Duterte trial: ICC rejects victims' request to use Tagalog in opening statement
Judges at the International Criminal Court have refused a request to use Tagalog during opening statements in the trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Edition
Philstar
Monday, 2 November · 80 stories
Top stories
House prosecution panel member denies 'shoot-to-kill' claim vs Bato
Rep. Lordan Suan (1st District, Cagayan de Oro) denied claims that he threatened to file a “shoot-to-kill” resolution against fugitive Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in a social media post on Monday, November 2.
US ambassador affirms 'ironclad' PH ties after controversial ASEAN defense talks
The United States' commitment to Philippine security is "ironclad" and Washington is "in this for the long-term," US Ambassador Lee Lipton said on Monday, November 2, weeks before US President Donald Trump is expected…
ASEAN Summit: Makati bans flying of drones for whole November
Makati has banned the flying of drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles anywhere in the city for the whole of November for the ASEAN summit.
Almost 200,000 passengers expected at PITX post-Undas
The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) is expecting a surge of up to 190,000 passengers on Tuesday, November 3, as travelers return to Metro Manila after the Undas break.
China says Gibo gave Beijing less than five working days’ notice for ASEAN defense talks
China has accused Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. of blocking its participation in last week’s ASEAN defense talks in Cebu, claiming that the Philippines invited China to join the talks only after pressure from…
LIVE updates: Undas 2026 traffic situation
Heavy traffic is expected along major roads and highways on Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3, as motorists and commuters return to Metro Manila following the Undas 2026 long weekend.
Bantag allegedly disguised as poultry worker, not found during Ifugao police operation
Fugitive former Bureau of Corrections Chief Gerald Bantag has eluded arrest in Ifugao, according to the mayor of Lamut, Ifugao.
No sale of P20-per-kilo rice on November 2
There will be no sale of P20-per-kilo subsidized rice on All Souls’ Day, November 2.
Up to 2 tropical cyclones expected this month
Up to two tropical cyclones are expected to enter or develop inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) this month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said yesterday.
Philippines, UAE partnership for oil storage facility sought
The government is courting the United Arab Emirates to build a strategic oil storage facility that can transform the Philippines into a regional energy hub and cushion domestic consumers from global price volatility.
Unknown fallen troops honored
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. led the military in honoring the heroism of fallen troops who lost their lives to conflict, but remain unidentified due to the circumstances of their deaths.
President Marcos urged: Outline measures amid weakening peso
President Marcos should take clear and concrete steps to arrest the peso’s continued depreciation against the US dollar and prevent the further erosion of Filipino’s buying power through soaring inflation with meager…
Lacson on Bato manhunt info: Shhh
As Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa continues to ignore an ultimatum for him to peacefully surrender, authorities were cautioned yesterday against publicizing details of ongoing efforts to capture the lawmaker.
Filipino artworks to ignite Spain’s Prado Museum
The single largest collection of works by Filipino old masters will wow the world when it opens at Spain’s national museum, the Prado, in November 2027. Conceived by the Prado itself, the exhibit will showcase more than…
Cardinal slams AI use to bring back the dead
As the nation remembers the dead, Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David of Kalookan has raised questions on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in creating images that seem to bring the dead back to life.
Comelec OKs renaming 2 political groups
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the registration of a new local political party in Biñan, Laguna and the change of names and acronyms of two political groups ahead of the 2028 national and local…
Philippines welcomes US MRF-SEA deployment
United States Marines and sailors from the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) are deploying to the Philippines for the sixth iteration of the Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA).
NFA cuts palay handling time, costs
The National Food Authority (NFA) has substantially reduced palay handling time and costs in a pilot test of one-ton bags, replacing conventional 50-kilogram sacks in a system that could speed up grain procurement…
Nation
Gun dealers linked to Dawlah Islamiya remnants arrested in Cotabato
Police arrested two alleged illegal gun dealers, both reportedly linked to remnants of the defunct Dawlah Islamiya, during an entrapment operation along a highway in Barangay Kayaga in Kabacan town, Cotabato on Monday…
Business groups, MNLF to help BARMM parliament boost economy
Major business groups, peace-advocacy entities and the Moro National Liberation Front separately pledged support on Monday, November 2, for the socioeconomic objectives of the newly mandated Bangsamoro parliament…
Inventory of seized, recovered vehicles ordered
The National Capital Region Police Office has ordered an inventory of all vehicles seized or recovered by the NCRPO amid reports that some of these are being used by lawmen for personal purposes.
BOC holds export summit
The Bureau of Customs recently held its first-ever Export Summit to help exporters better understand customs procedures and navigate processes when transacting with the BOC.
Taiwanese, Malaysian held for detaining 3 Philippine workers
Two foreign nationals have been arrested after allegedly illegally detaining three Filipino workers at a condominium in Malate, Manila where the three were made to memorize scripts for a suspected love scam and offshore…
Thai woman gets life for drug smuggling
A Pasay court has sentenced a Thai woman to life in prison for smuggling 13.16 kilos of cannabis worth P18.43 million in 2024.
