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FIVE LOCAL HOLIDAYS IN OCT. NEWS / A3
Outgoing DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista
ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH WORLD / A6
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Marcos picks Dizon as new Transportation chief By Charles Dantes, Darwin G. Amojelar and Maricel V. Cruz
retary Jaime Bautista resigned “due to “Secretary Bautista thanked the health reasons.” President for the opportunity to work “He (Dizon) is already authorized in government, which Bautista considby the Office of the President to start ered his most challenging stint. He also the transition at the DOTr in coordinacalled his first government post most PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. tion with the team of Secretary Jaime enriching.” named Vince Dizon as the next head of Bautista,” Bersamin said. “Secretary Bautista looks forward to the Department of Transportation, efIn a statement, the DOTr said Baua smooth transition, after which a muchfectiveXXXVIII February 21, 2025.227• 3 SECTIONS tista was16 stepping down•from posineeded vacation to recuperate from two VOL. • NO. PAGES P20his•MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • Executive Secretary Lucas Bersation "with utmost integrity" after more and a half years of intense public sermin said outgoing Transportation Secthan two years of service. vice,” the DOTr added. Next page
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay DOJ eyes case build-up T to ensure VP conviction PNP-ACG WARNS VS. 'LOVE SCAMS' NEWS / A4
BANGKO SENTRAL HALTS EASING CYCLE BUSINESS / B1
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 3 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2025 •
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
By Rio N. Araja
HE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary By Pot Chavez Wesley Barayuga. HE National Service On Sunday, PNP Chief Prosecution Police General Rommel Francisco Marmay return the grave threats and bil said he ordered the reopening of sedition complaint filed the cold inciting case after to whistleblower Police Lt. National Col. Santie Mendoza by the Bureautold of Investigation the House Quad Committee that he against Vice helped carry out President the killing atSara the Duterte for behest of ex-PCSO general manager further case build-up, the Department of Royina Garma. Justice yesterday. Mendozasaid narrated before con-
Prosecutors may return complaint to NBI for 'higher level evidence'
T
Incoming DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon
Motel-type room Gov’t readies V-Day for 15-min. P1.48b aidvisit as at conjugal 'Manila Julian' strengthens city jail PAGASA
THE government has readied P1.48 billion worth City of aid THE Manila Jailforis communioffering a ties that treat may be hard byand typhoon special forhitinmates their spouses which this Valentine's ‘Julian’ PAGASADay: says motelcould styleinto rooms for conjugal visits. turn a supertyphoon. Jail ofWarden Supt. Soriano As 5:00 PM on Lino Sunday, PAtold Super RadyoTropical dzBB thatCyclone the airGASA raised conditioned been decoWind Signalrooms No. 3have over Batanes ratedthe with red balloons and heart deand northeastern portion of Basigns toIslands. create a romantic atmosphere buyan for“’Julian’ the couples. is forecast to continue The jail administration to intensifying over the nextaims 24-36 provide a comfortable and pleasant hours as it moves towards Batanes environment for married or legally and/or Babuyan Islands. With the partnered inmates and their loved current its intensification, ones to trend spendinsome intimate time the possibility of reaching super together during the love month. typhoon category is notthe ruled To ensure hygiene, cityout,” jail PAGASA said invisiting its advisory. is encouraging spouses and Meanwhile, Disaspartners to bringthe theirNational own mattresses. ter Risk Reduction andis ManageWhile the romantic setting provided, ment Council (NDRRMC) said that the jail emphasizes the importance of apersonal total ofhygiene 1.9 million for thefamily comfortfood and packs worth billion, well-being of allP1.48 involved. Nextother page food items worth P276 million, and non-food items (NFIs) worth P919 million were already prepared by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Some P171 million in standby fund is also available for utilization by the DSWD, including P123 million 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
gressmen how Garma allegedly faDOJ the spokesman Mico Clavano said prosecutors are still cilitated PCSO official’s roadside evaluating the complaint which stemmed from verbal threats assassination on July 30, 2020 by against President Marcos,information First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, providing the necessary and Speaker Martin details Romualdez about his schedule, aboutthat hisDuterte allegedly made Next page during an online tirade. vehicle and the funding necessary to If it theout. NPS finds the complaint sufficient, A it WEB will move to OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD carry conduct a preliminaryalso investigation, Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic The whistleblower implicatedhe added. “The level that prosecutors are look- 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. ing for now is not just probable cause missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the but reasonable certainty of conviction. That planning of the murder. requires a higher of evidence to file Barayuga waslevel a retired police a case in court,” Clavano said. general and lawyer who supposedly “We aretogoing have to evaluate threatened exposetocorruption with- it (complaint) to make sure that we see in the PCSO shortly before he was all evidence submitted byCity. the NBI,” he THE Philippine government on shot dead in Mandaluyong added. 