Iran’s status in doubtGilas’ chances to advance hinge on how it fares against the top three Group C teams moving to the second round of qualifications. With a 2-2 record, Gilas is safely in the second round with winless Guam out of contention. Gilas’ chances to advance hinge on how it fares against the top three Group C teams moving to the second round of qualifications. With a 2-2 record, Gilas is safely in the second round with winless Guam out of contention. At the moment, the top three Group C teams are Jordan (3-0), Iran (2-1) and Syria (1-2).

Erice’s brother loses P.4 million to thiefBusinessman Joselito Erice, 63, parked his vehicle on Friday at his restaurant in Barangay 106 in Manila, according to police. MANILA, Philippines — Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice’s brother has been targeted by a thief who stole P480,000 from his car. Businessman Joselito Erice, 63, parked his vehicle on Friday at his restaurant in Barangay 106 in Manila, according to police. The thief broke the car’s window and stole a sling bag that contained cash, government identification cards and ATM cards. Authorities are reviewing closed-circuit television footage to identify and arrest the suspect.

Bullet hits US tourist in BukidnonCapt. Romeo Arcilla, Talakag police station chief, said the tourist, identified only as Juven, was with a group taking pictures near the falls when a shot rang out. CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — A 38-year-old American was injured after a shotgun bullet hit him as he was taking photos at Bayug Falls, the country’s second highest waterfall, on Sunday. Romeo Arcilla, Talakag police station chief, said the tourist, identified only as Juven, was with a group taking pictures near the falls when a shot rang out. The tour guides in the area told police that they heard a shot but did not see the person who fired it.

MANILA, Philippines — The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philip pines are not United States military bases, and thus are not targets for Iran’s retaliation, defense and security officials assured the public. The Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philip pines (AFP) said EDCA sites are Philippine facilities, following Sen. Erwin Tulfo’s call for a review of EDCA and warning they could become targets in the widening conflict of the US, Israel and Iran. “Our EDCA sites are Philippine facilities. There are currently nine EDCA sites: Antonio Bautista Air Base (Palawan), Basa Air Base (Pampanga), Fort Magsaysay (Nueva Ecija), Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base (Cebu), Lumbia Air Base (Cagayan de Oro City), Naval Base Camilo Osias (Sta. “With regard to EDCA, it is essential to clarify that EDCA sites remain Philippine sovereign AFP instal lations.

P41 billion tuition aid for 2.58 million indigent studentsStudents line up to enter Araullo High School in Manila on January 15, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — Congress has allocated P41 billion in tuition subsidies for 2.58 million underprivileged but deserving students who will enroll in private high schools nationwide in the school year 2026–2027. “This allocation will enable an estimated 2.58 million students from low-income households, as well as those in overcrowded public schools, to pursue and complete their secondary education in private schools,” Libanan said. The subsidy means the government will shoulder the tuition of students who are compelled to attend private high schools in areas where public schools are either unavailable or severely congested. Data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education show that senior high school dropouts remain a concern.

ICI fate known this weekTwo months later, he signed Executive Order 94 creating the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), a three-member body tasked with investigating questionable projects over the past 10 years and recommending the filing of charges against those involved in anomalies. MANILA, Philippines — The fate of the body formed to investigate the multibillion- peso flood control scam may be known this week, as Malacañang is expected to act on the accomplishment report detailing its four-month operation. Despite the initial attention it received, the ICI was reduced to a one-man body and faced quorum issues after two of its commissioners resigned last December. Last month, the ICI submitted a 125-day accomplishment report to Malacañang, which will decide on its status. “The appropriate agencies are there and since it has already started, the ICI, the ombudsman and the DOJ (Department of Justice) continue to investigate.

Middle East hosts an estimated 2.2 million Filipino workers, many of whom are based in Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. Currently, Gaza, Syria and Yemen are under Alert Level 4 (mandatory evacuation phase). Iran, Israel, West Bank and Kurdistan are under Alert Level 2 (restriction phase) while Jordan is under Alert Level 1 (precautionary phase). Deployment banCacdac said the Philippine government may impose a deployment ban, especially for newly hired workers, under Alert Level 2. Under Alert Level 3, the government imposes a total deployment ban, including returning workers, he said.

House: 2 impeach raps vs Sara sufficient in formProgressive groups call for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte during a rally at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on March 2, 2026. They explained that for all intents and purposes – the “contents and import” of the third complaint filed by Saballa et al – are “very similar to the second complaint” that they filed. “We manifest our support for the third impeachment complaint filed by Fr. Saballa et al.”The Luistro panel then approved the motion to withdraw the second impeachment complaint. The teachers’ group maintained that Vice President Duterte must definitely be held accountable.

Comelec, Sotto push party-list system reformsMANILA, Philippines — Election officials and Senate President Vicente Sotto III are pushing for sweeping reforms to the party-list system to eliminate loopholes that allow traditional politicians to hijack seats meant for marginalized sectors through nominee substitutions. At yesterday’s Senate electoral reforms committee hearing, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia urged lawmakers to pass strict legislation governing the substitution of party-list nominees, revealing how groups exploit the current rules. Some groups secure accreditation by submitting a list of legitimate sectoral representatives, such as the urban poor, only to have all winning nominees simultaneously resign after the election, he explained. Ban political partiesSotto, whose bill takes a hardline stance on party-list reform, questioned why major political parties are allowed to participate in a system originally designed for the underrepresented. Sotto is pushing to revert the system to its original intent, limiting participation strictly to defined marginalized sectors: labor, peasants, farmers, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous peoples, elderly, persons with disability, women and youth.

“From the November 2025 low of 5,584, the index has rallied 18.4 percent – less than two percent shy of the 20 percent threshold that technically defines a bull market. A move to 7,000 and beyond would put the PSEi firmly in bull market territory,” says our stock market expert, The STAR’s Business columnist Wilson Sy of PhilEquity. But with what just happened, it’s goodbye again to a looming bull market – at least for now. Investors poured money into the local stock market for two straight months after eight years of net outflows,” according to a Bloomberg report. Our overseas Filipinos, especially those in the Middle East, are also sure to be affected because these US-Israeli military strikes are bound to hit their host economies.

PPA: Expect freight costs to escalate amid Middle East warMANILA, Philippines — Importers should start pricing in what could be one of the steepest hikes in freight costs in recent history, as the Philippines absorbs the impact of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, where some of its energy inputs sail through. Santiago said Philippine oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, so any supply disruption is expected to push up bunker costs and freight rates. Santiago said cargo throughput in domestic ports may decline if importers reduce their orders on higher costs. “There are no direct operational routing issues on our ports, but any disruption will affect freight rates, bunker costs and, eventually, cargo volumes. If freight rates go up, trade volume will drop because of higher transport costs,” he added.

Lowry collapse paves way for Echavarria triumphMIAMI – Shane Lowry endured another agonizing collapse with a pair of late double bogeys that handed Nico Echavarria victory in the PGA Tour Cognizant Classic on Sunday. Ireland’s Lowry, the 2019 British Open champion ranked 31st in the world, appeared headed for a fourth PGA Tour triumph when he produced an eagle and four birdies through the first 13 holes and led by three through 15. But he was in the water off the tee at 16 and 17 on the way to double bogeys at both and Colombia’s Echavarria was rewarded for his bogey-free weekend with a third PGA Tour title. That’s twice this year now so far,” said Lowry, whose double bogey at the 72nd hole at the Dubai Invitational opened the door for Spain’s Nacho Elvira to win. Then Lowry botched the 17th the Irishman was suddenly two adrift.

DOE holds emergency meeting on Iran crisisA man checks the wrecakge after an Israeli air strike in the southern Beirut suburb of Haret Hreik on March 2, 2026. Despite supply disruptions in the Middle East, Abad noted that local oil firms have one to two months of inventory. Iran retaliated with a wave of airstrikes across the Middle East, targeting multiple countries that host US military bases, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Transport group MANIBELA slammed the government, particularly the DOE, for what it called a failure to take effective measures to ease the impact of soaring fuel prices. Gatchalian is proposing that a certain percentage increase in fuel prices within a week should automatically trigger the release of fuel subsidies.

Wall St opens lower on fears of protracted Middle East conflictA Wall Street sign hangs in front of a U.S. Flag outside the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

House panel clears two Duterte complaints as sufficient in formComposite photo shows Rep. Antonio Tinio, Rep. Gerville "JinkyBitrics" Luistro and Rep. Leila de Lima during the first hearing of the impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, March 2, 2026. Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon, 2nd District), vice chairperson of the justice committee, moved to set aside the first impeachment complaint filed on February 2. This effectively gives the justice committee only two impeachment complaints left to tackle, considering the panel accepted the withdrawal of the second complaint. For this reason, the petitioners of the first complaint — and the withdrawn second complaint — filed their cases before February 6. Both complaints, including the first two now set aside by the committee, were referred to the justice committee on February 23.