a tough three-set loss to world No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the United States in the Final Four, propelled her inside the Top 100 players at last.

Her entry to WTA’s Top 100 ensured her a direct invite in all of the main draws of Grand Slam and WTA 1000 level tourneys, including the Roland Garros where she once ruled as the girls’ doubles champion.

Before her rise to the top among the tennis giants, Ms. Eala had played only in the qualifiers of majors and fell short every time for a dream main draw debut. — John Bryan Ulanday

Tropang 5G seek to rebound vs. Terrafirma, keep title hopes alive

May 5, 2025 | 7:44 pm

TNT TROPANG 5G — FACEBOOK.COM/PBAOFFICIAL

THOSE three losses right off the gates pushed TNT to get its act together and embrace the right mindset as it tries to save its PBA grand slam aspirations.

The Tropang 5G averted a franchise-worst 0-4 start by outplaying powerhouse San Miguel Beer last Sunday, 89-84, with the hope of commencing a big turnaround in the Philippine Cup, the final piece for the Season 49 Triple Crown they’ve set their eyes on.

“Certainly it’s a step in the right direction,” said coach Chot Reyes, who however, stressed the hardship of taking the next steps.

“But our effort in the next few games is going to tell if we have started to turn that corner. This is just the first step. We’re happy but we cannot be content with this.”

The reigning Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup kingpins did a serious soul-searching after what Mr. Reyes described as “terrible losses” to NLEX (74-91), Converge (94-100) and Phoenix (85-91).

And one key realization? The Tropang 5G can’t expect to play as if prolific import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and veteran Jayson Castro are with them in this drive.

“We were talking about why we can’t do this, why we can’t do that in our first three games. Until we realized that we can’t go back to the old TNT game because this is a vastly different team without Jayson (Castro) and without Rondae (Hollis-Jefferson),” said Mr. Reyes.

“This is a very different team. So I told the players before the game (against SMB), let’s play our game with the players in this room, with who we have. And I think that simple realization worked wonders with the way the players played, their effort and their fight,” he added.

Mr. Reyes’ rejuvenated troops will gun for their first two-game roll on Friday against skidding Terrafirma (1-4). — Olmin Leyba

NU coach Sherwin Meneses braces for showdown against La Salle’s top UAAP coach Ramil de Jesus

May 5, 2025 | 7:44 pm

Sherwin-Meneses-NU-Creamline — NU COACH Sherwin Meneses — PVL

DIFFERENT league, same mission.

Multi-titled professional mentor Sherwin Meneses eyes to weave no less than the same magic in the collegiate scene after towing reigning champion National University (NU) to yet another finals appearance in the UAAP.

That, however, will not be a walk in the park given an entirely different arena compared to the professional volleyball scene.

Mr. Meneses, appointed only late last year in lieu of Norman Miguel to take the reins in the powerhouse NU program, didn’t disappoint by leading the school to a top-seed finish with a 12-2 slate.

The NU Lady Bulldogs then stamped championship pedigree by pulling a reverse sweep on the Far Eastern University in the Final Four, 20-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 17-15, to make its first finals under Mr. Meneses but fourth straight since a 16-0 sweep of Season 84.

It only gets tougher from here, especially with a different win-or-go-home landscape once a year, warned Mr. Meneses, who’s won seven titles with Creamline in the Philippine Volleyball League (PVL), with three conferences, including a Grand Slam last season.

Then there’s the factor of schedule conflict with the student-athletes juggling the time of training, playing and studying all in the same season.

Mr. Meneses has won it all in the PVL and while the UAAP poses a stark difference from his kingdom, the pressure and the challenge remain the same — especially in his first collegiate finals.

Standing in the way of Mr. Meneses is the one and only Ramil de Jesus of De La Salle University, considered as the greatest women’s volleyball mentor in UAAP history with 12 titles 21 finals appearances in almost a 30-year career.

