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FIVE LOCAL DA lowers prices INrice OCT. ofHOLIDAYS KADIWA NEWS / A3 byISRAEL up toCONTINUES P3/kilo
TO POUND HEZBOLLAH
By Othel Ramos
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) announced it would WORLD / A6 further reduce by as much as P3 per kilo the retail prices of rice sold under the KADIWA ng Pangulo’s Rice-for-All (RFA) program. In a statement on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the price reduction “reflects both a drop in global rice prices and an increase in domestic supply as the local harvest season gets underway.” The DA chief said henceforth, RFA5 rice will be priced at P43 per kilo, RFA25 at P35, and RFA100 at P33. At present, RFA5—comprising rice with no more than 5% broken grains—is sold at P45 per kilo, while RFA25 is sold at P38 a kilo, and RFA100 retails for P36 per kilo.
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • VOL. XXXIX • NO. 1• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2025 •
CHEF MARGARITA FORES, 65 NEWS / A2
PNP resurrecting ‘Admin betsprobe don‘t have blood on their into PCSO official's slayhands’ Next page
PAGASA
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens
Marcos also urges voters to reject pro-China candidates
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm 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 about his THEand RACE IS ON. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (top photo) leads the vehicle the funding necessary to proclamation of the administration's Alyansa ng Bayan senatorialHouse candidates A WEB OF CRIME? leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD carry it out. yesterday in Laoag City. At bottom right, former Vice President Leni Robredo Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic The whistleblower also implicated joins former senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan in a President groupie after a mass adviser of former Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal activities of the POGOs and was involved in the drug incumbent Police at ComlaunchingNational their candidacies the UP Chapel in Diliman, Quezon City. At center, trade and extrajudicial killings. missioner Edilberto Leonardo inApollo the Quiboloy attend a rally in Pasig City while, supporters of detained pastor planning ofright, the murder. bottom Makabayan bloc bet, KMU Secretary General Jerome Adonis, campaigns was in Port Manila. PCO, Kiko Pangilinan, ABS-CBN screengrab Barayuga a Area, retired police general and lawyer who supposedly threatened to expose corruption within the PCSO shortly before he was shot dead in Mandaluyong City. Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. THE legal counsel of Chinese adviser of former President Rodrigo of illegal drugs 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 withFamiliar Philippine Gaming congressmen, calling their probe other individuals involved in illicit namesOverseas such as the Tulfo By Rachelle Tonelada Operators (POGOs) even “unacceptable.” activities, including the operations of brothers and those affiliated and with the adorganized crime. However, House members argued illegal POGOs. ministration's “Alyansa Para Sa Bagong VOTER preference for the 2025 senaLawyerslate are Raymond Fortun they did not come by their suspicions Among the companies implicated Pilipinas” currently leading the torial polls leans toward media personquestioned the House Quad about Yang recklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. race if the elections were held today. alities, incumbent and former lawmakCommittee’s impartiality and its On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo continers, and administration allies, a recent ability pin Chinese national Yang Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga which are being linked to alleged ued to to command strong support at Tugon Ng Masa survey released by down for ay wrongdoing inNext a page real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. OCTA Research showed. 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 of its layers Commission , to get to on Elections hearing,Chairperson lawmakers cited Tony Yang OPLANit BAKLAS. Garciaitled yesterday's of the simultaneous having a fake Philippine birth the George top andErwin through all, we havekickoff in contempt for “lying” to about his nationwide Baklas” the removal ofbusinesses illegal campaign certificate, is the brother of Michael discovered and“Oplan identified ator least two and business partners. HonorioinLopez in Tondo, Manila. her bankarecords, but said obtaining fiYang, presidential economic mainmaterials actors along or players the Boulevard issue By Maricel V. Cruz Next page Norman Cruz nancial documents would provide furand Ram Superable ther confirmation of alleged irregulariMEMBERS of the 11-man House ties and ill-gotten wealth. prosecution panel expressed confidence On Tuesday, House Assistant that their case against Vice President Majority Leader Pammy Zamora Sara Duterte is “solid,” with or without Next page
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
Admin bets, comebacking senators lead OCTA survey
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'
