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Week in review: record Asian Games, Sara Duterte trial turns, Visayas power crisis
The biggest Philippine stories of October 1–4, 2026, as reported by the country's news outlets.
Sports: the best Asian Games in six decades
The Philippines finished the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya with four gold, nine silver and 16 bronze medals, its biggest haul since 1966, GMA News and Rappler reported. Gymnast Carlos Yulo won two of the four golds and is set to receive P4 million in incentives, according to Rappler. Jeus Yape won the first-ever mixed individual virtual taekwondo event, the country's first Asian Games title in the sport, GMA News reported. The Games closed on Sunday after a fortnight marked by records but also mix-ups and patchy crowds, The Manila Times said.
In Cebu, the Abra Weavers beat Hong Kong Eastern 79-72 in their East Asia Super League debut before a packed crowd at the SM Seaside arena on October 3, SunStar reported.
Key figures
Politics: the Sara Duterte impeachment and the ICC
The House prosecution is likely to drop the bribery charge against Vice President Sara Duterte, prosecution spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said on Sunday, according to GMA News. Prosecutors believe the other three articles may be enough to seek a conviction, Philstar reported. Antonio Trillanes IV withdrew as a witness and held a press conference instead, Abante Tonite reported, while the prosecution said bank and tax records may back his claims, according to the Inquirer. The Vice President's legal team asked the NBI for the full affidavit of former police officer Gracioso and sought to reschedule an October 5 conference, SunStar reported.
At the International Criminal Court, Trial Chamber III allowed prosecutors to use the prior recorded testimony of a witness identified as P-1100 in the case against former president Rodrigo Duterte, provided the witness appears in court and consents, The Manila Times reported. Manila Bulletin said the testimony concerns Davao Death Squad operations.
Source: GMA News
Table
| Gold | 4 |
|---|---|
| Silver | 9 |
| Bronze | 16 |
Visayas: the power crisis
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin proposed immediate interventions for the recurring outages on the Visayas grid at a House hearing in Bacolod City on Saturday, calling for a whole-of-government approach, SunStar reported. Albee Benitez backed emergency powers to address the crisis, according to Manila Bulletin and Politiko.
Security: West Philippine Sea and a record POGO raid
A Chinese J-16 fighter jet repeatedly flew dangerously close to a Philippine C-208 patrol aircraft over Bajo de Masinloc on Saturday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said, as reported by Philstar, ABS-CBN News and Rappler.
In Zamboanga Sibugay, 244 "mostly Chinese" foreign POGO workers were arrested in the country's largest crackdown on illegal online gaming this year, the Bureau of Immigration said, according to GMA News. Authorities raided two sites and seized about 3,000 phones, Philstar reported.
Timeline
Abra Weavers beat Hong Kong Eastern 79-72 in their EASL debut in Cebu SunStar
Chinese J-16 flies dangerously close to a Philippine patrol plane over Bajo de Masinloc AFP via Philstar
Energy Secretary Garin proposes urgent fixes for Visayas outages at a House hearing in Bacolod SunStar
Prosecution spokesperson says the bribery charge against VP Sara Duterte is likely to be dropped GMA News
The 20th Asian Games close; the Philippines finishes with 29 medals The Manila Times, GMA News
Money and daily life
GCash parent Mynt set its final IPO price at P6.60 per share, below the previously indicated P10 maximum, BusinessWorld reported. The SSS launched LoanLite, a digital microloan of P1,000 to P20,000 for qualified members, GMA News reported. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said constant oil price hikes are reason enough to temporarily suspend the excise tax on gasoline and diesel, while LPG marketers said a P18-per-kilo price increase in October will offset the suspension of the excise tax on LPG, GMA News reported. Sen. JV Ejercito filed a bill to double the monthly social pension of indigent seniors from P1,000 to P2,000, The Manila Times reported.
