March 20 declared regular holiday

March 12, 2026 | 9:19 pm

THE Palace on Thursday declared March 20, Friday, a regular holiday in observance of Eid-al Fitr or the end of Ramadan.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. made the announcement at the Grand Iftar in Malacañang, reaffirming his government’s respect for traditions.

“The declaration recognizes the significance of Eid’l Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a period devoted to prayer, reflection, and fasting,” a statement from Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro read.

Mr. Marcos said rising tensions in the Middle East underscore the importance of sustaining peace and stability at home.

The developments in the Middle East, a region significant to Muslims worldwide, have prompted concern about their broader impact on people, economies, and families, he said.

The President also expressed concern over the growing human toll of the conflict, noting that many Muslim communities should be observing the holy month of Ramadan in peace.

The Philippine government remains focused on strengthening the foundations of peace domestically, particularly in the Bangsamoro region, he said, adding that the administration continues to back a “people-centered governance system” in the autonomous area.

Mr. Marcos pointed to the progress of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as central to the country’s long-running effort to secure lasting peace in Mindanao.

The path toward self-governance requires patience, dialogue, and a commitment to reconciliation, he said.

Officials from the regional government led by Abdulraof A. Macacua attended the gathering alongside members of the diplomatic corps, Cabinet officials and lawmakers.

The annual iftar gathering brought together Muslim and non-Muslim leaders in government, which Mr. Marcos said symbolizes the Philippines’ tradition of religious tolerance and unity.

“As we recognize the sacredness of each other’s traditions, we strengthen the quiet foundation of our nation,” he said. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

PHL worried by possible CA attacks

March 12, 2026 | 9:19 pm

US-Israel-Iran-flag — US, Israel and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken June 18, 2025. — REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION

POSSIBLE retaliatory attacks by Iran in California (CA) must not be taken lightly due to the large number of Filipinos in the area, the Palace said on Thursday, after American federal officers warned of unverified claims of potential drone strikes.

Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said the government needs to remain vigilant and prepare measures to protect Filipinos abroad following an alert issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

“When there are pieces of information like that, our country also needs to prepare for our compatriots,” she said in Filipino during a briefing. “This cannot simply be ignored or taken lightly. We must stay alert to whatever might happen to our fellow Filipinos in California.”

According to a May 2025 Pew Research article, 1.6 million Filipinos live in California, the largest in all states.

The Palace’s statement comes as the FBI warned US law enforcement agencies last month that Iran could retaliate for potential American strikes by launching surprise drone attacks against targets in California, according to Reuters.

The alert, issued before the outbreak of the current Middle East war that began with US and Israeli bombardments of Iran on Feb. 28, suggested unmanned aerial vehicles could be launched from sea vessels toward the US West Coast.

President Donald J. Trump downplayed concerns about Iranian retaliation on US soil, while California Governor Gavin Newsom said authorities were unaware of any imminent threat but had heightened security as the conflict escalates across the region. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Comelec tightens party-list rules

March 12, 2026 | 9:19 pm

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday released new rules for registering and accrediting political groups, aiming to professionalize the party-list system and purge inactive organizations ahead of the 2028 elections.

Comelec Resolution No. 11204, promulgated on March 11 by the Comelec en banc, sets a deadline for new groups to register by Dec. 18, 2026, or nearly two years before the general election. The rules streamline oversight of national, regional, and sectoral parties, often criticized as opaque or dominated by political dynasties.

All registered parties must now submit a Sworn Information Update Statement and an audited financial statement every August, according to the poll body. Groups that skip the last two elections or fail to win a seat face delisting, ensuring only active organizations remain on the ballot.

The commission also tightened rules on party names and identity. Acronyms cannot exceed 20 characters and cannot use government project names, public figures, or social media platforms, preventing groups from exploiting brand or celebrity associations.

The party-list system “is a mechanism of proportional representation,” the resolution says, adding that sectoral organizations must identify and “represent only one clearly defined physical attribute or characteristic, employment, interest, or concern.”

“Petitions filed not in accordance with these Rules shall not be docketed and shall be outrightly dismissed,” the Comelec added. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

Cebu BRT begins partial operations 

March 12, 2026 | 9:18 pm

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced that the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will begin partial operations on March 13.

