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FIVE LOCAL A BLESSED AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! HOLIDAYS IN OCT. NEWS / A3
Kiribati leads ISRAEL CONTINUES first countries TO POUND HEZBOLLAH to enter 2025 WORLD / A6
OLYMPICS, TURMOIL, TRUMP MARK 2024 VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 •
WORLD/ A6
PNP resurrecting probe Marcos starts mid-term into PCSO official's slay By Ratziel San Juan
PAGASA
THE island country of Kiribati located in Micronesia in the central Pacific Ocean is the first nation to ring in the new year worldwide. Specifically, its Kiritimati Atoll or Christmas Island enters 2025 before anyone else when its clock strikes midnight (6 p.m. Manila time). Said to be one of the least-developed countries in the world, the former British colony and current Commonwealth of Nations member is ahead of everyone in its New Year's celebrations. These usually take place in family homes, bars, hotels, as well as Christian and local maneaba (meeting houses) islandwide. Kiribati locals feast on menus typically featuring roast pig, crayfish, and traditional foods like taro and banana. Coconuts By Rio N. Araja also feature on their tables, with sap collected from
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 320• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2025 •
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HE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
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Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
PBBM seeks frugality after vetoing flood projects
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal Black Nazarene By Rex Espiritu
THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announceTRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime ment by China that it conducted Bautista denied an online news report military exercises off Bajo de claiming that Malacañang was angry Masinloc, also known as Scarborwith the increase in airport fees without ough Shoal, in the West Philipthe approval of the Cabinet members. pine Sea (WPS). “The Bilyonaryo article is maliChina reportedly made the ancious and unfounded,” Bautista said nouncement coinciding with the in a Viber message, referring to the fourth Multilateral Maritime Cowebsite that published the said story. operative Activity between the “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. Philippines, Australia, Japan, Bilyonaryo reported online that New Zealand, and the United “Bautista and his long-time protege in States within Manila’s exclusive Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for economic zone (EEZ) in the reAviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are gional waters over the weekend. atDEVOTION. the center of theThrongs storm of after it was Catholic faithful lift their hands on the arrival of a float Spokesperson bearing the image of the Black Nazarene from thePhilippine Minor BasilicaNavy and National Shrine of for Rear Admiral Roy VinNexton page Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo, Manila December 31,WPS 2024. Norman Cruz
‘Thanksgiving Walk’ draws 60k
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 By exercise, Vito Barcelo any we have to understand that sometimes, China is OVER 60,000 devotees of theaudiBlack doing this for their internal Nazarene the not thanksgiving ence, right?joined For them to look procession for the Black Trinidad Nazarene weak and embarrassed,” on midnight of December 31, 2024 to said. mark start of anwarships annual feast that TwotheChinese were usually attracts of followers. monitored at amillions distance ranging thanksgiving procession also fromThe eight to 14 nautical miles. marked the beginning of the nine-day One of these went up to 1,000 novena Nazareno. yards at to thetheMMCA site but evenAfter the mass at the“It Minor tually went away. wasBasilica not and Nationaljust Shrine of JesusaccordNazarethreatening, normal,” no, the image of Jesus Nazarene was Next page Next page
across the country. Next page Part of the administration’s commitment to strengthen the economy were sustained investments in irrigation, flood control, supply chain logistics, and climate change adaptation. There was also a push to liberalize restrictions on information transfer technology, an agenda that prompted Google to expand its business in the Philippines. THEPresident Philippine government on Marcos met with execuSunday publicly called for the Unittives of Google in April after his ed Nations (UN) to give it a seat Nexton page 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 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-
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
PH’s top leaders call for unity, solidarity after tumultuous year
Firecracker, motorcycle accidents on the rise—DOH
By Darwin Amojelar
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 Babuyan Islands. “’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, By possibility Charles Dantes the of reaching super typhoon category is not ruled out,” PAGASA said its advisory. S in PRESIDENT Meanwhile, the National DisasFerdinand ter Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that "Bongbong" a total of 1.9 million family food Marcos packs worthJr.’s P1.48 billion, other food items worth P276 million, and administration enters non-food items (NFIs) worth P919 its mid-term, its prepared key by million were already the Department of Social Welfare economic reforms have and Development (DSWD). resulted in better lives for Some P171 million in standby fund is also available Filipinos under for theutilization banner by the DSWD, including P123 milof “Bagong Pilipinas,” lion which can be allotted as Quick the Palace Tuesday Response Fundon (QRF) in the central office of the DSWD. said. In Batanes, the Provincial Disaster Reduction and made ManageMr.Risk Marcos likewise sigment Office (PDRRMO) advised nificant strides in infrastructure deresidents their roofs andin velopmenttoinsecure his first three years install shutters as Typhoon office,window bolstering connectivity, energy Julian is expected to make landfall reliability, and public transportation
