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TriComm summons ‘influencers’ FIVE LOCAL HOLIDAYS IN OCT. NEWS / A3
ISRAEL CONTINUES Panel co-chair warns disinformation has nat'l security impact TO POUND HEZBOLLAH
By Rio N. Araja
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 •
WORLD / A6 HE House of Representatives invited 40 social media personalities and other “influencers” to serve as resource persons at its first hearing to probe how fake news and disinformation are disseminated via the internet.
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay T
Scheduled tomorrow, the initial hearing will be conducted by the House committees on Public Order and Safety, Public Information, and Information and Communications Technology, which when combined are referred to as the Tri Committee (TriComm). Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, who Next page
List of Resource Persons
Those invited are the following: Malou Tiquia, Jose Yumang Sonza, Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa, Atty. Trixie Cruz Angeles, See complete list on A2
PAGASA
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens
ATOK SUNRISE WATCH. Sunrise at Atok in Halsema highway, in Benguet province, is always a magnificent sight during this time of the year. Atok used to be the.country's highest highway point at 2,259 meters (7,398 feet) until 2019 when the THE government Department of Public Works and Highways declared the Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Road (2,428.66 m/7,968.0 ft) as thehas newreadied holder ofP1.48 the billion worth of aid for communidistinction. Dave Leprozo
ties 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, the possibility of reaching super typhoon category is3, not2025 ruled out,” VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 353• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, FEBRUARY • PAGASA said in its advisory. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that a total of 1.9 million family food packs worth P1.48 billion, other food items worth P276 million, and non-food items (NFIs) worth P919 million already prepared by economic zone, maritime monitor “Therewere are two that have gone up the By Rex Espiritu the of Social Welfare SeaLight said Sunday. coastDepartment of Palawan past Luzon within 25 and and Vito Barcelo Ray Powell, a former US Air Force to 35Development nautical miles.(DSWD). Very very close. In Some there P171aremillion standby officer and director of SeaLight, told addition, anotherinfour China fund is also available for utilization AT LEAST nine China Coast Guard ABS-CBN News that the CCG vessels Coast Guard ships around Scarborough by the DSWD, (CCG) vessels are presently patrolare dispersed across waters that China Shoal,” he said. including P123 million which can be allotted as Quick Next page ling inside the Philippines’ exclusive is claiming as its own. 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
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm By Rio N. Araja
T
HE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
PCG faces off anew with Chinese ships in EEZ
On Sunday, PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil said he ordered the reopening of STRONGER TOGETHER: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Speaker the cold case after whistleblower Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez share a warm moment after a productive lunch at Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza told Malacañang Sunday, reaffirming their steadfast partnership in service to the nation. 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 By Othel Campos 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 Leonardo Donald in the UNITED Edilberto States President planning of the murder. Trump announced broad tariffs on Barayuga was apartners retired Canada, police major US trading general and lawyer who supposedly Mexico and China, claiming a "major threatened to expose withthreat" from illegal corruption immigration and in the PCSO shortly before he was drugs—a move that sparked promises shot dead in Mandaluyong City. of retaliation. Garma, an ex-police THE legal counsel of Chinese adviser of former President Rodrigo of illegal drugs and illegal activities Canadianherself and Mexican exportsLt.to Colonel, allegedly gained the top businessman Tony Yang sought to Duterte. associated with POGOs,” Suarez said the United States will face a 25 percent spot at the PCSO because of her indisparage lawmakers’ conclusions Fortun, a lawyer who often finds in a mixture of Filipino and English. tariff starting Tuesday, although energy Next page about his client’s supposedly himself at the center high-profile The solons explained how the resources from Canada will have a lowsketchy past and his alleged ties cases, apparently sought to mock matrix details Yang’s connections to er 10 percent levy. Next page 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 down for ay wrongdoing in a real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. WORLD/ A6 criminal court. Quezon presented a matrix showing The two firms supposedly “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 BUSINESS / B1 having a fake Philippine birth the top and through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” to about his certificate, is the brother of Michael discovered and identified at least two businesses and business partners. Yang, a presidential economic main actors or players in the issue Next page
US hikes tariffs on China, Mexico Canada imports
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
DOTr’ s Bautista IRAN UNVEILS saysLATEST onlineMISSILE news report‘unfounded'
AUTO SALES SEEN UP BY 8% IN 2025
BAUTISTA
By Darwin Amojelar
Probe underway Navy spokes debunks China claim on fatal chopper of military exercises in Scarborough shoal crash—CAAP 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 CRASH SITE. First responders wade in economic the swamp, where light helicopter zone a (EEZ) in the reAviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are crashed on February 1, 2025 as bystanders looked on in Arimungmong, Miguel gional waters over theSan weekend. at the center of the storm after it was village in Guimba, Nueva Ecija. Guimba Police Station Philippine Navy Spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy VinNext page
cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that BeiByjing’s Joelstatement Zurbanowas meant only for its internal audience. A THOROUGH was “Our troopsinvestigation did not observe launched immediately to determine any exercise, we have to underthestand circumstances that led China to the is that sometimes, crash of a helicopter with registration doing this for their internal audinumber killed ence, RP-C3424, right? For which them not to its look pilot, in and Guimba, Nueva EcijaTrinidad over weak embarrassed,” thesaid. weekend. In aTwo statement on Sunday, the Civil Chinese warships were Aviation Authority of the Philippines monitored at a distance ranging (CAAP) said initial indicate from eight to 14reports nautical miles. thatOne the ofplane departed Manila on these went up to 1,000 Saturday morning (February 1). It yards at the MMCA site but evenwastually on its went way toaway. Baguio“Itto was drop anot passenger. Nextaccordpage threatening, just normal,” Next page
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PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the United Nations (UN) to give it a seat on the UN Security Council, highlighting the country’s strong record and dedication to upholding the rule of law. INTRUSION. Department China of Foreign Affairs Coast Guard (DFA) Secretary(CCG) Enrique Manalo in vessels a speech delivered the3104 UN are Gen3301atand eral Assembly in New York said shown patrolling the Philippines continues to emphasize within the the “importance of upholding the country's Exclusive rule of law andEconomic the integrity Zoneof the multilateral system face of to(EEZ)ininthe waters day’s global challenges.” off Pangasinan Quoted by reports, Manalo also province, northern said: “The Philippines has consisLuzon. Philippine tently pursued peace, the sovereign Coast Guard equality of states, the rights and dignity of all persons.” He added that the country is also recognized as the “first Asian Re-
NFA ready to deploy 300,000 sacks tomorrow to LGUs
THE National Food Authority (NFA) said it is ready for the potential declaration of a food security emergency regarding rice. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson added that several local government units (LGUs) have shown interest in
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purchasing NFA rice for distribution once the emergency is officially declared. "We are prepared. Neighboring regions are already sending rice to Metro Manila, in addition to our Next page
P150 million more alloted for med school programs in SUCs
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. cumulative seedT. Mendiola, money toPRA develop to right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge By(From RioleftAraja Vice President and President and COO of Golden, Inc. (Theschools, Penshoppe Group) City newABC, medical Quezon Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of theRep. Executive Committee Hans Sy, Marvin Rillo said onT.Sunday. STATE universities and colleges PRA President Chairman Quorum (Toby’schairperson Sports) Roberto Rillo,Inc.vice of the (SUCs) will and soon be of able to International, S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure,on Inc.Higher and House Committee and produce aspiring doctors as the 19th proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua Next page Congress allocated over P1-billion in