​THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced Tuesday the auction of 10 luxury cars, eight of which were previously owned by flood control scam suspects Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya. ​The auction, which will be held today, Wednesday, include a 2023 model black Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a 2022 blue Bentley Bentayga. ​Assistant Commissioner and concurrent spokesman Philip Vincent Maronilla said this will be the third time that cars previously owned by the Discayas would be auctioned. Citing records, Maronilla said the Bugatti Chiron 2019 will have a floor price of more than P160 million, while the Bugatti Chiron 2017 will have a minimum bid of P149 million.​ As for the Discayas’ 2023 Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the floor price is set at P29,025,132.58, while the 2022 Bentley Bentayga (2022) has a floor price of P11,103,040.30. ​The other Discaya cars to be auctioned are a 2024 Lincoln Navigator with a floor price of P8,642,319.86; a Cadillac Escalade (2021), P7,747,289.21; Maserati Levante Modena (2022), P4,091,916.72; GMC Yukon XL Denali (2022), P6,759,673.35; Cadillac Escalade ESV (2022), P8,278,445.48; and a GMC Yukon Denali (2022), P6,759,673.35. ​Customs officials and employees, as well as the importers and consignees of the luxury cars, are not allowed to join the bidding. The third auction would take place at 10 a.m., Feb. 11, at the Situation Room, Ground Floor, Office of the Commissioner Building, BOC, Port Area, Manila. ​The BOC held the first auction for the Discaya cars in November 2025. It collected a total of P38,211,710 from the auction of a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG (2022), Mercedes-Benz G500 (2019) Brabus, and a Lincoln Navigator (2021). In the second auction held on Dec. 5, 2025, the customs bureau generated P9.48 million for the sale of a Toyota Tundra (2022) and a Toyota Sequoia (2023). ​To qualify for the bidding, one must submit his income tax return, among others, as part of the verification with the Securities and Exchange Commission to ensure that the bidder has no relation with people barred from joining the auction. ​The BOC seized 28 luxury vehicles from the Discayas, who owned the Alpha & Omega General Contractor and Development Corp. and eight other contractor firms, by virtue of a court order. All licenses of the nine contractor firms have been revoked by the Philippine Construction Administration Board. ​Alpha & Omega is among the top 15 construction companies that cornered the majority of the flood control and other infrastructure projects around the country that were implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways from 2022 to 2025.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 24 dakika

EXECUTIVE Secretary Ralph Recto pushed for tighter, faster and more unified government action against organized crime in his recent recalibration meeting with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc). Those in attendance were National Security Adviser Eduardo Año; Paocc Executive Director Benjamin Acorda Jr.; Undersecretary Facundo Palafox of the Office of the Executive Secretary; and top representatives from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of National Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice, and National Bureau of Investigation. The Office of the Executive Secretary serves as the body’s chairman. “Our job is not only to chase criminals after damage is done, but to shut the doors before they enter. To seal the gaps, enforce discipline, realign priorities, and demand measurable results,” Recto said in a statement following their meeting last Feb. 9. He reiterated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for the Paocc to intensify efforts to protect citizens from sophisticated criminal networks and ensure peace and order through faster, tighter and more unified government action. The officials reviewed the Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment 2022–2024, a vital intelligence document that maps the scale and evolution of organized criminal threats in the country as outlined under the Paocc’s Crime Action Plan. Created in 2000, the Paocc serves as the government’s lead agency in the fight against organized and transnational crime, bringing together intelligence, defense, law enforcement and justice agencies to ensure synchronized operations and prosecutions. Its tasks include the preparation and implementation of an anti-crime and anti-graft and corruption plan and program and the conduct of intelligence and counterintelligence operations to identify government officials and employees, crime syndicates and their cohorts who are involved in criminal activities, among others.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 25 dakika

