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(Story on A4) FIVE LOCAL TRUMP TARIFFS TAKE EFFECT; CHINA RAISES LEVIES VS. US HOLIDAYS IN OCT. will impose 84 percent tariffs on US Its finance ministry later said in a US President Donald Trump's latest salvo of tariffsNEWS came/ into A3 effect on dozens of trading partners Wednesday, including punishing 104 percent duties on imports of Chinese products. China responded by announcing it
ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH WORLD / A6
imports, up from 34 percent. Beijing has consistently opposed tariff rises and reiterated yesterday it would take "firm and forceful" steps to protect its interests.
statement that "additional tariff rates" on imports originating in the United States would "rise from 34 percent to 84 percent," effective from 12:01 p.m. today. Next page
ASEAN economic, finance chiefs seek unified response to US tariffs
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY,By SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • Othel V. Campos
RIVALS. This
ECONOMIC and finance ministers as well as central bank governors of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations will discuss today a possible unified response to the sweeping US tariffs that took effect Wednesday, Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said. "We will be meeting with trade ministers all over Southeast Asia and ASEAN. We will discuss what the stand of each nation is...Let’s see what we can agree on there and see what we can do to be able to work hand in hand as ASEAN," Roque said on the sidelines of yesterday's National Food Fair. Next page
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay ‘ICC may order more arrests’ photo illustration shows a Chinese 100 yuan note (red) and a US 100 dollar note, in Beijing on April 8, 2025. China vowed on April 8 to ‘fight to the end’ against fresh tariffs of 50 percent threatened by US President Donald Trump, further aggravating a trade war that has already wiped trillions off global markets. AFP
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
By Rio N. Araja
PAGASA
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as —“— I'Jam telling you, these ulian' strengthens countries are calling
THE government has readied P1.48 us up, kissing my a$$. billion worth of aid for communities that may beTrump hit hard by typhoon —Donald
‘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
Prosecutors investigating Rody's co-perpetrators—ICC spokesman
T T
HE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into HEmurder prosecutor the 2020 of of the International Philippine Charity Criminal Court Sweepstakes Office is continuing (PCSO) boardthe secretary investigation on other Wesley Barayuga. personalities tagged in the On Sunday, PNP Chief Police crimes against Francisco humanity General Rommel Marbil said he ordered the reopening of case against former the cold case after whistleblower President Rodrigo Duterte. Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza told
the House Quad Committee that he “The ICC prosecutor and his ofhelped carry out the killing at the fice are continuing to investigate and behest of ex-PCSO general manager if they have sufficient evidence, they Royina Garma. will present it to the judges, and the 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 carry it out. The whistleblower also implicated incumbent National Police Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo in the planning of the murder. Barayuga was a retired police general and lawyer who supposedly threatened to expose corruption within the PCSO shortly before he was The prosecutor shot deadICC in Mandaluyong City. Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. and his office arethe top Colonel, allegedly gained spot at the PCSO because continuing to of her in-
—“—
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investigate and if they have sufficient evidence, they will present it to the judges, and the judges will decide whether to issue arrest warrants.
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded' —ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah judges will decide whether to issue arrest warrants,” the court’s spokesman Fadi El Abdallah told TeleRadyo Serbisyo on Tuesday. Abdallah did not mention the names of the individuals under ICC investigation. However, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who was Duterte's former poBAUTISTA lice chief and Oplan Tokhang chief
By Darwin Amojelar
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VOL. XXXIX • NO. 58 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025 •
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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 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 and judge,” he said. Yang, who already admitted having a fake Philippine birth certificate, is the brother of Michael Yang, a presidential economic
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 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
Navy spokes debunks China claim CELEBRATING of militaryHEROISM. exercises in Scarborough shoal
THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the Unitof illegal drugs and illegal activities ed Nations (UN) to give it a seat on associated with POGOs,” Suarez said the UN Security Council, highlightin a mixture of Filipino and English. ing the country’s strong record and The solons explained how the dedication to upholding the rule of matrix details Yang’s connections to law. other individuals involved in illicit Department of Foreign Affairs activities, including the operations of (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in illegal POGOs. a speech delivered at the UN GenAmong the companies implicated eral Assembly in New York said the are Brickhartz Technology Inc. Philippines continues to emphasize and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., the “importance of upholding the which are being linked to alleged rule of law and the integrity of the kidnapping. By Charlesmultilateral Dantes,system in the face of toThe two firms supposedly day’s global challenges.” Rachelle Tonelada, Ram have connections with the Baofu Quoted by Maricel V.reports, Cruz, Manalo also Compound in Bamban, Superable, Tarlac, said: “The Philippines has consiswhich, in turn, can be directlyand traced Rex Espiritu tently pursued peace, the sovereign to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. equality of states, the rights and digDuring Friday’s Quad PRESIDENT Comm Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. marked nity of all persons.” hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yangng Kagitingan’ ‘Araw (Day of Valor) by He added that the country is also in contempt for “lying” to about his his pledge renewing to support men and women recognized as the “first Asian Rebusinesses and business partners. in uniform, especially those who gave up their livespage in service of the country. Next Next page Speaking at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City, the chief executive vowed to s
Hurry benefits for kin of 'KIA' soldiers, cops
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads ceremonies commemorating the 83rd anniversary of Araw ng Kagitingan yesterday at the Dambana ng Kagitingan in Mount Samat National Shrine, Pilar, Bataan. The event, themed “Kabayanihan ng Beterano: Sandigan ng Kaunlaran ng Bagong Pilipinas,” highlights the pivotal role of veterans in strengthening and ensuring continued progress and resilience. (PPA pool photos)
By Rex Espiritu
THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announcement by China that it conducted military exercises off Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborfor freedom. ough Shoal, in the West Philipwas commissioned pineThe Seashrine (WPS). in China 1967 reportedly by then-President made theFerandinand Marcos as partwith of the nouncement coinciding the 25th-anniversary commemorafourth Multilateral Maritime Cotion of World War II.between It sits onthea operative Activity 73,665-hectareAustralia, park that bore witPhilippines, Japan, ness toZealand, some of and the fiercest batNew the United tles between forces and the States withinAllied Manila’s exclusive Japanese Imperial Army. economic zone (EEZ) in Despite the reheavy waters losses over across Filigional theLuzon, weekend. pino and American troops made Philippine Navy Spokesperson theirWPS finalRear standAdmiral in Bataan. for Roy Vin-
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, we have to understand thatefforts sometimes, China is Their culminated in the doing thisBataan for their internal infamous Death Marchaudiafter ence, right? Forwhere themthousands not to look their surrender, enweak embarrassed,” Trinidad dured and unimaginable suffering. said. Nevertheless, the indomitable Twoof Chinese warships spirit the soldiers persisted,were inmonitored at a distance ranging spiring resistance movements that from eightledtoto14 ultimately thenautical liberationmiles. of the One of these went up 9,to the 1,000 Philippines. Every April nayards at the MMCA but evention celebrates “Arawsite ng Kagitingan tually away. “It this waslegacy not (Day ofwent Valor)” to honor threatening, of heroism. just normal,” accord-
Shrine of Valor: A solemn tribute to WW2 heroes
TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista denied an online news report claiming that Malacañang was angry with the increase in airport fees without Byapproval Rex Espiritu the of the Cabinet members. “The Bilyonaryo article is maliRISING atop Mount Samat in Pilar, cious and unfounded,” Bautista said Bataan, the Dambana ng Kagitingan in a Viber message, referring to the (Shrine of Valor) stands as a solemn website that published the said story. tribute to the bravery and sacrifices “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. of Filipino and American soldiers Bilyonaryo reported online that during World War II. “Bautista and his long-time protege in This historic landmark not Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for only commemorates their galAviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are lant stand from January to April at the center of the storm after it was 1942 but also symbolizes the enduring spirit of those whoNext fought page
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
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PH asks China to let lawyer visit Filipino 'spies' in Hainan Servañez, Albert Endencia, and NaBy Rachelle Tonelada thalie Plizardo. AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, and Rex Espiritu In an interview yesterday, Departwas honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding
mentleadership of Foreign Affairs (DFA) UnderTHE Philippine government Filipino Retailers President Awardisforrehis visionary in retail development. secretary de VegaPRA said that (From left right): PRA Director and Director of SM RetailEduardo Jorge T. Mendiola, questing thetoBeijing administration to ViceaPresident and President andFilipiCOO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group)for a arrangements have been made allow lawyer to visit the three Liu, SM Prime Holdings Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, Filipino lawyer to represent the three nosAlice it isT.currently detaining for Chairman alleged of the PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc.whom (Toby’she Sports) Roberto detainees, insisted were not espionage in China. S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and involved in spying. Chinese state news agency Xinhua proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua Next page recently identified the three as David