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FIVE LOCAL DIGITAL TECHNOCRAT AGUDA HOLIDAYS IN OCT. APPOINTED NEW DICT HEAD
PALACE HITS SEN. BATO FOR CHANGING STANCE
SAN MIGUEL WANTS TO GET P34B REFUND
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BUSINESS / B1
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ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH WORLD / A6
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 •
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. National Security
Adviser Eduardo Año, Deputy Executive Secretary Amante Liberato, DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla; CIDG Director Maj. Gen Nicolas Torre III, PNP chief Gen. Rommel PAGASA Marbil; PNP Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, DOJ Secretary Crispin Remulla, and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. take their oath as resource persons during the hearing Thursday of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations led by Senator Imee Marcos on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Angie de Silva
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. extradition—first in June 2024 A TIMOR-LESTE court granted As of 5:00 PM on Sunday, PAand again in December 2024— the appeal of former lawmaker GASA raised Tropical Cyclone the Timor-Leste Court of Appeal Arnulfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. to reWind Signal No. 3 over Batanes has now reversed its stance, takject the Philippine government's and the northeastern portion of Baing a complete 180-degree turn request to extradite him, accordbuyan Islands. to reject the Philippines' extradiing to the Department of Justice “’Julian’ is forecast to continue By(DOJ). Rio N. Araja tion request," Justice spokesperson intensifying over the next 24-36 Mico Clavano said. "It is peculiar that after havhours as it moves towards Batanes ing twice decided in favor of HE Philippine Next page VOL. XXXIX • NO. 38 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, MARCH 2025With • the and/or Babuyan21, Islands. 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. million were already prepared by the Department of Social Welfare On Sunday, PNP Chief Police By Ram Superable and Development (DSWD). General Rommel Francisco MarSome P171 million in standby and Pot Chavez bil said he ordered the reopening of fund is also available for utilization the cold case after whistleblower by thegovernment DSWD, including milTHE acted on aP123 “red diffuPolice Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza told lion which can be allotted as Quick sion” from Interpol in arresting former the House Quad Committee that he Response Fund (QRF) President Rodrigo Dutertein onthe the cenback helped carry out the killing at the tral office of the DSWD. of an arrest warrant from the Internabehest of ex-PCSO general manager In Batanes, the Provincial tional Criminal Court on chargesDiof Royina Garma. saster Risk Reduction and Managefor me to harbor feelings about what crimes against humanity for murder. narrated before conByMendoza Rachelle Tonelada ment Office (PDRRMO) advised happened. He can't be brought back. During a Senate Committee on gressmen how Garma allegedly faresidents to secure their roofs and President Duterte can't be brought Foreign Relations inquiry Thursday cilitated the PCSO official’s roadside install shutters back to the Philippines," she said in an into thewindow arrest and transferasofTyphoon Duterte President assassinationICE on July 30, 2020Sara by Duterte said yesterday it was Julian is expected to make landfall online press conference. to The Hague on March 11, Senaproviding the necessary information time for the country to move on, acknowledging "Even if we get angry, our anger tor Imee Marcos also questioned the about his schedule, details about his Next page possibility that will be pointless because the governICC’s authority over a country that is vehicle and the the funding necessary to former President Rodrigo mentGonzales won't hold themSuarez accountable," A WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio and David presented this matrix during the last QUAD no longer a member. carry it out.may not be coming home Duterte from his trialshows for Comm hearing which the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic she added. "This is bigger than Duterte. This Vice The whistleblower also implicated of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that the illegal of the POGOs and was involved in the drug crimes against at The adviser Hague. Thecontrolled Vice President alsoactivities said from is about our dignity as Filipinos. They President incumbent Nationalhumanity Police Comtrade and extrajudicial killings. the way Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin say the law should prevail. Whose law? Sara Z. missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the Remulla answered questions during Ours or theirs? Since when did the Duterte planning of the murder. The Vice President was respondterior and local government secretary the Senate hearing on the arrest of the Philippines become a province of The Barayuga was a retired police ing to a question on how felt about during the former President's time. Duterte patriarch, she does not think the Hague? If they can do this to a former general and lawyer whoshe supposedly National Security Eduardo "Honestly, I don’t feel anything. government will make moves to bring president, who’s next? What stops them threatened to exposeadviser corruption withAño backbefore on herhefather. I’m not angry, I’m not disappointed. her father back to the Philippines. from doing it again?" Marcos said. in theturning PCSO his shortly was THE Philippine government Next page Ano was armed forces chief and inNothing at all. Because it’s pointless shot dead in Mandaluyong City. Nexton page 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 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 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. ing the country’s strong record and Next page about his client’s supposedly himself at the center high-profile The solons explained how the dedication to upholding the rule of sketchy past and his alleged ties cases, apparently sought to mock matrix details Yang’s connections to law. with Philippine Overseas Gaming congressmen, calling their probe other individuals involved in illicit Department of Foreign Affairs Operators (POGOs) and even “unacceptable.” activities, including the operations of (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Gen would resign, he said, ‘I am not organized crime. However, House members argued illegal POGOs. a speech delivered at the UN Genwill not ask for the resignation of Soasking for his resignation.’ So, that’s Lawyer Raymond Fortun they did not come by their suspicions Among the companies implicated eral Assembly in New York said the licitor Yang General Menardo Guevarra after all heBrickhartz said. So his trust in SolGen Guequestioned the House Quad about recklessly. are Technology Inc. Philippines continues to emphasize theOn latter declined to represent the govvarraXionwei is still there,” Castro said. Committee’s impartiality and its Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker and Technology Co. Ltd., the “importance of upholding the ernment in the consolidated petitions Castro said Mr. Marcos had already ability to pin Chinese national Yang Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga which are being linked to alleged Solicitor rule of law and the integrity of the for habeas corpus filed by the Duterte talked to Guevarra after the latter’s redown for ay wrongdoing in a real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. General multilateral system in the face of tosiblings. presented a matrix showing cusal the petitions the criminal court. Quezon Thefromtwo firms questioning supposedly Menardo day’s global challenges.” Presidential Communications arrest connections and transfer ofwith former “I am very interested in how they Yang’s first appearance and Ofhis have thePresident Baofu Guevarra Quoted by reports, Manalo also fice Undersecretary Claire Castro said Rodrigo Duterte to the International [Quad Comm members] can prove subsequent activities at the Quad Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, said: “The Philippines has consisMr. Marcos would not ask Guevarra to Criminal Court at The Hague. this criminal network in court. In Comm hearing. which, in turn, can be directly traced tently pursued peace, the sovereign resign recusal. and we tracked Congress, lawmakers act as both “Weover sawhis a pattern, to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. Next page equality of states, the rights and digI asked the President if Solprosecutor and judge,” he said. it to“When the top of these corporations... During Friday’s Quad Comm nity of all persons.” Yang, who already admitted we stripped it of its layers , to get to hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang He added that the country is also having a fake Philippine birth the top and through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” to about his recognized as the “first Asian Recertificate, is the brother of Michael discovered and identified at least two businesses and business partners. Yang, a presidential economic main actors or players in the issue Next page Next page
Timor Leste junks Teves extradition
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
T
No way for Rody to return, let's move forward—Sara
Interpol ‘red diffusion’ led to Rody's arrest
VP says no ill-feelings, admits getting mad 'pointless'
V
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
SolGen stays, won't be asked to quit—Palace
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'
Año: No grand 'conspiracy' Navy spokes debunks China claim for Duterte's arrest ST. JOSEPH'S FEAST DAY. of military exercises in Scarborough shoal
Catholic devotees led by the Our Lady of Lourdes Mission Station hold a procession to mark the St. Joseph's feast day along BAUTISTA Blumentritt Road in Sampaloc, Manila. A carpenter, St. Joseph's occupation symbolizes his industrious nature dedication to providing for By and Rex Espiritu his family. Danny Pata
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 Bya Ram in Viber Superable message, referring to the website that published the said story. THE Philippine Health Insurance Cor“Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. poration (PhilHealth) lifted its longBilyonaryo reported online that standing 45-day limitprotege for mem“Bautista and hisbenefit long-time in bers, following the directive of President Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for Ferdinandand Marcos Jr. toBobby ensureLim, uninterAviation Airports are rupted healthcare services. at the center of the storm after it was "The 45-day benefit limit is an outdated cost-containment strategy. Wepage unNext
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announcement by China that it conducted military exercises off Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). China reportedly made the anderstand why this was implemented in nouncement coinciding with the the past,Multilateral but with the changes in our Copayfourth Maritime ment mechanism, it’s now the right time operative Activity between the to reform it," said PhilHealth Japan, Acting Philippines, Australia, President and CEO and Dr. Edwin New Zealand, the Mercado. United PhilHealth acknowledged States withinpreviously Manila’s exclusive the need forzone more (EEZ) extensive economic in coverage, the renotably waters expanding its weekend. hemodialysis gional over the package from 90Navy sessions to 156. Philippine Spokesperson NextVinpage for WPS Rear Admiral Roy
PhilHealth drops 45-day benefit limit policy as ordered by PBBM
By Rex Espiritu
cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor NATIONAL Security Adviser Eduany activity, adding that Beiardosuch Año denied knowledge of the exjing’s was meant only istencestatement or participation in an alleged for its internal audience. "conspiracy" leading to the arrest of “OurPresident troops Rodrigo did notDuterte observe former and any exercise, surrender we have by to the underhis subsequent govstand sometimes, is ernmentthat to the InternationalChina Criminal doing this for their internal audiCourt (ICC). ence, right?yesterday’s For them Senate not to look During comweak mitteeand on embarrassed,” foreign relationsTrinidad hearing, said. Año acknowledged the personal difTwo ofChinese were ficulty seeing thewarships former president monitored arrested, at a distance ranging from to as 14a nautical miles. given eight his role cabinet member One went up to 1,000 duringofthethese Duterte administration. yards at the he MMCA site evenHowever, clarified thatbut as the curtually wentsecurity away. adviser “It was rent national undernot the threatening, just normal,” accordincumbent Marcos administration, his Nextpage page Next
Marcos vetoes bill declaring Pampanga as culinary capital
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed a proposed measure seeking to declare the province of Pampanga as the culinary capital of the Philippines. In a letter addressed to House Speaker Martin Romualdez and copy furnished to Senate President Francis Escudero, the President extended his appreciation AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive to Committee of SM of Prime Holdings, both houses Congress for was honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA)the withenrolled its Outstanding crafting Senate Bill Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership retail development. 2797 and itsin counterpart House (From left to right): PRA Director and Director of Bill SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA 10634. Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) "It cannot be denied that PamAlice T. Liu, SMSisig PrimeisHoldings The delectable a popularChairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, panga is celebrated for its diverse PRA President dish and Chairman of Quorum Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto Kapampangan being served in mostInternational, of
S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc.Next andpage the country's restaurants. MBCNewman proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua