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Marcos enacts law resetting BARMM polls
NEWS//A7 A3 NEWS
ISRAEL SOKORCONTINUES ACTOR TO HEZBOLLAH TOPOUND PROMOTE PH WORLD / A6 NEWS / A?? BUSINESS / B1
By Charles Dantes VOL. XXXVIII SECTIONS 16 16 PAGES PAGES •• P20 P20•SATURDAY, •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30,2025 2024•• VOL. XXXIX••NO. NO.227• 11 • 3 3 SECTIONS FEBRUARY 22,
PNP probe Newresurrecting DOTr chief stops fully cashless toll system into PCSO official's slay Dizon: Compelling all motorists to use RFID 'anti-poor' Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
By Rio N. Araja
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HE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary By Charles Dantes and Darwin Amojelar Wesley Barayuga.
On Sunday, PNP Chief Police EWLY-INSTALLED Transportation General Rommel Francisco MarSecretary Vince of Dizon suspended bil said he ordered the reopening the cold case after whistleblower next month's implementation of a Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza told completely collection system at the House Quad cashless Committee toll that he helped carry out the killing at the the expressways as his first order of business behest of ex-PCSO general manager upon Garma. being sworn in yesterday. Royina Mendoza narrated before conHe argued the policy places gressmen how that Garma allegedly fa-an unnecessary burden on the shoulders of low-income motorists, cilitated the PCSO official’s roadsidesome of whom may not always FIRST DAY AT WORK. have the fundsontoJuly reload electronic toll collection (ETC) acassassination 30,their 2020 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos counts. the necessary information providing Jr. congratulates new DOTr "My view – andabout I’ve his communicated this to TRB (Toll about hispersonal schedule, details Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon after Regulatory – is that having atofully cashless system is not provehicle and Board) the funding necessary his swearing-in at the Palace. poor. itIt out. is anti-poor," Dizon said in a press briefing Malacañang. A WEBatOF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD carry Inset shows vehicles lining up "Thewhistleblower need to regulate not make life harder for people. It Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic The alsoshould implicated former President theexpressway POGOs and toll wasbooths. involvedPCO/ in the drug should makeNational life easier. And I Combelieve this adviser cashlessofsystem, in its Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal activities of at incumbent Police Jojo Rabulan trade and extrajudicial killings. current form, would make life more difficult," he added. missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the The Toll Regulatory with planning of the murder. Board (TRB) had planned to go ahead Next page Barayuga was a 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 POGOs,” Suarez said By Ramwith Superable 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 and V. Cruz how the about his client’s supposedly himself at the center high-profile TheMaricel solons explained sketchy past and his alleged ties cases, apparently sought to mock matrix details Yang’s connections to with Philippine Overseas Gaming congressmen, calling their probe other individuals involved in illicit SENATE President Francis EscuOperators (POGOs) and even “unacceptable.” activities, including theheoperations of dero on Friday said would conorganized crime. However, House members argued illegal POGOs. sult fellow senators on whether to Lawyer Raymond Fortun they did not come by their suspicions Among the companies implicated hold an all-member caucus regardquestioned the House Quad about Yang recklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. ing the impeachment trial of Vice Committee’s impartiality and its On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker and Xionwei Ltd., President SaraTechnology Duterte as Co. proposed 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. criminal court. Quezon presented a matrix showing The two firms supposedly A TOAST TO JAPAN EMPEROR'S Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez raises his “I 65TH am veryBIRTHDAY. interested in how they Yang’s first appearance and his have connections with the Baofu glass in a toast with the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endu Kazuya during the National Day Reception Celebrating [Quad Comm members] can Hyatt proveBGC, Taguig subsequent at the Quad Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, the 65th Birthday of his Majesty the Emperor of Japan last night at the Grand City. Withactivities them are Senate network in Gesmundo court. In and Apostolic Comm hearing. which, in turn, can be directly traced President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Supremethis Courtcriminal Chief Justice Alexander Nuncio to the Philippines Congress, lawmakers act as both “We saw a pattern, and we tracked to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. Charles John Brown. Ver Noveno 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 having a fake Philippine birth the top and through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” to about his By Maricel certificate, is the brother of Michael discovered and identified at least two businesses and Cruz business partners. Yang, a presidential economic main actors or players in the issue Next page LEADERS of the House of Represenand Japan during the latter's Nacooperation between the two naBy Maricel V. Cruz tatives yesterday assured full complitional Day celebration in Manila tions, particularly with the recent ance with the Supreme Court’s (SC) Thursday. ratification of the Reciprocal AcSPEAKER Martin Romualdez acrequest for a copy of the enrolled bill Romualdez underscored the cess Agreement (RAA). knowledged the deepening strategic on the 2025 General Appropriations significance of enhanced defense partnership between the Philippines Next page
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PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr has signed a law resetting the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to Oct. 13, 2025, PAGASA the Palace confirmed yesterday. In a message to Palace reporters, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Mr. Marcos signed Republic Act No. 12123, which amends the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. The law was a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2942 and House Bill No. 11144, which both legislative chambers passed earlier in February. The Commission on ElecTHE has readied tions government (Comelec) will oversee P1.48 the billion worth of aid for communisynchronized polls alongside the ties may beelections hit hard and by typhoon 2025that national issue ‘Julian’ which says regulations for PAGASA the conduct of could the turn into avote. supertyphoon. Next page BARMM 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 is not ruled out,” 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 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
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens
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PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid Chiz heated inquiry to consult Senate on Koko’s proposal
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'
Speaker lauds deeper PH-Japan defense ties
BAUTISTA
By Darwin Amojelar 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. “The Bilyonaryo article is malicious and unfounded,” Bautista said in a Viber message, referring to the website that published the said story. “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. Bilyonaryo reported online that “Bautista and his long-time protege in Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are at the center of the storm after it was
TOXIC JELLYFISH IN PH WATERS NEWS / A3
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Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal By Espiritu by China aerial harassment, PHRex undeterred sends more planes to monitor WPS situation THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announcement by China that it conducted military exercises off Bajo de By Rex Espiritu Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, in Coast the West THE Philippine GuardPhilip(PCG) pine Sea (WPS). said that more aircraft from the BuChina reportedly the anreau of Fisheries andmade Aquatic Renouncement coinciding with sources (BFAR) were deployed tothe the fourth Multilateral CoWest Philippine Sea Maritime (WPS) despite operative Activity the the “dangerous” movebetween of a Chinese Philippines, Australia, military chopper against a Japan, BFAR New Zealand, and the plane over Scarborough shoal.United States within Manila’s exclusive In a statement, PCG spokesperson economic zone (EEZ) in refor WPS Commodore Jay the Tarriela gional over the weekend. said a waters maritime domain awareness Philippine Navy Spokesperson (MDA) flight was conducted over the for WPS Rear Admiral RoyyesterVinKalayaan Island Group (KIG)
cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that Beijing’s statement was meant only for its internal audience. troops did not observe day“Our morning. any“In exercise, have to underresponsewe to recent aggressive stand that sometimes, China is maneuvers by the People’s Liberation doing this for their internal audiArmy Navy (PLAN), the BFAR and ence, right? For them not to look the PCG conducted a maritime doweak and embarrassed,” main awareness flight overTrinidad the KIG said. in the WPS this morning,” he said. Two Chinese warships were “The MDA flight was executed monitored at a distance ranging using two BFAR aircraft, departfrom eight to 14 nautical Tarriela miles. ing from Puerto Princesa,” One of these went up to 1,000 added. yards at the MMCA site but evenDuring the operation, the BFAR tually went away. “It was not plan observed a China Coast Guard threatening, accord(CCG) vessel just withnormal,” bow number 5101
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THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the United Nations (UN) to give it a seat on by Senate minority leader Koko Pithe UN Security Council, highlightmentel. ing the country’s strong record and "Will consult the others if they dedication to upholding the rule of want to and if they are available. law. I, however, disagree with him [PiDepartment of Foreign Affairs mentel] that we can start a trial dur(DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in ing the recess when we are not in a speech delivered at the UN Gensession by simply agreeing among eral Assembly in New York said the ourselves to do so," he said. Philippines continues to emphasize Nextthe page the “importance of upholding 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 Act (GAA)as and the current year’s recognized the “first Asian Rebudget, expressing confidence that no irregularities will be found.Next page The SC made the request ahead of the preliminary conference on the case on Feb. 28, with oral arguments set for Next page April 1 in Baguio City.
House to comply with SC request; confident '25 budget docs in order
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 Armed Forces the Philippines (AFP)Penshoppe Chief of Staff, General BOLSTERING Vice President andTIES. President and COO of of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Group) Romeo S. Liu, Brawner Jr., and the Commander Indo-Pacific Command, Alice T. SM Prime Holdings Chairman of of the the U.S. Executive Committee Hans T.Admiral Sy, Samuel Paparo salute the honorofguard at Camp Aguinaldo.Admiral with PRA President and Chairman Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’sPaparo Sports)met Roberto Brawner and and discussed ways ofand bolstering defense cooperation, S. Claudio, PRA Director President of Sportshouse Int’l.military Leisure,collaboration, Inc. and and security partnership, through modernization, interoperability, and joint proponent of PRA OFR particularly President’s Award Mars C. Chua training, in line with treaty commitments. Pfc Carmelotes PN(M) / PAOAFP