PNP: Undas generally peaceful
Police units should remain on heightened alert today despite the generally peaceful observance of All Saints’ Day, according to the Philippine National Police.
Over 1.4 million visit Manila cemeteries
More than 1.4 million people visited the two major cemeteries in Manila to remember their dead yesterday.
Laguna governor’s security men reduced
The number of police personnel assigned to protect and ensure the safety of Laguna Gov. Sol Aragones has been reduced, allegedly after a verbal directive from a top Philippine National Police official at Camp Crame.
Cavite pet crematorium ordered closed
A pet crematorium was ordered closed by the Bacoor City government following the discovery of the remains of 29 pets in plastic bags dumped along a roadside in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan.
VP Sara visits mass grave of Ormoc flash flood victims
As the 35th anniversary of the Ormoc flash floods nears, Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday visited the city public cemetery mass grave memorial in Leyte where the victims of the 1991 tragedy were buried.
Bantag eludes arrest anew in All Saints’ Day operation
Former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag once again eluded arrest, with a joint police operation failing to find him at a poultry farm in Barangay Pugol here yesterday.
Regions
Philippines inflation seen breaching 8% in November
Philippine inflation is poised to breach 8 percent in November as rising wages, higher transport fares and a weakening peso fuel broader price pressures, raising the prospect of further interest rate increases by the…
Health authorities urged: Boost readiness as amihan, El Niño loom
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has urged the Department of Health, local government units, and healthcare facilities nationwide to heighten preparations for health risks as the country enters the northeast monsoon or…
Cash aid sought for families of fallen barangay responders
Mandaue City’s 27 barangays are being urged to extend financial assistance to the families of disaster risk responders who die while carrying out emergency response and rescue operations.
In Cebu City ‘Peaceful Undas’
Authorities described the observance of All Saints’ Day in Cebu City as peaceful and orderly, except for an isolated incident at Carreta Cemetery where an electrician was reportedly electrocuted and fell.
Cebuana triathlete bags silver in China
Cebuana triathlete Raven Faith Alcoseba received an early birthday gift after powering her way to a silver-medal finish in the 2026 Asia Triathlon Cup in Chongqing, China, marking the highest individual placing of her…
Tokong stuns Pupo, advances to round 2
Filipino surfer John Mark “Marama” Tokong gave the home crowd a reason to celebrate on Sunday after stunning world No. 11 Brazilian surfer Samuel Pupo to advance to Round 2 of the World Surf League Championship Tour…
Business
Gasoline prices up P3 per liter starting November 3
Mixed fuel price adjustments will take effect on Tuesday, November 3, with gasoline increasing while diesel and kerosene prices roll back.
Democratizing power generation
EPIRA created an oligopoly of power generators by making power generation an exclusively private sector endeavor.
Undas 2026
As I write this column over the traditional All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holiday, I wonder if the recent deterioration of the peso against the US dollar, the rising inflation and the high cost of jet fuel have…
Pinoy technopreneur makes global waves with AI chatbot
A Filipino technopreneur is making his mark in Silicon Valley with an artificial intelligence (AI) innovation that is attracting major investors and international attention.
Japanese investors flag new mining auction rules
A group of Japanese businesses has raised red flags over the Philippines’ new framework for awarding mining and other natural resource contracts, warning that it could undermine investor confidence.
Due diligence
Are there still investors who make financial decisions based on “hot tips” from friends, insiders or proponents of schemes that are “too good to pass up?”
Robinsons Malls tops energy awards
Robinsons Malls, the commercial centers division of Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), has earned national recognition for its efforts to promote responsible energy use, being named as an Energy Efficiency and Conservation…
Pork tariff hike seen to stoke inflation
The British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) warned that raising the tariffs on imported pork could further stoke inflation, as the government moves to impose higher duties on pork meat to protect local hog…
Government OKs $1 million funding for LRT-1 O&M PPP advisory
The Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) Committee has approved $1 million in advisory support for the restructuring of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) extension operations and management (O&M)…
Sideways trading expected this week
The local stock market is expected to trade sideways this shortened trading week, with upcoming third quarter corporate earnings results hopefully giving it a much-needed boost ahead of the release of October inflation…
Airlines ask government: Waive airport fees as peso weakens
As the peso gets weaker, the country’s biggest airlines are asking airport operators to suspend terminal fees, as Filipinos now pay double the cost to fly.
Business optimism dips for year ahead
Philippine businesses turned less optimistic about economic prospects over the next quarter and the year ahead as elevated prices, geopolitical tensions and a weaker peso continued to weigh on sentiment, according to…
October inflation seen accelerating to 7.6 percent
Inflation likely accelerated further in October as higher transport fares, electricity rates, fuel costs and a weaker peso broadened price pressures despite some relief from food prices, according to economists polled…
DTI vows continued support following record-high exports
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has committed to support businesses in tapping trade opportunities to sustain the momentum after exports hit a record-high in September.
Sports
NLEX’s Bolick gains back-to-back PBA Player of the Week citations
Robert Bolick has won the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the second straight time following another notable performance that pushed NLEX to the semifinals of the 50th Season Governors’ Cup.
