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VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 •
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay
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 hold Tropical Cyclone SOLIDARITY MARCH. Several thousands of Dabawenyos a solidarity Wind President Signal No. 3 over Batanes march Sunday to call for the return of former Rodrigo Duterte andhe the northeastern from The Hague in the Netherlands where is facing trial forportion crimes of Babuyan Islands. against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) Left photo shows Sen. Bong Go and Davao City Mayor Sebastian 'Baste' “’Julian’ is forecast to continue By Rio N. Araja Duterte at the rally held on the occasion of the founding intensifying overanniversary the next of24-36 VOL. XXXIX • NO. 34 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2025 • the city. (Sen. Bong Go FB page) hours as it moves towards Batanes HE Philippine and/or Babuyan Islands. With the current trend in its intensification, National Police the possibility of reaching super (PNP) is reopening typhoon category is not ruled out,” PAGASA said in its advisory. its investigation into Meanwhile, the National Disasthe 2020 murder of ter Risk Reduction and ManagePhilippine Charity ment Council (NDRRMC) said that a total of 1.9 million family food Sweepstakes Office packs worth P1.48 billion, other (PCSO) board secretary food items worth P276 million, and non-food items (NFIs) worth P919 Wesley Barayuga. SUPPORTERS of former Presimillion were already prepared by dent Rodrigo Duterte turned the the Department of Social Welfare On Sunday, PNP Chief Police “Araw ng Dabaw”(DSWD). celebration into and Development General Rommel Francisco Mara demonstration even as House Some P171 million in astandby bil said he ordered the reopening of leader called on them not to turn fund is also available for utilization the cold case after whistleblower his arrest and detention into a 'poby the DSWD, including P123 milPolice Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza told litical spectacle.' lion which can be allotted as Quick the House Quad Committee that he In his address to supporters on Response Fund (QRF) in the cenhelped carry out the killing at the the occasion of the city's 88th antral office of the DSWD. behest of ex-PCSO general manager On Sunday, PNP spokesperson, know that there are others also beniversary, Davao Mayor SeIn Batanes, theCity Provincial DiBy Vince Lopez Royina Garma. Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said that ing charged apart from the former bastian "Baste" Duterte told parsaster Risk Reduction and ManageMendoza narrated before conDuterte’s arrest last week has already president. But since Duterte had ticipants of the “Solidarityadvised Walk” ment Office (PDRRMO) gressmen HE how Philippine Garma allegedly faNational Police (PNP) is prepared provided the national police a temalready been arrested, we already that it has been a rollercoaster of residents to secure their roofs and cilitated the PCSO official’s roadside plate on how to serve such warrants. have a template for what to do with emotions for him since the arrest of install window shutters as Typhoon to assist the International Criminal Police assassination on July 30, 2020 by She, however, refused to speculate others,” Fajardo said during a telehis father. Julian is expected to make landfall providing Organization the necessary information (Interpol) in serving arrest warrants on who will be charged alongside the vised interview with Super Radyo “I don't understand what I am about his schedule, details about his Next page former president, and when the InterDZBB. feeling. It has been a rollercoaster that could potentially be issued against those suspected of vehicle and the funding necessary to national Criminal Court (ICC) will this matrix “This means if there will be of emotions for me, but every time A WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented during thethat last QUAD carry it out.former President Rodrigo helping Duterte implement his issue warrants for their arrest. other arrest warrants issued and the I see your support, it gives me Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic The whistleblower also implicated bloody war on drugs. “First of all, we don't want to Interpol asks again for assistance strength,” he told marchers. 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. Next page preempt the process. However, we Next page missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
T
PNP prepared to serve ICC warrants on others
Rody supporters turn Davao anniv into protest march
Duterte experience gave cops 'template' for arrests
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PH lobbies UN planning of the murder. for Security Barayuga was a retired police general and lawyer who supposedly seat 31 threatened corruption withList toofexpose'fake' VP confidential DA sees priceamid of imported at P45/kiloCouncil by March Yang's lawyer mocks probers heatedrice inquiry
funds recipients getting longer
in the PCSO shortly before he was shot dead in Mandaluyong City. Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. Colonel, allegedly gained the top spot the N. PCSO because of her inByatRio Araja Next page
THE list of questionable names supposedly used to justify millions in confidential fund disbursements under Vice President Sara Duterte’s office continues to get longer, La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V said yesterday.
THE legal counsel of Chinese businessman Tony Yang sought to disparage lawmakers’ conclusions He cited the inclusion of the soabout his client’s called “Dodong Gang,”supposedly along with sketchy past named and his alleged ties individuals as “Jay Kamote” with Philippine Overseas Gaming and “Miggy Mango.” Operators The latest(POGOs) revelationsand has even deeporganized crime. over fraudulent conened concerns Lawyerfund transactions Raymond under Fortun fidential the questioned the House NextQuad page Committee’s impartiality and its ability to pin Chinese national Yang down for ay wrongdoing in a real criminal court. “I am very interested in how they [Quad Comm members] can prove this criminal network in court. In Congress, lawmakers act as both prosecutor and judge,” he said. which polled adultalready Filipinos,admitted indicates Yang, who a strong preference for familiar faces, having a fake Philippine birth with a majority the probable wincertificate, is theofbrother of Michael ners being or formereconomic senators. Yang, a current presidential Tulfo garnered a commanding 66% voting preference, placing him
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report Tulfo‘unfounded' tops latest OCTA survey
as bets keep mum on Rody issue
A RECENT survey reveals that if the May 2025 senatorial elections were held today, 16 candidates would likely secure seats in the Senate, with Congressman Erwin Tulfo leading the pack. The survey by OCTA Research,
BAUTISTA
By Darwin Amojelar
By Othel V. Campos adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte. RICE prices may drop P45finds per Fortun, a lawyer who to often kilo by March 31 if global prices himself at the center high-profile continueapparently to decline sought and thetopeso recases, mock mains strong, Agriculture secretary congressmen, calling their probe Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. announced “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 Quezon presented a matrix showing Yang’s first appearance and his subsequent activities at the Quad Comm hearing. “We saw a pattern, and we tracked it to the top of these corporations... we stripped it of its layers , to get to the top and through it all, we have discovered and identified at least two main actors or players in the issue
Sunday. of illegal drugs and illegal activities “If the with current trend inSuarez world said rice associated POGOs,” prices persists and the peso maintains in a mixture of Filipino and English. itsThe strength, we may lower the MSRP solons explained how the for imported rice to around P45 matrix details Yang’s connectionsper to kilo byindividuals March 31,”involved he said. in illicit other This follows the the government’s activities, including operations reof illegal POGOs. Among the companies implicated are Brickhartz Technology Inc. and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., which are being linked to alleged kidnapping. The two firms supposedly have connections with the Baofu Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, which, in turn, can be directly traced to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. During Friday’s Quad Comm hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang in contempt for “lying” to about his businesses and business partners.
THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the Unitcent move to cut the maximum suged Nations (UN) to give it a seat gested retail price (MSRP) foron imthe UN Security ported rice fromCouncil, P58 perhighlightkilo to P49 ing theMarch country’s as of 1. strong record and dedication to upholding the February, rule of Implemented in early law. the Department of Agriculture’s Next page 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-
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Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal Next page
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 Statesgroups within Manila’s exclusive Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for 'TAKBO, BABAE'. Women representing various launch the advocacy to economic zone (EEZ)(UP) in oval. the reAviation andagainst Airports Bobby Lim, areat the University end Violence Women with a run of the Philippines gional waters over theQC weekend. Collaborators UP Diliman Gender Office, LGU's at the center for of the the activity storm include after it GABRIELA, was Philippine NavyYouth, Spokesperson Gender and Development Council, Gabriela Women's Party, GABRIELA and the UP Delta Lambda Sigma Sorority. Edd Castro for WPS Rear Admiral Roy VinNext page
FERTILIZER PLANT. centNEW Trinidad told reporters that Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualde, with his daughter Mariabella Gabrielle Romualdez, leads the ceremonial distribution of Bio N Rice Microbial Fertilizer to farmer beneficiaries during the Manila troops did not monitor inauguration of Agri-Specialist Inc. (ASI) at Bio N Fertilizer Plant in Sta Rosa, Laguna yesterday morning. Also in the photo any are such that Bei-Jr. and his father, ASI Chairman Mario Labadan, Sr. The ASI plant, with its state-of-the-art ASIactivity, Presidentadding Mario Labandan, jing’s statement was meant onlysystems, and microbiology research lab, will produce 7,000 metric tons of Bio N fertilizers bioreactors, automatic packaging for its internal audience. every year—enough to supply the needs of our rice and corn farmers nationwide. Ver Noveno “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 In his message at the inauthe nation’s future.” Byand Rioembarrassed,” N. Araja Trinidad weak guration of the Agri Specialist Developed by Filipino scisaid. AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee Prime Holdings, SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Inc.’s Bio N fertilizer plant in entists at theof SM University of the Two Chinese warships were was honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with itsBanos, Outstanding Romualdez sees a better income Sta. Rosa, Laguna on Sunday, Philippines-Los Bio N is monitored at a distance ranging Filipino Retailers President Award for ahis visionary leadership in retail development. for Filipino farmers and access to the Speaker said the event was a biofertilizer that reduces depenfrom eight to 14 nautical miles. (From changer left to right): Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRAimmore affordable food for everyone game to PRA usher in a and newDirectordence on chemical fertilizers, One of these went up to 1,000 Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) with the inauguration of a plant chapter in Philippine agriculproves soil health, and cuts farmAlice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, yards at the MMCA site but eventhat would mass-produce locally ture and a turning point for “our ing costs.Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, tually went away. “It was not developed biological fertilizer. farmers, our food supply, and S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc.Next andpage threatening, just normal,” accord-
New plant to lower rice prices, hike agri income—Speaker
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proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua