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(Story on A4) FIVE LOCAL PH ECONOMY GROWS 5.6%, MISSES 2024 GOV'T TARGET—PSA HOLIDAYS IN OCT.
File photo dated July 27, 2016 shows President Duterte during a National Security Council meeting attended by four former presidents including (from left) Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Fidel V. Ramos and Benigno Aquino III. Presidential Spokesman Harry BUSINESS / B1 Roque says Malacanang is inclined to ask the four ex-presidents to attend a meeting on issues besetting the West Philippine Sea. NSC file
NEWS / A3
ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH WORLD / A6
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 •
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay ALL-OUT SUPPORT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and members of his Cabinet pose with governors from all regions of the Visayas after receiving yesterday their manifestos of support at the Cebu Provincial Capitol in Cebu City.
Palace thankful for SWS result By Charles Dantes Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm and Rachelle Tonelada MALACAÑANG expressed gratitude
for the public's continued support, as reBy Rio N. Araja
flected in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which placed the HE Philippine administration in a positive light.
T
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 350• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2025 •
National Police Next page (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
China told: Stop offense, PH to drop Typhon missile
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 faBy Charles Dantes cilitated the PCSO official’s roadside assassination on July 30, 2020 by providingRESIDENT the necessary information about hisFerdinand schedule, details about his vehicle and the funding necessary to "Bongbong" carry it out. The whistleblower also implicated Marcos Jr. on Thursday incumbent National Police Comissued a strong challenge missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the to China, planning of thesaying murder. his Barayuga was a retired police government will general and lawyer who supposedly removetothe UScorruption Typhonwiththreatened expose missile system thewas in the PCSO shortly from before he shot dead in Mandaluyong City. Philippines if Beijing Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. ends itsallegedly "aggressive andtop Colonel, gained the spot at the PCSO because of incoercive behavior" inherthe
Marcos meet with Trump in the works
By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT PAGASA Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. confirmed that a meeting with United States President Donald Trump is in the works, citing the need to discuss the latter’s new policies on defense, trade and immigration. Speaking to reporters in Cebu, the President acknowledged concerns over the temporary freezing of U.S. aid programs worldwide and said he would seek clarity on how this relates to the Philippines. Next page 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 By Charles Dantes and/or Babuyan Islands. With the current trend in its intensification, PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" the possibility of reaching Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the super move typhoon category is not ruled of out,” challenging the constitutionality the PAGASA saidAppropriations in its advisory.Act be2025 General National foreMeanwhile, the Supremethe Court (SC) isDisaspart of ter Risk Reduction and his Managemachinations to destabilize adminment Council (NDRRMC) said that istration. a total 1.9 million food Whenof asked about family contingency packs worththeP1.48 other plans should SC rulebillion, against the adfood items worth P276 million, ministration, the President warned and that non-food items (NFIs) worth P919 he is willing to allow the government’s million were already prepared by operations to come to a halt. the"No, Department Social Welfare we shut of down everything— and (DSWD). that’sDevelopment what they want, they want the Some P171 million in standby government to seize working," Mr. fund is also Marcos said. available for utilization by the DSWD, including P123 milNext page lion which can be allotted as Quick Response Fund (QRF) in the central office of the DSWD. In Batanes, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) advised residents to secure their roofs and install window shutters as Typhoon Julian is expected to make landfall A PASSENGER jet carrying 64 peopage ple crashed into Washington'sNext Potomac River Wednesday after colliding midair with a military helicopter, with US media reporting multiple bodies pulled from the dark, near-freezing water. A massive search and rescue operation was in progress, with divers visible in the glare of powerful lights as they plunged into the snow-lined Potomac to scour the wreckage of both aircraft. Chief John DonTHEWashington PhilippineFiregovernment on nelly told a press briefing thatUnitemerSunday publicly called for the gency crews, totaling about people, ed Nations (UN) to give it a300 seat on were working in "extremely rough" the UN Security Council, highlightconditions and gave little indication ing the country’s strong record and they expected to find anyone dedication to upholding the alive. rule of law."We're going to be out there as long as Department it takes," Washington Mayor Muriel of Foreign Affairs Bowser told reporters. (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in Citing delivered local sources, CBS News said a speech at the UN Genat least 18 bodies had been recovered, eral Assembly in New York said the Next page 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-
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens
PBBM: Moves vs. nat'l budget part of destab plot
Marcos’ dare in response to Chinese incursions in WPS At least 18 dead
P
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West Philippine Sea.
in US air collision
RADIO CHALLENGE. A WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD
A Philippine Coast Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic Guard (PCG) officer adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal activities of the POGOs and was involved in the drug on board the BRP trade and extrajudicial killings. Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) yesterday issues radio challenges to China Coast Guard (CCG) Vessel 3304 while on maritime patrol west of THEZambales. legal PCG counsel of Chinese adviser of former President Rodrigo of illegal drugs and illegal activities
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry businessman Tony Yang sought to disparage lawmakers’ conclusions about his client’s supposedly sketchy past and his alleged ties with Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGOs) and even organized crime. Lawyer Raymond Fortun questioned the House Quad Committee’s impartiality and its ability to pin Chinese national Yang down for ay wrongdoing in a real criminal court. “I am very interested in how they [Quad Comm members] can prove this criminal network in court. In Congress, lawmakers act as both prosecutor and judge,” he said. Yang, who already admitted By Pot aChavez having fake Philippine birth certificate, is the brother of Michael SECURITY officials said economic Thursday Yang, a presidential they arrested five more Chinese spies, following the detention of another Chinese national and two of his Filipino cohorts for espionage this month. Two of the suspects were arrested at the NAIA Terminal 3, while the others were nabbed in Pasay City, Dumaguete City, and Intramuros, Manila. National Bureau of Investigation By Rex Espiritu director Jaime Santiago told a news
Duterte. Fortun, a lawyer who often finds himself at the center high-profile cases, apparently sought to mock congressmen, calling their probe “unacceptable.” However, House members argued they did not come by their suspicions about Yang recklessly. On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of Quezon presented a matrix showing Yang’s first appearance and his subsequent activities at the Quad Comm hearing. “We saw a pattern, and we tracked it to the top of these corporations... we stripped it of its layers , to get to conference men used drone to the top and the through it all,a we have document goings-on at a naval detachdiscovered and identified at least two ment, actors coast guard ships, an main or players in air thebase, issuea naval base, and a dockyard in Palawan province, the closest major landmass to the Spratlys. The suspects also used advanced technologies such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Realtime Kinematics (RTK). "This group, based on our surveillance confessiontold of ourreporters witnesses,that was cent Trinidad
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded' 5 more Chinese spies arrested; "Let’s make a deal with China: Stop claiming our territory, stop harassing our fishermen, stop ramming our boats, stop water cannoning our people, stop firing lasers at us, and stop your aggressive and coercive behavior—then I’ll return the Typhon missiles," President Marcos said in an interview in Cebu. "If they stop what they’re doing, I’ll return all of it," he added. The US military deployed the Typhon missile system in the northern Philippines last year as part of an Next page
Edcel Lagman
Suspects used CCTVs, drones
associated with POGOs,” Suarez said in a mixture of Filipino and English. The solons explained how the matrix details Yang’s connections to other individuals involved in illicit activities, including the operations of illegal POGOs. Among the companies implicated are Brickhartz Technology Inc. and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., which are being linked to alleged kidnapping. The two firms supposedly have connections with the Baofu Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, which, in turn, can be directly traced to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. During Friday’s Quad Comm hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang in contempt for “lying” to about his businesses and business partners. Next page
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
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Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal
BAUTISTA
By Darwin Amojelar
Albay’s Edcel Lagman, 82
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. By Rosas Olarte and “The Bilyonaryo article is malicious and unfounded,” Ratziel San JuanBautista said in a Viber message, referring to the website that published the Rep. said story. ALBAY 1st District and “Bilyonaryo inconsistent,” added. Liberal is Party presidentheEdcel Bilyonaryo reported that Lagman passed away online on Thurs“Bautista and his long-time protege day afternoon, according to hisin Philippine family.Airlines, Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are Tabaco City Mayor Krisel at the center in ofathe storm after it was Lagman statement said her Next page Next page
THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announcement by China that it conducted military exercises off Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). China reportedly made the announcement By Maricelcoinciding V. Cruz with the fourth Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity between the THE House of Representatives Philippines, Japan, Committee on Australia, Labor and EmployNew Zealand, thea measure United ment on Thursdayand passed States within Manila’s exclusive mandating a P200 daily across-theeconomic (EEZ) in the secreboard wagezone increase for private gional waters over the weekend. tor workers. Philippine Navy Spokesperson The approval came following a for WPSthat Rear Admiral Roy Vinproposal gained momentum after
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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 any exercise, we have to understand that sometimes, China is doing this for their internal audience, right? For them not to look weak andMartin embarrassed,” Speaker Romualdez Trinidad initiated a said. Tuesday night meeting to discuss their Two Chinese warships were call for higher wages. monitored at a distance ranging Meanwhile, Senate President from eight to 14said nautical Francis Escudero that themiles. Senate One of these up to 1,000 will work with went the House of Repreyards at thetowards MMCA but evensentatives thesite passage of an tually went away. was across-the-board daily“It wage hikenot for threatening, normal,” accordprivate sectorjust workers.
House panel okays P200 wage hike bill, gets Senate chief's ok
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AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, was honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership in retail development. (From left to right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) SNOOPS INPrime PALAWAN. :National of Investigation NBIHans Director Alice T. Liu, SM Holdings Chairman ofBureau the Executive Committee T. Sy, Jaime Santiago, AFP of Staff Gen, Romeo Brawner and Immigration PRA President and Chief Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. Bureau (Toby’s of Sports) Roberto present the five Chinese Nationals allegedlyofspying on Coast Guard bases S. Claudio, and5PRA Director and President Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc.and andvessels inproponent Palawan. Inset shows beach resort where suspects set up surveillance of PRA OFRthe President’s Award Marsthe C. Chua devices to monitor movement of Coast Guard ships in Oyster Bay. Norman Cruz