THE Philippines almost did not move in the global corruption index last year despite the shocking revelation of anomalies involving flood control projects. In the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International on Tuesday, the country had a score of 32, which is -1 lower compared to 2024, and was ranked 120th of 182 countries. The report described the Philippines as a “climate change impacted” country, following the issues surrounding flood control projects, which were mentioned in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address last year. “In climate-change impacted Philippines, citizens were outraged by allegations that a substantial amount of public funds were lost to a fake flood relief project,” it said. “Uniting these movements was a sense that those in charge were abusing their power for private interests, while failing to deliver decent public services, a stable economy and fair opportunities for citizens,” the report added. The report said corruption remains a serious threat in the Asia Pacific region. “With an average regional score of 45 out of 100, high levels of corruption appear to have remained largely unaddressed over the past decade,” the report read. “Frustration within the region at weak governance and limited accountability were clearly felt in 2025, with a surge in young people taking to the streets to demand action and accountability from their governments,” it added. It also cited recent anti-government protests in Indonesia and Nepal, where young people had a role in bringing down their government. According to Transparency International Asia Pacific adviser Ilham Mohamed, governments must act to stop corruption and strengthen democracy. “In many countries across Asia Pacific, good governance is being undermined by weak law enforcement, unaccountable leadership and opacity in political funding. With young people demanding better, leaders must act now to curb corruption and strengthen democracy. Meaningful reforms can rebuild public trust and show those in power are finally listening,” Mohamed said in a statement. Meanwhile, Transparency International called on governments to enforce a new United Nations resolution that prevents and fights corruption. “Transparency International is calling for countries to implement a new UN resolution on preventing and combatting corruption through enhancing transparency in the funding of political parties, public office candidates and electoral campaigns, which countries adopted as part of the UN Convention Against Corruption conference in December. The Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum in April is a key opportunity for election authorities to commit to the implementation of this resolution,” the group said. This edition of the CPI ranked 182 countries through perceived levels of public sector corruption from a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Transparency International had been conducting the CPI since 1995 as its leading global indicator of public sector corruption.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 26 dakika

THE Philippines must sustain effective occupation and assert its legal rights over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and the wider West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid what experts described as growing attempts to weaken the country’s maritime claims through misinformation and political narratives. Maritime law expert Prof. Jay Batongbacal said that while the 2016 arbitral ruling invalidated China’s nine-dash line, it did not settle the question of sovereignty over the islands themselves. The ruling only assessed whether features in the South China Sea could generate maritime zones, concluding that the KIG produces only a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea, with surrounding waters falling under the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or the high seas. Batongbacal said sovereignty over the islands remains unresolved in international law, making continuous governance essential. He noted that the Philippines was the first claimant to establish a functioning local government in the area, administered as part of Palawan since the 1970s through the municipality of Kalayaan, with settlements, schools and public services forming the legal basis for sovereignty. “Sovereignty over the islands remains unresolved in international law, making it imperative for the Philippines to maintain actual governance and presence,” said Batongbacal, director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea of the UP Law Center. National security expert and civic leader Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia echoed the urgency, warning against narratives that portray Philippine maritime rights as negotiable. Goitia warned that online narratives casting doubt on Philippine claims risk eroding national resolve and effectively advancing foreign interests. “When baseless doubt is normalized, prudence gives way to surrender,” Goitia said, referring to social media discussions questioning the country’s maritime position and the legitimacy of state actions in the West Philippine Sea. He stressed that Philippine maritime rights are firmly grounded in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and reinforced by the 2016 arbitral ruling, which, he said, clarified, rather than weakened, the country’s claims. He rejected arguments that international law had nullified domestic legal bases for Philippine sovereignty, noting that Presidential Decree 1596, which formally established the Kalayaan Island Group, has never been repealed by Congress nor invalidated by the Supreme Court. Goitia also defended the continued presence of the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal, saying it is justified under international law because the feature lies within the Philippines’ EEZ, where the country has sovereign rights to enforce laws, protect resources, and maintain a presence. “You do not need to own land to defend what is lawfully yours at sea,” he said. Both experts warned that any suggestion to relinquish control over KIG or downplay Philippine maritime rights could undermine the country’s legal position, potentially allowing other claimants to strengthen their own assertions. Batongbacal stressed the need for government unity, while Goitia cautioned that repeated doubt, even in domestic discourse, could gradually weaken international perceptions of the Philippines’ resolve. The KIG, part of the Spratly archipelago, remains strategically critical for national security, resource management, and the monitoring of key maritime routes. Maintaining effective occupation, governance, and a consistent legal stance, both experts said, remains the strongest safeguard of Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) supported the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) initiative to invite government officials to personally see missions being done in the WPS. “The AFP supports the initiative of the PCG and other government agencies to invite senior government officials to see what is out there in the West Philippine Sea either by air or by sea,” Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesman, told reporters on Tuesday. Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman, earlier invited Sen. Rodante Marcoleta to participate in a maritime domain awareness flight over the KIG after he suggested giving up the debated water feature because it lies beyond the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 27 dakika

