AUGUST 10-16, 2024 Volume 34 - No. 63 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
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DATELINE Fil-Am pro-Harris coalition celebrates selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as Harris running mate FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Marcos, Villars form biggest PH political bloc by JULIE M. AURELIO
Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and Nacionalista Party (NP), the oldest political party in the Philippines, Mr. Marcos said he was very AS his political party continued forging happy that the “natural alliance” between alliances ahead of the 2025 midterm elections, them has been formalized. Mr. Marcos chairs the PFP while former President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged politicians on Thursday, August 8 to set aside Senate President and businessman Manny their differences and personal interests and Villar is the NP president. Its members work together toward improving Filipinos’ include his wife, Sen. Cynthia Villar, and children Sen. Mark Villar and Las Piñas Rep. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Partido Federal ng Pilipinas chair, and Nacionalista Party lives. president Manny Villar preside over the signing of an agreement forging an alliance between At the signing of a pact between his Partido Camille Villar. Contributed photo PAGE A2 their parties for the 2025 midterm elections. Inquirer.net
Marcos: Police ops humane, bloodless
ON Tuesday, Aug. 6, a coalition of leading Filipino American Democrats celebrated the likely Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’s selection of Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, as her running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Filipino Americans for Harris-Walz (FAFHW)—which was established on July 29 and formerly known as Filipino Americans for Harris—shared their support for Walz and highlighted some of his political achievements in a press release. “Governor Walz brings even more energy and excitement to the race for president. Vice President Kamala Harris made an excellent decision when she selected Governor Walz to be her vice presidential pick. He and Vice President Harris make an exceptional team for the race to the White House and we are looking forward to helping bring that victory in November!” FAFHW said.
by KRISTINA MARALIT ManilaTimes.net
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Two Filipinas serving in US Army killed in California car crash
Brylyn Aroma, 36, and Angelica Gacho, 28, died in a car crash off the treacherous Devil’s Slide along California’s Highway 1 A CAR crash off the treacherous Devil’s Slide along California’s Highway 1 recently took the lives of two Filipinas and a military interpreter in the U.S. Army. The victims were identified as 36-yearold Brylyn Aroma from Fort Riley, Kansas, 28-year-old Angelica Gacho and 29-year-old Mohammad Noory, both from San Francisco. The three were killed July 26 after their gray sedan plummeted into a ravine near the Devil’s Slide, an area of steep seaside cliffs about 15 miles south of San Francisco. The crash remains under investigation. Authorities are looking into what caused the car to plunge down the cliff and land on a rocky shoreline ending up partially submerged in the ocean. PAGE A2
SPACE DATA. The Philippine Space Agency launches the Space Data Dashboard at the Quantum Skyview of Gateway Mall 2 in Cubao, Quezon City on Friday, Aug. 9. The dashboard can be utilized for various environmental purposes such as land monitoring, maritime monitoring, disaster risk reduction and national security. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, August 8 hailed the Philippine National Police (PNP) for conducting lawful, humane and bloodless police operations in its bid to weed out criminality. Speaking at the 123rd Police Service Anniversary, Marcos acknowledged the strong determination of the police force to maintain peace, security and harmony. Commending the leadership of PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, Marcos said "noteworthy reforms and achievements" were achieved in recent months." Our crackdown on illegal drugs, smuggling, illegal gambling, private armed groups, human trafficking, and criminality has also strengthened significantly in ways that are not only effective but legal and lawful," Marcos said. "Indeed, police operations are now conducted as humane, as truthful, and as bloodless as possible," he added. The president said the PNP's partnership with the military has led to the neutralization of some 1,951 members of local and communist terrorist groups. He also cited the police force's intensified patrol operations and increased police deployment that PAGE A4
Forbes: Sy siblings still Philippines’ richest; Razon climbs to second by RICHMOND MERCURIO Philstar.com
MANILA — The Sy siblings retained their top spot in this year’s Forbes list of the Philippines’ 50 richest, with ports and casino tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. dislodging real estate magnate Manuel Villar Jr. at second spot. Despite their net worth being reduced reflecting the weaker peso, the Sy siblings, heirs to the SM group built by the late Henry Sy Sr., remained the country’s richest with a net worth of $13 billion. The Sy Group’s flagship listed conglomerate SM Investments, which has interests in
banking, property and retail, and is expanding to geothermal energy with five new projects across the country. Taking over second spot for the first time is Razon, whose wealth soared by $3 billion to $11.1 billion. He is also the biggest dollar gainer for the second year in a row. Forbes said that shares of Razon’s listed International Container Terminal Services, which has been in expansion mode, surged by nearly 80 percent in the past year amid the global trade rebound. On Villar’s, end, while his net worth expanded by $1.2 billion to $10.9 billion, he PAGE A2
CA freezes Quiboloy, KOJC assets, accounts Petecio gives Philippines 4th medal in Paris Games Nesthy Petecio
by DAPHNE GALVEZ Philstar.com
MANILA — The Court of Appeals (CA) has issued a 20day freeze order against the bank accounts, properties and other assets of accused child abuser and fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy, his church and media group. In a 48-page resolution dated August 7, the appellate court granted the petition of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which found 330 substantial financial transactions of Quiboloy from 2006 to 2022 that “appear to be
directly sourced from unlawful activities” of Quiboloy, his cohorts and ministry. “In order to avoid the possibility of the funds in the subject bank accounts and/or properties from being withdrawn, removed, transferred, concealed or placed beyond the reach of law enforcers, this Court finds it appropriate and judicious to issue a 20-day FREEZE ORDER as prayed for by petitioner (AMLC) over said bank accounts, including all other related or materially linked accounts, and the real and personal properties enumerated in the Ex-Parte
Petition,” the CA order read. The freeze order resolution was written by Associate Justice Gabriel Robeniol with the concurrence of Associate Justices Ramon Bato Jr. and Charlene Hernandez-Azura. Covered by the freeze order are at least 10 personal bank accounts under Quiboloy’s name, seven real properties and five motor vehicles. The freeze order also included Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ and Swara Sug Media Corp., which owns Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI)’s franchise. The KOJC has 47 bank
accounts, 16 real properties and 16 motor vehicles while Swara Sug has 17 bank accounts, five real properties and 26 motor vehicles. A total of 99 bank accounts under the names of individuals and entities associated with Quiboloy were also ordered frozen, namely Children’s Joy Foundation Inc., Maria Teresita Dandan, Helen Panilag, Paulene Canada, Cresente Canada, Ingrid Canada, Sylvia Cemañes, Jackielyn Roy, Alona Santander and Marlon Acobo. The CA gave the banks and concerned government agencies PAGE A4
Photo from Instagram/@NeshPetecio
by NELSON BELTRAN Philstar.com
PARIS – Nesthy Petecio’s Paris odyssey ended in a tough call in the semifinals Wednesday, August 7 at Stade Roland Garros. Petecio didn’t get it, missing a second straight Olympic final and settling for a bronze being added to her silver from Tokyo in 2021. “Sobrang labo, sobrang labo talaga,” said Petecio, not convinced she lost the fight to
young Polish foe Julia Szeremeta. “Wala siyang clear punch sa third round, ‘yung body shots ko, hook ko pumapasok, hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari,” said Petecio. The judges saw otherwise, giving the 57-kg semis bout to Szeremeta at 4-1. With another shot at the gold on the line, Petecio entered the arena determined to get it. First up atop the ring, Petecio prayed PAGE A4