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US troops in other WPS areas? FIVE LOCAL HOLIDAYS IN OCT. NEWS / A3
ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH
Under consideration by DND—PH ambassador to US
WORLD / A6 S TROOPS may be put on standby mode in other areas in the West Philippine Sea, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Romualdez said.
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 •
PNP REPLACES NCRPO CHIEF
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay U
In an interview with GMA News Online, Romualdez said the forward deployment is “still under consideration by the Department of National Defense.” This followed the revelation by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III of the existence of a US Task Force Ayungin amid persistent geopolitical tensions involving the West Philippine Sea. There are at least two sites – Antonio Bautista Airbase and Balabac – under By RiotheN.US-PH ArajaEnhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement in Palawan, which faces directly onto the West HE Philippine SeaPhilippine Romualdez said thePolice creation of the National US task force was part of the Visit(PNP) is reopening ing Forces Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty between Manila and its investigation into Washington. theThe 2020 of undertaskmurder force's creation scores the strategic significance of Philippine Charity Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas), Sweepstakes Office where the rotation and resupply (PCSO) boardofsecretary missions (RoRe) the Philippine Coast Guard are implemented for Wesley Barayuga. the BRP Sierra Madre grounded on the Onshoal. Sunday, PNP Chief Police The submerged reef lies Marabout General Rommel Francisco 200 kilometers from Palawan, which bil said he ordered the reopening of makes legallyafter part whistleblower of the Philipthe coldit case pines’ exclusive economic zone. told Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza China claims the shoal its the House Quad Committeedespite that he more than 1,000 kilometers distance helped carry out the killing at the from of its ex-PCSO nearest general major landmass, behest manager Hainan island. Royina Garma. Pentagon narrated spokesman Maj. conPete Mendoza before Nguyen said: “The task force gressmen how Garma allegedly fa-is composed of USofficial’s forces providing cilitated the PCSO roadside our Philippines allies enhanced assassination on July with 30, 2020 by cooperation and interoperability for providing the necessary information their maritime operations.” about his schedule, details about his
PAGASA
NEWS / A2
Gov’t readies BSP FIRES P1.48b aid asFOUR FOR ABSENTEEISM VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 281• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2024 • 'Julian'BUSINESS strengthens / B4 THE government has readied P1.48 billion worth of aid for communities that may be hit hard by typhoon SURVEYING 'PEPITO'S DAMAGE. President Ferdinand R. ‘Julian’ which PAGASA says could Marcos Jr. conducts an aerial inspection of the municipalities of Diadi, turn into a supertyphoon. Bagabag, Solano, Bayombong, and Bambang in Nueva Vizcaya to assess As of 5:00 PM on Sunday, PAthe extent of damage caused by Super Typhoon Pepito and address other GASA raised Tropical Cyclone needs in the province. Inset at upper left shows the destroyed portion of Wind Signal No. 3 over Batanes the Bambang Bypass Road which the President ordered to be immediately and the northeastern portion of Barehabilitated. Lower left photo shows the President handing out food packs buyan Islands. to residents affected by 'Pepito' in Nueva Vizcaya. PCO “’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
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
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Next page vehicle and the funding necessary to carry it out. The whistleblower also implicated incumbent National Police Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo in the planning of the murder. Barayuga was a retired police general and lawyer who supposedly PRESIDENT Marcos has exthreatened to exposetocorruption withpressed openness postponing the inBangsamoro the PCSO shortly before he wasin Autonomous Region shot dead Mindanao in Mandaluyong City. elecMuslim (BARMM) Garma, herself on an May ex-police Lt. tions scheduled 12, 2025, Colonel, allegedly the top saying the proposalgained is currently bespot the PCSO because of her ining at studied. Next page The President’s statement came
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A WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal activities of the POGOs and was involved in the drug trade and extrajudicial killings.
