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Sandigan affirms Misuari conviction
COA bares OVP’s ‘misuse’ of intel funds anew
By Maricel V. Cruz
By Maricel V. Cruz STATE auditors have flagged the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) supposed misuse of P375 million in confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) in 2023, representing the second year in a row that such an offense was recorded, a lawmaker pointed out. This apparent lack of transparency has drawn criticism from 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, who described it as a "repeated pattern of fund mismanagement," citing the latest Commission on Audit (COA) report. Gutierrez noted that this pattern resulted in another Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) from the COA, which could escalate into a Notice of Disallowance (ND), as what happened with the OVP's 2022 CIF disbursements. Next page
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 217• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 •
Bares plan to implicate Roxas, Drilon in narco-politician ‘hit list’ By Maricel V. Cruz
F
ORMER Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog – who went on self-imposed exile for seven years after being tagged a narco-politician by then President Rodrigo Duterte – said the bloody war on drugs of the former administration was also a smokescreen to target and eliminate political rivals.
By Rex Espiritu
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Rody’s drug war targeted political rivals—Mabilog
Teodoro warns China: Removing BRP Sierra Madre ‘clear act of war’ DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. cautioned China against removing the BRP Sierra Madre —the country’s rusty warship deliberately grounded on Ayungin Shoal—saying the Philippines would consider it a "clear act of war” that will trigger a strong response from Manila, with potential support from the United States. “If China were to take the Sierra Madre, that is a clear act of war on the Philippine vessel. We will react naturally,” Teodoro told CBS' "60 Minutes." “That (BRP Sierra Madre) is an outpost of Philippine sovereignty so we’re not only talking about a rusty old vessel solely. We are talking about a piece of Philippine territory there,” Teodoro said. The defense chief, however, was mum on supposed plans to acquire missiles capable of reaching China amid Beijing’s concerns over the move. “It is not their (China’s) business. It is for the Philippine defense. What happens in our territory is for our defense. We follow international law,” Teodoro said. “I really don't know the end state. All I know is that we cannot let them
THE Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari in two graft charges, both arising from the ghost purchase of information
ORDEAL RECALLED. Former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog gets emotional, shedding tears as he reads his statement recalling the ordeal he went through after his name was included in the drug list of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Ver Noveno
And in Mabilog’s case, the elimination threat was quite literal, causing him to flee the country in 2017 and seek asylum in the United States. “President Duterte repeatedly threatened me, through the media, saying outright that he would kill me,” Mabilog told members of the House Quad Committee yesterday. When asked by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel why Mabilog thought he was targeted, he surmised it was because of his lack of support for Duterte in the 2016 elections. “President Rodrigo Duterte got only 13.7 percent in the total number of votes in Iloilo City, which is his lowest percentage of votes all over the country, while Manuel Roxas won the majority in Iloilo City,” he said. Mabilog recounted receiving a call from then Philippine National Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa, inviting him to Camp Crame. On the day that he arrived in Manila, the meeting was repeatedly delayed for hours, Mabilog said. "At around 5 p.m., a PNP colonel called me and in a voice that sent shivers down my spine, warning me not to Next page
Marbil tells ex-ISAFP boss to name top cop bribed by Guo By Macon Ramos-Arante
BONE OF CONTENTION. The BRP Sierra Madre, a World War Two landing tank ship, was intentionally grounded on Ayungin Shoal as a response to China's aggressive island building that started in the mid-'90s after they occupied Mischief Reef. PCG file photo
THE incumbent Philippine National Police (PNP) chief on Thursday told lawmakers that 24 of his predecessors are now under scrutiny after a retired military intelligence officer alleged that one of them was taking monthly bribes from Alice Guo and may have helped facilitate her shortlived escape. During the Senate budget delibera-
Solon eyes Guo’s ties with Fujian crime gang NEWS / A2 tions for the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and its attached agencies, Police Gen. Rommel Marbil said his organization is “not happy” about the bombshell revelation of retired Major General Raul Villanueva.
Villanueva made the revelation before the Senate in his capacity as security and monitoring cluster head of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), the agency that regulates all gambling activities in the country, including online gaming operations. Marbil chided the retired Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) head for making such an ambiguous allegation that can potentially taint the reputations of recent PNP chiefs. Next page
Most Pinoys say life is better; 23% feel worse in past year—SWS By Vito Barcelo AT LEAST 39 percent of adult Filipinos believe their quality of life is better compared to 12 months before
while 23 percent said their life got worse, and 37 percent said their lives remain the same compared last year, according Next page
Police nab ex-cop, bodyguard linked to Camilon kidnap By Vince Lopez PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) authorities have arrested the two primary suspects linked to the disappearance of beauty queen
contestant Catherine Camilon. Dismissed police officer Allan de Castro and his bodyguard-driver Jeffrey Magpantay were apprehended in separate operations in Balayan, Next page Batangas, on September 14.
CATHERINE CAMILON
PCSO'S PATIENT TRANSPORT VEHICLES. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. poses for a photo with Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitiz after handing over the ceremonial key to one of the 51 Patient Transport Vehicles (PTV) provided by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for Region 6 and the Negros Island Region. He was joined by PCSO General Manager Mel Robles and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. (Story on Page 2). Ver Noveno