manilastandard.net
@ManilaStandardPH
@mnlstandardph
@manilastandard
@ManilaStandardYT
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net •09173382170 / 85646229
(Story on A4) FIVE LOCAL SECOND BLACK SMOKE: CARDINALS TO VOTE AGAIN FOR NEW POPE HOLIDAYS IN OCT. VATICAN City—Thick black smoke world's 1.4 billion Catholics were billowed Thursday from the chimney shut in for the secretive conclave on NEWS / A3
ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH WORLD / A6
NO NEW POPE YET.
of the Sistine Chapel in a sign that cardinals again failed to elect a new head This photograph of the Catholic Church. shows black smoke Among the thousands of Catholics rising from the and curious tourists massed in St Peter's chimney of the Square, there was applause but also Sistine Chapel sighs at the result, which came after the signalling that VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • cardinals failed in second and third ballots. the second voting The 133 cardinals voting for a sucround to elect a cessor to Pope Francis as head of the
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay new pope during their conclave in the Vatican on May 8, 2025. AFP
Wednesday evening. Sequestered away from the world, they communicate their progress by burning their ballot papers and sending up smoke through the chimney of the frescoed 15th-century chapel. Black smoke means no one has secured the minimum two-thirds majority – 89 votes – and white smoke signals the election of the 267th pope. Next page PAGASA
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, PAALYANSA IN TACLOBAN. House Speaker and LAKAS-Christian Muslim GASA raised Tropical Cyclone Democrats President Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez the people EasternBatanes Visayas Windrallies Signal No. 3of over to unite and throw their full support for the entire Alyansa Para sa Bagongportion Pilipinasof Baand the northeastern senatorial slate of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., during a mammoth rally buyan Islands. of Tingog Partylist yesterday at the Tacloban City Astrodome. Ver Noveno “’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 By Maricel Cruzbillion, other packs worth V. P1.48 food items worth P276 million, and LAKAS-Christian Muslimworth Democrats non-food items (NFIs) P919 President and Speaker Ferdinand million were already preparedMarby tin G.Department Romualdez and Tingog Party-list the of Social Welfare yesterday vowed to deliver the full politiand Development (DSWD). cal Some weight of Eastern Visayas the P171 million inbehind standby administration's Alyansa Para sa Bagong fund is also available for utilization Pilipinas senatorial slate during a mamby the DSWD, including P123 milmoth rally in Tacloban City attended lion which can be allotted as Quick by the region’s powerhouse and Response Fund (QRF) inleaders the cengrassroots movers. Next page tral office of the DSWD. nam (6.9 percent) and was tied with ChiIn Batanes, the Provincial Dina (5.4 percent), while outpacing Indonesaster Risk Reduction and Managesia (4.9 percent), Malaysia (4.4 percent) ment Office (PDRRMO) advised and Thailand (forecasted to grow at 2.8 residents to secure their roofs and percent). install window shutters as Typhoon “This performance underscores the Julian is expected to make landfall relative resilience of our economy in the
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm VOL. XXXIX • NO. 82 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2025 • By Rio N. Araja
T PH ranks 2nd fastest HE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
growing Asian economy
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 By Darwin G. Amojelar and Maricel Cruz behest of ex-PCSO general manager While growth was slightly slower than Royina Garma. the 5.9-percent expansion seen during the Mendoza before economy conHEnarrated Philippine ranked as the second same period last year, Secretary Arsenio gressmen how Garma allegedly faBaliscan of the Department of Economy, fastest-growing in the Asian region, slightly cilitated the PCSO official’s roadside Planning, and Development (DEPDev) picking 5.4 by percent in the first quarter of assassination on Julyup 30,to2020 said the Philippines is emerging as one providing the necessary information of the fastest-growing middle-income the year from 5.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, about his schedule, details about his economies. face of global volatility,” Balisacan said. the Philippine Statistics said. vehicle and the funding necessary Authority to Next page The Philippines trailed only to VietA 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. FINAL Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. THE legal counsel of Chinese adviser of former President Rodrigo of illegal drugs and illegal activities CHECK. Colonel, allegedly businessman Tony Yang sought to Duterte. associated with POGOs,” Suarez said Members of the gained the top spotCOMELEC at the PCSO disparage lawmakers’ conclusions Fortun, a lawyer who often finds in a mixture of Filipino and English. Specialbecause of her inNext page about his client’s supposedly himself at the center high-profile The solons explained how the Electoral Board (SEB) conduct sketchy past and his alleged ties cases, apparently sought to mock matrix details Yang’s connections to the final testing with Philippine Overseas Gaming congressmen, calling their probe other individuals involved in illicit and sealing of Operators (POGOs) and even “unacceptable.” activities, including the operations of the vote counting organized crime. However, House members argued illegal POGOs. machine (VCM) Lawyer Raymond Fortun they did not come by their suspicions Among the companies implicated yesterday inside questioned the House Quad about Yang recklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. the convention Committee’s impartiality and its On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., hall of Palacio ability to pin Chinese national Yang Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga which are being linked to alleged del Gobernador down for ay wrongdoing in a real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. in Intramuros, criminal court. Quezon presented a matrix