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FIVE LOCAL ‘Charter allows HOLIDAYS INstart OCT. Senate to NEWS / A3 impeach trial ISRAEL CONTINUES while onHEZBOLLAH break’ TO POUND By Maricel V. Cruz WORLD / A6
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MITSUBISHI EYES P7-B PH INVESMENT NEWS / A3
VOL. XXXVIII •• NO. 227• 3 3SECTIONS SEPTEMBER 2024•• VOL. XXXVIII NO. 358• SECTIONS16 16PAGES PAGES••P20 P20•MONDAY, •SATURDAY, FEBRUARY30, 8, 2025
ICC CONDEMNS US SANCTIONS WORLD / A7
Resignationprobe not option PNP resurrecting after impeachment—VP into PCSO official's slay THE decision of the Senate to push back the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to June when Congress resumes session is not aligned with the provision of the Constitution, former presidential adviser Teresita Deles said. Deles, representing Tindig Pilipinas, joined other members of the Buhay ang EDSA People Power Network Friday in asking the Senate to act on the impeachment immediately. Next page
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 northeastern portion of BaBy the Rachelle Tonelada buyan Islands. and Maricel Cruz to continue “’Julian’ is forecast intensifying over the next 24-36 hours as it ICE movesPresident towards Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands. With the Sara Duterte said current trend in its intensification, the possibility of reaching is super “resignation” typhoon category is not ruled out,” out of the question as she PAGASA said in its advisory. and her legal prepare Meanwhile, theteam National Disaster Risk Reduction and Managefor their defense in the ment Council (NDRRMC) said that trial aSenate total of impeachment 1.9 million family food packs worth P1.48 billion, other that will likely start in food items worth P276 million, and June. items (NFIs) worth P919 non-food million were already prepared by I can say at pointWelfare is ‘God the “All Department of this Social save the Philippines,’” Duterte and Development (DSWD). said in herSome opening statement a press P171 millionduring in standby conference at thefor Office of the fund is also held available utilization Vice President in Mandaluyong by the DSWD, including P123 City. milyet (entertainlion“We're which not can there be allotted as Quick ing possibility resignation). Response Fundof(QRF) in theThose centhings are of stillthe farDSWD. off… Let the lawtral office yers The the legal team is Distill In work. Batanes, Provincial preparing the defense and (deciding) saster Risk Reduction and Managewhat we will (PDRRMO) do moving forward," ment Office advised she added.to secure their roofs and residents If convicted in the Senate trial, install window shutters as Typhoon Duterte would be barred from runJulian is expected to make landfall ning for future public office, someNextshould page thing that could be avoided she step down in advance. Duterte said a potential 2028 run for president remained firmly on the table. "We are seriously considering that, but it's difficult to decide without numbers, so we have to know the surveys and numbers, but that's still for next year," she said. least 251 outgovernment of the 306 memTHEAt Philippine on bers of publicly the House of Representatives Sunday called for the UnitNext on page ed Nations (UN) to give it a seat 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 to emphasize coordinationcontinues and collaboration among the “importance upholding the French, Japanese,ofand U.S. maritime rule of law and the their integrity forces, showcasing abilityoftothe conmultilateral system operations. in the face of toduct multi-domain day’sIt global challenges.”their commitalso underscores Quoted by reports, Manalo ment to regional stability andalso highsaid: Philippines has consislights“The the U.S. Navy's enduring powtently pursuedcapabilities, peace, the sovereign er projection they added. equality of states, rights and dig“Pacific Stellerthe2025 allows us to nity of allseamless persons.”integration with our practice He added that the country French and Japanese allies inisa also multirecognized as the “first Asian domain environment,” said RearReAdm. Michael Wosje, commander of the US Next page Navy’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1.
People should not be surprised Says legal team already preparing for Senate trial ISpeaker was first grateful to sign for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm By Rio N. Araja Marcos —Sandro —“— Being abandoned by your boyfriend or girlfriend would hurt more than being impeached by the House of Representatives. —Vice President Sara Duterte
By Maricel V. Cruz HE Philippine
T
Police HOUSE National Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos is Norte Rep. Ferdi(PNP) reopening nand Alexander Araneta Marcos III its investigation into said people should not be surprised the that 2020 he was murder the first to of sign the impeachment complaint against Vice Philippine Charity President Sara Duterte. Sweepstakes Office He said the threats made by the Vice Next page (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
Ill-fated US plane conducting intel in Maguindanao
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. By Rex Espiritu, Mendoza narrated before conNash Maulana gressmen how Garma allegedly facilitated the PCSO official’s roadside and Joel Zurbano assassination on July 30, 2020 by providing the necessary THE United States information Indo-Pacific about his schedule, details about Command (INDOPACOM) and his the vehicle and the in funding necessary to US Embassy Manila separately carry it out.the deaths of all four pasconfirmed The whistleblower also implicated sengers aboard a Beechcraft King Air incumbent National Police Com300 that crashed in Maguindanao del missioner Leonardo in the Sur while Edilberto flying a mission at the replanning of the murder.government. quest of the Philippine Barayuga was ano retired “We can confirm survivorspolice of the general and lawyer whopersonnel supposedly crash. There were four on threatened to expose corruption withboard, including one US military service in the PCSO shortly before he was member and three defense contractors,” shot dead in Mandaluyong the US INDOPACOM said inCity. a Garma, herself anpage ex-police Lt. statement. Next Colonel, allegedly gained the top spot at the PCSO because of her inNext page
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'
A WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal activities of the POGOs and was involved in the drug trade and extrajudicial killings. TERSE RESPONSE. Vice President Sara Duterte holds a press briefing at her office in Mandaluyong yesterday, two days after the House of Representatives voted to impeach her. Manny Palmero
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry THE legal counsel of Chinese businessman Tony Yang sought to disparage lawmakers’ conclusions about his client’s supposedly TINGOG sketchy past and his alleged ties with PhilippineSUMMIT. Overseas Gaming Speaker Ferdinand Operators (POGOs) and even organized crime.Martin G. Romualdez delivers his message Lawyer Raymond Fortun duringHouse the Tingog questioned the Quad Summit at Leyte Committee’s impartiality and its Academic CenterYang ability to pin Chinese national yesterday at in Leyte down for ay wrongdoing a real criminal court. Academic Center in Palo, Leyte. He they “I am very interested in how exhorted volunteers [Quad Comm members] can prove and supporters of In this criminal network in court. Tingog to press Congress, lawmakers act as onboth with its he mission prosecutor and judge,” said. of reaching to Yang, who already out admitted having a fakecommunities Philippinethatbirth help of andMichael extend certificate, is theneed brother crucial assistance such Yang, a presidential economic
as medical missions, scholarships, livelihood programs, and disaster relief. Ver Noveno
adviser of former President Rodrigo 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 By Maricel Cruz Quezon presented a matrix showing Yang’s first appearance and his SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Rosubsequent activities at the Quad mualdez yesterday commended Tingog Comm hearing. Party-list members and supporters for “We saw a pattern, and we tracked showing what genuine public service is. it to the top of these corporations... In his message during the Tingog we stripped it of its layers , to get to National Summit 2025 at the Leyte the top and through it all, we have Academic Center in Tacloban City, the discovered and identified at least two Speaker said the party-list group that main actors or players in the issue “started as a dream - a vision to give a voice to those who have long been unheard" has gone a long way from its humble beginning. Next page
Speaker lauds Tingog role in public service
Navy spokes debunks China claim military exercises in Scarborough shoal Minimal rollback ofPinoys say rice most expensive
of illegal drugs and illegal activities 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., By Rex Espiritu which are being linked to alleged THE navies of France, Japan and the kidnapping. United Exercise The States two today firmsbegan supposedly Pacificconnections Steller 2025, multi-large have witha the Baofu deck event (MLDE) hosted Tarlac, by the Compound in Bamban, FrenchinNavy conducted in the which, turn, and can be directly traced Philippine to disgracedSea. ex-mayor Alice Guo. The exercise includes ships from During Friday’s Quad Comm the U.S. Navy's Vinson Carrier Strike hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang Group (VINCSG), the French Carrier in contempt for “lying” to about his Strike Group, the Japan Maritime businesses andand business partners. Self-Defense Force. Next page Ranking officers of the participating navies said the MLDE aims to enhance
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PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
French carrier strike group leads naval exercises in Philippine Sea
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BAUTISTA
in oil prices next food in last three months —SWS week, says DOE By Rex Espiritu
By Darwin Amojelar
TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista denied an online news report claiming that Malacañang was angry with increase in airport fees without By the Alena Mae S. Flores the approval of the Cabinet members. “TheDepartment Bilyonaryoofarticle maliTHE Energyis (DOE) cious and aunfounded,” Bautista said forecasts mixed oil price movement innext a Viber referring to the week message, with gasoline having no website thatorpublished thewhile said story. adjustment a rollback, diesel “Bilyonaryo inconsistent,” added. and keroseneis prices are alsohe expected reported online that to Bilyonaryo have a rollback to reflect the move“Bautista and his long-time protege in ment of prices in the world oil market. Philippine Undersecretary “BasedAirlines, on the four-day tradingfor in Aviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are MOPS (Mean of Platts Singapore) atand themonitoring center of the after itnews was on storm the relevant affecting the international oil market,
Next Nextpage page
THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announceALMOST six outthat of ittenconducted Filipinos ment by China (59%) saidexercises rice had theoff highest military Bajoprice de hike among the itemsas they bought Masinloc, alsofood known Scarborin the last three months 2024,Philipa new ough Shoal, in the of West survey by the Social Weather Stations pine Sea (WPS). andChina Stratbase Group said. reportedly made the anIn the survey, 25% said with meat had nouncement coinciding the the highest price increase, while 11% fourth Multilateral Maritime Cosaid vegetables had thebetween highest price operative Activity the jump. Four percent said seafoodJapan, prices Philippines, Australia, climbed the most inand the last of New Zealand, thequarter United last year.within Manila’s exclusive States The poll zone also showed 58%reof economic (EEZ) that in the Filipinos said that steps by the gional waters over the taken weekend. government to curb commodPhilippine Navysoaring Spokesperson ity insufficient. forprices WPSare Rear Admiral Roy Vin-
cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that Beijing’s statement was meant only forMindanaoans its internal were audience. the most dissat“Our did not observe isfied withtroops the government's inflation any exercise, we with have65% to undercontrol measures, saying standwere thatdissatisfied. sometimes, is they TheChina National doing this for their audiCapital Region (NCR)internal was slightly ence, right? Fornoting them their not dissatisto look behind with 60% weak and embarrassed,” Trinidad faction. said. Government economic managers Chinese were hadTwo promised that ricewarships prices would go monitored at a P5 distance down by at least per kilo ranging as early from eightafter to the 14 tariff nautical miles. as a month on imported One of these went up to 1,000 rice was reduced to 15% from 35% in yards at the MMCA site but evenJune. tually away. “It was not Fromwent an average of P54.40 per kilo threatening, accordin June, prices just couldnormal,” go down to below Next page
UAE INVESTMENT MINISTER.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomes United Arab Emirates Minister of Investment Mohamed Bin Hassan Alsuwaidi during a courtesy call at the President’s AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, Hallhonored at Malacañan was by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding Filipino President Award for his visionary leadership in retail development. PalaceRetailers on Friday. (From left to right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA PPA Pool Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua