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QUAD COMM CALLS FOR FILING OF DRUG WAR RAPS VS. RODY, BATO, GO By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives Quad Committee recommended the filing of crimes against humanity charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte, along with Senators Christopher Lawrence Go and Ronald dela Rosa. This is in connection with the alleged extrajudicial killings of more than 30,000 victims during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 307 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2024
Meanwhile, five Philippine National Police (PNP) officers were also recommended to be filed with charges under Republic Act 9851 or the “Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other Crimes against Humanity.” These were former police chiefs Oscar David Albayalde and Debold Sinas; police colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo; and Palace aide Next page
PBBM to line veto 2025 budget
Delays Dec. 20 signing of bill for ‘rigorous, exhaustive review’ By Charles Dantes, Ralph Rirao and Maricel Cruz
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RESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will veto certain items in the ratified budget bill for 2025 as he postponed the signing of the measure, originally scheduled for December 20, to “allow more time for a rigorous and exhaustive review.” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Mr. Marcos is personally leading the review and is consulting with the heads of major government departments to ensure that the budget reflects national priorities and adheres to fiscal policies. “The scheduled signing of the General Appropriations Act on December 20 will not push through to allow more time for a rigorous and exhaustive review of a measure that will determine the course of the nation for the next year,” Bersamin said in a statement. He also confirmed that certain items in the budget would be vetoed. “This will be done in the interest of public welfare, to conform with the fiscal program, and in compliance with laws,” he added. The General Appropriations Act must be signed into law before the end of the year to avoid a reenacted Next page
GRATEFUL. Death convict Mary Jane Veloso makes a heart sign to media after arriving at the Bureau of Women’s Correctional in Mandaluyong City. She later on met had a reunion of sorts with her family, including sons Daniel and Darren, at the facility.
Marcos assures Veloso’s safety as she appeals for clemency By Charles Dantes, Pot Chavez, Rachelle Tonelada, Maricel Cruz and Ralph Rirao
home yesterday morning after being detained in Indonesia for nearly 15 years for drug trafficking. Veloso, for her part, appealed to Mr. PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Marcos to grant her clemency as she assured the safety of Mary Jane Velo- expressed gratefulness for her “new so, the Filipina worker who returned life” following her repatriation after
years of negotiations. “We assure the Filipino people that Ms. Veloso’s safety and welfare is paramount and our agencies in the justice and law enforcement sector shall continue to ensure it, as our Indonesian counterparts have safeguarded it for so
long,” the President said. “We take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to the Indonesian government and to all who have extended assistance for the welfare of Ms. Mary Jane Veloso,” he added. Next page
Speaker extends thanks, cash assistance to wounded troops By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez personally delivered some holiday cheer to 29 soldiers confined at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (V. Luna Medical Center),
providing them with financial assistance to help defray their medical expenses and ease the challenges faced by their families. The Speaker explained that cash assistance was provided to the Next page
BUDGET REVIEW. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presides over a meeting with Executive Secretary Bersamin, DOF Secretary Ralph Recto, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan to review the 2025 national budget, ensuring alignment with key development priorities.
President greenlights 5 key transport projects By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Marcos demonstrated his administration’s commitment to “transformative” infrastructure initiatives with the signing yesterday of five
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) transportation projects in Malacañan Palace. During the signing ceremonies, the chief executive said these projects not only seek to modernize transportation but to boost economic opportunities in
PhilHealth hit for neglecting healthcare services—solons called for immediate premium reductions and reforms to benefit its millions HOUSE leaders criticized the Philip- of members. The criticisms emerged during pine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for prioritizing invest- a hearing of the House Committee ments over healthcare services and Next page
By Maricel V. Cruz
various parts of the country as well, reflecting the “Bagong Pilipinas” mindset of innovation and progress. “We Filipinos have a saying: ‘Nothing is impossible for those of us who Next page
HONORING THE WOUNDED. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez visits
wounded soldiers at the V. Luna Medical Center Tuesday to extend financial assistance to the patients and their families this Christmas season. He also led the inauguration and blessing of the Bagong Bayaning Mandirigma (BBM) Casualty and Cancer Care Center, a vital facility dedicated to the care and recovery of our nation’s heroes. Ver Noveno
BI readies hunt for overstaying POGO workers By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday said that less than a thousand foreign workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) remained unaccounted for
and will be the subject of a manhunt starting January 1, 2025. BI Chief Joel Anthony Viado said around 30,000 foreign POGO workers have already left the country while others are set to leave the country in the coming days.
During the launch of online student visa and permit applications, Viado reminded that foreign nationals have only 12 days left to comply with the Philippine government’s directive regarding the cessation of Next page