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IN MET R MANILAO
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 184 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES AUGUST 18, 2024
MEET CARLOS YULO’S 1ST COACH IN ELEMENTARY
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SPORTS | B3
CELEBRATING CULTURAL DIVERSITY.
MT TERRA NOVA OWNER TO PAY OIL SPILL VICTIMS
SM Lanang and SM City Davao embrace the Kadayawan spirit where every corner bursts with color, culture, and festive energy—the essence of Davao’s most colorful festival.
NEWS | A2
SPEAKER BACKS MAGNA CARTA FOR BARANGAYS
OFWS ASKED TO LEAVE LEBANON IMMEDIATELY
Speaker Martin Romualdez
DFA CITES INDICATIONS OF IMMINENT ISRAEL ATTACK
By Rachelle Tonelada
T
HE Philippine Embassy in Lebanon called on Filipinos in Lebanon to leave immediately while the airport remains operational amid rising tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. “We advise all Filipino nationals to prioritize their safety and depart the country as soon as possible,” the embassy said in an advisory. “If you are unable to leave Lebanon, we strongly recommend that you evacuate to safer areas outside of Beirut, South Lebanon, and the
Bekaa Valley.” The department issued the urgent call as the situation in Lebanon got more intense amid “indications of an imminent attack by Israel on Hezbollah positions,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migration Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega said
on Saturday. Of the 11,000 Filipinos in Lebanon, more than 300 have returned home. A total of 738 Filipino nationals earlier requested repatriation but 45 of them still have papers pending with immigration. Meanwhile, 15 could not leave due to ongoing court cases while 322 have withdrawn their applications. “Filipinos remain adamant on staying there. The ones interested in leaving are those who just arrived recently,” De Vega told PNA in a text message. “In effect, the Embassy is saying that conditions in Beirut may look safe, but you never know. So, you should leave while you still can.
Other countries are making similar calls to their citizens.” Philippine Ambassador to Beirut Raymond Balatbat, for his part, has yet to recommend raising the alert level in Lebanon where voluntary repatriation is in effect. “As for raising the alert to Level 4, we are closely monitoring the situation and making necessary preparations for the evacuation sites to absorb the expected amount of repatriates,” he said. Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli air strike on Saturday in southern Lebanon killed 10 Syrians, as the Israeli military reported hitting weapons stores of the Iranbacked Hezbollah movement.
PH ASKS INTERPOL TO ISSUE RED NOTICE FOR ARREST OF TEVES By Charles Dantes THE Philippines requested the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a red notice for the arrest of former lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr., the Department of Justice said Saturday. DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said the notice would alert Timor Leste about the arrest warrant issued by the Philippines.
The Philippines earlier filed an extradition case against Teves in connection with the killings of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight other people, but the case is still under judicial review in Timor Leste. “The Philippines requested an Interpol red notice. The red notice informs a member state to implement the arrest warrant issued by the Philippines,” Vasquez said
during a news forum in Quezon City. Meanwhile, Vasquez said the DOJ has not received updates on a potential ICC arrest warrant to be issued in September against former President Rodrigo Duterte. “We are not aware of that. None of our government agencies have been informed about anything,” he said. He said any potential issuance of
a red notice or arrest request by Interpol would be carefully evaluated under Philippine laws. “Any arrest made, if it happens, will be done according to our laws,” Vasquez said. Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla earlier said the country is dutybound to help Interpol in case it serves an arrest warrant against Duterte and others named in the ICC probe.
By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives is working for the passage of a Magna Carta for barangay officials on top of pending bills to provide them with Social Security System benefits and fix their term to six years, Speaker Martin Romualdez said. Speaker Romualdez disclosed this before members of the Liga ng mga Barangay during their National Congress at the World Trade Center Saturday morning “I also want to state that even though we are busy with other initiatives to benefit barangay officials, we are still not abandoning our dream of having a Magna Carta for Barangays,” he said. “With this proposal, our goal is to make the benefits and support we provide to barangay officials comprehensive,” Romualdez added. He urged barangay officers to contribute their input on measures that would benefit them. “I hope that you will be our partner in the crafting of this law. I encourage all of you to pass position papers and keep our lines open to ensure that your requests are included in this proposal,” he said. He underscored the critical role village officials play in linking their communities to the national government and in delivering public services.
VP: HUSBAND, BROTHER CAN SPEAK FOR THEIR OWN
DAILY GRIND. A fisherman dries his day’s catch to make ‘salinas tuyo’ near the shoreline of Long Beach in San Rafael 4, Noveleta in Cavite. Jay Morales
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VICE President Sara Duterte said Saturday only her husband, Manases Carpio, and her brother, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, could answer the allegations against them in connection with the smuggling of P11 billion worth of shabu hidden in magnetic lifters discovered at the Manila International Container Port in 2018. “We talked about it and whatever issue pressed on him (Carpio), he is the only one who can answer it,” Duterte said in an interview during a book donation drive at the Davao City Library.
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Antiporda goes on leave from NPC amid drug smuggling claim NEWS / A3 “Same with me, if there are is issues involving me, I will be the only one to answer that,” she added. Similarly, the Vice President said she cannot speak for her brother. Former Customs intelli-
gence officer Jimmy Guban on Friday implicated Rep. Duterte, Carpio, and for former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang in the intercepted shabu ship shipment in 2018. Guban revealed this information in his affidavit and testimony before the House of Representatives quad committee investigating alleged links between Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the illegal drug trade and extrajudicial killings (EJKs) tied to the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs.”
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