SEN. Joseph Victor Ejercito disclosed that the Japanese government has expressed concern over the Japanese investors’ experience with alleged abusive Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) personnel. The senator made the revelation as the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) resumed its inquiry on the issuance of the letter of authority (LOA) and its alleged abuse by some BIR personnel. Ejercito earlier condemned what he called a “widening culture of corruption” within the BIR, warning that abusive tax enforcement hit ordinary Filipinos and small businesses who faced intimidation instead of fair audits. The Senate deputy majority leader said that some foreign chambers of commerce have raised similar concerns. “The sad thing about this was that, during the last state or working visit of our president to Japan, the bilateral talks [between the two countries mentioned that] foreign investors were subjected to abuse by our BIR,” Ejercito said in Filipino and English. He expressed hope that reforms in the issuance of the LOA by the BIR would lead to stronger revenue collection as government finances face mounting pressure. “We badly need revenues right now. We are already facing around a P200-billion shortfall early this year. That is a heavy burden on our fiscal position,” Ejercito said. He noted that the suspension of the old LOA system and the safeguards being put in place should help eliminate abuse and improve efficiency in tax collection. “Now that the old LOA process has been halted and reforms have been instituted, we expect a significant improvement in revenue collection,” he added. Ejercito raised the need for clear and fair audit processes at the BIR to protect both local businesses and foreign investors. He raised concerns over the issuance of multiple LOAs to small and medium enterprises, warning that abusive practices could drive investors to neighboring countries. “We really need to fix this because we’re losing investments. We are losing to our Association of Southeast Asian Nations neighbors like Vietnam, Thailand, and others because of what’s happening here,” he said. BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said that reforms under Revenue Memorandum Circulars 5-2024 and 38-2024 clarified how income from cross-border services and foreign companies should be taxed. “If this guideline is applied and an assessment is made based on that case, it is not enough to simply cite the circular. We must clearly specify and explain the facts and the basis for applying that case,” Mendoza said.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 28 dakika

... Keep on reading: Love Knots, February 11, 2026

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 30 dakika

ACTRESS and animal rights advocate Nadine Lustre said she will support former vice president and current Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo if she runs for president in 2028. “For me, she’s really the best candidate for the presidency, obviously, and I supported her way, way back when she ran the first time. So definitely, I would support her,” Lustre told reporters after she joined Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and other animal rights and nature advocates in filing two House bills seeking to strengthen animal welfare laws and the creation of a national plant-based health advocacy program. Lustre was among the celebrity endorsers of Robredo in 2022, who lost to Ferdinand Marcos Jr. However, Lustre said that she will respect Robredo if she decides to remain as Naga City mayor. “Sometimes the best presidents are those that don’t want to run. So, we’ll see. We’ll cross the bridge when we get there because right now, it’s really hard to say,” Lustre said. Mirroring Lustre’s wishes, de Lima said they are not losing hope that Robredo will run in 2028 for being the “most capable” opposition candidate, noting that those who did not vote for her are now reflecting on their actions. “On what is happening in our country right now, on what is happening in our economy, the overall state of the country and national affairs, we need somebody like [former] VP Leni Robredo, who is not only clean but also very capable, and her advocacy is clean and good governance,” de Lima said. De Lima filed House Bill 7696, which seeks to create animal welfare desks in all police stations and an animal welfare ombudsman unit for oversight and monitoring; and House Bill 7697, which seeks to establish the “Gulay Para sa Kalusugan at Kinabukasan” program. She also filed House Resolution 748, which directs the Committee on Natural Resources to investigate the country’s environmental challenges and issues and recommend policies to prevent negative ecological impacts. Lustre was joined by her boyfriend, Christophe Bariou, and representatives from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Animal Kingdom Foundation, CARA Welfare Philippines, and Biyaya Animal Care. Both Lustre and Bariou said the bills are a “win for the Filipino people” as they are a “win for health, farmers, and the environment.”