Starting on Friday, three stations of the Cebu BRT, such as Fuente, Cebu Normal University, and Cebu South Bus Terminal stations, will be operational.

In June last year, the DoTr said that it targets to begin the partial operations of Cebu BRT by September, which has the potential to serve about 70,000 commuters.

The DoTr said previously that the construction of Cebu Capital station will also begin after partial operations, noting that its detailed engineering design has been finalized.

The remaining phases of the Cebu BRT, designated 2A and 3A, cover 13 stations and 62 stops, due for completion by the end of 2028.

The 35‑kilometer (km) Cebu BRT will feature a 17-km trunk service, 22 stations, 62 bus stops, four terminals, a depot, and 18 km of feeder services, which will connect the northern and southern ends of the trunk lines.

The government broke ground on the first package of the project in 2023. It was initially scheduled for full operations this year but was pushed back to 2028.

Once completed, the Cebu BRT system is expected to serve up to 169,000 passengers per day. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Probe of onion cartel sought

March 12, 2026 | 9:18 pm

A SENATOR has filed a resolution calling on the Senate to investigate the surge of imports and alleged cartel practices by traders, which have pushed onion farmgate prices higher.

Senate Resolution No. 344, filed by Senator Lorna Regina B. Legarda, calls on the chamber to investigate the alleged import overlaps, cold storage guidelines, and cartel-driven distortions affecting onion prices.

The resolution also seeks to probe the proliferation of illegal onion imports, along with directing agencies to ban onion importation amid “predatory pricing.”

Ms. Legarda also called for a full audit on the value chain to trace profit margins of cold storage operators and wholesalers, review storage capacities in Nueva Ecija and Occidental Mindoro, examine anomalous shipments in Bulacan, and review other onion-producing areas for irregularities.

“If we do not dismantle the monopoly over cold storage and import permits, this crisis will repeat every year. Government must buy directly from farmers and build farmer-managed storage facilities so they can compete fairly,” she said.

She added that the government must ban imports every December, to avoid potential surplus during peak harvest season.

“Why allow importation at the height of harvest?” she asked. “The result is farmgate prices collapsing while market prices remain high. Traders profit, but farmers are left behind.” — Adrian H. Halili

Estrada counsel questions admissibility of NBI evidence

March 12, 2026 | 9:17 pm

SENATOR Jose “Jinggoy” P. Ejercito Estrada, Jr. on Thursday personally lodged his answer before the Department of Justice (DoJ) in response to a complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over alleged plunder and graft linked to the flood control scam.

Bianca Isabel D. Soriano, legal counsel and spokesperson for Mr. Estrada, told reporters that the senator submitted a counter-affidavit in connection with the allegations involving supposed kickbacks from government infrastructure projects.

The senator declined to answer questions from the media but had earlier denied the allegations against him.

“We attacked it based on procedural rules specifically on the requirements of a complaint affidavit because what the NBI filed is a letter attaching an affidavit,” Ms. Soriano said in an interview with reporters.

“We also discussed the admissibility and the credibility of the evidence which will not be able to meet the threshold required for criminal cases before the DoJ,” she said.

According to DoJ spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez, the NBI complaint cites violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), plunder under Republic Act No. 7080, as amended, direct bribery and receiving gifts by public officers, and corruption of public officials under the Revised Penal Code, as amended.

Separately, Ms. Soriano added that her client has filed an omnibus motion with Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 52 to lift a precautionary hold departure order, arguing that the senator is not a flight risk and that there is no probable cause to maintain the travel restriction.

Mr. Estrada is requesting the court’s approval to travel abroad from March 31 to April 5. The travel clearance is required since he is also facing graft charges related to the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel scam in the anti-graft court.

Ms. Soriano said, “He has been complying with his travel requirements. There’s really no risk for him to escape all of these mess.”

“He is confident that all of these cases will be dismissed,” she added. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

PDEA agents seize P47.6-M drugs in Tawi-Tawi operation

March 12, 2026 | 9:17 pm

COTABATO CITY — Anti-narcotics agents seized seven kilos of crystal meth (shabu), costing P47.6 million, from two long-known traffickers entrapped in the island town of Sibutu in Tawi-Tawi on Wednesday.

