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FIVE LOCAL RESETS IMPEACH VP START TO JUNE 11 SENATE HOLIDAYS IN OCT.
NEWS / A2
Guevarra, De Vera exit cabinet while Remullas, Teodoro stay ISRAEL CONTINUES NEWS / A3
TO POUND HEZBOLLAH
By Charles Dantes
PRESIDENTWORLD Ferdinand / A6 Marcos Jr. accepted the courtesy resignations of two high-ranking government officials as part of his administration’s ongoing effort to enhance government performance and accountability, Malacañang
announced yesterday. Executive VOL. XXXVIIISecretary • NO. Lucas 227• Ber3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • samin said the top-level revamp’s second tranche sees the exit of Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero “Popoy” De VOL. XXXIX • NO. 103 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, MAY PAGASA 30, 2025 • Vera III. Next page
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay IN
OUT
CHED USEC SHIRLEY AGRUPIS
CHED DG PROSPERO DE VERA
DILG SEC JONVIC REMULLA
DOJ. SEC. JESUS CRISPIN REMULLA
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote ofRETAINED confidence in Quad Comm By Rio N. Araja
T
HE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of LAWYER OF THE REPUBLIC. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. swears in Darlene Marie Berberabe yesterday as the Philippine Charitynew Solicitor General at Malacanang Palace. PCO Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
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. SOLGEN MEYNARDO As of 5:00 PM onGUEVARRA 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 ManageDND SEC. GILBERTO TEODOROsaid that ment Council (NDRRMC) 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
Teves back on Philippine soil
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 conBy Pot Chavez gressmen how Garma allegedly facilitated the PCSO official’s roadside assassination on July Negros 30, 2020 by ORMER providing the necessary information 3rd about his about his Oriental schedule, details vehicle and the funding necessary to district Rep. carry it out. Arnolfo Teves arrived in The whistleblower also implicated the Philippines incumbent National Thursday Police Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo night after more than in the planning of the murder. two yearswas since he was Barayuga a retired police general and lawyer who murder supposedly implicated in the threatened to expose corruption withofthehisPCSO political in shortly opponent before he was shot in Mandaluyong anddead nine others in City. what Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. is now allegedly known gained as thethe top Colonel, spot at the PCSO because of her inPamplona massacre.
Marcos thanks Timor-Leste leaders, says ex-solon must now face justice
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Authorities of Timor Leste, where Teves has been staying since March 2024, deported him yesterday afternoon, citing that his passport had been cancelled. The aircraft carrying Teves first touched down at the Davao airport at around 8 p.m. for refuelling, before flying to Villamor Airbase, where he was handed over to waiting lawmen. In a statement, Mr. Marcos revealed that he was first informed of the development by Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão during the recently concluded ASEAN Summit in Malaysia. "I was first informed of this development by Prime Minister Gusmao in the ASEAN meeting that I just returned from in Kuala Lumpur, that Timor Leste was ready to send Teves back to the Philippines," he said.
