Jasha Gamao

SAN JUAN CITY—The BFP Lady Firefighters pulled off a stunning upset on July 12, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, burning the PhilHealth Health Insurers in Game 2 of the UVL Season 4 Finals.

Defying the odds, BFP secured a thrilling 3-1 victory (25-16, 19-25, 25-20, 25-16) to tie the series and force a winner-take-all Game 3. 

The electric atmosphere inside the arena reached a fever pitch as roaring, passionate crowds from both sides filled the venue, screaming and cheering at the top of their lungs for every single point.

This explosive victory completely shocked PhilHealth and volleyball fans alike, marking the very first time BFP defeated the powerhouse Health Insurers in the entire duration of Season 4. 

PhilHealth had previously held a dominant edge over the Lady Firefighters all season long. 

However, BFP threw out the old script on Sunday’s game showcasing incredible resilience and teamwork to completely disrupt their rivals' rhythm and secure their most important win of the year.

Orchestrating the brilliant comeback was none other than BFP’s setter, Euna Gene Piosca, who deservingly took home the Best Player of the Game honors. 

Piosca put on a masterclass in playmaking, consistently delivering precise, on-point sets that carved open the tight, formidable defense of PhilHealth. 

Her flawless distribution gave the BFP spikers wide-open lanes to hammer down crucial attacks, keeping the Health Insurers constantly guessing and off-balance.

Reflecting on the monumental victory, a humbled Piosca expressed her immense respect for their opponents while praising her team's unwavering faith. 

“Grabe yung laban! Grabe yung PhilHealth. Super ganda nung laban—hands up ako sa PhilHealth kasi ang galing nila dumipensa, ang galing ng mga play nila…sobrang galing nila," Euna Gene Piosca said during the post-game interview with Ms. Rheena Villamor-Camara

"Siguro, naniwala lang kami sa sistema, naniwala lang kami sa kakampi namin, naniwala lang kami sa itaas, naniwala lang kami sa coaches namin at sa mga sumusuporta sa amin kaya nakaya namin ‘to.” Piosca continued.

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MANILA—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. officially honored tennis sensation Alex Eala on July 13, presenting the 21-year-old trailblazer with a Presidential Citation during a homecoming reception at Malacañang. 

The prestigious award recognizes Eala as the first Filipina to achieve unprecedented success on the international professional tennis circuit, highlighted by her historic Wimbledon campaign. 

During the ceremony, Marcos lauded Eala as a champion who embodies the finest qualities of the Filipino people and continues to inspire the nation through her grit and humility.

Hosted by the President and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, the special homecoming dinner celebrated Eala’s soaring impact on Philippine sports. 

The event brought together her family, dedicated supporters, government officials, and key members of the local sporting community to toast her achievements. 

The gathering served as a proud tribute to the young athlete's relentless climb up the global tennis ranks, spotlighting her role in placing the Philippines firmly on the international court.

An emotional Eala expressed deep gratitude during the reception, declaring, "Lubos kong ipinagmamalaki ang pagiging Pilipino". 

Reflecting on the prestigious recognition, the tennis star shared that the presidential citation validates the grueling, unseen efforts behind her high-profile victories. 

"I feel like all the hard work that I have done, all the hours that aren’t on TV are seen and validated and appreciated," Eala said, cementing her status as an inspiration for the next generation of Filipino athletes.

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PASAY CITY—Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo confronted the defense team on July 13, during the ongoing impeachment trial, demanding clarity over a supposed plot dubbed "Operation Romanov" aimed at eliminating Vice President Sara Duterte and her family. 

“You said, and I quote, ‘The truth of the matter is this. She and her family were threatened and while her response is unconventional, it was justified. What triggered her response was a question about Operation Romanov. Which is the plan to eliminate VP Sara and her family,’” Senator-judge Tulfo asked the defense.

Tulfo pressed defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan on whether the team plans to summon a vlogger known as Princess Maui to the witness stand to testify about the alleged conspiracy.