Municipal officials told reporters via text message on Thursday that the suspects are now both in the joint custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM) and the Tawi-Tawi Provincial Police Office.

One of the suspects was injured after running away when he sensed they were selling seven kilos of shabu to PDEA-BARMM agents. He was immediately transported by barangay officials and policemen to a local medical dispensary for treatment.

Edgar T. Jubay, director of PDEA-BARMM, said the operation that resulted in the duo’s arrest, supervised by their provincial team leader, Abraham S. Kalim, was supported extensively by municipal officials and Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael I. Sali and units in the province of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region under Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman.

Mr. Jubay said they will use the confiscated P47.6-million shabu as evidence in prosecuting them in court for their criminal offense.

The operation was planned with the help of local executives and traditional Sama and Tausug community leaders, long aware of the large-scale peddling of shabu by the two suspects, now both locked in a police detention facility.

“Part of the credit for the arrest of these two suspects goes to vigilant local executives in Tawi-Tawi, to the military’s Western Mindanao Command, the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and the confidential tipsters who reported their drug trafficking activities to our agents in the province,” Mr. Jubay said. — John Felix M. Unson

PHL stocks drop as global oil prices surge again

March 12, 2026 | 9:00 pm

PHILIPPINE STOCKS dropped anew on Thursday following a two-day climb as the prolonged war in Iran caused global oil prices to spike again, worsening inflation concerns.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) retreated by 0.72% or 44.75 points to close at 6,113.58, while the broader all shares index went down by 0.66% or 22.63 points to end at 3,405.40.

“PSEi ended lower as the market entered selling mode after oil prices surged again to $100 per barrel,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message. “The spike in oil heightened inflation concerns and dampened investors’ risk appetite, raising the possibility of a rate hike by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). As a result, broad-based selling emerged across sectors as market sentiment turned cautious.”

“The local market pulled back as worries over the Middle East conflict and its impact on oil prices dominated sentiment again. This comes after Iran warned of oil hitting $200 per barrel amid its war with the US. The peso’s weakness also weighed on the local bourse,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Manager Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message.

Last week, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said headline inflation could breach 4% if oil hits $100 a barrel, adding that if fuel prices rise sharply and persistently, they could be forced to tighten their policy stance.

Meanwhile, the peso weakened by 21.5 centavos to close at P59.385 against the greenback on Thursday from P59.17 on Wednesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

Global shares fell on Thursday as attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf shattered any prospects of an imminent de-escalation in the Middle East conflict, pushing oil prices above $100 a barrel and stoking fresh inflation concerns, Reuters reported.

Brent crude futures jumped as much as 10.4% to $101.59 a barrel, before trimming gains, as doubts persisted over whether reserve releases would be enough to cushion the hit from the Middle East supply shock.

US crude futures were last trading 5.2% higher at $91.82.

Majority of sectoral indices closed lower on Thursday. Mining and oil fell by 2.27% or 425.13 points to 18,294.38; services decreased by 3.28% or 93.34 points to 2,751.89; industrials went down by 0.37% or 33.27 points to 8,870.84; financials dropped by 0.34% or 6.75 points to 1,949.43; and property sank by 0.25% or 5.20 points to 2,039.42.

Meanwhile, holding firms climbed by 1.32% or 62.06 points to 4,732.27.

Decliners outnumbered advancers, 125 to 60, while 65 names closed unchanged.

Value turnover rose to P8.37 billion on Thursday with 1.05 billion shares traded from the P7.95 billion with 1.37 billion issues that changed hands on Wednesday.

Net foreign selling increased to P453.03 million from P219.41 million. — A.G.C. Magno with Reuters

Eala earns 120 ranking points in Paribas ahead of Miami return

March 12, 2026 | 7:36 pm

FOR Alexandra “Alex” Eala, the Indian Wells turned into a deep well of invaluable treasures.

The Filipina tennis pride may have ended her debut in the “Fifth Grand Slam” with a Round of 16 exit but she’s taking along with her precious ranking points, luxurious purse and vital lessons that could only serve her well in bigger tournaments down the road.

“I know that I belong here,” said the 20-year-old rising star, considering her overall campaign in the 2026 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) in California a resounding success in spite of a foiled quarterfinal bid.

