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FIVEapproves LOCAL Marcos HOLIDAYS IN OCT. Nat'l Security NEWS / A3 Strategy 2024 ISRAEL CONTINUES
TO POUND HEZBOLLAH
By Rex Espiritu
/ A6 Marcos PRESIDENTWORLD Ferdinand Jr. approved the National Security Strategy (NSS) 2024, a comprehensive guide designed to shape a safer, secure, more prosperous, and united country, the National Security Council (NSC) reported on Sunday. According to NSC Spokesperson Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, this vital plan for the nation’s future was presented to and approved by the President during a meeting with key officials in Malacañang. The meeting included Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año. The NSS implements the administration’s National Security Policy 2023-2028, which was adopted under
‘BLOODLESS DRUG WAR’ NETS P20.7B NEWS / A2
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 311• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2024 •
TULFO, SOTTO LEAD SENATE RACE NEWS / A3
PNP resurrecting probe Over 400k poor families eligible for 4Ps into PCSO official's slayrelief 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 BaRio N.Islands. Araja buyan “’Julian’ is forecast to continue intensifying the next 24-36 HEover Department hours as it moves towards Batanes of Social Welfare and/or Babuyan Islands. With the current trend in its intensification, and Development the possibility of reaching super (DSWD) announced typhoon category is not ruledthat out,” PAGASA said inover its advisory. it validated 400,000 Meanwhile, the National Disaswaitlisted households ter Risk Reduction and Managelast Council Oct. 31, makingsaid that ment (NDRRMC) athem total of 1.9 million family food eligible to receive packs worth P1.48 billion, other government food items worth assistance P276 million, and non-food items (NFIs) worth P919 under the Pantawid million were already prepared by Pamilyang the DepartmentPilipino of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Program (4Ps). Some P171 million in standby fund is also434,317 availablehouseholds for utilization “These are by including milnexttheinDSWD, line to replace theP123 beneficialion which cangraduated be allotted asthe Quick ries who have from proResponse Fund (QRF) in the cengram through the ‘Pugay Tagumpay’ tral office ofAssistant the DSWD. ceremony,” Secretary Irene In Batanes, Dumlao said. the Provincial Disaster and ManageSheRisk notedReduction that 1,184,768 potential ment Office (PDRRMO) advised households are up for validation to deresidents to secure their roofs termine their eligibility based onand the install window shutters as Typhoon program's criteria. Julian is expected to billion make has landfall A total of ₱106.335 been allocated for the 4Ps program the Nextin page 2024 national budget, which targets to assist over 4.4 million eligible households in the country. To be eligible for the program, identified poor and near-poor households or families must be willing to comply with certain conditions and must have a family member who is 18 years old or younger, and/or a pregnant family member at the time of registraTHE PhilippineDumlao, government on tion, explained the agency’s Sunday publicly called for the Unitspokesperson. ed Nations (UN) toand givefound it a seat Once validated to beonelithe UNthey Security highlightgible, wouldCouncil, replace the beneficiaing country’s strongexited record andthe riesthe who have already from dedication to upholding the rule program. Next of page 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 Re-
Waitlisted amonginthose replacing 'graduates' Speaker grateful for PMA Classhouseholds '83 vote of confidence Quad Comm Next page
By Rio N. Araja
T
T
HE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
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 helped carry out the killing at the behest of ex-PCSO general manager Royina Garma. Mendoza narrated before congressmen how Garma allegedly facilitated the PCSO official’s roadside assassination on July 30, 2020 by providing the necessary information 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 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. missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the planning of the murder. Barayuga was a retired police general and lawyer who supposedly threatened to expose corruption within the PCSO shortly before he was shot dead in Mandaluyong City. Garma, herself an RUSH. ex-policePassengers Lt. THE legal counsel of atChinese of former President of illegal illegal three activities HOLIDAY fill up the terminal building the Batangasadviser port (bottom photo) even asRodrigo more commuters stood drugs in lineand for almost Colonel, hours allegedly gained topinside businessman Tony Yang sought Duterte. associated with POGOs,” (top left photo)the to get the facility. Inset at top right shows to passengers spilling out into the sidewalk of a bus terminal in Pasay City whileSuarez they said spot at the PCSO because of her in- home disparage Fortun, a lawyer who often finds in a mixture of Filipino and English. wait for their ride back to their provinceslawmakers’ (Story on A2).conclusions PCG/ GMA video grab Next page 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 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 By Rex Espiritu down for ay wrongdoing in a real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. front of their houses and let's welcome criminal court. Quezon presented matrix showing The directives two for firms supposedly By Vince Lopez THE Office of Civila Defense (OCD) issued urgent the“INew she in underscored. am Year verysafely,” interested how they Yang’s first appearance and I, II, hisand IIIhave connections tsunami preparedness in Regions following a series ofwith the Baofu Fajardo saidmembers] the PNP will [Quad Comm can deploy prove subsequent activities Quad by theCompound in Bamban, Tarlac, THE Philippine National Police (PNP) earthquakes near Ilocos at Surthe attributed Philippine Institute policecriminal officers, network especiallyinoncourt. the New this In Comm