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
Palace mulls backing moves to delay BARMM polls
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry amid calls to put off the elections by at least one year, to allow stakeholders to resolve legal issues and better educate voters on the implications of greater THE legal counsel of Chinese autonomy. businessman Tony Yangitsought to '' We are still studying [postponedisparage lawmakers’ ment]. Some of the localconclusions officials are about his because client’sof the supposedly saying that Supreme sketchy past and his alleged ties with Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGOs) and even organized crime. Lawyer Raymond Fortun questioned the House Quad Committee’s impartiality and its ability to pin Chinese national Yang down for ay wrongdoing in a real criminal court. “I am very interested in how they [Quad Comm members] can prove this criminal network in court. In Congress, lawmakers act as both prosecutor and judge,” he said. Yang, who already admitted having a fake Philippine birth certificate, is the brother of Michael Yang, a presidential economic
Court (SC) decision to separate Sulu from BARMM… this comes with implications regarding changes that must be made. So, it may not be feasible to adviser of May former President hold it by of next year,'' Rodrigo Mr. MarDuterte. cos told reporters in a mixture of FiliFortun, a lawyer who often finds pino and English. himself at the center high-profile Next page cases, apparently sought to mock congressmen, calling their probe “unacceptable.” However, House members argued they did not come by their suspicions about Yang recklessly. On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of Quezon presented a matrix showing Yang’s first appearance and his subsequent activities at the Quad By Maricel Comm hearing.V. Cruz “We saw a pattern, and we tracked Province Samarcorporations... is playing host itThe to the top ofofthese to stripped the finalitinstallment President we of its layersof, to get to Marcos’ flagship ‘Bagong Pilipinas the top and through it all, we have Serbisyo Fair thisatyear, inidiscovered and(BPSF)’ identified leastantwo tiativeactors that aims to bringingovernment main or players the issue services directly to the people. The two-day event currently taking place at the Northwest Samar State University in Calbayog City, is expected to deliver over P700 million worth of programs, services, and financial
Speaker extols Bagong Pilipinas; defends AKAP
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal
BPSF IN SAMAR. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez is joined by
Governor Sharee Ann Tan (to his right), 1st District Rep. Stephen James Tan, 2nd District Rep. Reynolds BAUTISTA Michael Tan and Calbayog City Mayor Raymund Uy during yesterday's distribution of assistance packages of various government agencies during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) at the Athletic Field, Northwest State University in By Rex Samar Espiritu Calbayog City. Ver Noveno
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cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that Beijing’s statement was meant only for its internal audience. “Our troops did not observe any exercise, we have to understand that sometimes, China is doing this for their internal audience, right? Mae For them not to look By Alena S. Flores weak and embarrassed,” Trinidad said. CONSUMERS will have to brace for Two oil Chinese warships wereas another price hike of as much monitored at a distance ranging P1.05 per liter next week, wiping out from eight on to Tuesday 14 nautical the rollback due to miles. the volOne of these went up atility in world oil prices. to 1,000 yards at the MMCA site Oil butIndustry evenDepartment of Energy tually went away. “It was not Management Bureau (OIMB) Director threatening, just normal,” accordRodela Romero said yesterday that
Russia escalation VP Sara bid to join detained staff junked fears to ignite fuel price increases By Maricel V. Cruz
By Darwin Amojelar
TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista denied an online news report claiming that Malacañang was angry with the increase in airport fees without the approval of the Cabinet members. “The Bilyonaryo article is maliTHE House Blue RibbonBautista panel, formalcious and unfounded,” said the Committee inly aknown Viber as message, referringontoGood the Government and Publicthe Accountability, website that published said story. rejected Vice President SaraheDuterte’s “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” added. request to join her chief-of-staff, Bilyonaryo reported online Zuleithat ka Lopez,and in detention untilprotege November “Bautista his long-time in 25 at the Batasang Complex. Philippine Airlines,Pambansa Undersecretary for The panel's chairperson, Joel Aviation and Airports Bobby Rep. Lim, are of Manila, not atChua the center of thesaid stormDuterte after itiswas allowed to be detained with Lopez bepage cause she is not the subject of Next the deten-
THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announcement by China that it conducted military exercises off Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, in the tion order to begin with.West Philippine“She Sea(Vice (WPS). President Duterte) is not Chinabecause reportedly the anallowed she ismade not a detainee,” nouncement with the Chua said at acoinciding news conference. “We fourth Maritime cannot Multilateral allow it because we have toCofoloperative Activity between the low guidelines.” Philippines, Australia, Japan, But Chua said the House panel alNew and Lopez the yesterday United lowed Zealand, Duterte to visit States Manila’s and lastwithin Thursday night . exclusive economic (EEZ)however in thebroke reThe Vicezone President gional waters weekend. House rules by over optingthe to stay overnight Navy the Spokesperson onPhilippine Thursday inside office of her for WPS Rear Admiral Roy VinNext page
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of illegal drugs and illegal activities associated with POGOs,” Suarez said in a mixture of Filipino and English. The solons explained how the matrix details Yang’s connections to other individuals involved in illicit activities, including the operations of illegal POGOs. Among the companies implicated are Brickhartz Technology Inc. and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., which are beingDantes linked to alleged By Charles kidnapping. PRESIDENT Marcos supposedly on Friday The two firms barnstormed acrosswith Nueva have connections the Vizcaya, Baofu Isabela and in Pangasinan provinces Compound Bamban, Tarlac,to checkin onturn, the progress of relieftraced operawhich, can be directly tions and assess damage to infrastructo disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. ture causedFriday’s by a recent barrage of tyDuring Quad Comm phoons.lawmakers cited Tony Yang hearing, In Nueva theabout President in contempt forVizcaya, “lying” to his announced an initial P50 million businesses and business partners. from the Office of the President (OP) to aid Next page recovery efforts in the region.
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 the of Additionally, oftheupholding Department rule of lawWelfare and the and integrity of the Social Development multilateral system in P2.5 the face of to-for (DSWD) allocated million day’s global challenges.” its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Quoted by(AICS) reports,program, Manalo also Situations which said: Philippines has consiswill “The provide P5,000 in cash assistance tently pursued peace, the sovereign to 500 beneficiaries. equality of states, rightsthat andsupplies dig"We’re here tothe ensure nity of all persons.” are sufficient and distribution is effiHe added the country is also cient," Mr. that Marcos told storm-weary recognized residents. as the “first Asian ReApart from the aid distribution,
Marcos delivers more aid to areas devastated by barrage of typhoons
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COUNTER-AFFIDAVIT.
Former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. files his counter-affidavit yesterday with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila on Friday, November 22, 2024. Norman Cruz
AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, was honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership in retail development. (From left to right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua
QUIBOLOY ARREST PART OF JOB — ABALOS NEWS / A3