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ANTI-CORRUPTION MANIFESTO.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presents the document given by Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin at the conclusion of the 5th State Conference on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation and Review held yesterday at the Ceremonial Hall, Malacanan Palace. PPA Pool
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 292 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024
AFP: No firm info yet on threats vs. VP THE Armed Forces of the Philippines said it has not received any confirmation on the supposed threats against Vice President Sara Duterte. Duterte earlier disclosed she contacted someone to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez should something happen to her. But when authorities began investigating her “kill” remark for possible violations of existing laws, including the Anti-Terrorism Act, Duterte clarified it was “not an active threat” and that she was only highlighting how threats to her own person have been ignored. “As of this time, we have no confirmation on (the supposed threats), but as I said, any statements that are given, we look into those,” AFP spokesperson Next page
Marcos: PH to stamp out corruption By Charles Dantes
ABNORMAL STATE. Taal Volcano belches a grayish plume from its main crater yesterday morning in what volcanologists described as a minor phreatomagmatic eruption. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reminded the public that the volcano remains in an ‘abnormal state’ and alert level one remains in place. Danny Pata
PRESIDENT Marcos on Tuesday reassured the world community of the Philippines’ steadfast dedication to combating corruption through international collaboration and domestic reforms. During the 5th State Conference on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation and Review in Malacañang, Mr. Marcos emphasized that the country will continue to be a proactive member of the global community for this cause. “With the provisions of the UNCAC, we continue to collaborate on Next page
Palace hands off impeach VP bids Says President’s position clear; Bayan to file 2nd complaint today By Charles Dantes, Maricel V. Cruz and Ralph Rirao
PBBM CALLS FOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS NEWS / A3
RICE WASTAGE COULD FEED 2.8M PINOYS—DA
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ALACAÑANG on Tuesday distanced itself from efforts to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte even as the militant group Bayan is set to file a second impeachment complaint against her today (Wednesday). Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin that the endorsement of the complaint said the filing of the first impeachment was also “the prerogative of any memrap on Monday was “clearly the com- ber of the House of Representatives.” plainants’ independent initiative” and “The President already made a clear
and unambiguous statement that he will not support an effort to impeach because it is distracting. We have many needs to address that are important for the country,” Bersamin said. “The President has been very clear. Any suggestion that it is political, that it was instigated by our side – no. That is never true,” the Palace official added. As this developed, the Makabayan bloc at the House said it will endorse the second impeachment complaint to
be filed today against Duterte, with Bayan president Renato Reyes leading the complainants. Reyes will be joined by Makabayan representatives – Deputy Minority Leaders France Castro of ACT Teachers, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela and Raoul Manuel of Kabataan – “to demand accountability and express public outrage over the multi-million-peso confidential fund scandal.” Makabayan said the complaint shall Next page
BUSINESS / B1
‘Mary Grace Piattos’ doesn’t exist, says PSA By Maricel V. Cruz THE elusive “Mary Grace Piattos” does not exist, a lawmaker disclosed citing findings of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). On Tuesday, House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun lambasted the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for claiming to have released huge sums of Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds to a fictitious individual. “It is disturbing that we have reached this level of lies. Government officials are supposed to provide correct information [but it turns out] Mary Grace Piattos is just made up,” he told reporters in Filipino. In a certification document submitted to Congress, the PSA said it could not find a Mary Grace Piattos in the various Civil Registry System databases, which include Certificates of Live Birth, Certificates of Marriage, and Certificates of Death. “However, if additional information such as the name of parents of the subject, date and place of the vital event can be provided, we can search further and be able to ascertain whether the civil registry document is available in the database,” the Next page
FULL SUPPORT. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez hosts a courtesy call by 17 generals and senior flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at the House of Representatives. During the meeting, Speaker Romualdez reaffirmed the House’s full support for the military, emphasizing provisions for modernization programs, soldiers’ welfare, capacitybuilding initiatives, and a proposed additional P350 daily allowance for soldiers to improve their living conditions and morale. Ver Noveno
Fugitive Roque files counter affidavit in Abu Dhabi—DOJ PROSECUTOR General Richard Anthony Fadullon said Harry Roque--the ex-spokesperson of former President Rodrigo Duterte-- has submitted his counter-affidavit on a qualified human trafficking complaint related to the alleged illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) operation in Pampanga. Roque submitted his counter-affidavit from Abu Dhabi, Fadullon added. The counter-affidavit, signed by Roque at the Philippine Embassy on November 29, was filed during the continuation of the preliminary in-
vestigation on the complaint by the Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors. “[The] purpose is to clarify certain issues and to find out really where Mr. Harry Roque is at this point in time,” Fadullon, quoted by an ABS-CBN News report, added. Foreign affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza said the Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi confirmed that Roque and his wife, Mylah Roque, availed themselves on Nov. 29, 2024 of “consular services, particularly notarial services, which do Next page
Cambodia court jails 13 pregnant Pinoy surrogates PHNOM PENH—A Cambodian court has sentenced 13 pregnant Filipino women to four years in jail for acting as surrogate mothers, in the latest crackdown on the outlawed practice. The 13 were among 24 foreign women detained by Cambodian police in Kandal province in September and charged with attempted cross-border human trafficking, according to a statement from the Kandal court.
Following a trial, the court on Monday sentenced the 13 to “four years in prison,” although two years of the sentence would be suspended, the statement said. The court said it had strong evidence showing that the 13 “have the intention... to have babies to sell to a third person in exchange for money, which is an act of human trafficking.” Next page