2024 infra, economic strides improved Pinoys' lives–Palace
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 HELLO 2025. Fireworks shot dead in Mandaluyong City. light up the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during the early New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney on December 31, 2024. In Bishkek, in Central Ala-Too Square is the colorful brightly-lit 2025Rodrigo sign welcoming Newdrugs Year. AFP Garma, herself anAzerbaijan, ex-police inset, Lt. the main THEattraction legal counsel of Chinese adviser ofand former President of the illegal and illegal activities Colonel, allegedly gained the top businessman Tony Yang sought to Duterte. associated with POGOs,” Suarez said spot at the PCSO because of her indisparage lawmakers’ conclusions Fortun, a lawyer who often finds in a mixture of Filipino and English. 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. whose budgets were However, House members illegal POGOs. PRESIDENT Marcos vetoed P16.7 The projects basins and principal rivers, andargued P182.7 Lawyer Raymond Fortun they did not by their suspicions Among the companies implicated billion worth of flood control projects turned down included P4.58 billion for million for come the construction and rehaquestioned the and House Quad about Yangofrecklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. in various regions from the P6.326 the construction maintenance of bilitation water supply/ septage and Committee’s impartiality anddrainits On Friday, Seniorcollectors. Deputy Speaker and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., trillion 2025 General Appropriations flood mitigation structures and sewerage/rainwater ability to pin P2.88 Chinese national Aurelio Jr. of which are being linked to alleged Act (GAA) even as he urged governage systems, billion for theYang conAlso Gonzales vetoed were P9 Pampanga billion for down for and ay wrongdoing real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. ment agencies to spend their allocastruction rehabilitationinofa flood Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Next page criminal court. Quezon presented a matrix showing The two firms supposedly tions more conscientiously. mitigation facilities within major river “I am very interested in how they Yang’s first appearance and his have connections with the Baofu [Quad Comm members] can prove subsequent activities at the Quad Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, this criminal network in court. In Comm hearing. which, in turn, can be directly traced Congress, lawmakers act as both “We saw a pattern, and we tracked to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. prosecutor and judge,” he said. it to the top of these corporations... During Friday’s Quad Comm Yang, who already admitted we stripped it of its layers , to get to hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang having a fake Philippine birth the Most top and through all,19we have in contempt for “lying” to about his cember 31. of the victimsitare years old By Ralph Rirao certificate, is the brother of Michael discovered identified at least two businesses and business partners. The data from 62 sentinel sites and below, and tallying a total of 152 cases, FIRECRACKER-RELATED injuYang, economic main in and the above. issue showed athat presidential firecracker injuries as of whileactors 36 areor20players years old Next page ries increased to 188 as 25 new cases Tuesday were 52 percent higher com172 of the victims are male while 16 were reported by the Department of pared to 124 cases logged last year on are female. Health (DOH) until 6:00 am on DeNext page the same date. PRESIDENT Marcos extended his heartfelt greetings to Filipinos at home and abroad as the nation welcomed the New Year. BAUTISTA
NEWS / A3 Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens
with key reforms in place
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
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FABELLA READIES FOR 2025 BABIES
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Next page VP Sara vows to face challenges of 2025
VICE President Sara Duterte sought to reflect on the challenges of 2024, emphasizing resilience and unity as key takeaways from the past year. Next page
AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, was honored the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) withLet its Outstanding Chiz: PHbyneeds leaders Speaker: us build Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership in retail development. who will tackle poverty future forPRA PH (From left to right): PRA Director and Director stronger of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) Martin SENATE Francis Escudero Alice T. Liu,President SM Prime Holdings Chairman of theHOUSE ExecutiveSpeaker Committee HansRomualT. Sy, dez called on the nation usher in emphasized the need for hope and PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports)toRoberto 2025 with aInt’l. message hope, unity, as well theDirector importance of wise of Sportshouse S. Claudio, andasPRA and President Leisure,ofInc. and Next page NextAward page Mars C. Chua leadership proponentin ofthe PRAyear OFRahead. President’s