Whether Mr. Meneses could translate his pro coaching prowess to a different jungle ruled over by Mr. De Jesus will be clearer starting on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals. — John Bryan Ulanday

Hoey closes with 73 to a joint 52^nd in CJ Cup Byron Nelson

May 5, 2025 | 7:43 pm

side-view-man-using-club-hit-golf-ball — FREEPIK

RICO Hoey fumbled with a closing two-over 73 to wind up joint 52^nd in the CJ Cup Byron Nelson ruled by the dominant Scottie Scheffler on Sunday in Texas.

It was a nightmarish ending for the Filipino after a dream start in the $9.9-million PGA stop at the TPC Craig Ranch course.

Mr. Hoey kicked his bid off with an eagle-aided and bogey-free 63 as he stood just two strokes off world No. 1 Scheffler and shared second spot after 18 holes.

But he failed to sustain this opening sizzler and coughed up a 73 in Round 2. The Pinoy ace rebounded a bit with a 68 on moving day but a final round composed of five birdies, three bogeys and two double bogeys dragged him further down in the final leaderboard.

The 29-year-old Mr. Hoey tallied seven-under 277 – way behind the record-tying 31-under 253 of the victorious Scheffler. The finish earned Mr. Hoey $23,710.50 (around P1.3 million).

Mr. Scheffler fired a second 63 to cap off a swashbuckling four-day run. The 2024 PGA Tour Player of the Year finished eight shots ahead of South Africa’s Eric van Rooyen, who matched his final-round 63 but could only muster 261.

The American star tied a PGA Tour record since 1983 for the lowest 72-hole score. Before Mr. Scheffler, Justin Thomas first carded 253 in the 2017 Sony Open and Ludvig Aberg posted the same at The RSM Classic in 2023. — Olmin Leyba

Ex-De La Salle, F2 Logistics standout Tine Tiamzon joins Cignal HD Spikers

May 5, 2025 | 7:42 pm

THE Cignal HD Spikers tapped former De La Salle University and defunct F2 Logistics standout Tine Tiamzon as part of their revamp in preparation for the 2025 Premier Volleyball League season.

Ms. Tiamzon, a three-time UAAP champion, will make a return after sitting out the last two years to reunite with her family in Canada.

And now she’s back.

“I’m just really excited to be back and play the sport I love again. I realized I won’t be as young as I am now. I feel like when I last played here, I didn’t reach my full potential,” said Ms. Tiamzon.

“I think I still have a chance to do so and I don’t want to look back at my career and be filled with what ifs,” she added.

The MVP-owned franchise is hoping Ms. Tiamzon will plug in one of the many gaping holes it sustained following the surprising mid-season departure of its former stars Riri Meneses and Ces Molina.

At Cignal, Ms. Tiamzon will reunite with libero Dawn Catindig, a former teammate at La Salle and F2.

Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos said Ms. Tiamzon’s experience will help his team, especially the young guns.

“With Tine (Tiamzon) on board, I‘m hoping she would help guide our younger players. She has a lot of experience in big games when she was with La Salle back in the days and I hope she would bring it to us and I’m confident she would contribute,” said Mr. Delos Santos. — Joey Villar

Pacers take Game 1 in series vs top-seeded Cavs

May 5, 2025 | 7:41 pm

ANDREW Nembhard scored 23 points and Tyrese Haliburton had 22 points, 13 assists and three blocked shots as the Indiana Pacers pulled away for a 121-112 road win over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday night.

Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith each scored 17 points, and Myles Turner had 13 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocks for fourth-seeded Indiana, which handed the Cavaliers their first loss of the postseason.

“We’re definitely the heavy underdog, but we’re trying to control what we can,” Haliburton said. “It gives us a lot of momentum for sure, but this is the best team in our conference. They don’t lose much.”

Haliburton’s 3-pointer with 6:21 left put the Pacers ahead for good at 104-102.

Cleveland shooting guard Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points, but he shot just 13 of 30 from the field and 1 of 11 on 3-point attempts. The six-time All-Star broke Michael Jordan’s NBA record with his eighth straight 30-point game in a playoff series opener. — Reuters