State can fund USAID studies — NEDA

February 10, 2025 | 8:22 pm

THE Government can still fund ongoing studies and outsource technical assistance projects initially funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) amid Washington’s 90-day pause to foreign aid projects, according to a National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) official.

“With respect to studies USAID is supporting, these can actually continue because we can actually also provide funding for that,” NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon told reporters on the sidelines of a Palace briefing on Monday.

“It’s really more of the technical assistance part, which actually, we can source from other developers,” she told the briefing.

The US Department of State on Jan. 20 issued an executive order that froze foreign funding, with exceptions for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt.

US President Donald J. Trump ordered the 90-day pause in foreign development assistance pending a review of these programs in relation to his administration’s foreign policy, which includes programs under USAID.

Washington had also ordered a “stop-work” order on Jan. 24 for all existing foreign assistance after Mr. Trump’s call for a review.

“We will have to wait for that issue to be resolved, but regarding the ongoing technical assistance, we are actually still continuing with the studies,” Ms. Edillon said.

She told reporters that USAID workers in Manila have stopped working for the time being amid the pause in foreign aid.

NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan earlier said the pause in aid is unlikely to cause a significant impact to the Philippine economy.

Washington provided foreign aid worth $60 billion in 2023 or about 1% of the US budget.

“We also have a good relationship with the USAID staff. Many of them provide inputs out of their goodwill,” the NEDA undersecretary said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

New Comelec commissioners named

February 10, 2025 | 8:22 pm

Palacio_Del_Gobernador_(Intramuros,_Manila;_07-22-2020)_Comelec — THE COMELEC office in Intramuros, Manila — PATRICK ROQUE

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has named a lawyer from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and a regional election director as new commissioners of the election body ahead of the May midterm elections.

In separate letters, dated Feb. 10 and signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., Comelec Law Department Director Maria Norina S. Tangaro-Casingal and Comelec Ilocos Regional Director Noli Rafol Pipo were named commissioners to replace Socorro B. Inting and Marlon S. Casquejo, respectively.

Both former election commissioners retired last week.

The Philippine midterm elections are scheduled for May 12, when Filipinos will elect 12 of the 24 senators, congressmen and local officials.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said last week that about 13 million ballots have already been printed since they resumed printing last Jan. 27, or about 16% of the 72 million it aims to print for the elections.

The agency is printing about 1.8 million ballots per day, exceeding Comelec’s initial goal of 1.5 million printouts, he told a news briefing on Feb. 5. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

NBI foils P22-M smuggled fuel — BoC

February 10, 2025 | 8:22 pm

fuel-unbranded-PHILSTAR-WALTER-BOLLOZOS — PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) said on Monday that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Criminal Intelligence Division (CRID) intercepted smuggled fuel valued at P22.438 million in Bataan.

In a statement on Monday, the Customs said the CRID along with its counterterrorism and counterintelligence divisions apprehended individuals and seized a motor tanker, MV Effraine, and 11 lorry trucks — four carrying a total of 674,520 liters of illicit fuel.

“Fuel marking tests conducted yielded ‘failed’ results in both initial and confirmatory tests, confirming that the seized fuel did not meet legally required tax markings,” the BoC said.

In Customs’ 123rd founding anniversary program last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said P94.7 million worth of unmarked fuel was seized under the agency’s fuel marking program. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

CA overturns dropped charges vs Canada waste

February 10, 2025 | 8:20 pm

Waste-Subic-10222020-BOC — CARGO containers with wastes seized by the Bureau of Customs in 2020. — BUREAU OF CUSTOMS

THE Court of Appeals (CA) overturned a lower court’s decision to dismiss smuggling charges from the unlawful importation of fifty container vans of “Canada waste” declared as “plastic scrap.”

The court’s Eighth Division said two judges handling the case from the Regional Trial Court, Branch 47, Manila, committed a grave abuse of discretion for prematurely granting the Demurrer to Evidence filed by the private respondents and denying the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration.

It also ruled the judge who denied the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration committed a grave abuse of discretion by failing to address the due process issue. Instead, his resolution said the judgment of acquittal was immediately final and could no longer be assailed.

The tribunal cited jurisprudence saying that a trial court’s decision can be nullified if it is found to have “blatantly abused its authority” and deprived the prosecution of the opportunity to present its case.

It determined the lower court’s actions were made without proper regard for due process; thus, the acquittal was considered null and void.

The court ordered the reinstatement of the criminal cases and directed the trial court to resolve the Demurrer to Evidence with dispatch after allowing the prosecution to file its comment.

The appellate court noted the private respondents filed their Demurrer to Evidence on June 17, 2023, and it was granted on June 20, 2023, while the order admitting the prosecution’s formal offer of evidence was only served on the parties on June 22, 2023.