hearing. and Seismology (Phivolcs)which, in turn,along can be directly traced reminded the general public not to use of Volcanology to movement Year’s Eve, as force multipliers of baranCongress, lawmakers act as both sawTrench. a pattern, and we tracked to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. firecrackers in all residential areas durthe“We Manila gay personnel ensure that no one sets prosecutor andtojudge,” he said. it toThese the top of these corporations... During 17,Friday’s ing the upcoming holiday celebrations, earthquakes, which began on December 2024, Quad Comm offYang, fireworkswho and firecrackers residenalready in admitted we stripped it of its layers , to get to hearing, lawmakers particularly in welcoming New Year prompted authorities to prioritize immediate readiness for poten- cited Tony Yang tial areas to incidents. having a prevent fake untoward Philippine birth the and scenarios. through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” to about his 2025. tial top tsunami Meanwhile, previous certificate, is the unlike brother inof Michael discovered andwarning identified least two businessesearthquake and business partners. "I hope our citizens will cooperate The OCD alsoatfollows a magnitude-6.1 years, the will not seal the tips Yang, a PNP presidential economic main actorsbuildings or players in the issue for the safety of all. There are designatthat rattled on Vanuatu's main island early Sunday but Next page of firearms issued to police personnel ed community zones, and you will see did not appear to have caused major damage, five days after a with ‘masking tape’ to prevent cases of beautiful lights there," PNP spokesmore powerful quake wreaked havoc and killed 12 people. indiscriminate firing. Fajardo said they person and Public Information Office The nation's most populous island, Efate, is still reeling from trust the discipline of uniformed perchief Brigadier General Jean Fajardo the deadly 7.3-magnitude temblor on Tuesday, which toppled sonnel this time to behave accordingly. said over dzBB television radio. concrete buildings and set off landslides in and around the capital Next page "Avoid setting off firecrackers in of Port Vila. Next page
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
DOTr’ Bautista public vs. using PNPs cautions OCD warns several regions to prepare for a tsunami says online newsin residential areas firecrackers report‘unfounded' Distribution of earthquakes offshore of Ilocos Sur
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal By Rex Espiritu BIDarwin officers told: Xmas greetings US court accepts guilty plea of KOJC execs By Amojelar okay; accepting gifts not allowed
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BAUTISTA
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 announceTRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Integrated News showed. A CALIFORNIAfordistrict court has its internal audience. ment by China that it conducted Bautista denied an online news report accepted the guilty plea of Guia Caquestioned both defendants troops did not Hatter observe military exercises offbactulan Bajo and de Amanda“Our claiming that Malacañang was angry about the plea Estopare, both any exercise, we have to under- agreement they entered Masinloc, also known formerly as Scarborwith increase in airport fees without with the US top Kingdom Jesus sometimes, Christ By the Vito Barcelo standof that China is District Attorney’s Ofough Shoal, in the West Philipthe approval of the Cabinet members. (KOJC) administrators inthis thefor United fice inaudiOctober. Both confirmed that doing their internal pine Sea (WPS). “The Bilyonaryo article(BI) is frontline mali- officers theytovoluntarily admitted their guilt States. BUREAU of Immigration are now permit- made ence, right? For them not look China reportedly the ancious and unfounded,” Bautista said and fully understood the terms of the Judge Terry Hatter Jr. has ordered ted to extend holiday greetings to travelers nouncement during the Christmas weak and embarrassed,” Trinidad coinciding with the inseason. a Viber message, referring to the agreement. the preparation ofsaid. a pre-sentence refourth Multilateral Maritime Cowebsite that published theAnthony said story. AWARD. Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, As awere result, the court allowedHans them port for Estopare and Two Cabactulan after warships However, BI chief Joel Viado emphasized need to between Chinese operativetheActivity the was honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. the court accepted their guilty plea to to remain temporarily free on bail, keep greetings respectful and inclusive, ensuring that all travelers monitored at a distance ranging Philippines, Australia, Japan, Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership in retail development. Bilyonaryo reported online that or background. provided they comply with the terms Count 7 of the First Superseding In- nautical feel welcomed regardless of their faith from eight to 14 miles. (From left to right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA New Zealand, and the United “Bautista and his long-time protege in and conditions set by the court during dictment, which pertains to visa fraud, “Filipinos are known worldwide for their States warmth within and hospitalOne of these went up to 1,000 Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) Manila’s exclusive Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for Next court documents yards obtained by MMCA GMA sitetheir release. Next page ity, especially during the holiday season,” said Viado. Alice T. Liu, SMpage Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, at the but eveneconomic zone (EEZ) in the reAviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto tually went away. “It was not gional waters over the weekend. at the center of the storm after it was S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and threatening, just normal,” accordPhilippine Navy Spokesperson proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua for WPS Rear Admiral Roy VinNext page Next page