US sanctions Quiboloy For alleged human rights abuses, sex trafficking
trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and conspiracy for bulk cash smuggling. The US Treasury Department stressed that Quiboloy allegedly recruited CONTINUED ON 3A
n By REY E. REQUEJO
T
HE United States Treasury Department has imposed sanctions against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and around 40 others from nine countries, in connection their alleged involvement in corruption and human rights abuses.
In a press release posted on its official website on December 9, 2022, the US Treasury Department listed Quiboloy as among those sanctioned, along with other personalities and entities from North Korea, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Iran, Mali, Russia, and China. The announcement of the sanctions
against Quiboloy and others coincided with the world’s celebration of the Human Rights Day and International AntiCorruption Day. The US agency implicated Quiboloy to alleged serious human rights abuses, even as it claimed an alleged “pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as
young as 11 years old, as well as other physical abuse.” Quiboloy was indicted in November 2021 and placed on FBI’s most wanted list in February this year for the following charges: conspiracy to engage in sex
Vol. 36
No. 298
December 11, 2022
2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES
20 .00
IN MET R MANILAO
PSAC MEETING. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. discusses how micro-credentials are vital for Filipino workers to remain competitive in the workforce with members of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) at Malacanang on Saturday. Presidential Photo
Group says not Unified traffic ticketing in NCR starts in 1st quarter enough done vs. agri smuggling n By JOEL E. ZURBANO
THE government is not doing enough to stem the smuggling of agricultural products in the country, as authorities confiscated only 10 percent of the smuggled onions entering the market, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said Saturday. The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) should be stricter in monitoring the entry of these imported agricultural products, Rosendo So, SINAG president and chairman, said in an interview on Dobol B TV. “These smuggled onions that are confiscated are only small compared to the total smuggled onions entering the country,” So added. Last weekend, the DA cautioned the public against purchasing onions from online platforms as these may be illegally imported into the country. Some P3.9 million worth of allegedly smuggled white onions were recently confiscated by authorities at Divisoria market in Manila. CONTINUED ON 3A
MAYORS making up the Metro Manila Council (MMC) have agreed with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to implement a single ticketing system by the first quarter of 2023 that standardizes traffic violation fines in the National Capital Region.
The mayors also agreed to impose a moratorium on the confiscation of driver’s licenses of traffic violators, as well as the interconnectivity with the LTO to quickly identify drivers with multiple violations, the MMDA said on Saturday in a media briefing. The agency’s technical working group said the new system will harmonize the payment of penalties that are expected to be
implemented by the first quarter of 2023. Once effective, motorists may already settle their fine in the local government unit (LGU) where they reside even if they committed the traffic violation in another area. The new system will also standardize the traffic violation fine, putting an end to the different amounts of fines imposed by different LGUs and by the MMDA. Drivers’ licenses will no longer be con-
fiscated as details of erring motorists will only be listed by the traffic enforcer and forwarded to the LTO. Motorists will also be given 10 days to settle the penalty through digital wallets or payment centers registered with the LTO’s Land Transportation Management System, before it gains interest. The license will be confiscated if it has 10 unsettled violations. CONTINUED ON 2A
Mr. Marcos opens Malacanang to supporters as Christmas gift PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. gave his supporters an early Christmas gift on Saturday: A meeting at Malacañang Palace. Mr. Marcos shared in his official Facebook page several photos taken during the meet and greet event. “Meeting some of my supporters today is an early gift this Christmas,” he said. Mr. Marcos expressed gratitude for their continued trust and confidence in him.
He hopes that with the help of people who backed his presidential bid, Filipinos will heed his call for unity. “We are extremely grateful for your unending support from the very beginning until now,” Marcos posted. “May you serve as bridge to spread our message of unity for our recovery,” he added. He acknowledged their vital roles in helping him achieve his goals of bringing progress to the country and giving CONTINUED ON 3A
RIGHT TO SLEEP. A man sleeps on the top of his vehicle while various organizations hold protests at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on Saturday during the commemoration of International Human Rights Day. Danny Pata
SPEAKER AT ASEAN.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez poses for official picture-taking of high-ranking delegates to the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last month as part of the official delegation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. The Speaker also headed the PH delegation to the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in the interaction of the region's lawmakers with the leaders of ASEAN. Ver Noveno
Trio wins Peace Prize for struggle PBBM pushes upskilling of workers vs. Putin invasion OSLO —A trio representing the three nations at the center of the war in Ukraine will receive the Nobel Peace Prize on Saturday, showing no sign of giving up the fight against Vladimir Putin and his Minsk ally. Jailed Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski, Russian human rights organization Memorial, and Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties (CCL) will be presented with their awards at a formal ceremony in Oslo. While the Peace Prize may be a small balm for the laureates' souls, it has in no way weakened their resolve. CONTINUED ON 2A
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday said micro-credentials prove to be vital for Filipino workers to remain competitive in the workforce. The Chief Executive made this remark in a meeting with members of the Private
Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), where workers’ skills development and learning recovery programs were tackled. “These micro-credentials, it’s not a fouryear course. It’s not a degree. But you can CONTINUED ON 3A
‘Rosal’ wets Luzon, quake hits Davao TROPICAL Depression (TD) Rosal will dampen several areas in Luzon as well as Western Visayas, the weather bureau said Saturday. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Rosal will cause moderate to heavy, with at times intense rains over the Bicol Region and Quezon province. CONTINUED ON 3A