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Palace bars Cabinet from attending Senate probe on Duterte ICC arrest
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 •
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSOinvasion official'stoslay ‘Taiwan drag PH’ By Charles Dantes and Ram Superable
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 50 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025 •
MALACAÑANG has declined an invitation from the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations for Cabinet officials to participate in an ongoing probe on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a letter dated March 31, 2025 and made public yesterday, Executive PAGASA Secretary Lucas Bersamin cited concerns over executive privilege and the ongoing Supreme Court case concerning Duterte's arrest and detention at the International Criminal Court at The Hague. Next page
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 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
Speaker for PMA for Classany '83 vote of confidence amid in QuadChina Comm military drills AFP toldgrateful to prepare eventualities By Rex Espiritu By Rio N. Araja
T
HE country's military HE Philippine chief warned Tuesday National Police the Philippines would (PNP) is reopening "inevitably" be involved if its investigation into neighboring Taiwan was invaded, the 2020 murder of calling on troops to prepare for Philippine Charity that possibility while warning Sweepstakes Office China was working to infiltrate (PCSO) board secretary the Filipino military and other Wesley Barayuga. institutions.
CHINA BLOCKADE TAIWAN DRILL. This screengrab from a video released by China People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, shows the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailing in waters off Taiwan. The Shandong is part of the army, navy, air and rocket forces deployed by China for drills Beijing said were aimed at practising a blockade of the self-ruled island. Inset photos below (from left) show Taiwanese soldiers loading an air force fighter aircraft with weapons at an undisclosed location and a member of the Taiwanese military in an armored vehicle in New Taipei City. AFP / Taiwan Coast Guard / Eastern Theatre Command
On Sunday, PNP Chief Police Armed Rommel Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Francisco MarGen. Romeo Brawner made the comments bil said he ordered the reopening of as Beijing'scold military Taiwan in large-scale the casesurrounded after whistleblower exercises said was practice for a blockade Police Lt.it Col. Santie Mendoza told of the self-ruled island, which China has vowed the House Quad Committee that he to one day bringcarry underout its control. helped the killing at the Next page behest of ex-PCSO general manager Royina Garma. Mendoza narrated before congressmen how Garma allegedly facilitated 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 SOON-TO-BE delivered modern naval assetsadviser like 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. two guided-missile andinother missioner Edilbertocorvettes Leonardo the similar craft will be primarily deployed to the West Philippine planning of the murder. SeaBarayuga and waterswas of Northern Luzon, a ranking naval a retired police official said on Tuesday. general and lawyer who supposedly In a radio PhilippinewithNavy spokesperthreatened to interview, expose corruption sonthe forPCSO the West Philippine SeaheRear in shortly before wasAdmiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said this is based on the Comprehensive shot dead in Mandaluyong City. page legal counsel of Chinese Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. Next THE 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 indisparage 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 organized crime. However, House members argued illegal POGOs. quake that has claimed over 2,000 lives. tan Manila Development Authority, By Rex Espiritu Lawyer Raymond theyprivate did notsector comepartners by theirsuch suspicions Among the companies implicated Some 58 personnel from the Fortun Philipand as EDC questioned the Air House Quad about YangMining, recklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. pine Army, Philippine Force (PAF), and APEX departed from VilTHE first batch of Filipino rescuers arCommittee’s and its OnAir Friday, Speaker and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., By Rex Espiritu Bureau of Fire impartiality Protection, Metropolilamor BaseSenior aboardDeputy two C-130 cargo rived in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw ability to pin Chinese national Yang Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga which are being linked to alleged planes earlier the same day. Tuesday afternoon to provide muchFORMER President Rodrigo down for ay wrongdoing in a real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. Members of the contingent, headed needed aid to a population that is still Duterte's legal team is preparing to criminal court. Quezon presented a matrix Next showing The two firms supposedly page reeling from a 7.7 magnitude earthfile a connections request for his interim “I am very interested in how they Yang’s first appearance and his have with the release, Baofu though the exact for theTarlac, appli[Quad Comm members] can prove subsequent activities at the Quad Compound in timing Bamban, cation in before Crimithis criminal network in court. In Comm hearing. which, turn,the canInternational be directly traced Court (ICC) has yet to be deterCongress, lawmakers act as both “We saw a pattern, and we tracked tonal disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. 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 certificate, 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