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 He said there will be no deadline for ed Nations (UN) to give it a seat on Colonel, allegedly gained the top businessman Tony Yang sought to Duterte. associated with POGOs,” Suarez said the NPS to complete its evaluation. the UN Security Council, highlightspot at the PCSO because of her indisparage lawmakers’ conclusions Fortun, a lawyer who often finds in a mixture of Filipino and English. “This complaint is something that has about his client’s supposedly ing the country’s strong record and Next page himself at the center high-profile The solons explained how the reached national significance and it would sketchy past and his alleged ties dedication to upholding the rule of cases, apparently sought to mock matrix details Yang’s connections to be prudent to give them (NPS) the oppor- with Philippine Overseas Gaming law. congressmen, calling their probe other individuals involved in illicit tunity to verify, analyze, and evaluate the Operators Department of Foreign Affairs (POGOs) and even “unacceptable.” activities, including the operations of complaint,” he added. (DFA) Secretary EnriqueinManalo in FOR THE BELOVED. People flock to the Dangwa Flower Market organized crime. However, House members argued illegal POGOs. Asked if the DOJ expects Duterte to Manila to buythe affordable bouquets for their special someone a dayat before a speech delivered the UN GenLawyer Raymond Fortun they did not come by their suspicions Among companies implicated Valentine’s Day. If you are in Cebu, those who are looking for romantic appear should the complaint proceed to a questioned eral Assembly in New York said the the House Quad about Yang recklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. moments and delicious dining can have their fill at SM City continues Cebu. Norman Cruz, preliminary investigation, Clavano said: Committee’s impartiality and its Philippines to emphasize On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., contributed photo Next page ability to pin Chinese national Yang the “importance of upholding the 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. itBy to Rex the top of these corporations... During Friday’s Quad Comm Espiritu nity of all persons.” Yang, who already admitted we stripped it of its layers , to get to hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang He added An thatIndian-made the countryAkasha is also IN THE PIPELINE. having a fake Philippine birth the top and through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” to about his THE Armed Forces of the PhilipDuterte criticized the By Rachelle Tonelada recognized as the “first Asian Remissile short-range missile is among the weapons certificate, is the of price Michael discovered andplans identified at least businesses and business partners. pines (AFP) to shore uptwo its administration forbrother the high being considered by the Philippines to boost its and Ram Superable Yang, main actorsinventory or players in the issue weapons Nextdefense page capability, according to reports. Bharat Next page of rice. a presidential economic with the acquisi“Kagaya nitong bigas…it goes FORMER President Rodrigo Dynamics Ltd. tion of two submaon, up and up and nahihirapan ang Duterte proclaimed the Partido rines and an IndianPilipino to cope up.” Demokratikong Pilipino’s (PDP) made short-range missile In a video message, Vice nine senatorial candidates last night system in the face of China’s President Sara Duterte endorsed at the Club Filipino in San Juan aggressive military presence in the Next page City. West Philippines Sea. BAUTISTA "Hopefully we can achieve that, cent Trinidad told time. reporters that within the specified Remember By Rex Espiritu Manila troops did not monitor what we need is really funds in orBy Darwin Amojelar any adding that Beider such for usactivity, to achieve the objectives THE Philippine Navy debunked jing’s meant that (is)statement set for thewas Horizon 3 ofonly the on Sunday the recent announceTRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime for its internal audience. AFP Modernization Program," AFP ment by China that it conducted Bautista denied an online news report “Our troops not observe Chief Gen. Romeodid Brawner, Jr. said military exercises off Bajo de claiming that Malacañang was angry any exercise, we have to underWednesday in a business forum. Masinloc, also known as Scarborwith the increase in airport fees without stand that sometimes, China is Next page ough Shoal, in the West Philipthe approval of the Cabinet members. doing this for their internal audipine Sea (WPS). “The Bilyonaryo article is malience, right? For them not to look China reportedly made the ancious and unfounded,” Bautista said weak and embarrassed,” Trinidad nouncement coinciding with the in a Viber message, referring to the said. fourth Multilateral Maritime Cowebsite that published the said story. AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, Two Chinese warships were operative Activity between the was honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. monitored at a distance ranging Philippines, Australia, Japan, Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership in retail development. Bilyonaryo reported online that from eight to 14 nautical miles. (From left to right): PRA Director Director of SM Retail Jorge Mendiola, PRAlaw but RODY’S SENATE BETS. New Zealand, and the United SENATE President Francis "Chiz" organizations running in the and 2025 ed—not only in T. the Party-List “Bautista and his long-time protege in One of these went the up need to 1,000 Vice President andrepresent President marginaland COO of Golden, Inc. numerous (The Penshoppe Group) FormerAirlines, PresidentUndersecretary Rodrigo Duterte States within Manila’s exclusive Escudero emphasized to reelections do not alsoABC, in the decisions of the Philippine for Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of theCourt," Executive Committee yards at the MMCA site also but evenproclaims his candidates the Senate economic zone (EEZ) in the revisit Republic Act 7491, known ized sectors. Escudero saidHans in aT. Sy, statement Aviation and Airports BobbyforLim, are PRA Presidentthat and there Chairman Quorum Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto at the ceremonial hall of Club Filipino tually went away. “ItAct, wasfollownot gional waters over the weekend. as the Party-List System "I believe is aofneed to International, to reporters. at the center of the storm after it was S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and last night. Manny Palmero threatening, just normal,” accordPhilippine Navy Spokesperson ing the release of study results showrevisit it, given that the intent of the Escudero proposed that any proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua for WPS Rear Admiral Roy VinNext page page ing that over half of the Next party-list framers seems to have been subvertNext page
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded' PDP-Laban proclaims 9-man Senate slate, cries ‘Tapang at Malasakit’
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
AFP eyes more weapons, wants SoKor in the ‘Squad’
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal
Party-list law needs revisiting, says Escudero