Abbey M.

MANILA — House prosecutors dropped Civil Service Commission (CSC) Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo from their witness lineup on Monday as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte continued under Article II of the complaint.

Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon told the Senate impeachment court that the prosecution decided not to present Ronquillo after determining that earlier testimonies from retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Office of the Ombudsman official Karen Batu had sufficiently covered the matters he was expected to discuss.

Ronquillo had been subpoenaed to testify about the preparation and filing of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, or SALNs, as well as the rules governing their interpretation and application.

Ridon said the decision was made to help expedite the proceedings.

Presiding officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero then excused Ronquillo, who had already appeared at the Senate for his scheduled testimony.

The prosecution proceeded with Securities and Exchange Commission Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo Fernando Del Rosario, its third witness under Article II.

Del Rosario was called to authenticate SEC records involving companies in which Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, declared business interests or financial connections. Prosecutors prepared more than 200 exhibits covering over 3,000 pages for his testimony. His appearance had previously been deferred because of the volume of records involved.

The prosecution also asked the impeachment court to move the testimony of Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System Division Chief Rendell Sopeña to Tuesday.

According to Ridon, Sopeña received his subpoena on September 18 and needed additional time to complete the documents required by the court. The impeachment court granted the request.

Sopeña is expected to testify about government procurement transactions involving entities in which Duterte declared an interest. He was also directed to produce records of contracts between Gencorp Industries Inc. and government agencies from 2020 to the present.

Article II of the impeachment complaint alleges that Duterte failed to fully and truthfully disclose her and her spouse’s assets, liabilities and net worth and failed to divest from business interests while serving as vice president. These remain allegations being presented and contested before the Senate impeachment court.

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MANILA – A low-pressure area (LPA) being monitored east of the Philippines may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Tuesday or Wednesday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

As of 2 AM Monday, the LPA was located 2,090 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas and remained outside PAR.

PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the weather disturbance is still too far to affect conditions in the country.

The LPA, however, could develop into a tropical cyclone by Thursday or Friday.

Meanwhile, generally fair weather with isolated rain showers is expected across the Philippines on Monday.

The southwest monsoon, or habagat, is affecting the western section of Southern Luzon and may bring isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro.

Moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas are expected over Northern Luzon and the eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon.

The rest of the country will experience light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas, according to PAGASA.

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MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros renewed her push for legislation targeting the online grooming and recruitment of children into violence following the deadly shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato.

Hontiveros said Monday that the September 18 attack underscored the need to strengthen law enforcement tools against nihilistic violent extremism, or NVE, particularly activities taking place online.

The shooting left three students dead, including the student gunman, and several others injured. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough investigation, including into how the minor obtained and brought a firearm inside the school.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla later said investigators found that the shooter had been heavily exposed to what he described as the “deep dark web” and that notes recovered from the student’s phone were being examined. The statement represents the DILG’s findings at this stage of the investigation; authorities have not publicly established that NVE caused the attack.

The Banga shooting was the third fatal school shooting reported in the Philippines in three months.

On June 22, three students were killed in a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. Police filed charges against a 15-year-old student, while another 14-year-old was placed under an intervention program. The Department of Justice later said it was examining whether the incident could be connected to a broader pattern of extremism, including possible NVE.

On August 18, another student opened fire at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School campus, killing a fellow student before dying himself. The Department of the Interior and Local Government said the attack had been livestreamed on social media.

Against that backdrop, Hontiveros is pressing for the proposed Sagip Bata Act, which seeks to expand protections under Republic Act No. 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act, to address emerging forms of online harm, including the recruitment of minors into serious violence.

The proposal stems from Senate Bill No. 1819, which seeks to strengthen the country's existing policies against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Senate records show the bill underwent an amendment by substitution in May 2026 and was identified as a priority measure of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

Under the proposed measure, investigators handling NVE-related cases would be allowed to formally seek subscriber and traffic data and conduct online intelligence-gathering and undercover operations, according to Hontiveros.

The proposal would also strengthen coordination with foreign law enforcement agencies in cases involving online platforms or users outside the Philippines. Technology platforms would face age-assurance and age-verification requirements and would be required to designate a Philippine-based legal representative authorized to receive subpoenas, requests for account information, and takedown or blocking orders.

NVE has emerged as a concern among Philippine law enforcement and justice officials following cases involving minors and violent online content. The Department of Justice has described it as involving individuals or online groups that promote extreme violence, self-harm, or chaos without a cohesive political or religious ideology.

