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PNP: Que-Pabillo double murders good as ‘solved’ 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 •
Mastermind to be named, charged within days—Marbil
PNP resurrecting probe P into PCSO official's slay By Vince Lopez and Maricel V. Cruz
HILIPPINE National Police chief General Rommel Marbil yesterday declared as solved the abduction and murder of steel magnate Anson Que [a.k.a. Anson Tan and Congyuan Guo] and his driver, Armanie Pabillo.
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 65 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2025 •
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
He also said the PNP is set to unBy maskRio andN. fileAraja cases this week against the mastermind of the twin kidnap killings. HE Philippine “Case solved...This was not a ranNational Police dom act of kidnap-for-ransom, but a is reopening calculated(PNP) kidnap-for-hire operation,” the country’s top cop said even as he its investigation into held back naming the supposed masterthe murder of mind,2020 who remains at large. In a statement, Marbil lauded his Philippine Charity organization for the swift resolution of Sweepstakes Office the grisly killings, calling it a landmark breakthroughboard that underscores the po(PCSO) secretary lice’s effectiveness in swiftly solving Wesley Barayuga. heinous crimes. Investigations revealed that Chinese On Sunday, PNP Chief national David Tan Liao, also Police known General Rommel Francisco Marby aliases “Xiao Chang Jiang,” “Yang,” bil said he and ordered the reopening of “Jianmin,” “Michael Agad Yung,” the cold case after whistleblower who is now under police custody after Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza told voluntarily surrendering, orchestrated the House Quad Committee that the crime at the mastermind’s behest.he helped carry out the killing the His Filipino cohorts, RaymartatCatebehest of ex-PCSO general manager quista and Richard Tan Garcia (alias Royina RicardoGarma. Austria David), were arrested Mendoza narrated before in Roxas, Palawan, on April 18. congressmen Garma allegedly Earlier, how the PNP confirmed that fathe cilitated the PCSO official’s roadside two other Chinese nationals were being assassination on July 30, 2020 by pursued for being “key figures” in the providing the necessary information case. about schedule, his Thehistwo suspectsdetails were about allegedly vehicle and the funding necessary to present at the location where Que and carry it out. Pabillo were held. The whistleblower also implicated "They were also present during the incumbent National Police Comtime the victims were held inside the missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the house. These two were with David Tan planning of the Liao himself. Somurder. aside from the two Barayuga was a retiredNext police page 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. Colonel, allegedly gained the top spot at the PCSO because of her in-
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THE United States is deploying units of its NMESIS (NavyMarine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System) to the island province of Batanes as part of the
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. SALUBONG. A girl dressed in angelic costume fixes the shroud of the statue of Mother Mary in the traditional ‘Salubong’ rites depicting the meeting of the risen Christ with her grieving mother at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila on Easter Sunday. Norman Cruz
THE legal counsel of Chinese adviser of former President Rodrigo of illegal drugs and illegal activities businessman Tony Yang sought to Duterte. associated with POGOs,” Suarez said disparage lawmakers’ conclusions Fortun, a lawyer who often finds in a mixture of Filipino and English. annual exercises will atbethetransported Taiwan. aboutjointhismilitary client’s supposedlylaunchers himself center high-profile The solons explained how the between Filipino and his American to various locations The NMESIS is a highly mo-connections to sketchy past and alleged tiesby air cases, apparently sought to mock matrix details Yang’s forces, to asGamingacross congressmen, Batanes, lying calling their probe bile coastal anti-ship missile involved syswithcommonly Philippinereferred Overseas other individuals in illicit 'Balikatan,' which (POGOs) begins today. tem designed to strike surface Operators and evenapproximately “unacceptable.” activities, including the operations of According to the Hawaii-based 150 kilometers vessels from land-based organized crime. However, House members argued illegal POGOs.positions 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, an from the southat a distance of about 185companies km. Lawyer Raymond Fortun they did not come by their suspicions Among the implicated Next page undisclosed number tip Yang of recklessly. questioned the of NMESIS House Quadernmost about are Brickhartz Technology Inc. Committee’s impartiality and its On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., ability to pin Chinese national Yang Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga which are being linked to alleged down for ay wrongdoing in a real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. criminal court. Quezon presented a matrix showing The two firms supposedly “I am very interested in how they Yang’s first appearance and his have connections with the Baofu [Quad Comm members] can prove subsequent activities at the Quad Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, Unioil Philippines said inSaturDirector Rodela Romero this criminal network court. In(OIMB) Comm hearing. which, in turn, can be directly traced dayCongress, that diesellawmakers and gasolineact prices thata based onand fouras bothsaid on Friday “We saw pattern, we tracked to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. areprosecutor projected and to go up byheP1 to day trading, price of judge,” said. it to thethe top pump of these corporations... During Friday’s Quad Comm P1.20Yang, per literwho due to already the volatility increase admittedgasoline we will stripped it of by its P0.90 layersto, to get to hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang in global per top liter,and diesel by P0.85 havingoilaprices. fake Philippine birthP1.30the through it all,towe have in contempt for “lying” to about his Departmentis the of brother Energy of Oil per liter, and kerosene at byleast two certificate, MichaelP1.35discovered and identified businesses and business partners. Next page Industry to P1 actors per liter. Yang, Management a presidentialBureau economicP0.90main or players in the issue Next page
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report ‘unfounded' Fuel prices to go higher by as much as P1.20 per liter By Alena Mae S. Flores THE country’s oil firms are expected to increase diesel and gasoline prices by as much as P1.20 per liter on Tuesday to reflect movements in the world oil market.
