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Palace suspends gov’t work, classes in Bicol region today By Charles Dantes
(Region V) on October 24, Thursday as Tropical Storm Kristine continues THE Office of the Executive Secre- to bring heavy rainfall and cause widetary (OES) announced the suspension spread flooding. “In view of the continuous rainof work in government offices and Next page classes at all levels in the Bicol Region
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 251 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024
‘Kristine’ lashes Bicol; 7 dead
Record rainfall, roof-high floodwaters affect over 380k families
By Rio Araja, Alena Mae S. Flores, Rex Espiritu, Joel Zurbano and Caloy Lozada
R
ESCUERS waded through murky floodwaters—some reaching roof-high—Wednesday to reach residents trapped by “Kristine,” which has killed seven people and forced thousands to evacuate as it barreled toward the eastern coast and intensified into a severe tropical storm. Torrential rain driven by the storm turned streets into rivers, submerged entire villages and buried some vehicles in volcanic sediment set loose by the downpour in the Bicol region and some parts of Luzon. PAGASA said “Kristine” dumped a record-high 24hour rainfall since the 1920s in Daet, Camarines Norte. Next page
Marcos: Marshall all assets to areas affected by ‘Kristine’ By Charles Dantes, Maricel Cruz, ment to mobilize resources, including the deployment of rubber boats to Rex Espiritu, Othel Campos provinces hit hard by severe tropical and Ralph Rirao storm “Kristine,” such as Camarines PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bong- Sur and Albay. Next page bong” Marcos Jr. ordered the govern-
STORM’S WRATH.
Severe tropical storm ‘Kristine’ unleashed torrential rains yesterday causing floods that swamped communities in the Bicol region. Upper right photo shows a young boy on a bamboo raft being brought to safety as flood waters almost reach the roof of a house in Libon, Albay. Left bottom photo shows a man on a roof handing over a baby to rescuers in the same town. Right photo shows a car on top of another after floodwaters swept through a subdivision in Naga City. PIA Camarines Sur
Garma’s exposé Quiboloy finally attends Senate hearing; abuse victims also appear on EJK rewards corroborated By Joel E. Zurbano
AFTER months of dodging the Senate’s invitations, alleged sex offender Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) inner circle fi-
nally faced the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality on Wednesday. Quiboloy’s attendance was made possible by Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 159 acting Presiding
Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa, who ordered the Pasig City Jail warden and the chief of the PNP Custodial Center to ensure his secure transfer to the Senate premises on time for the hearing. The magistrate acted on the for-
mal request of panel chair Senator Risa Hontiveros. Hontiveros said she vigorously pursued the inquiry due to disturbing accounts of abuses involving young girls, lured to the Next page
By Maricel V. Cruz RETIRED police Colonel Edilberto Leonardo corroborated the two affidavits submitted by ex-Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma during a House Quad Committee hearing that lasted well past midnight Tuesday. The affidavits included details about a cash reward system allegedly implemented during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs. At the nineth House Quad Comm hearing, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, chair of the House Committee on Human Rights, questioned Leonardo regarding his knowledge of Garma’s affidavits. “This is my question, and this will only be answerable by yes or no. I am not going to ask for any more explanation, Col. Leonardo, after reading and listening to Col. Garma’s two affidavits... do you believe what she said - yes or no,” Abante asked in a mixture of Filipino and English. “Yes, Mr. Chair,” Leonardo responded, affirming the accuracy of Garma’s testimonies. In a follow-up question, Abante sought clarification on the existence of a reward system. Next page
ANGELS OF DEATH. A diagram showing how the alleged private army, dubbed as the Angels of Death, of KOJC leader Apollo Quiboloy operated was presented yesterday by the Philippine National Police during the Senate hearing conducted by Sen. Risa Hontiveros. PNP