“I do leave with happiness. Of course, the initial feelings after the match are a tough pill to swallow but I’m in the 4^th round of the Indian Wells and I’m really happy about that. It’s something that I’m really proud of. I wish it could have ended under different circumstances but it is what it is.”

Ms. Eala, world No. 32 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, absorbed a 6-2, 6-0 defeat to world No. 14 Linda Noskova of Czechia for an abrupt end to her debut in the California desert.

A scholar of the Rafael Nadal Academy, Ms. Eala played two of her three matches at the Stadium 1 of the “Tennis Paradise,” the world’s second-biggest tennis stadium with 16,100 strong capacity next only to the home of the US Open at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York (23,771).

And that desert became a cradle of feats for Ms. Eala none bigger than her haul of 120 ranking points to barge inside the Top 30 for a new-career best.

From No. 32 last week, Ms. Eala soared to No. 28 according to the WTA live rankings for a good stepping stone to her Top-20 bid when she returns to the Miami Open next week.

Ms. Eala also raked in $105,720 or over P6.3 million. But the bigger prize was the invaluable learnings she gained from the wins and as well as the losses against the world’s tennis superpowers.

“There will be a next time for sure,” added Ms. Eala, who had a first-round bye as the 31^st seed before beating world No. 52 Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine and world No. 4 Coco Gauff of the United States, 6-2, 2-0 (ret.) to be in the Last 16 among a stacked 96-player field.

“But my experiences here mean a lot. I’ve been able to bring out a certain level and dig really deep. In all circumstances even in a loss, it’s a learning experience for me. It means a lot to have these experiences even though I wouldn’t consider (Wednesday’s) match as a positive experience for me but down the line, I believe it will have a positive impact on my progression as a player.”

And that next time is just around the corner as Ms. Eala takes only a short breather before strutting her stuff once again in the Miami Open on March 17 to 29.

It’s billed as a grand return for the international tennis poster girl, stunning the world in the said tourney in 2025 with a magical final four run marked by wins against three Top 25 and Grand Slam champions as a wildcard all the way from the qualifiers.

But the stakes are higher and the orders are taller for Ms. Eala this time around in Florida, needing to defend her ranking points upon its expiration in 52 weeks or exactly a year later.

Ms. Eala broke out in Miami from WTA No. 140 to inside the Top 100 with 390 points last year and she has to replicate a semifinal finish or surpass it just to retain those points. Otherwise, a drastic drop in her rankings points is projected, not in a time when she’s already lurking in the Top 20.

“That’s exactly my goal,” she vowed, counting on the support of the Filipinos once again in a different Eastern state from California which boasts the biggest population of her compatriots around the world at around two million.

“I just want to thank not just the Filipino fans but to everyone here in the Indian Wells. This is really a big tournament where a lot of tennis fans go to support.”

Unlike last time as only a wildcard, Ms. Eala is already seeded into the main draw of the Miami Open, her fourth straight 1000-level tour this year, and she’s ready for the challenge may it be against all the odds anew. — John Bryan Ulanday

Phoenix eyes winning debut for coach Charles Tiu against Magnolia in PBA Commissioner’s Cup

March 12, 2026 | 7:36 pm

Games on Friday
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5:15 p.m. – Blackwater vs NLEX
7:30 p.m. – Magnolia vs Phoenix

PHOENIX seeks to give coach Charles Tiu a winning debut and its redemption tour an auspicious start as it battles Magnolia in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Fuel Masters installed Mr. Tiu as the man at the helm at the start of the year, replacing Willy Wilson who steered them to a 3-8 record and ninth place in the season-opening Philippine Cup.

Also poised to hit the ground running in their maiden appearances are 6-foot-10 import James Dickey III and No. 8 rookie selection Will Gozum, who join forces with Phoenix holdovers led by veteran Jason Perkins and young guns Ricci Rivero, Ken Tuffin, Kai Ballungay and Tyler Tio.

Standing in their way are the Hotshots, who are out to improve on their quarterfinal showing in LA Tenorio’s first conference in charge during the last All-Filipino.

Magnolia changed reinforcements ahead of its maiden gig, tapping 6-foot-9 South Sudanese Anunwa “Nuni” Omot in lieu of original choice Terrell Brown-Soares.

The Fuel Masters and the Hotshots mix it up in the 7:30 p.m. main game.

