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MERALCO SLASHES APRIL POWER RATE NEWS / A2
DENR SCRAPS SBSI PERMIT
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 55 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2024
NEWS / A2
Probe China hiring spree Chinese luring former, active PH military worries gov’t By Manolo del Rio
S
Only 996 heroes remain of the 1 million WW2 veterans
EVERAL government and cybersecurity organizations said they are concerned about reports pointing to the alleged recruitment of former and active Filipino military personnel by suspected Chinese firms masquerading as American and European enterprises. The groups include the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Department of National Defense (DND), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Manila-based think-tank International Development and Security Cooperation (IDSC), California-based Palo Alto Networks (PAN), and the National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines (NADPOP). A member of the Philippine Senate also expressed alarm over the issue last Sunday. AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. told reporters that they are still in the process of validating the reports. DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said he had ordered the Armed Forces to investigate the allegations. “We did pick up the activity,” Andolong said. He also stressed that the group offered guidance to the AFP as this is a new issue, thus the need for interagency cooperation. DICT Undersecretary for Cybersecurity and Upskilling Jeffrey Ian Dy revealed that these firms have been handing out part-time jobs as analysts online to target Filipino recruits. “There is a facility on the internet called Next page
By Ben Cal
World War 2, only 966 are still alive Administration Office (PVAO). as of April 8, on the eve of the 82nd In an interview, PVAO Undersecretary OF THE over one million Filipinos anniversary of the Fall of Bataan, ac- Resty Aguilar said the oldest is Emelia who fought against the Japanese in cording to the Philippine Veterans Next page
HONORING HEROES. Two visitors light candles and offer flowers at the tomb of their departed grandfather last Sunday, April 7, 2024, who fought during World War II against the Japanese Imperial Army at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. The country commemorates today the heroism of every Filipino soldier who gave their lives defending the country during World War II. Danny Pata
US, Japan, PH summit in Washington to boost defense, economic ties Marcos assures fair deal for Quiboloy THE leaders of Japan and the Philippines head to Washington this week for a first trilateral summit aimed at boosting defense ties. The talks will “advance a trilateral partnership built on deep historical ties
of friendship, robust and growing economic relations... and a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the White House said. Before leaving Tokyo on Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
said the Japan-US relationship is “more ironclad than ever” and that his trip will “demonstrate this message to the world.” The trilateral summit comes on the heels of a quad military exercises of the Philippines, US, Japan and Australia in
the West Philippine Sea. China’s foreign ministry on Monday said it was “opposed to the cobbling together of exclusive small circles and to confrontation between different groups
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‘No need for El Niño state of calamity’
By Charles Dantes, Rey Requejo, and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. on Monday assured Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ group’s controversial leader, that the United States will not interfere in his cases in the near future.
By Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz
President sees no threat to Teves’ life
PRESIDENT Marcos said Monday there was no need to declare a nationwide state of calamity amid the negative effects of the El Niño phenomenon. While he underscored the widespread effects of the dry spell, Mr. Marcos said he would let local govern-
NEWS / A2
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“To Pastor Quiboloy, we’ve known him for a very long time. What I can promise you is that all the proceed-
Fears of wider Middle East troubles fuel higher prices
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By Alena Mae S. Flores LOCAL oil firms hiked pump prices by as much as P1.55 per liter effective 6 a.m. Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market last week.
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#ANONGBALITA
ASYNCHRONOUS MODE. Julie Ann Mindo, a grade 4 public school student, works on her school
assignment while attending to a store in Baseco Compound, Manila. The Department of Education (DepEd) switched to asynchronous mode nationwide on Monday, April 8, 2024 to allow learners to study at home because of scorching heat brought by El Nino. Danny Pata
Chavit nabbed using busway, offers P100k
Totality insanity: Eclipse frenzy hits North America
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2
More PInoys back Marcos admin than Rody’s camp MORE adult Filipinos support President Marcos and his administration than the Duterte family and their political allies, results of a survey conducted by the OCTA Research group showed Monday. The Tugon ng Masa survey showed 31% of adult Filipinos back the current administration, while 20% still support the Duterte family and their Next page