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Traslacion draws 2.5m devotees; Church eyes Vatican nod for feast By Vito Barcelo, Vince Lopez and Joel E. Zurbano MORE than 2 million Catholic faithful swarmed the Black Nazarene, a lifesize image of Jesus Christ, as it was pulled through the streets of Manila on Tuesday, in one of the world’s biggest
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 329 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2024
displays of religious devotion. Devotees in maroon and yellow shirts shouting “Viva Nazareno” waved their towels in the air relentlessly as the statue of the Black Nazarene passed near them. The Manila Police District estimated Next page
RELIGIOUS DEVOTION. Catholic devotees climb into a glass-covered carriage carrying the Black Nazarene statue as they try to touch it during the Traslacion, an annual religious procession in Manila on Jan. 9, 2024. AFP
PBBM calls out bad cops in NCR
Cites 177 police officers charged with drugs, other violations By Charles Dantes
P
RESIDENT Marcos said Tuesday that 177 police officers have been charged for abuses committed during anti-drug operations in Metro Manila.
In a video message shared on social sues promptly. media, the President acknowledged the “We all know that sometimes our ofchallenges faced by officials and em- ficials get carried away and of course, phasized the need to address these isNext page
Colmenares also says ICC done with drug war probe FORMER Bayan Muna party-list congressman Neri Colmenares also believes the International Criminal Court (ICC) has wrapped up its investigation into the crimes against
humanity charge against former president Rodrigo Duterte for the bloody drug war that killed thousands of Filipinos during his term. Colmenares, one of the lawyers of
the victims of the anti-drug war, along with human rights lawyer Kristina Conti echoed what former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trilllanes IV said last Next page
Farmers’ groups pushing people’s initiative as solon rips ‘false claim’
WIDODO IN MANILA.
In this screen grab, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (center) walks the red carpet as he is escorted by Secretary Carlito Galvez upon his arrival in Manila last night for a threeday official visit to the Philippines. Widodo and President Marcos will meet at the Palace today.
By Maricel V. Cruz FARMERS’ groups across the country are among the prime movers of the signature-gathering campaign being conducted nationwide as part of the planned people’s initiative for constitutional reform, a former party-list lawmaker for them said Tuesday. Meanwhile, the chairperson of the House of Representatives committee on appropriations denounced a fellow solon’s “false claim” that an additional P12billion budget for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) supposedly for the “conduct and supervision” of elections
will be used to finance Charter change. Former Rep. Argel Cabatbat of Magsasaka Partylist, one of the petitioners for a people’s initiative before Congress, said: “We, in the farming sector, are honored to announce our active role in spearheading the People’s Initiative.” “This is a movement deeply rooted in empowering the Filipino people and is supported by the unwavering commitment of our farmers’ groups, civic organizations, and local government leaders,” he said. Other farmers’ groups apart from Magsasaka, however, have yet to conNext page
PH pleads with Quiboloy may face immigration lookout order; Robin defends SMNI Indonesia anew to free Veloso By Macon Ramos-Araneta
THE Philippines renewed Tuesday its appeal for clemency for a Filipino woman on death row in Indonesia, hours before the country’s president Joko Widodo arrived in Manila for an official visit. It was the latest high-level attempt to save the life of Mary Jane Veloso, who was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 carrying a suitcase lined with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin and was later sentenced to death. She won a last-minute reprieve from the firing squad in 2015 after a woman suspected of recruiting her was arrested in the Philippines. “We’re working to see whether we can find a way towards resolving the case soon, and clemency,” Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Next page
Senator Robinhood Padilla
Apollo Quiboloy
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is poised to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) for televangelist Apollo Quiboloy if the Senate investigation into his alleged sexual abuse and human trafficking charges moves forward. DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said this when asked by reporters about the likelihood
of the agency issuing an ILBO, as Senator Risa Hontiveros had previously requested. Clavano said a Senate probe would be enough for the DOJ to issue the lookout order. “I don’t know if you remember the Pharmally case, where ILBOs were issued on the basis of a Senate inquiry or Senate investigation. That we can most likely justify,” he said. Clavano noted that a crucial prerequisite for
Pag-IBIG gets ECOP support in bid to raise savings contribution rates By Rio N. Araja THE Pag-IBIG Fund has gained the support of the country’s largest group of employers for its plan to increase the monthly contribution rates for both employers and members, the agency’s top executive said Tuesday.
With the support of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Pag-IBIG Fund has now secured backing from both employers and labor groups for its plan to increase its savings rate, which has not been changed for almost 40 years.
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UNEMPLOYMENT HITS 18-YEAR LOW NEWS / A2
CO-OPS HAVE SAY ON PUV UPGRADE NEWS / A4