showing The two firms supposedly Manila. This procedure “I am very interested in how they Yang’s first appearance and his have connections with the Baofu ensures the VCMs [Quad Comm members] can prove subsequent activities at the Quad Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, are functioning this criminal network in court. In Comm hearing. which, in turn, can be directly traced properly and Congress, lawmakers act as both “We saw a pattern, and we tracked to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. ready for use in prosecutor and judge,” he said. it to the top of these corporations... During Friday’s Quad Comm the upcoming Yang, who already admitted we stripped it of its layers , to get to hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang elections. having a fake Philippine birth the top and through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” to about his Norman Cruz 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
Speaker, Tingog vow tsunami vote for Alyansa
Q1 growth at 5.4% as inflation eases, consumption rises
T
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal
ICC prosecutors submit By Rexsecond Espiritu set By Darwin Amojelar of evidence to Duterte lawyers BAUTISTA
TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime THE International Criminal Court Bautista denied an online news report (ICC) hasthat submitted a second of claiming Malacañang wasbatch angry evidence comprising 139 items against with the increase in airport fees without former President Rodrigomembers. Duterte, the approval of the Cabinet who is under investigation “The Bilyonaryo articleforisalleged malicrimesand against humanity Bautista over his anticious unfounded,” said drug in a campaign. Viber message, referring to the In a May filing to thethe ICC Pre-Trial website that 5published said story. Chamber I, Prosecutor Karim he Khan said “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” added. theBilyonaryo latest disclosure was transmitted to reported online that Duterte’s defense on April 30. in “Bautista and histeam long-time protege This follows an Undersecretary earlier set of eviPhilippine Airlines, for dence submitted in March. Aviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are According Khan, new eviat the center oftothe stormthe after it was dence is grouped under four categories: page contextual elements, modes ofNext liability,
THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announcement China that it conducted killingsbyduring Duterte’s tenure as military Bajo de Davao Cityexercises mayor, andoff deaths during Masinloc, also known as Scarborbarangay clearance operations under ough Shoal, in the West Philiphis presidency. pine Sea (WPS). Gilbert Andres, an ICC-accredited China anlawyer andreportedly counsel for made severalthe victims nouncement with the of extrajudicialcoinciding killings, said on Telfourth CoeRadyo Multilateral Serbisyo thatMaritime the disclosure operative betweento the strengthens Activity the case, pointing the Philippines, Australia, Japan, existence of a state policy behind the New and the United killingsZealand, and a systematic pattern of atStates within Manila’s exclusive tacks against civilians. economic zonedenies (EEZ) the reDuterte, who theinallegations, gional waters overathe weekend. is expected to attend hearing on SepPhilippine Spokesperson tember 23, whereNavy the charges against him for WPS Rearconfirmed. Admiral Roy will be formally NextVinpage
Sia axed, Villar saved as Comelec continues weeding PH lobbies UN Next page
By Vito Barcelo
for Security Council seat
WITH barely three days left before polling day, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified a congressional candidate and dropped a disqualification case against a senatorial THE Philippine government on contender as part of continuing efforts Sunday publicly called for the Unitto weed out(UN) unfit bets. ed Nations to give it a seat on Comelec Chairman George Garcia the UN Security Council, highlightsaid the vast majority of candidates ing the country’s strong record and
Next page 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 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 By Maricel V. Cruzhas consistently pursued peace, the sovereign equality of states,under the rights and dig-ng CANDIDATES the Alyansa nity of all persons.” Bagong Pilipinas banner continue to He added the country is also dominate the that senatorial polls less than a recognized “firstelections, Asian Reweek beforeas thethe midterm a na-
Tulfo, Tingog top last-minute preference polls tionwide survey conducted by thepage Social Next Weather Stations (SWS) showed. In a statement yesterday, the pollster said respondents were asked who they would most likely vote for if the Next page
Duterte’s 10 senatorial bets end campaign in Manila
cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that BeiBy Rachelle Tonelada jing’s statement was meant only for its internal audience. SENATORIAL candidates of fortroops did Duterte’s not observe mer“Our President Rodrigo slate any we have to upcomunderendedexercise, their campaign for the stand that sometimes, is ing midterm elections withChina a Miting doing this for their internal audide Avance yesterday at Liwasang ence, right? For them not to look Bonifacio. weak embarrassed,” All and 10 members of the Trinidad so-called said. “DuterTEN” were present at the MaChinese were nilaTwo event: Jimmy warships Bondoc, Ronald monitored a distance ranging ‘Bato’ Dela atRosa, Christopher Lawfrom eight to nautical miles. rence ‘Bong’ Go,14Jayvee Hinlo, Raul One of these wentMata, up toRodante 1,000 Lambino, Richard yards at theApollo MMCA site butVic evenMarcoleta, Quiboloy, Rotually away. “It was not driguez,went and Philip Salvador. threatening, normal,” accordAs of pressjust time, Vice President Next Nextpage 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. (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 DUTERTEN CAMPAIGN. The candidatesInt’l. of detained former S. Claudio, andEND PRA Director and President often Sportshouse Leisure, Inc. and President Rodrigo Duterte make their final pitch to voters during their miting de avance proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. Norman Cruz