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LOCAL VeryFIVE poor timing HOLIDAYS IN OCT. for impeach NEWS / A3 VP moves—Marcos ISRAEL CONTINUES
CharlesHEZBOLLAH Dantes TOByPOUND PRESIDENT Ferdinand "BongWORLD / A6 bong" Marcos Jr. said the timing of the impeachment moves against the Vice President was “very poor” given the looming campaign season. Mr. Marcos, however, acknowledged the legal insight of his chief legal counsel, Juan Ponce Enrile, that junking the impeachment based solely on the position of one group would be a “very detrimental precedent.” "JPE [Enrile] is one of our best legal thinkers in the country, and he is right—there is a consequence, and there will be a precedent, and it will be very problematic," the President said.
BALLOT PRINTING TO RESTART JAN. 22 NEWS / A4
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 33 SECTIONS SEPTEMBER 30,2025 2024•• VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 337• SECTIONS1616PAGES PAGES••P20 P20•MONDAY, •SATURDAY, JANUARY 18,
SCHOOL SEX ED ‘VERY IMPORTANT’–MARCOS NEWS / A2
President setprobe to declare PNP resurrecting food security emergency into PCSO official's slay 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 By Charles Dantes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands. “’Julian’ is forecast to continue RESIDENT intensifying over the next 24-36 hours as Ferdinand it moves towards Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands. With the "Bongbong" current trend in its intensification, Marcos Jr isofsetreaching to declare the possibility super typhoon is not ruled out,” a food category security emergency PAGASA said in its advisory. toMeanwhile, bring down rice prices the National DisasandRisk push back against ter Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that market manipulators and a total of 1.9 million family food profiteers. packs worth P1.48 billion, other food items worth P276 million, and Mr. Marcos he isworth just waiting non-food itemssaid (NFIs) P919 for the recommendation the National million were already ofprepared by PriceDepartment Coordinatingof Council (NPCC) the Social Welfare next Development week in response to persistently and (DSWD). high rice prices. Some P171 million in standby “The reason that wefor areutilization doing this fund is also available is because we have done everything to by the DSWD, including P123 milbring down rice prices but the market lion which can be allotted as Quick is not beingFund allowed to work Response (QRF) in properly,” the centhe President tral office ofsaid the DSWD. “The demand the and Provincial supply curveDiis In Batanes, not followed because until now, even saster Risk Reduction and Manageif you Office lower all(PDRRMO) inputs, pricesadvised remain ment high. And toso,secure we have force and that residents theirto roofs price down and we have to sure install window shutters as make Typhoon that theismarket workstoproperly without Julian expected make landfall friction cause by several factors, includpage ing some that are illegal and Next which are now being investigated by Congress,” he added. Next page
Says move to force down rice prices amid market manipulation Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm Next page
By Rio N. Araja
P
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 aboutHOUSING. his CLIMATE RESILIENT President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the turnover of 3,517 permanent housing units for victims of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ 11 funding years ago. Mr. Marcos vehicle and the necessary to was joined by (from left) Housing Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Leyte Gov. Jericho A WEB PCOOF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD carryPetilla, it out.and Tabontabon Mayor Efren Redoña. 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 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 after the disaster. By Charles Dantes ed Nations (UN) to give it a seat on Colonel, allegedly gained the top businessman Yang sought to Duterte. associated with POGOs,” Suarez said Speaking atTony the sidelines of the turnthe UN Security Council, highlightand Maricel V. Cruz spot at the PCSO because of her indisparage lawmakers’ conclusions Fortun, a lawyer who often finds in a mixture of Filipino and English. over ceremony for completed housing ing the country’s strong record and Next page about his the client’s himself at the center high-profile The solons explained how the units in Leyte, Presidentsupposedly emphasized dedication to upholding the rule of PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sketchy past and his alleged ties cases, apparently sought to mock matrix details Yang’s connections to the government’s efforts to address islaw. said 98 percent of permanent housing with Philippine Overseas congressmen, calling their probe other individuals involved in illicit sues with substandard housingGaming built in Department of Foreign Affairs projects for Super Typhoon “Yolanda” Operators and even “unacceptable.” activities, including the operations of the early phases(POGOs) of the project. (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in victims have been completed, markorganized crime. However, House members argued illegal POGOs. "The first housing projects were a speech delivered at the UN Gening significant progress over a decade Lawyer Raymond Next Fortun they did not come by their suspicions Among the companies implicated page eral Assembly in New York said the questioned the House Quad about Yang recklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. Philippines continues to emphasize 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 down for ay wrongdoing in a real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. multilateral system in the face of tocriminal court. Quezon presented a matrix showing The two firms supposedly day’s global challenges.” “I am very interested in how they Yang’s first appearance and his have connections with the Baofu Quoted by reports, Manalo also [Quad Comm members] can prove subsequent activities at the Quad Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, said: “The Philippines has consisthis criminal network in court. In Comm hearing. which, in turn, can be directly traced tently pursued peace, the sovereign Congress, lawmakers act as both “We saw a pattern, and we tracked to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. equality of states, the rights and digprosecutor and judge,” he said. it to the top of these corporations... During Friday’s Quad Comm nity of all persons.” Yang, showed. who already admitted we stripped it of its layers , to get to hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang Research By Rachelle Tonelada He added that the country is also having a fake Philippine birth the top and through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” to about his Highest support for the governand Rex Espirtu recognized as the “first Asian Recertificate, is the brother of Michael discovered and identified at least two businesses and business partners. ment's efforts to assert sovereignty in Yang, presidential economic main actors or players in the issue the WPSa was recorded in Metro MaSOME 84 percent of Filipinos support Next page Next page nila, with 90 percent of adult Filipino the government's efforts to assert and respondents expressing agreement. protect its maritime rights in the West DISBARMENT MOVE. Human rights alliance Karapatan, kin of victims of extrajudicial killings and human rights defenders file However, Balance Luzon recorded Philippine Sea, with 91 percent showa complaint to disbar former President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, January 17, 2025, before the Supreme Court. The complainants cited the lowest level of agreement at 81 ing strong awareness of the ongoing violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability as well as conduct unbecoming a lawyer. Norman Cruz percent. dispute with China, a survey by OCTA Next page
PBBM: 98% of permanent houses lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry for ‘Yolanda’ victimsYang's completed
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
DOTr’s Bautista says online news 8 in 10 Pinoys back govt efforts report ‘unfounded'
to assert maritime rights in WPS • 3 PH warships conduct exercise near Scarborough
BAUTISTA
By Darwin Amojelar
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in EJK Scarborough shoal victims kin seek Rody’s disbarment 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 SECOND OLDEST STO. NIÑO IMAGE. A Catholic devotee touches economic zone (EEZ) thewas reAviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are the image of Sto Niño de Tondo in Manila on Friday, January 17, 2025. The in image gional watersexpedition over the inweekend. atbrought the center ofPhilippines the storm during after itMiguel was López to the de Legazpi's 1572. It is Spokesperson the second oldest image of the Child Jesus in thePhilippine country, nextNavy to the Santo Niño de for WPS Rear Admiral Roy VinNext page Cebu. Danny Pata
cent Trinidad told reporters that By Pot Chavez Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that BeiFormer president Rodrigo Duterte is facjing’s statement was meant ing a disbarment complaint filed byonly relafor audience. tivesitsofinternal victims of extrajudicial killings “Ourand troops observe (EJKs) humandid rightsnot advocates beany exercise, have to underfore the Supremewe Court on Friday. stand is Onethat of thesometimes, complainants,China lawyer Vidoing this for their internal audicente Jaime Topacio, said in an interview ence, right? For them not to look weak and embarrassed,” Trinidad said. Two Chinese warships were monitored at a distance ranging from eight to 14 US nautical miles. PRESUMPTIVE Secretary of One of these went up to 1,000 State nominee and incumbent Senator yards the MMCA site buttoevenMarcoatRubio warned Beijing “stop tually away. was not messingwent around” with “It the Philippines threatening, and Taiwan. just normal,” accordThe Florida lawmaker called China's Next page
that Duterte has no right to be a lawyer. "We are all witnesses here, the entire people here are witnesses. We saw how he cursed, how women were insulted, how the process was shortcutted, how the process was ignored, how this person killed people," Topacio told reporters in Filipino. Next page
Marcos: Savings to remedy 2025 suboptimal budget By Charles Dantes
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday admitted the 2024 national AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executivebudget Committee of SM Prime even Holdings, is “suboptimal” as he aswas honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding sured the public his administration is Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership retail development. taking steps toinaddress funding gaps in (From towards left to right): Director“deeply and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA actions its PRA neighbors critical sectors. Vice Presidentand andifPresident and COO ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) destabilizing” unchecked, couldof Golden, Speaking to reporters, President Alice T.the Liu,US SMtoPrime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, compel “counteract.” Marcos Inc. said(Toby’s efforts are underway to PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Sports) Roberto During his confirmation hearing bereallocate resources andInc. restore fundS. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, and fore the US Senate Committee on to essential programs that were cut proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Marsing C. Chua
Rubio to China: Stop messing around with PH
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