Modern naval assets to be deployed to WPS, Taiwan fronts
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
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PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the 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 (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in a speech delivered at the UN General Assembly in New York said the Philippines continues to emphasize mined. the After “importance of upholding the his recent visit to Duterte rule of law and the integrity the at the Scheveningen Prison,oflawyer multilateral system inyesterday the face of toNicholas Kaufman briefed day’s global reporters onchallenges.” the three key factors that Quoted by an reports, could justify interimManalo release, also which said: “The Philippines consishe described as a “right”has of the former tently pursued peace, the sovereign president. Next page equality of states, the rights and dignity of all persons.” He added that the country is also recognized as the “first Asian Re-
PH search and rescue contingent lands in Myanmar Bail sought for Rody; lawyers say
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'
BAUTISTA
naming 30k EJK victims unnecessary
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal By Rex Espiritu
cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor By Amojelar IN Darwin MYANMAR. The first batch of the Philippine humanitarian contingent poses with welcoming Myanmar officials any such activity, addingafter that BeiTHE Philippine Navy debunked arriving at Nay Pyi Taw airport on board Philippine Air Force C-130 planes. jing’s statement was meant only on Sunday the recent announceTRANSPORTATION 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 off Bajo de claiming that Malacañang was angry FLOOD any exercise, we have to underMasinloc, also known as Scarborwith the increase in airport fees without stand that sometimes, China is OF POLL ough Shoal, in the West Philipthe approval of the Cabinet members. doing this for their internal audiMATERIALS. pine Sea (WPS). “The Bilyonaryo article is malience, right? For them not to look Campaign tarpaulins viral vehicle raffle and made reportsthe of cash China reportedly anBy Charles DantesBautista said cious and unfounded,” and posters of weak and embarrassed,” Trinidad distribution at campaign rallies prior to nouncement coinciding with the in a Viber message, referring to the candidates fill the said. THE Commission on Elections (Comethe local campaign period." fourth Multilateral Maritime Cowebsite that published the said story. streets and warships were Twoof Tondo Chinese lec) has received 34 election In the 2022 national between and local elecoperative Activity the “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he offense added. Sampaloc in Manila. monitored at a It distance ranging complaints as of Monday, with 23 allegtions, the Comelec recorded 1,226 Philippines, Australia, Japan, Bilyonaryo reported online that was not clear whether from eight to 14 nautical miles. ing vote-buying or vote-selling and 11 incomplaints, while the 2023 Barangay New Zealand, and the United “Bautista and his long-time protege in the campaign materials One of these went up to 1,000 volving abuse of state resources. and Sangguniang Kabataan elections States within Manila’s exclusive on display violated the Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for yards atguidelines the MMCA site but even"Complaints were filed even before saw 375. Maceda noted that the economic zone (EEZ) in while the reComelec Aviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are tually went the period current waters count is over 34, more cases are exprohibiting their away. display “It was not gional the weekend. at theofficial center election of the storm afterbegan," it was threatening, just normal,” accordCommissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. outside designated pected as the election Philippine Navy progresses. Spokesperson areas.Norman Cruz stated in a briefing. "You may Next recallpage the NextVinpage for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Next page
Lawmakers support passage of anti-political dynasty measure
By Maricel Cruz SEVERAL lawmakers say they support renewed calls for Congress to pass a law banning political dynasties, following a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) urging both chambers to enact such legislation.
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The petitioners cited Section 26 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution, which explicitly states that the State shall prohibit political dynasties. House Quad Committee lead chairperson, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers, Next page
Comelec getting more vote-buying complaints
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 Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua