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Midterm polls already on for overseas Pinoys PNP resurrecting probe T into PCSO official's slay FIVE LOCAL HOLIDAYS IN OCT. NEWS / A3
ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH WORLD / A6
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 •
Comelec sees half of 1.3m voters abroad casting ballots By Vito Barcelo
HE official voting period for overseas Filipino voters began yesterday, with six expatriates in Singapore being the first to cast their votes for the May midterm elections through internet voting, according to the Commission on Elections By Rio N. Araja (Comelec).
In a statement, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the official overseas voting period started at 8 a.m. on April 13 and will end at 7 p.m. on May 12.
The poll body said 47,976 registered overseas voters (ROVs) are enrolled for internet voting, even as the enrollment period is still open for those who wish to exercise their right
to suffrage. Meanwhile, the Comelec expects almost 700,000 Filipinos residing abroad to cast their ballots during the Next page
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm VOL. XXXIX • NO. 62 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2025 •
T
HE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
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. 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 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. missioner 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 shot dead in Mandaluyong City. Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. THE legal counsel of Chinese 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 a mixture of Filipino and English. BLESSINGS. Catholic faithful intricately woven palm fronds as a priest blesses them with holy water during the PalminSunday celebration, marking Next page raiseabout his client’s supposedly himself at the center high-profile The solons explained how the beginning of Holy Week. The vibrant tradition, rooted in the commemoration of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, continues to draw large crowds to the sketchy past and his alleged ties cases, apparently sought to mock matrix details Yang’s connections to churches. Edd Castro 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. Lawyer Raymond Fortun they did not come by their suspicions Among the companies implicated questioned the House Quad about Yang recklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. STANDOUT. Committee’s impartiality and its On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., The Philippines ability to pin Chinese national Yang Aurelio Gonzalespavilion Jr. of Pampanga which are being linked to alleged showcases the country’s down for ay wrongdoing in a real anddiverse Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. culture at the criminal court. Quezon presented a Japan. matrix showing The two firms supposedly Expo 2025 Osaka in “I am very interested in how they Yang’s first appearance and his have connections with the Baofu day, Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, Themed ‘Nature, Culture, By Rex Espiritu, [Quad Commofmembers] prove subsequent activities at the Quad Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, spokesperson the Armedcan Forces of and Community: Woven Vince Lopez this criminal network court.that In Comm hearing. which, in turn, can be directly traced Together for a Better Future,’ the Philippines (AFP), in assured and Ram Superable the pavilion moreand thanwe tracked Congress, lawmakers actis not as both “We saw a has pattern, to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. the deployment of troops con200the woven created prosecutor andparticular judge,” he said. it to top panels of these corporations... During Friday’s Quad Comm nected to any threat. THE armed forces have been tapped artisans itfrom across the , to get to Yang, who need already webystripped of its layers hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang “The public not beadmitted alarmed It also has a filmto augment police units in providing having a fake Philippine birth thecountry. top and through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” to about his at the presence of soldiers at churches inspired anime façade that security to churches, popular pilgrimcertificate, is the brother of Michael discovered and identified at least two businesses and business partners. and vacation spots this Holy Week. honors Japanese culture age sites and other places expected to Yang, a presidential main actors or players in the issue The purpose of our presenceeconomic is simply Next page and features an artificial draw devotees and vacationers alike to provide additional security and intelligence-powered during the long Holy Week Next page installation called ‘Dancing break. with Nature.’ The pavilion In an interview on Sunalso has an area for live
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
DOTr’s Bautista Soldiers says onlinehelping news secure religious sites, vacation spots on Holy Week report‘unfounded'
RECOVERING POPE STEPS OUT FOR MASS NEWS / A2
REAL ESTATE SEES 7.1% GROWTH IN Q1 REAL ESTATE / C1 PAGASA
TOUR OF LUZON RETURNS ON APRIL 24 Gov’t readies
P1.48bSPORTS aid as/ A8 'Reflect Julian' strengthens on Christ’s
passion, death, resurrection–PBBM