The government plans to expand solar-powered irrigation to 10,000 sites by 2030, up from 4,036, SunStar reported. Sen. Erwin Tulfo urged funds for a looming super El Niño, with farm losses already at P6.87 billion, according to The Manila Times. Globe Telecom said it had fully restored internet services after a subsea cable disruption between the Philippines and Singapore. Ahead of Undas, the LTFRB received 356 applications for bus special permits, GMA News reported.
Weather
The trough of Typhoon Choi-wan, which stayed outside the Philippine area of responsibility, brought scattered rains and thunderstorms to the Visayas and Mindanao, PAGASA said, as reported by the Inquirer and Philstar.
Also this week
Two students aged 7 and 8 died and two others were hurt when they were electrocuted during a fun run at Cauayan South Central School in Cauayan City, Isabela, on Saturday, The Manila Times and Philstar reported. The DENR is investigating the death of a mature Philippine Eagle found near a power line in Salay, Misamis Oriental, SunStar reported. And Basilan State College in Lamitan City became Basilan State University, the province's first state university, according to Philstar and The Manila Times.
Sources
Written and translated by AI (Claude) using only the reports listed below. Read the full story at the original source.
- GMA News — SSS LoanLite offers P1K to P20K loans for qualified members' immediate needs
- The Manila Times — Basilan State College officially becomes university
- Philstar — 2 students electrocuted at Isabela school event
- Philstar — Basilan gets first state university
- The Manila Times — Two students electrocuted during Cauayan City fun run
- The Manila Times — ICC OKs use of prior testimony vs Duterte
- GMA News — P18/kg LPG price hike in October blunts excise tax suspension -- LPGMA
- ABS-CBN News — AFP confirms close encounter with China military jet plane over Bajo de Masinloc
- Inquirer — Prosecution: Bank, tax records may back Trillanes claims vs Sara Duterte
- Inquirer — Typhoon Choi-wan’s trough to bring scattered rains to Visayas, Mindanao
- Philstar — 'Choi-Wan' trough to affect Mindanao, parts of Visayas
- GMA News — LTFRB receives 356 bus special permit applications for Undas 2026
- Philstar — 244 'mostly Chinese' workers arrested in largest 2026 POGO bust
- GMA News — Prosecution likely to drop bribery charges in VP Sara Duterte impeachment --Adiong
- Manila Bulletin — ICC allows confidential witness’ testimony on Davao Death Squad operations in Duterte trial
- The Manila Times — Ejercito seeks to double social pension for indigent seniors to P2,000
- GMA News — Philippines posts biggest Asian Games medal haul since 1966
- GMA News — 244 'mostly Chinese' POGO workers arrested in Zamboanga Sibugay
- SunStar — DENR probes death of Philippine Eagle in Misamis Oriental
- GMA News — Constant oil price hikes enough reason to suspend fuel excise tax - Win Gatchalian
- SunStar — VP Sara legal team requests copy of Gracioso’s affidavit
- politiko.com.ph — Low on power, high on emergency: Albee Benitez backs emergency powers to address Visayas power crisis
- Rappler — PH nets biggest Asian Games medal haul in 6 decades
- Philstar — House prosecutors may drop bribery article vs Sara Duterte
- GMA News — Jeus Yape shares challenging journey to historic Asian Games virtual taekwondo gold
- Philstar — Chinese J-16 dangerously intercepts PH patrol aircraft over Bajo de Masinloc
- Rappler — Carlos Yulo to get P4 million for golden double as medalists cash in on Asian Games success
- SunStar — DOE pushes immediate Visayas power fixes
- Manila Bulletin — Benitez pushes for Palace emergency powers to solve Visayas power crisis
- SunStar — Abra defeats Hong Kong in EASL debut in Cebu
- Abante Tonite — Walang humaharang kay Trillanes
- BusinessWorld — Analysts say Mynt IPO price more balanced, but not cheap
- SunStar — Gov’t to expand solar-powered irrigation
- The Manila Times — Globe restores internet services after cable mess
- The Manila Times — Asian Games ends after records, mix-ups
- The Manila Times — Funding sought for super El Niño