It ruled this violated the prosecution’s right to due process because they were not allowed to comment on or object to the demurrer.

The case involved eight separate pieces of information filed against two private respondents for allegedly violating the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.

The charges stemmed from the unlawful importation of fifty container vans declared as “plastic scrap” but found to contain used, mixed, or unsorted plastic materials, including household garbage and used adult diapers, known as “Canada Waste.”

The Bureau of Customs filed a complaint against the private respondents before the Department of Justice, which found probable cause and led to formal indictments. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

27 villages, public offices get free Wi-Fi in Mt. Province

February 10, 2025 | 8:19 pm

BAGUIO CITY — At least twenty-seven barangays and local government offices have become beneficiaries of the government’s “Free Wi-Fi for All Program” in Mt. Province.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) handed over the Starlink Wi-Fi equipment to the villages, the Provincial Planning and Development Office, the Sadanga Municipal Hall, and the Bontoc Market Vendors Association during hand-over rites on Feb. 6 at the Governor Leonard Mayaen Sports Complex in Bontoc, the provincial capital.

The beneficiary barangays are Fiangtin and Macalana in Barlig; Balintaugan, Bagnen Oriente, Bagnen Proper, and Mabaay in Bauko; Tamboan and Soquib in Besao; Alab Proper, Balili, and Bayyo in Bontoc; Banawel, Pudo, and Sta. Isabel in Natonin; Capinitan, Data, and Tambingan in Sabangan; Madongo, Pide, Tetepan, and Patay in Sagada; and Cagubatan, Pandayan, and Tue in Tadian.

DICT-Cordillera Regional Director Engr. Reynaldo T. Sy explained DICT’s Free Wi-Fi for All Program is a digital empowerment program that aims to connect people through fast, free, and secure internet access Wi-Fi in public places and in difficult-to-reach areas.

Following the handover, the DICT spearheaded a one-day training for the installation and maintenance of the Low Earth Orbit Satellite for the beneficiaries.

The DICT Provincial Office will provide further assistance to the beneficiaries regarding concerns and issues with the free Wi-Fi program.

According to the DICT, at least 68 barangays in Mt. Province earlier benefitted from the Free Wi-Fi for All Program. — Artemio A. Dumlao

2 killed, 3 hurt in Cotabato gun attacks

February 10, 2025 | 8:18 pm

COTABATO CITY — Two Moro villagers were killed, while three others were wounded in separate gun attacks in two adjoining towns in Cotabato province within just two days.

The first to perish in the three atrocities is Bayan M. Pangulagoy, killed in an ambush on Saturday afternoon in Barangay Punol in Pikit, Cotabato.

Ranking officials of the Cotabato Provincial Police Office told reporters on Monday that Mr. Pangulagoy and his cousin, Mohaimen, were riding a motorcycle together when a man armed with an M16 assault rifle opened fire as they got close. Mr. Pangulagoy’s cousin was wounded in the attack.

Another Moro villager, Johari P. Santi, was killed when gunmen fired assault rifles at their house in Barangay Dalingaoen in Pikit at about midnight on Saturday.

Col. Gilbert B. Tuzon, Cotabato provincial police director, said the wife of the slain Mr. Santi, a farmer, was seriously wounded in the incident.

A Muslim preacher, Ustadz Hasim M. Suboh, was critically wounded in another ambush on Sunday morning in Barangay Salunayan in Midsayap, Cotabato.

Officials of the Midsayap Municipal Police Station said Mr. Suboh, a resident of Barangay Tumbras, was riding his motorcycle, when men waiting at one side of the road shot him with .45 caliber pistols and hurriedly fled.

The wounded Mr. Suboh was immediately brought to a hospital by policemen and barangay officials who responded to the incident. — John Felix M. Unson

Mt. Province cannabis plantation torched

February 10, 2025 | 8:18 pm

cannabis-marijuana — SHELBY IRELAND-UNSPLASH

BAGUIO CITY — Authorities, led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Cordillera, torched down a total of P3.06 million worth of marijuana shrubs, and dried leaves at an illicit plantation at Mount Chalimuno, in Saclit, Sadanga, Mt. Province on Sunday.

At least 10,500 fully grown marijuana plants growing on a lot of around 1,500 square meters and valued at P2.1 million, including dried marijuana leaves and fruiting tops weighing approximately 3000 grams, 5 bricks of dried marijuana leaves, worth roughly P960,000, went up in smoke, said PDEA-Cordillera Director Derrick Carreon.

No cultivator was caught during the raid. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Eagles win Super Bowl LIX

February 10, 2025 | 7:16 pm

NFL-SUPERBOWL-(1) — PHILADELPHIA EAGLES owner Jeffrey Lurie lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy as he celebrates after winning Super Bowl LIX alongside Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni. — BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS

1 of 2

NEW ORLEANS — The Philadelphia Eagles earned their second Super Bowl championship in franchise history on Sunday, using two first-half interceptions to build a 24-0 halftime lead and defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 at Super Bowl LIX in the Caesars Superdome.

The Eagles, who had previously won Super Bowl LII 41-33 against the New England Patriots, got after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to the tune of six sacks and a fumble as well as two interceptions, limiting Kansas City to six points through 57 minutes.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 17 of 22 passes for 221 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also led the team in rushing with 72 yards and a score on 11 carries. He helped Philadelphia exact revenge on Kansas City after the Eagles lost to the Chiefs 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII two years ago.

Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy hauled in eight catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns for the Chiefs, who were emphatically prevented from becoming the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls.

Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, celebrated his 28^th birthday by setting two NFL records in the first half, becoming the single-season scrimmage yards leader (regular season plus playoffs) on his first carry before breaking the single-season rushing yards record on the final play of the first half.

Barkley finished with 57 yards rushing on 25 carries and added six catches for 40 yards. Across the regular season and postseason, Barkley finished with 2,857 yards from scrimmage and 2,504 rushing yards to break both records, previously held by the Denver Broncos’ Terrell Davis (1998).

After back-to-back sacks of Mahomes during a second-quarter drive, Eagles rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean, who was also celebrating a birthday (his 22^nd), broke in front of a pass and returned his interception 38 yards for a touchdown with 7:03 left in the second quarter to stake Philadelphia to a 17-0 lead.

Two drives later, edge rusher Josh Sweat, who finished with 2 1/2 sacks, pressured Mahomes into his second interception, which linebacker Zack Baun collected at the Chiefs’ 14-yard line. Two plays after that, Hurts found A.J. Brown for a 12-yard touchdown, putting the Chiefs in a 24-0 hole with 1:35 left in the half.

The Eagles went up 27-0 on Jake Elliott’s 29-yard field goal, and after the Chiefs failed on a fourth-down attempt, Hurts found DeVonta Smith alone behind the defense for a 46-yard scoring play and a 34-0 lead.

Mahomes, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 257 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, finally got the Chiefs on the board with a 24-yard scoring pass to Worthy with 34 seconds left in the third.

On the Eagles’ first score, a pass by Hurts down the right sideline was reeled in by Jahan Dotson for 27 yards to set up a first-and-goal from 1 yard out. Hurts punched it in a play later out of the “tush push” formation to help Philadelphia go up 7-0.

Kansas City safety Bryan Cook snuffed out the Eagles’ second straight scoring opportunity with an interception of Hurts at the Chiefs’ 2-yard line, but a drive later, Philadelphia made it 10-0 on Elliott’s 48-yarder, capping a seven-play drive.

The Eagles held a 179-23 edge in first-half yardage and outgained the Chiefs 345-275 for the game.

Elliott connected on field goals of 48 and 50 yards to conclude the Eagles’ scoring. Mahomes threw two late touchdowns to DeAndre Hopkins and Worthy. — Reuters

Travis Kelce sets Super Bowl catches record, but will he return to Kansas City Chiefs?

February 10, 2025 | 7:14 pm

TRAVIS KELCE set the Super Bowl record for most career receptions, but now the focus is on whether he will catch any more passes.

The longtime star tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs is no sure thing to return to the club in 2025 as retirement talk has hung in the air most of this season.

Kelce’s four receptions in the Chiefs’ 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday lifted his Super Bowl total to 35, two ahead of legendary Jerry Rice. Kelce caught four passes for 39 yards against the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

Kansas City star quarterback Patrick Mahomes hopes Kelce returns for a 12^th full NFL season.

“I know he still has love for the game,” Mahomes said. “He’ll get time to spend with his family and make that decision on his own. He’ll be welcomed back here with open arms.”

The Chiefs brass reportedly isn’t confident that Kelce will return.

Kelce didn’t address his future after the stunning setback, and he was far from upbeat.

“You don’t lose bad without everything going bad,” Kelce said.

Kelce ranks second in Super Bowl history with 389 receiving yards and passed Lynn Swann and Rob Gronkowski (364 apiece) on Sunday. Rice holds the record of 589 yards.

A 10-time Pro Bowl selection, Kelce had career lows of 823 receiving yards, three touchdowns and 8.5 yards per reception this season. He did catch 97 passes, narrowly missing his fourth 100-reception season.

Kelce’s brother, Jason, retired after last season. He was a star center for the Eagles for 13 seasons.

Travis Kelce’s level of celebrity has risen during his relationship with singer Taylor Swift. But not only did the Chiefs lose badly on Sunday, Swift received many more boos than cheers when she was displayed on the Jumbotron inside the Superdome. — Reuters

Brownlee ready for Gin Kings, Gilas Pilipinas duties

February 10, 2025 | 7:14 pm

HE HAS a lot on his plate but Justin Brownlee (JB) is ready.

After helping Barangay Ginebra reach the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals last Sunday, Mr. Brownlee spearheads Gilas Pilipinas as it plays a pocket tournament in Qatar this weekend then faces Chinese Taipei and New Zealand (NZ) on the road in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Feb. 20 and 23, respectively.

With hardly any recovery time after the overseas trip, JB shifts focus back on the Gin Kings’ best-of-seven Final Four duel with top-seeded NorthPort which begins Feb. 26 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m definitely not going to take a break or try to take it lightly,” Mr. Brownlee said.

“We got two tough opponents (Taipei and NZ) coming up with the national team so I want to be sharp and ready for them. And then also thinking about the (PBA) playoffs, I want to try to get better, get my shooting tuned up and stay sharp.”

Gilas coach Tim Cone expects nothing less from the naturalized player.

“I think the PBA fans need to understand when it’s for the national team, he plays with his heart because it’s a pride thing for him. But in the PBA, he plays for his livelihood. In the national team, he doesn’t make anywhere near the money that he does in the PBA so you can be sure he’s going to be playing hard also when he comes back and goes after Northport,” he said.

Mr. Cone, though, assured he would make sure Mr. Brownlee won’t suffer from burnout during this trip.

“It’s going to be tough, especially when he’s going to Doha and playing all those games in between. That’ll be a way to keep him sharp but we have to make sure that we don’t overuse him and so we’re really planning some load management with Justin (Brownlee),” he said.

The Nationals, he shared, will use the Feb. 14 to 16 matches in Doha against Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt as work out for the away outings against the Taiwanese and the Tall Blacks.

He added it will also be a good chance to integrate with AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo, who are coming back after bouts with injuries, and adjust to life without ACL-hit slotman Kai Sotto. — Olmin Leyba

Zoos Tokyo captures second straight Philippine 3×3 crown

February 10, 2025 | 7:13 pm

ZOOS TOKYO defended its crown as Gilas Pilipinas women settled for a bronze medal in the Manila Hustle 3×3 Season 3 over the weekend at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

The Japanese squad fended off a strong resistance from Spain’s Panthers 3×3, 17-13, in the explosive finale to capture its second straight title in the Philippine 3×3 invitationals backed by Uratex, Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Ama Degbeon, world No. 55, led the way for Zoos Tokyo to clinch the MVP honors with solid contributions from Miran Kikuchi, Maya Tahira and Fatoumanana Nishi.

Zoos Tokyo, which bested compatriot Tokyo BB in the semifinals with a close 18-14 win, did it despite the absence of Season 2 MVP Aoi Katsura, for a grand prize of $4,000 cash prize and an invite to the WKBL Triple Jam later this year.

“This year was a lot different but I think we’re still the same Zoos team. Same team, same philosophy,” said Ms. Degbeon.

Gilas women, for its part, salvaged a podium finish with a 20-12 win over Tokyo BB in the bronze-medal match behind Camille Clarin’s 11 points for a $1,500 prize. Runner-up Panthers 3×3 took home $2,500.

“Considering that this is our first tournament of the year and we made it to the podium means that it’s a great start for us,” said Ms. Clarin, joined by Jhaz Joson, Hazelle Yam and Mikka Cacho.

Ms. Clarin also made it to the Mythical Three with Ms. Degbeon and Panthers’ Saicha Grant-Allen. — John Bryan Ulanday

Unbeaten Creamline shoots for No. 9 against Farm Fresh

February 10, 2025 | 7:13 pm

Games on Tuesday
(PhilSports Arena)
4 p.m. – Petro Gazz vs Capital1
6:30 p.m. – Creamline vs Farm Fresh

CREAMLINE stakes its unblemished record with Farm Fresh taking its turn to put a stain to it as they face off on Tuesday in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.

The mighty Cool Smashers will literally soar to cloud nine if they could snare win No. 9 against the Foxies, who have gone hot and cold the whole conference with a 4-5 record, in their 6:30 p.m. showdown.

The proud dynastic franchise kept getting better and better each game as evidenced by its cold-blooded 25-17, 25-17, 25-21 destruction of Chery Tiggo last Thursday that kept the juggernaut rolling to an eighth straight triumph.

“Our win against Chery Tiggo was a big deal,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses.

The multi-titled coach, however, cautioned his team not to be too complacent.

“The team’s confidence is high, but of course, knowing Farm Fresh, they also have veteran recruits mixed with young players.”

“They’re also showing a good performance this conference, so we will prepare because I think it will be a great match,” he added.

Trying to stay close to Creamline behind its shadow is Petro Gazz, who is eyeing to improve on its 7-1 mark when it tackles at 4 p.m. a Capital1 side that is still groping for form after limping to a 1-8 start. — Joey Villar