“Huwag po natin payagan na masabotahe ang pagpasa ng batas na ito. We cannot afford to delay any longer,” Hontiveros said as she urged the Senate to act on the measure.

She said stronger investigative powers would help authorities identify people who use online spaces to groom or recruit minors into violent acts.

“Huwag nating hayaang pakalat-kalat lang ang mga groomers online nang walang takot,” Hontiveros said, adding that those responsible should be held accountable.

Hontiveros previously stressed that legislation addressing online recruitment is only one part of the response to school violence, citing mental health, parental supervision, access to firearms, school security, and online influences among the issues government agencies should examine.

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Philippine-developed rice variety Mabango 3, which won silver at the 2025 World’s Best Rice Awards in Cambodia, has also shown promising performance under oxygen-deprived conditions that can affect rice during the early stages of direct seeding.

The variety, officially known as NSIC Rc 218 SR and marketed as Dinorado, was recently featured by Iskolar ng Bayan for its international recognition.

Developed by the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), Mabango 3 earned silver at the 2025 World’s Best Rice Awards held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from November 7 to 9.

The competition featured 30 entries from countries including Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Australia, and the Philippines. Mabango 3 was recognized for its soft texture, aroma, and grain qualities, finishing behind Vietnam’s ST25 and Cambodia’s Phka Rumdoul, which shared the top award. DA-PhilRice confirmed the recognition in November 2025.

Beyond its grain quality, Mabango 3 also performed strongly in research examining how rice varieties respond to low-oxygen conditions during germination.

A study published in the February 2026 issue of the Philippine Journal of Science evaluated elite rice lines and released varieties for anaerobic germination tolerance, a trait considered important in direct-seeded rice systems where heavy rainfall or flooding can affect newly planted seeds.

Researchers from PhilRice and Central Luzon State University evaluated 56 elite lines and 38 released varieties. They measured germination, seedling length and seedling vigor under anaerobic conditions and also tested the rice materials using molecular markers associated with the AG1 allele.

Mabango 3 was among the materials that showed superior to comparable performance with the study’s tolerant check based on germination, seedling length and seedling vigor. The study also found that NSIC Rc 218 was positive for four of the molecular markers used to detect the AG1 allele.

Another variety, NSIC Rc 638, recorded an 87-percent germination rate under anaerobic stress and was classified in the study as having a tolerant response. Breeding line PR52390ILR-2-1-3-B also showed strong performance.

Direct seeding involves planting rice seeds directly in the field instead of transplanting seedlings. According to the Department of Agriculture, the method can reduce labor, planting time and water use, but heavy rain and flooding during crop establishment can deprive germinating seeds of oxygen.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said developing varieties capable of performing under actual field conditions is important to efforts to strengthen rice production and climate resilience.

“We are lucky our scientists developed Mabango3, it is a gift that continues to give,” Tiu Laurel said in a Department of Agriculture statement in February.

Mabango 3 was bred by a PhilRice team led by Thelma F. Padolina and Emily C. Arocena and was approved by the National Seed Industry Council in 2009. PhilRice records show that the variety has a maximum yield of eight tons per hectare and matures in about 120 days.

The Philippine Journal of Science study said rice varieties and elite lines with anaerobic germination tolerance can serve as materials for developing and deploying varieties suited to direct-seeded production systems.

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DOJ Radiance secured its second straight victory in the UNTV Cup Executive Face-Off 2026 after defeating the BJMP Greyhounds, 65-58, on Wednesday, September 16 at the Paco Arena in Manila.

Radiance established control early, using an aggressive offensive attack to build a 20-14 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

DOJ then tightened its grip on the game in the second period, opening a 9-0 run that kept BJMP stuck at 14 points until midway through the quarter.

The surge allowed Radiance to stretch its advantage to 17 points by halftime, 37-20.

City Prosecutor Nonilon Tagalicud and Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Neil Dueñas spearheaded DOJ’s first-half offense, contributing 12 points apiece.

Radiance maintained its double-digit advantage for much of the second half as it continued to control the pace of the game.

BJMP managed to cut the deficit, but DOJ held on until the final buzzer to complete the 65-58 victory and improve its record to 2-0.

City Prosecutor Nonilon Tagalicud was named Best Player of the Ball Game after delivering a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, along with three assists and two steals.

“It’s really fortunate for us na nabibigay talaga namin yung best effort namin. Hopefully, sana magtuloy-tuloy ito,” Tagalicud said after the game.

The loss dropped the Greyhounds to a 0-1 record in the tournament.

The matchup was the first game of Wednesday’s triple-header action in the UNTV Cup Executive Face-Off 2026.

Win in Sports, Win for Charity.