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Abante: Lawmakers unaware drug budget would fund EJKs
FIVE LOCAL HOLIDAYS IN OCT. NEWS / A3
By Maricel V. Cruz
ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH
MANILA Rep. Bienvenido Abante on Friday defended lawmakers who allocated state resources for the Duterte administration's anti-drug campaign, VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 253• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2024 • saying the billions of pesos they
earmarked was never intended to fund operations leading to the summary execution of thousands of Filipinos. Abante, who chairs the human rights panel and co-chairs the Quad Committee, said then-incumbent Next page
WORLD / A6
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
‘Help coming by land, air, T sea for Kristine’s victims’ By Rio N. Araja
HE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
Marcos: Brace for new tropical cyclone; Kristine death toll: 76
On Sunday, PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil said he ordered the reopening of the cold case after whistleblower Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza told the House Quad Committee that he By Charles Dantes, RioatN.theAraja, Alena Mae Flores, and Ralph Rirao helped carry out the killing behest of ex-PCSO general manager Royina Garma. RESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assured Mendoza narrated before conFilipinos gressmen how Garma affected allegedly fa-by Severe Tropical Storm "Kristine" cilitated the PCSO official’s roadside as he directed government agencies that help is coming assassination on July 30, 2020 by to prepare for a tropical cyclone expected to enter the providing the necessary information Philippine area of responsibility this weekend. about his schedule, details about his vehicle and the funding necessary to A WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD carry it out. Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic The whistleblower also implicated • 2.65 million people affected adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal activities of the POGOs and was involved in the drug incumbent National Police Comtrade and extrajudicial killings. • Infrastructure damage: P15.25m missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the planning of the murder. • Agriculture damage: P9.7mpolice Barayuga was a retired general and lawyer who supposedly threatened expose corruption with"I maketothis pledge to our people: inHelp the isPCSO shortly before on its way. It will comehe by was land, shot deadeven in Mandaluyong City. air, and, by sea. We will continue Garma,ourherself an aid,” ex-police Lt. sending help and the PresiTHE legal counsel of Chinese adviser of former President Rodrigo of illegal drugs and illegal activities Colonel, dent said.allegedly gained the top businessman Tony Yang sought to Duterte. associated with POGOs,” Suarez said spot"Kristine" at the PCSO her inleft abecause path of of destruction disparage lawmakers’ conclusions Fortun, a lawyer who often finds in a mixture of Filipino and English. Next page that saw at least 76 people dead, with about his client’s supposedly himself at the center high-profile The solons explained how the sketchy past and his alleged ties cases, apparently sought to mock matrix details Yang’s connections to Next page with Philippine Overseas Gaming congressmen, calling their probe other individuals involved in illicit Operators (POGOs) and even “unacceptable.” activities, including the operations of organized crime. However, House members argued illegal POGOs. Lawyer Raymond Fortun they did not come by their suspicions Among the companies implicated questioned the House Quad about Yang recklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. Committee’s impartiality and its On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., ability to pin Chinese national Yang Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga which are being linked to alleged down for ay wrongdoing in a real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. criminal court. Quezon presented a matrix showing The two firms supposedly “I am very interested in how they Yang’s first appearance and his have connections with the Baofu [Quad Comm members] can prove subsequent activities at the Quad Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, this criminal network in court. In Comm hearing. which, in turn, can be directly traced By Alena Mae S. Flores Congress, lawmakers act as both “We saw a pattern, and we tracked to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. prosecutor and judge,” he said. it to the top of these corporations... During Friday’s Quad Comm MOVEMENTS in the prices of Yang, who already admitted we stripped it of its layers , to get to hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang petroleum products in the local having a fake Philippine birth the top and through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” to about his market are expected to be mixed certificate, is the brother of Michael discovered and identified at least two businesses and business partners. next week, owing to broader world Yang, a presidential economic main actors or players in the issue Next page market's current volatility. Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) Director Rodela Romero said Friday that based on the last four days of trading, the various oil products are likely to move independently from each other.
P
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
DOTr’ Bautista DOE:sPrices of oil says onlinetonews products move report ‘unfounded' in 'mixed' directions
BAUTISTA
By Darwin Amojelar
Next page
PAGASA
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens THE government has readied P1.48 billion worth of aid for communities that may be hit hard by typhoon ‘Julian’ which PAGASA says could turn into a supertyphoon. As of 5:00 PM on Sunday, PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands. “’Julian’ is forecast to continue intensifying over the next 24-36 hours as it moves towards Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands. With the current trend in its intensification, the possibility of reaching super typhoon category is not ruled out,” PAGASA said in its advisory. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that a total of 1.9 million family food packs worth P1.48 billion, other food items worth P276 million, and non-food items (NFIs) worth P919 million were already prepared by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Some P171 million in standby fund is also available for utilization by the DSWD, including P123 million which can be allotted as Quick Response Fund (QRF) in the central office of the DSWD. In Batanes, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) advised residents to secure their roofs and install window shutters as Typhoon Julian is expected to make landfall Next page
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the United Nations (UN) to give it a seat on the UN Security Council, highlighting the country’s strong record and dedication to upholding the rule of law. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in a speech delivered at the UN General Assembly in New York said the Philippines continues to emphasize the “importance of upholding the rule of law and the integrity of the multilateral system in the face of today’s global challenges.” Quoted by reports, Manalo also said: “The Philippines has consistently pursued peace, the sovereign equality of states, the rights and dignity of all persons.” He added that the country is also recognized as the “first Asian ReNext page
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal By Rex Espiritu
THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announceTRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime ment by China that it conducted Bautista denied an online news report military exercises off Bajo de claiming that Malacañang was angry Masinloc, also known as Scarborwith the increase in airport fees without ough Shoal, in the West Philipthe approval of the Cabinet members. pine Sea (WPS). “The Bilyonaryo article is maliChina reportedly made the ancious and unfounded,” Bautista said nouncement coinciding with the in a Viber message, referring to the fourthHoldings Multilateral Maritime Cowebsite published the said story. SM Prime SM Jthat MALL OPENS TODAY. opens today its 87th and operative Activity between the fourthis SM mall in Cebu. The four-level, Japanese-inspired mall offers a unique the “Bilyonaryo inconsistent,” he added. Australia, Japan, experience catering to various food lovers to wellness enthusiasts, with Bilyonaryo reported onlinelifestyles, that fromPhilippines, highlights Izakaya Terrace dining Sharing the honors Newstrip. Zealand, and theduring United “Bautista andlike histhe long-time protegeoutdoor in the wineAirlines, toasting Undersecretary at the opening are Prime (SM Prime) Holdings StatesSMwithin Manila’s exclusive Philippine for(left to right): Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans Sy, SM Supermalls President Steven economic zone (EEZ) in theTan, reAviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are businessman Justin Uy, SM Prime Vice President Marissa Fernan, Cebu Governor Gwen gional waters over the weekend. at the center of the storm after it was Garcia, Bishop Ruben Labajo, Jonas Cortes, Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede, SM Philippine Navy Spokesperson Prime President Jeffrey Lim, and Super Shopping Market Chairman Herbert Sy. for WPS Rear Admiral Roy VinNext page
SPARE NO EFFORT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. orders government officials involved in rescue and recovery
centefforts Trinidad toldto reporters to attend the needs ofthat those affected by severe tropical storm ‘Kristine’. The President convened the meeting after Manila troops did monitor conducting an aerial not inspection of the flood-hit areas and the damage (upper and bottom left photos) caused by the storm anyinsuch activity, adding thatphoto Bei- shows the track of Kong Rey, the new weather disturbance. Upper right photo shows Batangas province. Center jing’s statement meant only a man embracingwas the dead body of his sister after it was retrieved from the rubble of a landslide in Talisay, Batangas. PCO/ for Danny its internal Pata audience. “Our troops did not observe any exercise, we have to understand that sometimes, China is doing this for their internal audience, right? For them not to look weak and Espiritu embarrassed,” Trinidad in a joint military and police operation but By Rex said. only identified as a top rebel leaderCommittee in AWARD. Hans Sy,him Chairman of the Executive of SM Prime Holdings, TwoNational Chinese warships Tagalog. honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding THE Security Councilwere confirmed wasSouthern monitored a distance rangingarrested FilipinoInRetailers a subsequent statement, Nationalleadership in retail development. President Award for his visionary on Friday atthat the individual from eight to 14 nautical miles. Security Adviser Eduardo Año disclosed (From left to right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA by authorities in Fairview, Quezon City One of these went up to 1,000 Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) Villarico's actual position in the local earlier this week is the acting chairman of T. Liu, SM Prime Holdingscalling Chairman the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, yards at the MMCA siteofbut communist movement, hisofarrest a the Communist Party theevenPhilippines Alice PRAmajor President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto tually went away. “It was not step towards bringing about lasting (CPP). S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and threatening, just normal,” peace in the country. Manila Standard earlieraccordreported the proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua page Next page capture of Wigberto VilllaricoNext alias “Baylon” WIGBERTO VILLARICO
Año confirms capture of CPP’s ‘acting chairman’