Kicking off Day 2 action in the import-spiced tournament are NLEX and Blackwater at 5:15 p.m.

Like the Hotshots, the Road Warriors aim to go deeper this time after getting stranded in the last 8 of the previous conference.

The Jong Uichico-coached squad signed up 6-foot-10 former NBA player Cady Lalanne and acquired Schonny Winston and Kevin Racal in a trade to reinforce the crew spearheaded by Robert Bolick, Kevin Alas, Tony Semerad, Brandon Ramirez and JB Bahio.

The Bossing pin their hopes on 6-foot-11 Daniel Ochefu, who finally makes his first PBA bow after his aborted stint with Rain or Shine in the 2023 edition. Mr. Ochefu is expected to provide inside presence and leadership to the likes of Sedrick Barefield, Christian David, Dalph Panopio, RK Ilagan and Abu Tratter. — Olmin Leyba

Knicks escape 18-point hole to beat Utah Jazz

March 12, 2026 | 7:35 pm

JORDAN CLARKSON scored 17 of his season-high 27 points during a decisive surge over the final 16 minutes on Wednesday for the New York Knicks, who overcame an 18-point first-half deficit to beat the Utah Jazz, 134-117, in Salt Lake City.

Clarkson, who played the previous five-plus seasons with Utah, logged his highest point total since Feb. 5, 2025, when he scored 31 points for the Jazz in a win over the Golden State Warriors.

The Knicks shot a blistering 64.4% (29 of 45) in the second half and ended the game on a 53-27 run as they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 2-2 on a five-game road trip.

Jalen Brunson scored 28 points for the Knicks and converted a three-point play that put New York ahead for good at 96-94 with 1.6 seconds left in the third. OG Anunoby had 22 points and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 21 points while Mohamed Diawara added 10 points off the bench.

Brice Sensabaugh scored 29 points to lead five players in double figures for the Jazz, who made 14 of their first 18 3-point attempts — including eight in a row in the first quarter — before cooling off and losing for the 17^th time in 22 games.

Utah made just four of its final 18 shots from beyond the arc.

The Jazz led 41-26 at the end of the first and opened a trio of 18-point leads in the second before the Knicks began inching back. Utah carried a 65-56 lead into halftime and led by double digits eight times in the third before Clarkson’s layup with 3:16 remaining began the game-ending rally.

The Knicks took their first lead since the first quarter at 93-92 on a pair of free throws by Anunoby with 33.4 seconds left in the third. Isaiah Collier responded with a jumper before Brunson’s three-point play.

Clarkson scored 13 points in the fourth, when he hit the 3-pointer that put the Knicks ahead by double digits for good at 112-101 with 7:37 left. New York led by as many as 22 down the stretch. — Reuters

Giant-killing journey of Arctic football minnows Bodo/Glimt continues in Champions League

March 12, 2026 | 7:33 pm

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — The football world may have been surprised by another giant-killing performance by Arctic minnows Bodo/Glimt, but for coach Kjetil Knutsen, their 3-0 thrashing of Sporting on Wednesday was just another step in their amazing Champions League journey.

The win extended their run of victories in the competition to five, with Sporting added to a list of defeated opponents that includes Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan twice.

Asked if the result would send shockwaves through European football, Knutsen was his usual sanguine self, never letting an individual result affect how he sees the progress his club is making.

“I think we’re on a great journey now, and I don’t think we should reflect too much on that right now — I think we should evaluate the game, what was good, what was less good, and then we should work on it,” he told reporters.

It has become a familiar tale — a bigger club brings a squad bristling with talent to the minnows from the fishing town inside the Arctic Circle and promptly gets an unexpected, but well-deserved thrashing from a team made up of nine Norwegians, a Danish striker and a Russian-Israeli keeper.

Nothing Bodo does on the pitch is a secret. They invite their opponents to attack them, defending narrowly and then hitting them on the break, and it has proved to be a very successful formula.

On Thursday morning, he and his staff will sit down in their offices underneath the grandstand at the Aspmyra Stadium to plan their approach to the return leg in Lisbon next Tuesday, with a place in the Champions League quarterfinals up for grabs.

“It’s so complex, but we have to be just as humble and hungry for what’s to come,” Knutsen said. — Reuters