During the sharp exchange, Tulfo quoted Vinluan’s own previous statements defending an individual's "unconventional" but allegedly justified response after being triggered by questions surrounding the plot. 

"Now, Atty. Vinluan, this Operation Romanov that you mentioned, are you referring to the Operation Romanov mentioned by vlogger Princess Maui during the online press conference?" Tulfo asked, forcing the defense to address the viral online claims within the formal halls of the senate.

Vinluan confirmed the connection but kept the defense's strategy under wraps, stating that the decision to officially call Princess Maui as a witness hinges entirely on how the prosecution builds its case moving forward. 

"Yes. Your honor, at this point, it will depend on what will be established by the prosecution. The defense reserves its right to call or not call any witness," Atty. Vinluan replied to end the query of the Senator-judge.

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PASAY CITY—National Bureau of Investigation BARMM Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc testified that the public remarks made by Vice President Sara Duterte regarding a contracted hitman were serious, actual, and posed a real threat. 

Lotoc’s assessment came during an intense questioning session by prosecution counsel Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan, who pressed the security official for his direct impression of the Vice President's highly publicized declarations.

The defense team launched a swift objection to the line of questioning, with Atty. Mark Vinluan arguing that Ligutan’s query solicited a mere opinion and was inherently leading. 

Vinluan emphasized that the Vice President never explicitly used the word "assassin" in her statements. 

However, Ligutan countered that both the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) had formally adopted the term when evaluating the situation. 

Presiding Officer Francis Escudero ultimately overruled the defense’s objection, clearing the way for the NBI Regional Director to deliver his assessment.

Lotoc explained that the bureau arrived at its conclusion after a thorough content and context analysis of Duterte’s public utterances on October 18 and November 23, 2024. 

"The utterances made by the Vice President was serious and the threat was real and actual," NBI Regional Director Lotoc andwered.

He stated that the investigation factored in the alarmed reactions of the threat recipients and various state agencies. 

According to Lotoc, the NBI’s analysis scrutinized the literal meaning of the statements, the specific nature of the instructions given, the delivery and manner of speech, and the complex political relationship shared between the involved parties.

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PASAY CITY—The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte accelerated sharply on July 13 as prosecution counsel Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan called NBI-BARMM Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc to the stand. 

Serving as the crucial second witness for the fourth article of impeachment focusing on grave threats, Lotoc's testimony directly targets the VP's controversial declarations. 

Ligutan established that Lotoc, an experienced lawyer who spearheaded the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) Cybercrime Division in 2024, possesses the technical and legal expertise required to validate the core evidence of the prosecution's case.

“Jeremy Lotoc is a lawyer by profession, and he was the Chief of the Cybercrime Division of the National Bureau of Investigation or NBI in 2024.” Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan said on his opening statement as the prosecution presented its second witness. 

Lotoc testified that the NBI mobilized its investigation on November 23, 2024, the exact same day Vice President Duterte hosted a fiery online media briefing. 

During that broadcast, Duterte openly declared that she had contracted an assassin to eliminate the President of the Republic of the Philippines, the First Lady, and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives if a separate, unspecified plot against her succeeded. 

“Kasama siya sa NBI team na nagsagawa ng imbestigasyon sa mga pagbabanta ng bise presidente na ginawa sa isang online media briefing noong Nobyembre 23 taong 2024 kung saan dineklara ng bise presidente na siya ay kumontrata na ng isang tao para patayin ang Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas, ang unang ginang, at ang dating Speaker ng House of Representatives.” Atty. Ligutan continued.

Lotoc's presence on the specialized NBI team ensured that the digital footprint and broadcast delivery of these statements were immediately preserved and analyzed.

The prosecution hit its stride when Ligutan revealed the definitive conclusion of the state's cyber investigation: the NBI officially determined that the Vice President's televised death threats were both serious and real. 

“Napag-alaman ng NBI na ang mga pagbabanta ng Bise Presidente ay seryoso at totoo.” The lawyer for the prosecution concluded.

By transforming a public broadcast into a verified criminal file, Lotoc’s testimony directly connects the defense's downplayed rhetoric to a formal national security assessment.

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