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 30 dakika

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a show-cause order (SCO) on Victory Liner Inc. after a video posted on social media showed one of its buses driving recklessly on what appeared to be an expressway. LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the agency is coordinating with the netizen who uploaded the video, which was flagged by the board’s social media monitoring team, to gather more details about the incident. “I saw the video, and there is clearly a violation on the part of the bus driver. We are investigating to determine if the bus was carrying passengers at the time of the incident,” Mendoza said. In the footage, the bus is seen making a dangerous maneuver against a truck on what appears to be an expressway. The uploader can be heard commenting on the video, which appears to have been recorded using a smartphone or a dashcam. The truck driver keeps driving, unbothered by the bus driver’s dangerous maneuvers. Mendoza said the video helped the LTFRB identify the bus and initiate formal action against the operator. An SCO dated Feb. 9 was issued for Victory Liner Inc., directing the company to identify the driver involved in the coming hearing set for Feb. 25. Both the bus company and the driver were ordered to submit a written explanation on why they should not be held liable for the incident. “Failure on the part of the respondents to appear before the Hearing Officer and file an answer shall be considered as a waiver on your part to be heard and shall cause the imposition of the penalty,” the LTFRB said. Mendoza said the behavior shown in the video is unacceptable and emphasized that the incident could put the lives of commuters and motorists at risk. He urged bus operators to discipline their drivers and warned against road rage and other forms of dangerous driving. Mendoza said that the LTFRB will continue to intensify monitoring and swiftly act on complaints against erring public utility vehicle drivers and operators.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 31 dakika

... Keep on reading: Tuldok, February 11, 2026

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 31 dakika

TRANSPORT network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers and riders in the Philippines earn significantly more than the government-mandated minimum wage, according to a study commissioned by the International Labor Organization (ILO). The survey, covering 12 of the country’s 17 regions, found that TNVS drivers and riders earn an average net weekly income of P6,704, after deductions. This figure surpasses the national minimum wage, which ranges from P498 to P695 per day — or roughly P4,865 per week. Conducted from June to December 2025, the survey interviewed 400 respondents across nine platforms providing food delivery, logistics, parcel delivery, and ride-hailing services. It has a 5 percent margin of error. The study was presented during the Department of Labor and Employment’s 2026 National Tripartite Conference. According to the ILO, the study aimed to analyze working conditions in the platform economy, document labor practices, assess the impact of digital platforms on employment, and guide policies on enterprise formalization and social protection. Also, the findings show that nearly 90 percent of TNVS drivers and riders have access to social protection provided by their platforms, including health insurance, workplace injury coverage, and pension or retirement benefits. Survey respondents cited flexibility and decent earnings as the main reasons for choosing platform work, with many noting that the income is better than other available employment. Platforms have also implemented initiatives to improve working conditions, such as increasing earnings and incentives, enhancing training and safety, and strengthening operational support and communication. The study also noted that ride-hailing platforms are actively assisting drivers in securing mandatory government benefits through the Social Security System, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 32 dakika