BAUTISTA
By Darwin Amojelar
THE Department of Education has officially announced that public schools across the country would open classes for School Year 2025–2026 on June 16, 2025. This shift marks a return to the pre-pandemic school calenPAGASA dar, as outlined in DepEd Order No. 12, Series of 2025 issued last April 15, which was approved by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in May last year.
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Marcos Julian' strengthens urges Next page
Catholics to turn faith into action
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 Vince Lopez, V. Wind Signal No. 3Maricel over Batanes and the northeastern portion of BaCruz, and Rex Espiritu buyan Islands. “’Julian’ is Ferdinand forecast toMarcos continue PRESIDENT Jr., intensifying next 24-36 House Speakerover Martinthe Romualdez, and hours it movesGilberto towards Batanes DefenseasSecretary Teodoro Jr. and/or Babuyan Islands. With the marked Easter Sunday with messages current trend into its intensification, urging Filipinos embrace faith, unity, the possibility of reaching super and service amid national challenges. typhoon not ruled Presiout,” In hiscategory official isstatement, PAGASA said in its advisory. dent Marcos encouraged Filipinos to Meanwhile, the National Disastransform their faith into action, unter Risk Reduction and Managederscoring the values of compassion, ment Council (NDRRMC) that Next page forgiveness, and solidarity. said 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 V. theCruz DSWD. By Maricel In Batanes, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and the ManageLAWMAKERS denounced “weament Office (PDRRMO) advised ponization of disinformation” through residents to secure and fake pro-Duterte socialtheir mediaroofs accounts, install as Typhoon warningwindow that theshutters coordinated digital Julian is expected to makePhilippine landfall campaign is undermining democracy ahead of the 2025Next midterm page elections. “This is digital warfare, plain and simple. And the battlefield is not just the internet—it’s the hearts and minds of millions of Filipinos,” Deputy Speaker David Suarez said. The House leader was reacting to a THE Philippine wire government agency onreSunday publicly called the Unitport for alleging that ed Nations (UN) inauthentic to give it a seat on accounts the UN Security flooded Council,social highlightmedia ing the country’swith strong record praise forand fordedication to upholding the rule of mer President Rolaw. drigo Duterte and are Department now of Foreign activelyAffairs shaping (DFA) Secretary in theEnrique onlineManalo conversaa speech delivered at thethe UN Gention about upcoming eral Assembly in New York said Nextthe page polls. 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-
‘Fake news being weaponized by pro-Duterte groups’
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry US anti-ship missiles deployed in Batanes for PH-US war games
By Rex Espiritu
Classes revert to pre-pandemic opening—DepEd
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
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Navy spokes debunks China Alexieclaim Mae Brooks of military exercises in bags Scarborough Ms. Ecoshoal By Rex Espiritu Int’l 2025 crown
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 in EASTER JOY ANDprotege WONDER. Easter at SM City Baguio was a States within Manila’s exclusive Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for spectacular celebration of joy and wonder. Families and children were treated economic zone a(EEZ) the reAviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are to an unforgettable day filled with enchanting activities—from dazzlingin Easter gionalEaster waters the brought weekend. at the center Contest of the storm after it was Costume and lively Parade to the thrilling Egg over Hunt that Philippine Navy Spokesperson smiles and excitement to all. for WPS Rear Admiral Roy VinNext page
cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that Beijing’s statement was meant only By Eton Concepcion for its internal audience. “Our Philippines’ troops did not observe THE Alexie Mae any exercise, we have Caimoso Brooks livedto underup to stand that sometimes, is expectations, winning the China Miss Eco doing this for their internal audiInternational 2025 crown during ence, ForHilton them not to look finals right? held at Green Plaza weak and embarrassed,” in Alexandria, Egypt, on Trinidad Saturday said. (Sunday morning in Manila). Two Chinese warships Brooks, who has Filipinowere and monitored at a distance ranging Black heritage, became the third from eighttoto win 14 nautical Filipina the titlemiles. after One of these went in up 2018 to 1,000 Cynthia Thomalla and yards at the Paton MMCAinsite2022. but evenKathleen She tually went last away.year’s “It was not succeeded winner, threatening, just normal,” accordAngelina Usanova of Ukraine. Next Next page page
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. MISS ECO INT’L WINNER. (From left to right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA The Philippines’ Alexie Mae Caimoso Brooks Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) waves the flag after winning the Miss Eco Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, International 2025 crown during finals heldSports) Roberto PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s at Hilton Green Plaza in Alexandria,Int’l. Egypt, on Inc. and S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Leisure, Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila). proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua