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IN MET R MANILAO
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 212 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES SEPTEMBER 15, 2024
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PNP JOINS MANHUNT VS. HARRY ROQUE
JUVYEL ANNE SALUTA
PH QUEEN BAGS MISS ELITE WORLD 2024 CROWN IN EGYPT NEWS | A2
HOUSE FEARS EX-DUTERTE SPOKESMAN NOW ON THE RUN By Maricel V. Cruz
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HE Philippine National Police joined the intensified manhunt for former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who was declared a fugitive after being cited in contempt by the House of Representatives on Thursday. “The PNP is now fully engaged in the manhunt for Atty. Harry Roque, and we are coordinating closely with the National Capital Region Police Office and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to ensure his swift apprehension,” said Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, co-chairperson of the House Quad Committee. “No one is above the law, and we will not tolerate anyone defying the authority of Congress or evading accountability,” added Fernandez, who also chairs the House Committee on Public Order and Safety. Roque was cited in contempt and ordered detained at the House for refusing to submit subpoenaed documents related to his alleged involvement with illegal POGOs, including his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth and records connected to his family firm, Biancham Holdings, as well as a land transaction in Parañaque City. Despite multiple summonses, Roque ignored the joint panel and refused to cooperate, leading authorities to serve the arrest order at his Makati office, where he was not found, raising concerns of deliberate evasion. Authorities suspect Roque may be in hiding as the investigation into his alleged ties to Lucky South 99, a raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga, gains momentum. Fernandez condemned Roque’s actions, saying his blatant disregard for the House’s authority was a direct challenge to the institution. “This kind of defiance cannot be taken lightly, as it underscores the seriousness of the allegations against
him. We will pursue this matter through all available legal avenues until justice is served,” Fernandez said. “The public deserves transparency and accountability, especially in cases involving serious financial and legal concerns. Atty. Roque’s continued evasion only raises more questions about his role in the POGO controversy,” he added. Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs and designated head of the Quad Committee, described the evidence against Roque as “overwhelming.” HARRY ROQUE “Mr. Roque has been evasive, and his actions suggest that he is unwilling to face accountability,” Barbers said. He likewise rebuked Roque for previously dismissing the Quad Committee’s proceedings as a “kangaroo court.” “If Mr. Roque believes the court is unjust, then let him face it and prove his case. Social media pronouncements won’t justify his defiance of the law,” the lawmaker said. Roque was linked to the POGO controversy for accompanying and helping Cassandra Li Ong, an official of Whirlwind and Lucky South 99 gaming firm, to pay off arrears totaling $500,000. He has admitted, on record, to being lawyer for Whirlwind, the company that leased its Porac compound to Lucky South 99.
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT. A kid plays with
a toy plane while waiting to enter the NAIA Terminal 1 in Parañaque City on Saturday. NAIA operations were turned over to San Miguel Corp.’s New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation yesterday, with NNIC chairman Ramon Ang (inset photo, 2nd from right) receiving the key to the country’s primary international gateway. Danny Pata
MAJOR NAIA REVAMP STARTS AS SMC-LED CONSORTIUM TAKES OVER OPERATIONS By Darwin G. Amojelar and Joel Zurbano SAN MIGUEL Corp.’s New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC) officially assumed control of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Saturday, with ambitious plans to modernize and transform the country’s primary international gateway into a world-class facility. Faced with a tall order of modernizing the airport’s facade, capacity, operations, and maintenance, NNIC will now take on the task of elevating NAIA to international standards. NNIC chairman Ramon Ang described the concession agreement as an investment for the Philippines’ future, adding that it will help the country’s economy. “A world-class airport means more jobs, more tourists and a much stronger
and prosperous Philippines,” Ang said. “The baton has been passed and now it is our turn in NNIC to carry it forward to the finish line,” NNIC General Manager Lito Alvarez said. NNIC committed to spend P170 billion to execute its phased but ambitious plan to elevate NAIA to world-class standards. This includes plans to increase passenger capacity from 43 million to 62 million annually and air traffic movements from 42 to 48 per hour. The government stands to gain about P1 trillion in revenues from the PPP project over the 25-year concession period. This includes the 82.16-percent revenue share to be remitted to the government yearly. Travelers can expect business as usual, with flights, check-ins, and other services proceeding as normal.
WILLIE ONG
DOC WILLIE CONFIRMS RARE CANCER DIAGNOSIS NEWS | A2
QUAD COMM ASKS NBI TO PROBE 2016 DAVAO KILLINGS By Maricel V. Cruz THE House Quad Committee called on the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the 2016 murder of three suspected Chinese drug lords, allegedly upon the orders of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop asked the NBI to probe the killings of Chu Kin Tung, Li Lan Yan, and Wong Meng Pin at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF). “May I move that the NBI should conduct an investigation and get all the pieces of evidence and documents given to this committee so that they can file the necessary charges against those people who should be charged because of this crime?” Acop said. Quad Committee co-chairman Rep. Robert Ace Barbers took note of Acop’s motion, adding that there was no objection to it. Former DPPF warden Supt. Gerardo Padilla earlier accused Duterte of ordering the killings of the three suspected Chinese drug lords. In his supplemental affidavit, Padilla confirmed the testimony of one of the hitmen, Leopoldo “Tata” Tan Jr., that Duterte gave the order and that retired police colonel and ex-PCSO general manager Royina Garma orchestrated the murders. Padilla, currently the head of the Directorate for Reformation of the Bureau of Corrections in New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, said the former President even thanked him for a “job well done” after the inmates were killed. He said Duterte called him after Tan and Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro stabbed the three Chinese drug lords on the night of Aug. 13, 2016. “I confirm what Tata said when we were going to the investigation section, my cell phone rang, and I answered it. The person who called me was former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and said: ‘Congratulations, Superintendent Padilla, job well done. But what was done was terrible, it was made to bleed,’” Padilla said. Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, for his part, said at least four witnesses have identified Garma as the one directly giving instructions or coordinating the operation to eliminate the three Chinese nationals.
TOPACIO SAYS TEVES’ EXTRADITION NULLIFIED; REMULLA REJECTS CLAIM AS ‘FAKE NEWS’ By Rachelle Tonelada LAWYER Ferdinand Topacio on Saturday said the extradition request for former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. was nullified by the TimorLeste Supreme court – a claim that was immediately debunked by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla as “fake news.”
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“Very clearly it was stated, contrary to what the DOJ is saying, that there will be no extradition because it has been invalidated. The request of the Philippines to extradite Congressman Teves has been nullified,” Topacio said. Remulla, however, denied Topacio’s claim. “There is no Supreme Court in Timor-Leste,” as claimed by Topacio, the DOJ said, adding that the
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highest court there is the Court of Appeals. Remulla earlier announced that arrangements are being made with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) for the “imminent” repatriation of Teves. “Teves is coming home very soon. And our expectation is that it will happen within the month,” Remulla said. Teves is facing 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted
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murder before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 over the March 4, 2023 shootings in Pamplona, Negros Oriental that led to the killing of Gov. Roel Degamo and several others. He fled to Dili, Timor-Leste where he applied for political asylum but was arrested in March this year while playing golf and subsequently placed under house arrest.
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