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FIVE LOCAL MARCOS LEADS PINOYS IN JOINING GLOBAL PRAYERS FOR POPE'S RECOVERY HOLIDAYS IN OCT.
US exempts $336m PH military aid from freeze PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay T By CharlesNEWS Dantes / A3
PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr . joined the global Catho lic community in offering prayers for Pope Francis who remained in critical condition as he battled “mild" kidney failure on top of double pneumonia on WORLD / A6 Monday. "It is heartbreaking to hear about Pope Francis’ condition. In these moments, we stand united with the world in prayer for his strength and recovery,” Mr. Marcos wrote in Filipino on his his social social media media account. account. The Philippine leader expressed hope the Pontiff would continue to receive divine guidance and strength as
ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 •
PAGASA
Gov’t readies Envoy says move shows strong alliance remains intact P1.48b aid as By Rachelle Tonelada 'Julian'HEstrengthens United States
Next page
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm By Rio N. Araja
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 14 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025 •
T
HE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
THE government has readied P1.48 has exempted billion worth of aid for communi $336 million ties that may be hit hard by for typhoon ‘Julian’ which PAGASA says the modernization of could turn into a supertyphoon. Philippine security forces As of 5:00 PM on Sunday , PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone in its foreign aid freeze, Wind Signal No. 3 over Batanes Philippine Ambassador and the northeastern portion of Ba buyan to theIslands. US Jose Manuel “’Julian’ is forecast to continue Romualdez said on intensifying over the next 24-36 Monday. hours as it moves towards Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands. With the “We trend are pleased this developcurrent in its with intensification, mentpossibility – another significant sign that our the of reaching super strong partnership alliance the typhoon categoryand is not ruledwith out,” United States intact,” RomualPAGASA saidremains in its advisory. dezMeanwhile, said. the National Disas Department of Foreign Affairs ter The Risk Reduction and Managelikewise confirmed Washington hasthat exment Council (NDRRMC) said its 1.9 security aid tofamily Manilafood from aempted total of million its pause on global aid. packs worth P1.48foreign billion, other DFA spokesperson Teresita food items worth P276 Ma. million, and Daza said items the US(NFIs) issued worth a waiver to a non-food P919 "portion"were of itsalready foreign prepared military financmillion by ing for the Philippines. the Department of Social Welfare countries are committed to and“Both Development (DSWD). theSome treaty P171 alliance and toinefforts to furmillion standby ther strengthen our defense cooperafund is also available for utilization tionthe andDSWD, interoperability,” by includingDaza P123said. milwill can continue to engage the US lion“We which be allotted as Quick governmentFund on the importance our Response (QRF) in theofcenbilateral work in supporting tral office of the DSWD. our shared goals and priorities,” she added.Di In Batanes, the Provincial LastRisk year,Reduction former USand Defense Secsaster Manageretary Lloyd III and State Sec ment OfficeAustin (PDRRMO) advised retary Antony Blinken announced the residents to secure their roofs and grant ofwindow assistance worth $500 million install shutters as Typhoon for theismodernization of the Armed Julian expected to make landfall Forces of the Philippines and the PhilNext page ippine Coast Guard. Romualdez said the $336 million is part of the $500 million foreign military financing approved under the Biden administration. In January, the US State Department issued a stop-work order for all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid after President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pausePhilippine pending a review. THE government on page Sunday publicly called for theNext 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 sity, Japan's defense chief said Mon(DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in day after meeting with his counterpart. a speech deliver ed at the UN Gen Speaking as he concluded a twoeral Assembly in New York said the day visit that included a tour of PhilipPhilippines continues to emphasize pine air bases, Japanese defense the “importance of upholding thepage Next 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-
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 con gressmen how Garma allegedly fa cilitated 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 adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal activities of the POGOs and was involved in the drug incumbent National Police Com trade and extrajudicial killings. missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the planning of the murder. Barayuga was a retired police general and lawyer who supposedly threatened to expose corruption withKEEPING THEbefore FAITH. Balloons depicting Pope Francis as well as candles and flowers are laid at the statue of John Paul II outside the Gemelli hospital where in the PCSO shortly he in was Pope Francis is hospitalized Rome on February 24, 2025. Pope Francis, in a critical condition in hospital with pneumonia, had a good night and was resting, the shotVatican dead insaid. Mandaluyong City. AFP 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 in disparage 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 with Philippine Overseas Gaming congressmen, calling their probe other individuals involved in illicit Operators (POGOs) and even “unacceptable.” activities, including the operations of Manila yesterday to discuss future colBy Rex Espiritu organized crime. However, House members argued illegal POGOs. laborations in the face of an aggressive Lawyer Raymond Fortun they not come byJapanese their suspicions Among the companies implicated China. THEdid Philippine and governquestioned the House Quad about recklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. An "increasingly severe" security mentsYang reassured each other of their Rodrigo Duterte, citing and his history Committee’s impartiality its On Friday, Deputy and Xionwei has Technology Co. Ltd., By Charles Dantes, environment made deepening serobust securitySenior alliance when Speaker the two of peddling misinformation and ability to pin Chinese national Yang Aurelio Gonzales . of Pampanga which linked to alleged curity are ties being with the Philippines a necescountries' defenseJrsecretaries met in Ram Superable and disinformation. down for ay wrongdoing in a real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. Maricel V. Cruz "What’s the evidence? How can criminal court. Quezon presented a matrix showing The two firms supposedly it “I beam proven? We cannot justthey bevery interested in how Yang’s first appearance and his have connections with the Baofu MALACAÑANG and Congress lieve baseless intrigues.can Even dur[Quad Comm members] prove subsequent activities at the Quad Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, leaders pushed back against claims ing criminal his timenetwork as prosecutor, this in court.Duterte In Comm hearing. which, in turn, can be directly traced that incumbent President Marcos admitted lawmakers he was an act expert in fabCongress, as both “We saw a pattern, and we tracked to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. is veering toward dictatorship and ricating stories and he planting prosecutor and judge,” said. eviit to the top of these corporations... During Friday’ s Quad Comm may declare martial law, dismissdence. saw that happen in the Yang,Wewho already admitted we stripped it of its layers , to get to hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang ing the allegations as baseless pocase ofaformer Sen. Leila de Lima," having fake Philippine birth the top and through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” to about his litical litical intrigue intriguethat thatis is “irrational, “irrational, By Rex Espiritu she she said. said. certificate, is the brother of Michael discovered and identified at least two businesses and business partners. baseless baseless and and untrue.” untrue.” Duterte, Duterte, during during aeconomic a rally rallyininMan Man-Yang, a presidential main actors or players in the issue Next page Next page On Monday, newly minted PCO THE Philippine government has dismissed claims daue City on Saturday, speculated Undersecretary Undersecretary Claire Claire Castro Castro quesquessaying that Palawan is part of China as it continues that Mr. Marcos might follow in tioned tioned credibility credibility of forto fight disinformation on social media. the footsteps of his mer mer President President In an X post, the Philippine Navy vessel Next page BRP Sierra Madre said: “Let’s be clear: Palawan has always been, is, and will remain a part of the Philippines. It is not disputed. It is not up for deBAUTISTA bate. It is internationally recognized as sovereign cent Trinidad told reporters that Next page SHOWBIZ / C2 By Rex Espiritu Manila troops did not monitor By Darwin Amojelar any such activity, adding that BeiTHE Philippine Navy debunked jing’s statement was meant only on Sunday the recent announce TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime for its internal audience. ment by China that it conducted Bautista denied an online news report “Our troops did not observe military exercises of f Bajo de claiming that Malacañang was angry any exercise, we have to under Masinloc, also known as Scarborwith the increase in airport fees without stand that sometimes, China is ough Shoal, in the West Philip the approval of the Cabinet members. doing this for their internal audi pine Sea (WPS). “The Bilyonaryo article is mali ence, right? For them not to look China reportedly made the an cious and unfounded,” Bautista said weak and embarrassed,” nouncement coinciding with the By Charles Dantes Trinidad in a Viber message, referring to the said. fourth Multilateral Maritime Co website that published the said story . AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, Two Chinese warshipsPresidential were operative Activity between the NEWLY-APPOINTED Communica was honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. monitored a distance ranging Jay Ruiz Filipino Philippines, Australia, Japan, Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership in retail development. tions Officeatad interim Secretary took his Bilyonaryo reported online that from eight to 14assuring nauticala miles. left to right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA New Zealand, and the United oath on Monday, smooth transition(From and em“Bautista and his long-time protege in One of these went up to 1,000 Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) States within Manila’ s exclusive phasizing the importance of delivering accurate and Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for AlicedurT. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, yards at the MMCA site but eveneconomic zone (EEZ) in the re accessible government information to the public Aviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto tually went away. “It was not gional waters over the weekend. ing his tenure. at the center of the storm after it was S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and threatening, just normal,” accordNavy Spokesperson Lawyer Claire Castro also took her oath proponent as PCO of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua NEW COMMS HEAD. President FerdinandPhilippine Marcos Jr. poses with his newlyNEWS / A2 WPS Secretary Rear Admiral Next pageOffice for Next page appointed Presidential Communications ad interim Jay Ruiz. Roy VinNext page
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
Congress leaders dismiss Rody’s PH, Japan vow to enhance defense cooperation DOTr’ s Bautista claims vs. PBBM as ‘irrational’ says online news report‘unfounded'
Navycounters countersChina China PCG disinfo on Palawan Palawan
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal
VATICAN THRILLER CONCLAVE WINS SAG AWARDS TOP PRIZE
Ruiz: Misinformation has no place in gov’t
OIL FIRMS HIKE PUMP PRICES BY AS MUCH AS P0.70/ LITER