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'
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PH ranks 9th By Amojelar inDarwin meth drug busts in SEA BAUTISTA
TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista denied an online news report claiming that Malacañang was angry with the increase in airport fees without THE illicit manufacture traffickthe approval of the Cabinetand members. ing“The of synthetic drugs article from theisGolden Bilyonaryo maliTriangle grown exponentially, accious andhave unfounded,” Bautista said cording to a report by the United Nations in a Viber message, referring to the Office onthat Drugs and Crime website published the(UNODC). said story. This explosive growth has led to “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. record methamphetamine seizuresthat in Bilyonaryo reported online East and Southeast Asia, totaling 236 “Bautista and his long-time protege in tons—a 24% increase compared for to Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary 2023, theand report said. Bobby Lim, are Aviation Airports Thecenter Philippines among 10 at the of theranks storm9th after it was countries, with total seizures amounting to 2,250 kilograms. Next Next page page
Cop who arrested Duterte, Quiboloy next PNP chief Next page
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 DEPORTED. criminal court. “I Filipino am verynational interested in how they [QuadArnolfo CommTeves members] can prove (center), anetwork murder in court. In this criminal suspect, is escorted act as both Congress, lawmakers by East Timorese prosecutor and judge,” he said. security personnel Yang, whofor already admitted yesterday having a fake toPhilippine birth deportation his certificate, the brother of Michael home is country at Yang,Presidente a presidential economic Nicolau Lobato airport in Dili. AFP
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 of military exercises in Scarborough shoal
of illegal drugs and illegal activities associated with POGOs,” Suarez said in a mixture of Filipino and English. The solons explained how the matrix details Yang’s connections to other individuals involved in illicit activities, including the operations of illegal POGOs. Among the companies implicated are Brickhartz Technology Inc. and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., which are being linked to alleged kidnapping. The two firms supposedly have connections with the Baofu Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, which, in turn, can be directly traced to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. During Friday’s Quad Comm hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang in contempt for “lying” to about his businesses and business partners. Next page
PH lobbies UN for Security PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has selected Police Major General Council seat Nicolas Torre III as the next Philippine
By Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz
National Police (PNP) chief, replacing THE government on retiringPhilippine Police General Rommel MarSunday publicly called for the Unitbil, effective June 2. ed Nations (UN) to giveyesterday, it a seat on In a press briefing Exthe UN Security highlightecutive SecretaryCouncil, Lucas Bersamin said ing record thatthe thecountry’s President strong considered fiveand candedication to upholding the rule didates for the position; however,ofhe law. Next page 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 has consistently pursued V. peace, the sovereign By Maricel Cruz equality of states, the rights and dignity of all persons.” SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. RoHe added that theannounced country isthe alsoapmualdez yesterday recognized theof“first Asian Re-unproval of 27asout 28 measures der the Common Legislative Agenda Next page (CLA) during the 8th meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) at Malacanang Palace. Next page
House passes 27 out of 28 LEDAC priority measures
More suspicious beneficiaries in VP Sara’s confi funds list By Rex Espiritu
THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announcement by China that it conducted By Maricel V. Cruz military exercises off Bajo de AS THE also Senate braces for Vice Masinloc, known as ScarborPresident Sara in Duterte’s historic imough Shoal, the West Philippeachment trial next month, fresh revpine Sea (WPS). elations the House of RepresenChinafrom reportedly made the antatives added fuel to the fire.with the nouncement coinciding House Deputy Majority Leader fourth Multilateral Maritime CoPaolo Ortega V of La between Union yesteroperative Activity the day exposed a Australia, string of bogus and Philippines, Japan, suspicious namesand allegedly listed New Zealand, the United as beneficiaries of the Office of the States within Manila’s exclusive Vice President’s economic zone (OVP) (EEZ) confidential in the refunds—including eerily gional waters oversurnames the weekend. similar to sitting a conPhilippine Navysenators, Spokesperson gressman, and even a famous for WPS Rear Admiral Roy bakeVin-
cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that Beijing’s statement was meant only for internal audience. shopitsbrand. “Our did not "Thesetroops irregularities are observe too glarany we have to from undering toexercise, ignore—these names the stand that sometimes, China is supposed Budol Gang call for a deeper doing forsaid their internal audilook," this Ortega as lawmakers zero ence, right? Forbethem notthetoalleged look in on what could one of weak biggestand fundembarrassed,” misuse scandalsTrinidad in recent said. memory. Two warships were OrtegaChinese said he found out individumonitored at a distance als with surnames of current ranging senators: from eight to "Janice 14 nautical miles. "Beth Revilla," Marie Revilla," One ofMaple theseLapid," went "John up toA.1,000 "Diane Lapid yards at the MMCA site but evenJr.," "Clarisse Hontiveros," "Kristine tually went away.and“It"Denise was Tannot Applegate Estrada," threatening, normal,” accordya Escudero" just as alleged beneficiaries of confidential funds. Nextpage page Next
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 LIGHT MOMENT. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez engages in a Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) cordial conversation with President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. during the Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, 8th meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto yesterday morning at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang Palace. Also in the photo are S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and Senate President Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, and House Majority Leader Manuel Jose proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua ‘Mannix‘ M. Dalipe. Ver Noveno