Frayna heads Filipina chessers in ASEAN+ Individual tilt
Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna leads the country’s campaign in the strong women’s division of the 7th ASEAN+ Individual Chess Championships.
La Salle's Tovera, UE's Onate stand tall in UAAP basketball week
Joaquin Tovera and Sy Oñate have been named UAAP Players of the Week.
Tokong, Alciso end bids in World Surf League Championship Tour
Filipino wildcards John Mark “Marama” Tokong and Jayuard Alciso gave the home crowd something to cheer about but saw their campaigns come to an end in the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour Philippines Pro.
Olivarez National Open tennis tilt to showcase top guns, rising stars
Eric Olivarez and John Benedict Aguilar launch their respective bids for the crown, but a deep and competitive field promises to make the opening rounds of the Mayor Edwin Olivarez National Open Tennis Championships…
Lady Blue Hawks, Pirates top UCAL volley elims
Titlist Immaculada Concepcion College completed a seven-game sweep of the women’s division, while Lyceum of the Philippines U Batangas topped the men’s side at the end of the elimination round of the PGFlex…
Catlin, Thai ace banner Philippine Open cast
The foreign contingent seeing action in the 108th Philippine Open presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will not lack the firepower, with former Asian Tour Order of Merit winners John Catlin of the United…
Eala battles Parks in Hong Kong Open
With only a short breather, Alex Eala takes her act to the Hong Kong Open against another familiar opponent in Alycia Parks of the United States in Round 1.
Martin delivers defining win
Ifugao warrior Carl Jammes Martin sent shock waves throughout the boxing world as he scored a career-defining win over heavily-favored Mexican David Picasso via a split 10-round decision in his featherweight debut at…
BCC course back in championship form
The adorable Baguio Country Club 18-hole golf course is back.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: Goal is always to win crown
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is truly back – hungrier than ever.
Tokong, Alciso crash CT party
John Mark “Marama” Tokong and Jayuard Alciso turned wildcard tickets into statement wins yesterday, defending Philippine turf against foreign invasion on Day 2 of the World Surf League Championship Tour Philippines Pro…
Entertainment
Filipino chefs battle it out for culinary supremacy in 'Iron Chef Thailand vs Asia'
Chefs Mia Yan, AC Agra, Maverick "Mav" Javier, and Sonny Mariano are off to a good start.
Ogie Alcasid musical hits stage in 2027
He has almost four decades of good songs to include in his summer 2027 musical.
Dominic Ochoa feels young on ‘Mommy Guard’ set
Dominic Ochoa was among the hopefuls who ventured into the entertainment biz in the ‘90s. He eventually has made a name for himself as a reliable actor and enjoyed screen visibility.
Michelle Dee has unfinished business in pageantry
From beauty queen to actress, model and advocate, Michelle Dee has shown that there is life — and purpose — beyond the pageant stage.
Lifestyle
WATCH: Marvin Agustin’s candid reaction to Cochi’s 2nd Bib Gourmand award
A relief for the former matinee actor who has channeled his energy into the food business as a chef-owner of food concepts such as Cochi.
Versatile grape: How raisins enhance dishes
When added to familiar dishes, raisins can raise the bar when it comes to added natural sweetness and nutritional benefits.
Crepe cake: How to make cake without oven
There are many ways to make a cake without owning an oven.
Integrated health care important for heart, kidney, metabolic diseases
Collectively known as Cardio-Renal-Metabolic (CRM) diseases, these interconnected illnesses share common risk factors so they frequently occur together.
WATCH: Aaron Isip happy with Kasa Palma's one-star Michelin retention
The French-trained chef is known for woodfire cooking and brings his expertise to the most happening place in Makati.
No child left behind: Unilab Foundation supports stronger collaboration on youth mental health
Themed “Bridging Gaps, Building Connections: Strengthening Mental Health Support and Services,” the forum that was held in observance of National Health Week, highlighted the importance of connecting schools, families…
Gloria Diaz joins Miss Grand International All-Stars season 2 selection committee
She sits with Omar Harfoutch, Osmel Sousa, Lu Sierra, Psi Samut Scott, and Shyare Andrade in the judging panel.
Opinion
Delicadeza, anyone?
An old Filipino word delicadeza is a borrowed Spanish word referring to a sense of propriety, moral integrity, discretion and decency.
SGV: Eight decades of excellence
I’m not an accountant and never took an accounting subject – I couldn’t tell you the difference between “book value” and “equity” if my life depended on it – but as fate would have it, I’ve been privileged to have an…
How we serve the smallest must be our measure of success
When the sun rises, it rises for everyone.
Lucrative laundering business
The laundry shop business is certainly booming. But recently another kind of laundry service has been booming too – it is money laundering with impunity.
Dignity in dying
This year I lost my mother. It was heart-wrenching to watch the vivacious woman I knew wither away before my eyes, physically and mentally, her memories so degraded she could no longer recognize her children.
EDITORIAL — Day of the (tokhang) dead
The nation remembers departed souls today as thousands of bereaved families wait for justice for the loved ones they have lost.
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