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Trillanes to COA: Audit P51b funds to Duterte scion
USDA: PH IMPORTING MOST RICE THIS YEAR NEWS / A2
PAGCOR: STRICTER RULES FOR E-SABONG NEWS / A3
By Macon Ramos-Araneta VOL. XXXVII • NO. 342 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 •
Congress resumes today with LEDAC bills a priority Senate seeks chamber’s integrity as it tackles Cha-cha
FORMER senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Sunday asked the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit on P51 billion in funds released to the first district of Davao through Rep. Paolo Duterte during the last three years of the Duterte administration. Trillanes, who described the huge fund allocation as "scandalous," said the funds were released to Rep. Duterte's office during the term of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. "Where's the money? We haven't heard where it was spent, or any projects," he said. Duterte, Davao City’s erstwhile vice mayor before being voted into Congress, had yet to comment at press time. House appropriations committee chairman and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co earlier divulged that the younger Duterte was granted P51 billion Next page in unprogrammed funds.
By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta
C
ONGRESS is set to resume its sessions today, with the House of Representatives close to passing all of the priority bills identified by President Marcos, his Cabinet, and lawmakers through the LegislativeExecutive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
“We are almost done with the priority bills agreed upon by Congress and the executive branch. We have approved on final reading all butfour of the 57 measures in the LEDAC list,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said. Another measure in the list, aimed at the development of a national defense industry, is expected to be passed on third and final reading, leaving only three awaiting final approval, he added. “We have accomplished our mission as lawmakers by acting promptly on the legislative agenda of President Marcos, which is focused on sustaining economic growth, helping the poor and vulnerable sectors, creating jobs and income opportunities, and in general, making life better for every Filipino,” he said. Next page
FOR THE HOLY CHILD. Thousands of devotees of the Child Jesus flock to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño in Tondo, Manila to attend the Holy Mass on Sunday and to be blessed by the lay ministers and parish priest. Catholics celebrated the Feast of the Holy Child over the weekend, highlighted by the Sinulog festival in Cebu City. Norman Cruz
Envoy says US, PH to resume joint patrols in WPS By Rey E. Requejo and Vince Lopez THE United States and the Philippines have agreed to continue their defense cooperation, including a series of joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) this year. US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson offered this assurance after meeting with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and officials of the Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP) to discuss plans for defense cooperation. "Certainly, this coming year, we expect both of our militaries to continue to cooperate and to exercise and to do whatever it takes both bilaterally, multilaterally to ensure the safety of our peoples," Carlson said in an interview with GMA. The US ambassador did not elaborate on the specifics of future joint patrols. This developed as the Philippine
Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed the reported harassment of Filipino fishermen from the China Coast Guard at Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales, which is the southeast entrance of the Scarborough Shoal. PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said they tracked the origin of the videos circulating online, which showed personnel from the China Coast Guard accosting Filipino fishermen after the latter were spotted collecting seashells in the area. Next page
By Vince Lopez PRESIDENT Marcos encouraged the people of Cebu City, who are celebrating the annual Sinulog Festival, to translate their faith into action so they may spread the messages of hope, love, and joy to others. Malacañang released his message Sunday morning, Jan. 21, as the Catholic faithful in Cebu City joined weekend processions to show their devotion
to the Holy Child, Señor Santo Niño, in one of the grandest and most colorful festivals in the Philippines. “Through this occasion, we see patrons from all walks of life express their profound gratitude for the miracles, blessings, and countless deliverances bestowed upon them over the past year and pray for good health, protection, and prosperity in the year ahead,” President Marcos told the Cebuanos. Next page
Tax breaks to end for firms with WFH in ecozones—DOJ
‘Oil prices to keep rising if Mideast tensions persist’
By Rey E. Requejo
By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Department of Energy (DOE) has warned that domestic pump prices would likely continue to increase if the ongoing tensions in the Middle East persist, while consumers are facing an oil price hike of up to P1.10 per liter on Tuesday. “There is a chance [of more price hikes] but remember there are lingering factors that can bring down prices such as slow growth of oil demand, (and the) presence of additional supply from other OPEC [Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries] member countries,” said Department of Energy director for the oil industry management bureau Rodela Romero. Next page
Translate faith into action, Marcos urges Sto. Nino devotees on Sinulog
POLO CHAMPIONS. Team Manila Standard, composed of Andrew Romualdez, Marty Romualdez (in action, inset), I. O'Dwyer, and Nico Espain, are awarded the Chairman's Cup after beating Team BIGAA, 7.5-6, in the championship match at the Enrique Zobel Field of the Manila Polo Club in Makati on Sunday. Leading the awards ceremony with the teams are House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Rep. Yedda Romualdez (standing, fifth and sixth from left). Manny Palmero
WITH the COVID-19 pandemic declared over, work-from-home (WFH) arrangements of registered business enterprises (RBEs) in economic zones should no longer get tax incentives under Republic Act (RA) No. 11534 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Law. The Department of Justice (DOJ) rendered this legal opinion dated Jan. 3 following a request made by Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Undersecretary for Legal and Monitoring Rodolfo John Robert Pallatao IV. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla cited Section 309 of the CREATE Law, which said that a qualified Next page