Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Today’s episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines’ leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner. READ: 45 Chinese ships spotted in WPS FORTY-FIVE Chinese ships were spotted in various features of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) for the first week of 2026, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday. In Bajo de Masinloc, there were two People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, three Chinese coast guard (CCG) and three Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels; six CCGs and eight CMMs in Ayungin Shoal; three PLA Navy ships, six CCGs and eight CMMs in Escoda Shoal and four CCGs and two CMMs in Pagasa Island. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesman for the WPS, said they look at the trends on a monthly basis, giving a more accurate assessment of the increase at the end of the month. The latest comparative monthly assessment they have was for November and December, which clearly showed an increase in number. READ: Marcos wants Zaldy Co extradited, wants treaty with Portugal PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered concerned government agencies to pursue an extradition treaty with Portugal to facilitate the return of former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday. In a press conference in Malacañang, Remulla said Co was still believed to be in Portugal, a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the Philippines. READ: Ex-DPWH undersecretary Bernardo not qualified to be state witness, cause-oriented group says FORMER Public Works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo is not qualified to become a state witness in the investigation into anomalous flood control projects since he was one of the alleged central operators of the scam, a cause-oriented group said Tuesday. The National Institute for Transparency and Accountability (NITA) on Tuesday appealed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reject Bernardo's application under the Witness Protection Program (WPP), saying that the former DPWH official is one of the most guilty, not the less guilty. NITA Executive Director Carlos Ayala said Bernardo’s own admissions indicate that he was not a mere participant but a central operator who enabled how billions of pesos in public funds were moved, allocated, and misused. READ: Govt to sue Leviste company over scrubbed solar contracts THE Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday said that it will pursue legal action against Rep. Leandro Leviste's Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. to pay around P24 billion because of several solar power service contracts totaling 11,427 megawatts (MW) that were terminated over non-performance. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said in a media briefing the agency will pursue all related obligations as this development has set back the country's plan to increase its total capacity. BUSINESS: PH, UAE sign free trade agreement THE Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday signed a free trade agreement (FTA) that is expected to significantly expand Philippine market access in the Middle East. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing and exchange of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) at the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 Summit at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center. The CEPA is the Philippines’ first free trade pact with a Middle Eastern country, marking a milestone in expanding the nation’s global trade footprint. The agreement, signed on behalf of the Philippines by Trade Secretary Ma. Christina Roque, aims to reduce tariffs, enhance market access for goods and services, increase investment flows, and create new opportunities for Filipino professionals and service providers in the UAE. SPORTS: Eala set for rematch versus Vekic in Melbourne FILIPINO tennis hotshot Alexandra “Alex” Eala is set for a rematch against Croatian Donna Vekic at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne on Wednesday evening. Toppling Vekic in the opening round of the ASB Classic, world No. 49 Eala faces the No. 70 player in an exhibition, though. The Kooyong Classic features invited ATP and WTA players in an exhibition format right before the Australian Open main draw on January 18. The women’s division also features former world no. 5 and 7-time champ Daniela Hantuchova as well as world no. 121 Priscilla Hon. Eala is using the tournament as her final buildup for her main draw debut at the first Grand Slam of the year. READ: Opinion and editorial Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino and Francisco Tatad are today’s front page columnists. Tiglao analyzes on China’s “restrained” responses, Fr. Aquino believes Iran’s situation is not the same as Venezuela’s, while Tatad talks about the collapse of the international order. Today’s editorial discusses the end of failed experiments in the automotive industry. Read the full version in the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times. For more news and information, read The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn; and be part of our communities on Viber, Telegram, and Mastodon.