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HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS PANEL OKAYS P1.3-B SLASH IN OVP BUDGET By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations voted unanimously to reduce the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) 2025 budget by more than half, citing its redundant social programs and overextended offices. Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo, senior committee vice chairperson, told reporters on Thursday that the panel recommended a reduction of some P1.3 billion, from the P2.037 billion that the OVP was requesting.
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 210• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 •
‘Rody ordered murder of 3 Chinese inmates’ Corrections official says Duterte thanked him for 'job well done' By Maricel V. Cruz
F
ORMER President Rodrigo Duterte was accused of ordering the killings of three suspected Chinese drug lords inside the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in 2016, former DPPF warden Supt. Gerardo Padilla said during yesterday's House Quad Committee hearing on extrajudicial killings linked to the brutal war on drugs under the past administration.
This would leave Vice President Sara Duterte with only P733 million to fund the operations of her office next year. Quimbo said the cuts are being made on allocations for financial assistance and professional services, which in simple terms, is the funding for consultants’ fees, utilities, supplies and materials, and office rentals or leases. However, she said the appropriation for “personal services” or employees’ salaries, is being retained. Next page
Quad panel orders detention of Garma, Roque for contempt By Maricel Cruz THE House Quad Committee cited ex-PCSO chief Royina Garma in contempt for being evasive to queries as to her close relationship with former President RodrigoDuterte. “That (closeness) is the perception...I do not feel that I am close (to Duterte)," Garma said in response to lawmakers' questions. Next page
Retired police colonel and ex-PCSO general manager Royina Garma was also accused of orchestrating the murders of the three Chinese inmates – Chu Kin Tung, alias Tony Lim; Li Lan Yan, alias Jackson Li; and Wong Meng Pin, alias Wang Ming Ping in 2016. In his supplemental affidavit, Padilla confirmed an earlier testimony of one of Next page
Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla said they will look into uncovered mass graves in Porac, Pampanga which may be linked to illegal POGO activities. “Their organized crime has moved here, and brought terror, and that is the reason why President Marcos rejected the continuation of POGOs and their social ills and criminal aspects that is unacceptable to us,” Remulla said.
AN ACCUSING FINGER. Inmate Jimmy Fortaleza (right) points to former Cebu Police Director PCol. Royina Garma (left) as the one who allegedly called and congratulated him for the killing of the three alleged Chinese drug lords inside the Davao Penal Colony during the QuadComm hearing yesterday in the House of Representatives. Also in photo are C/Supt. Gerardo Padilla (second from right), PCol. Jovie Espenido (third from right) and Atty Neri Colmenares (fourth from right). Ver Noveno
POGO big boss may have ties to China Triad —Gatchalian 6
By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo
AGRARIAN REFORM DAY. A day before his 67th birthday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the distribution of 1,119 Certificates of
Condonation and Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) to 1,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries in ceremonies held at the main office of the Depatment of Agrarian Reform in Quezon City. The President joined beneficiaries in a photo after the awarding of certificates. With him (to the President’s right) are Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella, Jr., Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, and Senator Francis Tolentino.PCO
THE alleged “boss of all POGO bosses” in the country may potentially have ties to the Chinese Triad – one of China's most notorious organized crime syndicates, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said. Gatchalian said Huang Zhiyang, who was reportedly identified by dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo as her mysterious benefactor who orchestrated her short-lived escape from the country, is currently in Hong Kong. Huang is said to hold five different passports, including from China, Cyprus, Cambodia, Dominica, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. "That (link to Chinese Triad) is possible although I don't have any Next page
Marcos vows PH, China maritime row hits stalemate to finish agrarian despite‘candid, frank’deescalation talks reform in 2028 By Rachelle Tonelada By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday reaffirmed his administration's commitment to completing key agrarian reforms by 2028, describing the effort as a "labor of love.” Speaking at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Quezon City, where he distributed Certificates of Condonation and Land Ownership Awards to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), Mr. Marcos emphasized the deep connection between agrarian reform and his father, former President Next page
THE stalemate in disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is poised to go on indefinitely even after top Filipino and Chinese diplomats held “frank and candid” discussions
but ultimately ended up agreeing on nothing substantive enough to break the maritime impasse. The assault on a lone Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel by a flotilla of Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) Next page
Quiboloy accused of abusing minors—PNP By Vince Lopez THE Philippine National Police (PNP) disclosed yesterday that five minors have come forward to accuse Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy of rape.
In a press conference held in Camp Rafael Crame in Quezon City, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said the victims, some as young as 12 and 13 years old, are reportedly bound by a code of secrecy with the so-called "Appointed Son of God." Next page
MARIKINA’S YOUNG LEADERS. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G.
Romualdez joins the best students of Marikina City in a photo after giving an inspirational message during the 2024 Marikina Youth Leadership Awards (MYLA) organized by Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo (to his left) and her husband former Representative Miro Quimbo (at his right) at the South Wing Annex building of the House of Representatives. The Speaker, meanwhile, facilitated the release of P25-m from the DSWD for the fire victims in Cavite. (Story on page 2) Ver Noveno