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 By Charles Dantes Wind Signal No. 3 over Batanes andthe Rio N. Arajaportion of Baand northeastern buyan Islands. AS“’Julian’ the nation Holy Week is observes forecast to continue from April 13 to 20, national leadintensifying over the next 24-36 ers called Filipinos to reflect on hours as iton moves towards Batanes faith, compassion, and resilience, and/or Babuyan Islands. With the drawingtrend inspiration from the pascurrent in its intensification, sion, death, and resurrection Jethe possibility of reaching of super sus Christ. typhoon category is not ruled out,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. enPAGASA said in its advisory. couraged Filipinos pause their daily Meanwhile, thetoNational Disasroutines to contemplate the meaning ter Risk Reduction and Manageof theCouncil season, (NDRRMC) which he described as ment said that of Christ’s and aa reminder total of 1.9 million “sacrifice family food Nextother page triumph.” packs worth P1.48 billion, 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. Batanes, the Provincial DiByInVince Lopez saster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRMO) THE Office Philippine National advised Police residents to secure theirmum roofswhen and (PNP) leadership was install window shutters as Typhoon asked to comment on the Tan famJulian is expected to make ily's vehement rejection of a landfall running theory that steel magnate Anson Next Tan's page murder was prompted by his supposed connections to now-outlawed Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGOs). The Standard learned that concerned police officials may address the controversy in a press briefing today. Earlier, PNP spokesperson, Brigadier General Jean Fajardo Fajardo THE Philippine government said the Chinese mobs have beenonexSunday publiclyfrom called for involved the Unit- in torting money those ed (UN) give it operations. a seat on or Nations associated withtoPOGO the The UN Security Council, highlightPNP has "zeroed in" on the ing thegroup country’s strong record andthe same that was also behind dedication to upholding rule ofnaabduction and killing of athe Chinese law. tional last year, she disclosed. Department of Foreign Affairs Next page (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-
PNP mum on Que kin's rejection of POGO ties theory
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
Next page
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal performances, where artists from the Cultural Center of the Philippines will perform daily. Story on A6
BAUTISTA
By Rex Espiritu
By Darwin Amojelar TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista denied an online news report claiming that Malacañang was angry ENDORSEMENT. Cebu with the Governor increase in airport fees without theGwendolyn approval ofGarcia the Cabinet members. hugs “Thesenatorial Bilyonaryo article is malicandidate and cious and unfounded,” Bautista said Makati City Mayor referring to the in a Viber message, Abigail 'Abby' Binay website that published the said story. at a proclamation “Bilyonaryo is on inconsistent,” he added. rally in Cebu Bilyonaryo April 12, 2025.reported online that “Bautista and Story on A4.his long-time protege in Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for Abby Binay Better/ Facebook Aviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are at the center of the storm after it was Next page
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 announcement coinciding with the fourth Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity between the Philippines, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the regional waters over the weekend. Philippine Navy Spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral 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 that sometimes, China is doing this for their internal audience, right? For them not to look weak embarrassed,” THE and Trump administrationTrinidad has exsaid. empted a raft of consumer electronwarships were icsTwo from Chinese its punishing import tariffs, monitored at a distance ranging offering relief to US tech firms and from eight to 14down nautical miles. partially dialling a trade war One of these went up to 1,000 with China. yards at the MMCA site by butthe evenA notice late Friday US tually went away. “It was Customs and Border Protectionnot ofthreatening, just normal,” accordfice said smartphones, laptops, memNextwould page ory chips and other products
US exempts consumer electronic Number of hungry imports in another tariff step back Pinoys rose sharply, says SWS survey
be excluded from the global levies President Donald Trump rolled a AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of out the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, week was ago. honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding THEleadership proportion of poor Filipino famiFilipino Retailerscame President for his visionary in retail development. The move as Award retaliatory (From left to right): PRAof Director and Director of Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA saw liesSMwho experienced total hunger Chinese import tariffs 125 percent and COO of Golden, ABC,increase Inc. (The from Penshoppe a sharp 26.4%Group) in FebruonVice USPresident goods and tookPresident effect Saturday, Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Executive Committee Hans T. Sy,accordary to 35.6% in March 2025, with Beijing standing defiant Chairman against of the President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto suring to a recent non-commissioned itsPRA biggest trade partner. S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Leisure, Inc. andWeather vey by the Int’l. Stratbase-Social The exemptions will benefit US proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua Stations (SWS). Next page Next page