House prosecutors have ‘solid’ case to remove Vice President
BAUTISTA
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 BaBy Charles Dantes buyan Islands. and Maricel Cruz to continue “’Julian’ is forecast intensifying over the next 24-36 hours as RESIDENT it moves towards Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands. With the Ferdinand current trend in its intensification, "Bongbong" the possibility of reaching super typhoon category is not ruled out,” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday PAGASA said in its advisory. assured voters his DisasMeanwhile, the that National ter Risk Reduction and Managesenatorial candidates “do ment Council (NDRRMC) said that have blood onfamily their food anot total of 1.9 million packs worth P1.48 other hands” from the billion, previous food items worth P276 million, and administration's bloody non-food items (NFIs) worth P919 million already prepared by war onwere drugs. the Department of Social Welfare andDuring Development (DSWD). his address at the “Alyansa Some P171 million standby para sa Bagong Pilipinas”inproclamafund is also utilization tion rally at available the Ilocos for Norte Centenby DSWD, includingMr. P123 milnialtheArena yesterday, Marcos lion can be allotted as Quick said which his candidates are all handpicked Response (QRF) in free the cenamong the Fund best, and are all from tral of the DSWD. pastoffice controversies, corruption, and forIninfluence. Batanes, the Provincial Dieign saster RiskatReduction Manage"Look the record and of our candiment advised dates. Office None of(PDRRMO) them have blood on residents secure oftheir roofs(drug and their handstobecause Tokhang install window shutters Typhoon war). None of them wereasinvolved in Julian is expected to makeexploiting landfall pocketing sacks of money, the pandemic crisis, or abandoning Next page our people to sickness and death," the President said. Mr. Marcos added that none of his candidates are pro-China nor have they coddled criminals involved in illegal POGO activities.
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
Next page
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. 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-
COMELEC GIVES BETS 3 DAYS TO REMOVE ILLEGAL POSTERS NEWS / A3
Next page
Navy spokes debunks China claim Cambodia of military exercises in PH, Scarborough shoal boost ties with eight agreements 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) the reAviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are WELCOME HONORS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First in Lady Louise gional Prime waters over Hun the weekend. at the center of welcomed the storm Arrival after itHonor was Cambodian Araneta-Marcos Minister Manet and Philippine Navy Spokesperson First Lady Dr. Pich Chanmony to Malacañang Palace for the Prime Minister’s first official for WPS Rear Admiral Roy VinNext page visit to the Philippines. Revoli Cortez
By centCharles TrinidadDantes told reporters that
Manila troops and didCambodia not monitor THE Philippines signed any such activity, that Beieight agreements to adding boost cooperation jing’s was meant only in trade,statement investment, agriculture, edufor 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 By Vince Lopez weak and embarrassed,” Trinidad said. A RETIRED police general has surTwo Chinese warships rendered to authorities after anwere arrest monitored at a distance warrant was issued against ranging those infrom to 14 staged nautical volvedeight in an alleged drugmiles. operaOne of these went up 1,000 tion in Manila in 2022, thetoPhilippine yards at the MMCA evenNational Police (PNP)site said but Tuesday. tually went away. “It was Former PNP Deputy Chief not for threatening, just normal,” Operations, retired Police accordLt. Gen.
cation, and cultural preservation after a meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. The signing ceremony took place
at Malacañang during the Cambodian PM's state visit to Manila. Key agreements included the Elimination of Double Taxation (signed by Next page
Ex-general in alleged drug coverup surrenders
Nextto page Benjamin Santos, surrendered the
Criminal Investigation and Detection Lt. Gen. Group (CIDG) early Tuesday morning, Benjamin according to PNP AWARD. Hans spokesperson Sy, Chairman ofBGen. the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, Santos Jr. Jean wasFajardo. honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding Filipino Retailers Award for his visionary leadership in retail development. “Around 4:48President a.m. this morning, left to right): and InDirector of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA he(From surrendered to PRA the Director [Criminal Vice President President and COO vestigation andand Detection Group] andof Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman heAlice wasT.read a [warrant of arrest] and of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, PRAthrough Presidentthe and Chairman of Quorum went normal booking pro- International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and cedures,” Fajardo told reporters in a proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua message. Next page