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FIVE LOCAL TO TRUMP: HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAYS OCT. TV FROM AI PROTECTINFILM,
ANOTHER OBIENA SHINES IN POLE VAULTING SCENE
PH CUTS RICE IMPORTS BY HALF ON GOOD HARVEST
SHOWBIZ / C3
SPORTS / A8
BUSINESS/ B1
NEWS / A3
Roque, Medialdea out PNP resurrecting of Duterte’s legalprobe team into PCSO official's slay ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH WORLD / A6
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 •
ICC: Transcribers fluent in Filipino, Cebuano needed PAGASA
Gov’t readies By Rachelle Tonelada P1.48b aid as Rody's lead counsel vows 'strongest defense' in ICC case 'Julian' strengthens By Rachelle Tonelada
ICE President Sara Duterte said the defense team of her father will now be all foreign By Rio N. Araja lawyers accredited by the International Criminal HE Philippine Court and who are National Police expected to give their full (PNP) is reopening attention to her father's its investigation into crimes against humanity the 2020 murder of of murder case. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
V Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
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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. ON BOARD. Ex-President Rodrigo Mendoza narrated before conDuterte's lead counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, gressmen how Garma allegedly fafields questions from the media in The cilitated the PCSOfrom official’s roadside Hague. Screengrab ABS-CBN News assassination on July 30, 2020 by providing thethe necessary information She said team will no longer about schedule, details about his includehisformer executive secretary vehicle and the funding necessary to Salvador Medialdea, who represented carry it out. Rodrigo Duterte in his ex-President The whistleblower also first appearance before theimplicated ICC preincumbent National Police Comtrial chamber last week, and former missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the presidential spokesman Harry Roque, planning of the murder. who announced his plan to seek asyBarayuga was a retired police lum in The Netherlands. general and lawyer who supposedly Next page threatened to expose corruption within the PCSO shortly before he was shot dead in Mandaluyong City. Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. Colonel, allegedly gained the top spot at the PCSO because of her in-
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 37 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025 •
‘Majority of Pinoys say Rody must answer for EJKs’
A WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal activities of the POGOs and was involved in the drug trade and extrajudicial killings.
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
Bato: Hiding from authorities an option, but DOTr’ s Bautista not surrendering says online news report‘unfounded' Palace urges VP to come home amid discovery of 'Jay Kamote,' others Next page
SENATOR Ronald dela Rosa said he is considering hiding from authorities rather than surrender to the International Criminal Court should it move to have him arrested as a co-conspirator in the crime against humanity case faced by former President Rodrigo Duterte. “If we do not see any justice here in our country, why would you surrender?” Dela Rosa said. “That (not surrendering) is part of the course of action that can be done.” Asked if he is also thinking about hiding from authorities, Dela Rosa said: “That's included. That's included in our courses of action.” Next page
BAUTISTA
By Darwin Amojelar
ARE you fluent in Filipino, Tagalog or Cebuano? A job opportunity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) might be for you. The ICC has announced in its official career platform that it is hiring THE government has readied P1.48 transcribers proficient in Filipino, billion worth of aid for communiTagalog and Cebuano, offering a freeties may be hard bytranscriptyphoon lancethat contract forhit “remote” ‘Julian’ which PAGASA says could tion service. turnSuccessful into a supertyphoon. applicants will work As the of Language 5:00 PM Services on Sunday, under Unit,PAInGASA raised Tropical Cyclone tegrated Services Division within the Wind Signal No. 3 over Office of the Prosecutor at theBatanes ICC. and“A theroster northeastern portion of Baof freelance transcribers buyan Islands. will be established as a result of this “’Julian’ is forecast continue selection process. Oncetoaccredited, intensifying over the next 24-36 freelance transcribers may be offered hours as it moves towards Batanes contracts for the provision of remote and/or Babuyan Islands. With the Next page 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 By Rachelle Tonelada and Development (DSWD). Some P171 million in standby FIFTY-ONE percent offorFilipinos befund is also available utilization lieve that former President Rodrigo by the DSWD, including P123 milDuterte should accountable for lion which canbebeheld allotted as Quick the drug-related killings Response Fund (QRF) in the centhatDSWD. took place under tral office of the his reIn Batanes, the leadership, Provinciala Dicent Social Weather saster Risk Reduction and ManageStations advised survey ment Office (PDRRMO) c o m m i s s i ed residents to secure their roofso nand by the Stratbase install window shutters as Typhoon Julian is expected toGroup makeshowed. landfall The survey page also Next showed that 25 percent disagree on the matter, 14 p e rcent remain
THE legal counsel of Chinese businessman Tony Yang sought to disparage lawmakers’ conclusions about his client’s supposedly sketchy past and his alleged ties with Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGOs) and even organized crime. Lawyer Raymond Fortun questioned the House Quad 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 andV. judge,” By Maricel Cruzhe said. Yang, who already admitted MALACAÑANG has urged birth Vice having a fake Philippine President Sara Duterte to come home certificate, is the brother of Michael and carrya outpresidential her duties to economic Filipinos, Yang, and prove that there was no misuse of OVP confidential funds under her watch. In a Palace press briefing on
adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Fortun, a lawyer who often finds himself at the center high-profile cases, apparently sought to mock congressmen, calling their probe “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 CommunicaitWednesday, to the top Presidential of these corporations... tions Office Undersecretary Caswe stripped it of its layers Claire , to get to tro said while the Vice President’s conthe top and through it all, we have tinued stay and in the Netherlands, discovered identified at leastwhere two her father, President Rodrigo main actorsformer or players in the issue Duterte is detained, is understandable, she has to explain red flags raised over the use of OVP confidential funds.
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Tri-Comm Scarborough shoal resuming By Rex Espiritu fake news probe; Vloggers invited
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 CELEBRATING WOMEN'S 'YOUNIVERSE.' economic zoneExclusive (EEZ) beauty in the reAviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are and wellness deals as well as exciting dining discounts await women at SM gional waters over the weekend. at the center of the storm after it was Supermalls for a month of self-care, inspiration, and unforgettable experiences. Philippine Navy Spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy VinNext page
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
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STRONG PUSH FOR
of illegal drugs and illegal activities associated with POGOs,” Suarez said in a mixture of Filipino and English. The solons explained how the matrix details Yang’s connections to other individuals involved in illicit activities, including the operations of 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.
THENUCLEAR Philippine TEST government BAN.on Sunday publicly called for the UnitPresident Ferdinand Marcos ed Nations (UN) give it a seat on Jr. meets withtoDr. Robert the UN Security Council, highlightFloyd, Executive Secretary of ing the strongNuclear record and the country’s Comprehensive Test Ban Organization dedication toTreaty upholding the rule of law. (CTBTO), during a courtesy call at Malacañan Palace Affairs on Department of Foreign Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in PPA Pool 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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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. “Our troops did not observe any exercise, have to underAT LEAST 11 we social media personstand thatvloggers sometimes, China is alities and may face possible doing this for their internal audicontempt—including former Comence, right? Secretary For them Trixie not to Cruzlook munications weak and embarrassed,” Trinidad Angeles—if they continue to ignore said. summons of the House of RepresentaTwo Chinese warships tives Tri-Committee, Laguna Rep.were Dan monitored at a distance ranging Fernandez said. from to 14 miles. Theeight TriComm willnautical convene its third One theseonwent to 1,000 publicofhearing Fridayup to address the yards at the MMCA site disinformabut evengrowing threat of online tually wentnews” away.allegedly “It was not tion or “fake intended threatening, just normal,” accordto present the public with a negative
Nextpage page image of public institutions. Next
ONE WITH BARANGAY LEADERS. Speaker Martin Romualdez assures barangay officials of the unwavering commitment of the House of Representatives to support them and uplift their lives through various legislative initiatives. He made the commitment in his message Wednesday afternoon before members of the Liga ng mga Barangay ng PilipinasTacloban Chapter who are on a four-day comprehensive training for disaster preparedness and budgeting, among others, in Manila. Ver Noveno
Cop in viral video faces 5 admin charges FIVE administrative charges have cis Steve Fontillas was charged with been filed against a police officer earligrave misconduct, conduct unbecomer AWARD. charged with inciting to sedition for ing of a police officer two counts Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Primeand Holdings, hiswas social media posts in connection of less(PRA) grave of duty, which honored by the Philippine Retailers Association withneglect its Outstanding with the International Criminal Court's wereleadership already in referred to the National Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary retail development. (From left toformer right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA case against President Rodrigo Police Commission (Napolcom). Vice President and President and COO ABC,said Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) case Duterte, the Quezon City Police Dis-of Golden, He the grave misconduct Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of thestems Executive Hansconstitutes T. Sy, trict said Wednesday. fromCommittee “any act that a PRA and Chairman of Quorum Inc. (Toby’s Sports) In aPresident press briefing held in Camp International, crime punishable under theRoberto Revised PeS. Claudio, and PRA Director Col. and President Int’l. Leisure, Inc.for andconduct Karingal, QCPD Director Me- of Sportshouse nal Code,” while the case proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua Next page lecio Buslig Jr. said Patrolman Fran-