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FIVE LOCAL ISLAMIST-LED REBELS END REIGN OF SYRIA’S BASHAR AL-ASSAD HOLIDAYS IN OCT.
DAMASCUS—Islamist-led rebels showed rebels firing into the air at declared that NEWS they had / A3taken Damas- sunrise, with some flashing the victory cus in a lightning offensive on Sunday, sign and crying "Allahu akbar," or God sending President Bashar al-Assad is greatest. fleeing and S o m e ending five declimbed atop a cades of Baath tank in celebra celebrarule in Syria. tion, while oth othVOL. XXXVIII • NO. 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • Residents ers 227• defaced3 SECTIONS a WORLD / A6 in the Syrian toppled statue capital were of Assad's fa faNEWS / A6 seen cheering ther, Hafez. in the streets, "I can't beas the rebel factions heralded the delieve I'm living this moment," tearparture of "tyrant" Assad, saying: "We ful Damascus resident Amer Batha declare the city of Damascus free." told Agence France Presse (AFP) by Assad and his family’s whereabouts phone. remain unknown. They reportedly "We've been waiting a long time for boarded a plane which later on disapthis day," he said, adding: "We are startpeared from tracking monitors. ing a new history for Syria." Next page AFPTV images from Damascus
ISRAEL CONTINUES New impeach move TO POUND HEZBOLLAH
against Sokor’s Yoon
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay Speaker Romualdez belies rumors he suffered stroke
VICTORY. Victorious rebel fighters
cheer from the back of a car at Umayyad Square in Damascus on December 8, 2024. Islamist-led insurgents sent President Bashar al-Assad fleeing, ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. Inset shows a broken portrait of al-Assad on the ground after the rebel capture of a regime facility outside Hama. AFP
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 By Rio N. Araja Wind Signal No. 3 over Batanes HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez disand the northeastern portion of Bamissed as fake news the rumors circulatbuyan Islands. ing online that he suffered a stroke and was “’Julian’ is forecast to continue By Rio N. Araja hospitalized. intensifying over the next 24-36 In a statement on Sunday, Romualdez hours as it moves towards Batanes called on Filipinos to reject such disinforHE Philippine and/orDECEMBER Babuyan Islands. With • the VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 297• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, 9, 2024 mation and focus on unity and positivity, current trend in its intensification, National Police Next page the possibility of reaching super (PNP) is reopening typhoon category is not ruled out,” PAGASA said in its advisory. its investigation into Meanwhile, the National Disasthe 2020 murder of ter Risk Reduction and ManagePhilippine Charity ment Council (NDRRMC) said that a total of 1.9 million family food Sweepstakes Office packs worth P1.48 billion, other (PCSO) board secretary food items worth P276 million, and non-food items (NFIs) worth P919 Wesley Barayuga. million were already prepared by the Department of Social Welfare House Speaker Martin Romualdez On Sunday, PNP Chief Police and Development (DSWD). General Rommel Francisco MarSome P171 million in standby bil said he ordered the reopening of fund is also available for utilization the cold case after whistleblower by the DSWD, including P123 milPolice Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza told lion which can be allotted as Quick the House Quad Committee that he Response Fund (QRF) in the cenhelped carry out the killing at the tral office of the DSWD. behest of ex-PCSO general manager In Batanes, the Provincial DiRoyina Garma. saster Risk Reduction and ManageMendoza narrated before conment Office (PDRRMO) advised gressmen how Garma allegedly faresidents roofs andof In the National Capital Region tion force to cansecure still betheir fielded on top cilitated the PCSO official’s roadside By Vince Lopez install window shutters as Typhoon By Rio N. Araja (NCR), “more than 8,000” police ofthe over 8,000-strong force currently assassination on July 30, 2020 by Julian is expected make landfall ficers are already deployed round-thedeployed around thetoMetropolis if the providing the necessary information HE Philippine National Police (PNP) has HOUSE leaders are leaving it up to clock in anticipation of disturbances need arises. about his schedule, details about his Next page the Department of Justice (DOJ) toto dearising from political fervor or the It was also mentioned that police vehicle and the funding necessary enhanced its presence in strategic areas around termine Vice President Sara Duterte’s A WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD seasonal uptick in criminality, and this personnel are not permitted to go on excarry it out. the country tothedeter criminal elements areled by fugitivelevel criminal liability foralso supposed death Comm hearing which shows operations of a criminal syndicatewho allegedly Michael Yang, then economic of manpower will remain until the tended leave during the holiday season. The whistleblower implicated adviser of formeractive Presidentduring Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal of the POGOs and wasorinvolved drugNazathreats made against Police President Mar‘Traslacion’ Feast ofin thethe Black PNP chief Police General Rommel particularly the holiday season, andactivities to keep incumbent National Comtrade and extrajudicial killings. cos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos rene on January 10 next year. Marbil said that police officers are dumissioner Edilberto Leonardo in the the peace ahead of planned rallies by groups, including and Speaker Romualdez to alNCR Police Office spokesperson ty-bound to ensure public safety during planning of theMartin murder. low lawmakers to deal with impeachMajor Myrna Diploma told the Manila large political gatherings, even as he the Iglesia ni Cristo, against the impeachment Barayuga was a retired police ment complaints filed against her. Standard on Sunday that an augmentaNext page general and lawyer who supposedly of Vice President Sara Duterte. BataantoRep. Geraldine threatened expose corruptionRoman withpage in the PCSO shortly before Next he was THE Philippine government on shot dead in Mandaluyong City. Sunday publicly called for the UnitGarma, herself an ex-police Lt. THE legal counsel of Chinese adviser of former President Rodrigo of illegal drugs and illegal activities ed Nations (UN) to give it a seat on Colonel, allegedly gained the top businessman Tony Yang sought to Duterte. associated with POGOs,” Suarez said the UN Security Council, highlightspot at the PCSO because of her indisparage lawmakers’ conclusions Fortun, a lawyer who often finds in a mixture of Filipino and English. ing the country’s strong record and Next page about his client’s supposedly himself at the center high-profile The solons explained how the dedication to upholding the rule of sketchy past and his alleged ties cases, apparently sought to mock matrix details Yang’s connections to law. with Philippine Overseas Gaming congressmen, calling their probe other individuals involved in illicit Department of Foreign Affairs Operators (POGOs) and even “unacceptable.” activities, including the operations of (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in organized crime. However, House members argued illegal POGOs. a speech delivered at the UN GenLawyer Raymond Fortun they did not come by their suspicions Among the companies implicated eral Assembly in New York said the questioned the House Quad about Yang recklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. Philippines continues to emphasize By Rio N. Araja Committee’s impartiality and its On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., the “importance of upholding the ability to pin Chinese national Yang Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga which are being linked to alleged rule of law and the integrity of the THE House Quad Committee is down for ay wrongdoing in a real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. multilateral system in the face of toready to present an initial report to criminal court. Quezon presented a matrix showing The two firms supposedly day’s global challenges.” the plenary regarding its exhaustive “I am very interested in how they Yang’s first appearance and his have connections with the Baofu Quoted by reports, Manalo also inquiries into illegal drugs and their [Quad Comm members] can prove subsequent activities at the Quad Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, said: “The Philippines has consisconnection to illicit Philippine offthis criminal network in court. In Comm hearing. which, in turn, can be directly traced tently pursued peace, the sovereign shore gambling operators (POGOs) Congress, lawmakers act as both “We saw a pattern, and we tracked to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. equality of states, the rights and digand extrajudicial killings (EJKs) unprosecutor and judge,” he said. it to the top of these corporations... During Friday’s Quad Comm nity of all persons.” der the Duterte administration. Yang, who already admitted we stripped it of its layers , to get to hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang He added that the country is also Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert having a fake Philippine birth the top and through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” to about his recognized as the “first Asian ReAce Barbers, the committee chair certificate, is the brother of Michael discovered and identified at least two businesses and business partners. Yang, a presidential economic main actors or players in the issue Next page Next page Next page
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
T
PNP beefs up presence during Yuletide holidays
Solons: Up to DOJ to pursue grave Cops also ready for planned rallies vs. VP's impeachment threat case vs. VP
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Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
Quad to release initial report on DOTr’ Bautista EJK,sPOGO probe says online news report‘unfounded'
BAUTISTA
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 malicious and unfounded,” Bautista said in a Viber message, referring to the NEWS / A3 website that published the said story. “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. Bilyonaryo reported online that “Bautista and his long-time protege in Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are at the center of the storm after it was
DAVID IS 10TH FILIPINO CARDINAL
CENTRAL TRANSPORT HUB OPENS AT NAIA BUSINESS / B4 Next page
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal By Rex Espiritu
cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that BeiTHE Philippine Navy debunked jing’s statement was meant only on Sunday the recent announcefor its internal audience. ment by China that it conducted troops didVisayas, not observe More than children in Luzon, and Mindanao receive early Christmas presents during yesterday's Balik Sigla, Bigay militarySHARING exercises JOY off .Bajo de 30,000“Our anyDay. exercise, Sayaalso Yearknown 3: A Nationwide Gift-Giving With the we Firsthave Familytoat underthe Malacañang grounds, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed agencies to Masinloc, as Scarborstand that ofsometimes, China isdespite recent calamities. PCO ensure in thatthe every community the spirit Christmas, especially ough Shoal, West Philip- can feel doing this for their internal audipine Sea (WPS). ence, right? For them not to look China reportedly made the anweak and embarrassed,” Trinidad nouncement coinciding with the said. fourth Multilateral Maritime CoAWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, Two Chinese warships were operative Activity between the was honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding monitored at a distance ranging Philippines, Australia, Japan, Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership in retail development. from eight to 14 nautical miles. (From left to right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA New Zealand, and the United of Palace. these went up to 1,000 Vice President andin President COO of Golden, Inc. (The Penshoppe Ferdinand R. Mar- Oneñang children attended person,and while units ABC, in Metro Manila and Group) three States PRESIDENT within Manila’s exclusive Alice T. joined Liu, SM via Prime Holdings Chairman of from the Executive Committee T. Sy, theinitiative, MMCA site butthe evencos Jr.zone and First Lady Lou- yards at This part of First 27,899 livestream from the Visayas and Hans Mindanao, economic (EEZ) in Marie the rePRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc.by (Toby’s Sports) Roberto went annual away.gift-giving “It was tradinot Araneta-Marcos on Sunday tually Family's various locations. coordinated the Department of gionalise waters over the weekend. S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and threatening, just normal,” accorddistributed early Christmas gifts tion, was titled “Balik Sigla, BigThe event included participaSocial Welfare and Development Philippine Navy Spokesperson proponent OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua Next page to over 30,000 children Malacaay Saya Year 3.” A totalNext of 2,199 tion from of 17PRA local government (DSWD). for WPS Rear Admiral Royat Vinpage
PBBM, First Lady lead gift-giving activity for children