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Risa denies manipulated photos showing her with ex-Mayor Guo By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Risa Hontiveros urged the public to be more discerning about images they encounter online after a doctored photo showing her
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 190• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2024 •
and fugitive ex-Mayor Alice Guo in a friendly side-by-side pose began circulating on the internet. The lawmaker called the photo an outright “fake,” as she emphasized Next page
‘Agencies conspired to help Guo flee PH’ NBI: Sheila Guo is Chinese national Zhang Mier By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Pot Chavez, and Vito Barcelo
G
overnment agencies may have conspired in helping dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo flee the country, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said, noting that the escape was successful despite an immigration lookout bulletin.
“We only knew about it (the escape) one month after it happened, but from what I heard, other agencies al-
ready knew about it,” Gatchalian said. “The public should have been informed because the public is our ally
here. I am becoming suspicious – why hide it from us? It’s as if they want to hide the problem and cover it up,” the senator added. He said it also appeared the Bureau of Immigration withheld information that Guo's sister, Sheila, and POGO associate Cassandra Li Ong, were already apprehended by Indonesian authorities on August 21. Gatchalian said even President Marcos and Justice Secre-
tary Jesus Remulla appeared to have been “kept in the dark.” "Why did the Bureau of Immigration conceal this info? That should be investigated,” he said. “The President aaid heads will roll – which means from top to bottom. Even Justice Secretary Remulla was also surprised about the arrest based on news reports," Gatchalian said. Next page
BOOKED. Sheila Guo aka Zhang Mier gets the full photo treatment after being booked at the National Bureau of Investigation.
PBBM issuing EO to define LGU devolution under Mandanas Ruling By Charles Dantes
LGU AS FRONTLINERS. President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. calls on local government leaders to take stronger action on waste management to safeguard public health. The President spoke at the Local Governance Summit 2024 and obliged with a groupie (inset photo) with the participating local officials. PCO
Poor demand, Gaza talks push down fuel price—DOE CONSUMERS can expect a big time price rollback by as much as P2.20 per liter next week to reflect the movement of oil prices in the world market. “Based on the 4-day trading, motorists will experience another rollback in the prices of petroleum products next
week,” Department of Energy director Rodela Romero said Friday. The oil firms are expected to cut pump prices by P1.15 to P1.35 per liter for gasoline, P2 to P2.20 per liter for diesel and P1.90 to P2 per liter for Next page kerosene.
Testimonies of convicts enough to file case vs. Rody—solons HOUSE solons on Friday said that the testimonies made by two convicted hitmen were sufficient to file a case against former President Rodrigo Duterte. “I humbly submit, that at the very least, the crime of murder under the
Revised Penal Code, particularly under Article 248 has been established," Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said in a statement. "Two qualifying circumstances are present. One, is evident premeditation, Next page
PRESIDENT Marcos announced Friday that he will amend Executive Order No. 138 to clarify the functions, services, and facilities to be devolved to local governments. Speaking at the Local Governance Summit in Pasay City, Mr. Marcos said he aims to ensure equitable devolution, dividing responsibilities and funding between national and local governments based on the Supreme Court’s landmark “Mandanas Ruling.” "This year, we also target to issue the order amending E.O. No. 138, with clearer parameters on the functions, services and facilities that are to be devolved," the President said. The SC's ruling on the MandanasGarcia petition determined that LGUs' share of national taxes encompasses not only the internal revenue taxes collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue but also those collected by the Bureau of Customs. This broadened tax base enhances the computation of LGUs' shares and strengthens fiscal decentralization. “We have been working on this for a good long while and I think we have Next page
Bronze medalist Aira Villegas reaps more rewards By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—As a personal gesture of gratitude for bringing pride to the country and Leyte, House Speaker and Leyte First District Congressman Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and his wife, Tingog party-list Congresswoman Yedda Marie Romualdez, yesterday gifted Olympian Aira Villegas with a brand-new vehicle worth P1.4 million and a house and lot worth P6 million. “The Congress is actively working on enhancing the country’s sports programs through two key legislations: the Philippine National Games Act, which aims to ensure a comprehensive national sports program, and a bill supporting Local Sports Programs Next page
MORE BLESSINGS. Olympic bronze medalist Aira Villegas (third from
left) receives from Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez (second from right) the ceremonial key to the house awarded to her by the Romualdez couple for being the first Olympic medalist from Tacloban, Leyte. Joining them are Tingog Director for Community Engagements Karla Estrada (left) and Villegas' parents. Tingog Party-list