The SEA duo took the victory in one hour and 33 minutes, setting up a clash against either Ukrainian sisters Lyudmyla (WTA doubles No. 63) Kichenok or the second seed tandem of Chinese Shuai Zhang (doubles No.7) and Spaniard Cristina Bucsa (doubles No. “We are the SEA sisters. Let’s go SEA,” added Tjen, 23. 45 and 47 in the WTA singles but sit lower in the doubles division at No.

EDITORIAL - Back to the gray list? Monetary authorities are hoping that the global dirty money watchdog will not think so, even as they acknowledge the risk of the Philippines being returned to the gray list of countries under close monitoring by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force. Inclusion in the FATF gray list makes financial transactions with the Philippines more difficult because of additional checks for dirty money. Weakness in regulating casino junkets, among other factors, kept the country in the FATF gray list for a long time. Such selective treatment of lawbreakers was among the factors that brought the country to its current mess, and a renewed risk of increased monitoring for dirty money.

SWS: Marcos satisfaction rating stays neutralMANILA, Philippines — More Filipinos remain dissatisfied with the performance of President Marcos, based on the Social Weather Stations (SWS) 2025 fourth-quarter survey. Those who were dissatisfied with Marcos hardly moved from 44 percent in September to 43 percent in November. The latest survey resulted in a net satisfaction rating of “neutral” -3, almost similar to the “neutral” -5 that Marcos obtained in September. Marcos had a net satisfaction rating of “moderate” +10 (46 percent satisfied, 36 percent dissatisfied) in June 2025. The President’s average net satisfaction last year was zero, down from +25 in 2024 and +51 in 2023.

But insider trading is just as bad and dangerous. The way I look at this is that the SEC – at last, one hopes – is finally taking insider trading seriously. But it is a big and bold step when our regulators start looking into possible insider trading cases. We all know that in the history of the Philippine stock market, only a handful of insider trading incidents have actually been flagged and investigated. The post-BW stock market scandal led to the passage of the Securities Regulation Code, which tightened the rules on stock market transactions.

UCAL unwraps with 4-game billMANILA, Philippines — The PG Flex-UCAL Season 8 Basketball Tournament unwraps today at the Paco Arena with a four-game bill headlined by Olivarez College starting its title defense versus Immaculada Concepcion College at 2 p.m. The other matches pit Diliman College versus PCU-Dasmariñas at 12 noon, Lyceum-Batangas opposite Centro Escolar U at 4 p.m. and PWU against University of Batangas at 6 p.m.

Battle royale: SEC vs Manny VillarThe Securities and Exchange Commission under its chair, blue chip lawyer Francis Lim, is going hammer and tongs after former speaker and former Senate president Manuel Bamba “Manny” Villar Jr., once considered the Philippines’ first brown Filipino billionaire. The SEC’s case involves Manny’s Villar Land Holdings Corp. (formerly Golden MV Holdings, Inc.), a publicly listed company on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). The disclosure was approved by the directors of Villar Land for release to the public before its external auditor, Arnulfo and Punongbayan, officially approved the financial statements, the SEC said. Following the premature disclosure of Villar Land’s financial statements, there was a heightened trading activity of HVN shares. The PSE suspended the trading due to the delayed filing of Villar Land’s audited financial statements.”In November 2025, Villar Land’s audited financial statements were finally disclosed.

Almeniana leads Lady Altas to 4th straight winMANILA, Philippines — University of Perpetual Help continued to show impressive form as it repulsed Mapua, 25-20, 25-21, 25-11, yesterday to remain unscathed in NCAA Season 101 women’s volleyball at the San Andres Gym. Cyrille Joie Almeniana unloaded a match high 18 points including 16 on spikes as the Lady Altas claimed their fourth win in a row. One of those wins came at the expense of reigning four-peat titlist St. Benilde in an epic 25-21, 18-25, 25-23, 17-25, 16-14 win last Jan. 25. And it looked like there’s no stopping the UPHSD freight train as it starts to test Pool B rivals, battling Emilio Aguinaldo (0-3) Saturday at the same Manila venue. Then the Sandy Rieta-mentored Las Piñas-based spikers tackle the Letran Lady Knights, who like them are immaculate in four starts, the San Beda Red Spikers (3-1), the Arellano U Lady Chiefs (1-2), and the Lyceum Lady Pirates (1-3).

Creamline, PLDT clash in explosive tiffThe Cool Smashers will come in with their first complete lineup in years, including returning setter Jia de Guzman and power spiker Bernadeth Pons from national team duty. MANILA, Philippines — Creamline kicks off its bid to reclaim the PVL All-Filipino Conference title it last won two years ago while PLDT begins its quest for a first as they face off today at the Filoil Arena. The Cool Smashers will come in with their first complete lineup in years, including returning setter Jia de Guzman and power spiker Bernadeth Pons from national team duty. “We’re excited we’re complete again,” said Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez as they battle at 6:30 p.m. the High Speed Hitters, who have kept the core that won them the PVL on Tour and Invitational titles last year. Valdez herself is back in full strength after battling various injuries the last couple of seasons.