... Keep on reading: Crazy Jhenny, February 11, 2026

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 32 dakika

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. avoided impeachment on Tuesday, a largely expected outcome after allies in the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to dismiss the complaints against him. The vote came a week after the House of Representatives’ Justice Committee dismissed two impeachment complaints against Marcos, saying they lacked substance. Marcos was accused of betraying public trust, committing graft and corruption, and violating the Constitution. “The impeachment complaints filed against the president, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. are hereby dismissed,” House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin told House members. Following the dismissal, impeachment efforts now shift toward Vice President Sara Duterte, who is facing another round of complaints after surviving a similar bid last year. The third impeachment complaint against the vice president was transmitted to the office of Speaker Faustino Dy III on Monday night, House Secretary-General Cheloy Garafil said Tuesday. The complaint was filed by a group of private citizens composed of clergy, civil society leaders, and legal practitioners led by Fr. Joel Saballa, Rev. Fr. Joselito Sarabia, Rev. Fr. Edilberto Baculi, Rev. Fr. Rogelio del Rosario, Pastor Leonard Arevalo, Pinky Tam, Maria Loreto Lopez, Jalilo dela Torre, lawyers Democrito and Lourdes Barcenas, Sister Ma. Liza Ruedas, Sr. Violeta Cecilio, and Sister Geraldine Denoga. The third complaint alleged, among others, that Vice President Duterte committed culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayed the public trust in connection with confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President for 2022 and 2023 and confidential funds allocated for 2023 to the Department of Education, which she used to head. The confidential funds were allocated by the Office of the President for use by Duterte’s office. Overwhelming majority Impeaching Marcos needed a one-third vote from more than 300 members in the lower house, where 284 members voted to dismiss the complaints. Only eight lawmakers voted for impeachment while four abstained. A constitutional rule prohibits subsequent impeachment complaints against Marcos until next year. Among the seven Philippine presidents since democracy was restored in 1986, only Joseph Estrada has been impeached, but his 2001 trial was aborted when prosecutors walked out in protest after senator-judges voted against opening an envelope that contained evidence against the then leader. The complaints against Marcos included his decision to allow his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte to be arrested and taken to The Hague to face trial at the International Criminal Court over thousands of killings during his notorious “war on drugs.” Marcos, 68, was also accused of abusing his authority in spending public funds that led to a corruption scandal involving flood control projects. His alleged drug use, which he has denied, also made him unfit to run the country, according to one of the complaints. Five top officials have been impeached in the Philippines and only one of those, a former chief justice, was convicted and removed from office. 3rd case moves forward Garafil said the third complaint against Duterte was endorsed by Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, completing the requirements for its transmittal to Dy for appropriate action. “I emphasize that the role of the Office of the Secretary General in impeachment proceedings is strictly ministerial. My office is tasked only with the receipt, verification, and transmission of impeachment complaints and their endorsements,” Garafil said. Duterte did not comment on the third impeachment case. Instead, she referred to the statement made by her lawyer, Michael Wesley Poa, that they have already anticipated the filing of the third complaint. “For now, we will continue to closely monitor developments and address these complaints through the appropriate constitutional processes,” Poa said. She also said that her lawyers urged her not to comment on their actions against Ramil Madriaga, the self-confessed security consultant who claimed that he was Duterte’s bagman. On Thursday, Garafil also endorsed to Dy the first two impeachment complaints against Duterte, which were filed by Tindig Pilipinas and Makabayan. WITH REUTERS Duterte on Saturday described the Tindig Pilipinas complaint, which was endorsed by de Lima and Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendana, as a “scrap of paper.” She also said that Akbayan has no credibility to endorse and file an impeachment complaint, noting that their leader, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, has been open about her intention to run for president, which she said is a clear indication of a political motive behind their move.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 33 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — Bernadeth Pons squared off with Sisi Rondina in the PVL anew after winning together a historic Southeast Asian Games beach volleyball gold medal for Alas Pilipinas. Pons led the way for Creamline in its 27-25, 17-25, 25-21, 25-15 win over Choco Mucho in the 2026 All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday night before 12,600 fans at Mall of Asia Arena. “Nothing unusual, it’s normal. After beach volleyball, we all know we’re going back to indoor anyway, so we’re bound to face each other. It’s a challenge for both of us. I know she’s super competitive. She’s great to play […]... Keep on reading: PVL: Pons, Rondina cross paths again after SEA Games gold

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 35 dakika

Following sold-out shows in their home country, SexBomb Girls are bringing their “Get, Get Aw!” concert to the global stage, as they’re set to perform at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this coming March. Rochelle Pangilinan announced the first international stop of the SexBomb Girls’ reunion concert on her Facebook page on Tuesday, February 10. The concert will be held on March 27 at the Dubai Exhibition Center, and then on March 28 at 321 Sports.  “Nagsimula sa simpleng entablado… ngayon international na ang kembot. Dubai. Abu Dhabi. Ready na ba kayo (It started from a simple stage, and now […]... Keep on reading: SexBomb Girls to bring ‘Get, Get Aw!’ concert to the UAE in March

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 3 saat, 47 dakika

After this week’s matches, four teams will advance to the semi-finals and automatically be invited to Split 2 of the returning VALORANT Challengers SEA – Philippines.  NAOS and Oasis Gaming will battle it out in the Upper Bracket Finals on February 21, 2026, while the lower bracket match will be played between HARU Esports and PH Rejects. The top 2 of Split 1 will be granted a spot to the Challengers SEA Group Stage, where they’ll be competing against teams from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and other teams qualifying from Premier.  New Challengers HARU Esports and PH Rejects entered through the […]... Keep on reading: NAOS, Oasis, lead top 4 in VALORANT Challengers SEA 2026 Split 1 - PH Regional

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 4 saat

Jayson Luzadas—best known as internet personality Boss Toyo—admitted that he initially misjudged Willie Revillame, saying he has a lot of respect for the veteran host now. Luzadas took to his Facebook page on Monday, February 9, to show his support for Revillame while adding a photo of their recent gathering. “Sobrang nagkamali ako sa taong ’to. Dahil sa naniwala ako sa mga nakikita ko sa social media tungkol [kay] Kuya Wil.” “Pero nung nakasama ko siya ng 3 araw lahat nakita ko, narinig ko ang mga kwento ng buhay niya hindi mula sa kanya kundi sa mga taong nakapaligid sa […]... Keep on reading: Willie Revillame earns Boss Toyo’s respect: ‘Nagkamali ako sa taong ‘to’

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 4 saat, 12 dakika