House OKs energy storage systems billHouse Bill 6676, or the Energy Storage Systems Act, establishes a national policy framework for the development, utilization and commercialization of ESSs. MANILA, Philippines — Voting 192-3-0, the House of Representatives yesterday approved on third and final reading a bill that would ensure continuous power supply in the Philippines through the use of energy storage systems or ESSs. House Bill 6676, or the Energy Storage Systems Act, establishes a national policy framework for the development, utilization and commercialization of ESSs. House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, who shepherded the bill’s approval, said HB 6676 is designed to provide stable and sufficient electricity supply by establishing energy storage facilities. The bill is encouraging investors to go into more renewable projects to lessen the country’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy.

Barzaga’s suspension extended by 60 daysMANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved yesterday the recommendation of the committee on ethics and privileges, imposing another 60-day suspension on Rep. Francisco Barzaga, whose two-month suspension ended on Feb. 2. In a single-page letter dated Feb. 4 and addressed to Dy, Reps. Paolo Duterte (Davao City 1st district), Omar Vincent Duterte (Davao City 2nd district) and Harold James Duterte (Puwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat) protested Barzaga’s extended suspension. “We express our strong opposition to the reported extension of suspension being pushed against Rep. Barzaga,” they stated in their “explanation of negative vote” following the closed-door hearing held on Feb. 3. “If any party feels legally wronged or defamed, the courts of law are the proper venue, not the House ethics committee acting as arbiter of acceptable opinion,” they added. “If this committee decision is brought to the plenary for approval, we strongly object and register a no vote.

‘Leaked’ Blue Ribbon report hitSenate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, leads the launch of the probe into extortion and other abuses at the Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson yesterday criticized the leakage of a “draft and unofficial” report of the Blue Ribbon committee on the flood control investigation, even as he confirmed the names of lawmakers recommended to be charged for corruption. Lacson said it was natural for the anti-graft panel to recommend charges against the lawmakers after former DPWH engineers accused them during the Blue Ribbon hearings of receiving kickbacks from flood control projects. Lacson said the “draft and unofficial report” still does not have enough signatures from the 20 members of the Blue Ribbon, including the three ex-officio members. “But SP (Sotto) is all behind the Blue Ribbon,” he said.

Another alleged ‘cong-tractor’ quits HouseMANILA, Philippines — After resigned Ako Bicol party-list lawmaker Zaldy Co, another congressman has quit. ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Edvic Yap, who is also implicated in the flood control anomaly, has filed his resignation as a member of the House of Representatives. Speaker, in view of the resignation of Rep. Edvic Yap, may we request that the Sec. Gen. drop ACT-CIS Rep. Edvic Yap from the roll of the House of Representatives,” she said. Lanao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong, who presided over yesterday’s plenary session, ordered the House secretary general to drop Yap from the roll of the members of the House.

Persons behind Marcos’s Jr. fake medical bulletin identifiedPresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. laughs in a conversation with Palace Press Officer Claire Castro about his health on Wednesday night, Jan. 28, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — Cybercrime investigators have identified the people who posted on their social media accounts a fraudulent medical bulletin supposedly detailing President Marcos’ health condition. Gen. Wilson Asueta said they have identified the people who uploaded the fake document on their social media platforms, but declined to identify them or give details on their identities. Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. earlier ordered the ACG to unmask the people behind the spread on social media of the fake medical bulletin supposedly coming from St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC). The hospital has denied issuing a medical bulletin and called the document fake.

Longer impeach process vs VP Sara seenA photo uploaded on Dec. 14, 2025, on Facebook shows Vice President Sara Duterte joining her staff from central and satellite offices during the 2025 year-end celebration. MANILA, Philippines — Unlike in the case of President Marcos, the new impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte will undergo a lengthy process and eventually hurdle the House committee on justice, a member of the House minority believes. The committee on justice, he said, may hold several hearings wherein the allegations against the Vice President will be thoroughly discussed. In an interview with radio dzBB on Tuesday, lawyer Michael Poa reiterated that the Vice President does not know Madriaga. Tindig Pilipinas, led by its co-convenor Kiko Aquino Dee, filed the second impeachment complaint against Duterte on Monday.

‘Dismiss sedition raps vs youth leaders’“What is the gain of national security in the filing of cases against a campus journalist, a rapper and student council officers who covered and simply joined the protest against corruption?” Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co said. MANILA, Philippines — Party-list group Kabataan yesterday sought the dismissal of sedition charges filed by police against youth leaders in connection with the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protest in Manila last year. “People’s money was stolen and wasted in trumped-up charges against the youth,” Co added. Bayan president Renato Reyes has filed his counter-affidavit challenging the sedition complaint filed against him before the Department of Justice. Kristina Conti, lawyer for Reyes, said the complaint against her client and 35 others has been submitted for resolution.