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FIVE LOCAL Stalled impeachment proceedings irking House leadership HOLIDAYS IN OCT. By Charles Dantes NEWS / A3 and Maricel V. Cruz
A HOUSE leader expressed disappointment yesterday over the Senate’s last-minute decision to move the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte from June 2 to June 11. WORLD / Leader A6 Deputy Majority Paolo Ortega V likened the upper chamber’s move to “being stood up on a date.” “It's like having a date who didn't show up, and asking if you could
ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 •
PNP resurrecting probe Teves’ return to PH into PCSO official's slay VOL. XXXIX • NO. 104 • 5 SECTIONS 24 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2025 •
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came with conditions Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
No death penalty, max prison term at 40 years
By Rio N. Araja
T T
HE Philippine
By Pot Chavez National Police and Charles Dantes
(PNP) is reopening its investigation into HE Philippine the 2020 murder ofsecured government Philippine Charity of the deportation Sweepstakes Office expelled Negros Oriental (PCSO) board secretary Rep. Arnolfo Teves, Jr. by Wesley agreeingBarayuga. to East Timorese authorities’ On Sunday, conditions PNP Chief that Police General Rommel Francisco he could never be metedMarthe bil said he ordered the reopening of capital nor be the cold punishment case after whistleblower Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza imprisoned for more thantold the House Quad Committee that he 40 years found guiltyatinthe a helped carryif out the killing behest of ex-PCSO general manager fair trial.
Royina Garma. Mendoza narrated before Justice Secretary Jesus CrispinconRegressmen how Garma allegedly famulla yesterday said Manila assured cilitated the PCSOgovernment official’s roadside the Timor-Leste that all assassination on July 30, 2020 by its conditions will be honored. providing necessaryofinformation In the the certificate handover about details his signedhisbyschedule, Philippine and about Timorese vehicle funding necessary to officials,and thethePhilippine government carry it out. was informed that Teves cannot be The whistleblower also implicated sentenced to death: “Even if it were incumbent National Police Com-it to be reinstated [in the Philippines], missioner Edilberto in as theit could not be imposedLeonardo in this case, planning the murder. cannot beofapplied retroactively.” Barayuga retired “We really was don'ta have that police [death general lawyer penalty],and we don’t dowho that, supposedly it’s not state threatened to expose withpolicy,” Remulla saidcorruption in a mixture of in the PCSO shortly before Next he was Filipino and English. page shot dead in Mandaluyong City. Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. Colonel, allegedly gained the top spot at the PCSO because of her in-
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 MUG SHOT. Detained former solon Arnolfo Teves poses for the customary mug shot yesterday at the temporary headquarters of the National Bureau in Pasay City. Teves is facing murder and frustrated murder charges over the massacre of Governor Roel Degamo and 10 others in March 2023. National Bureau of Investigation.
THE legal counsel of Chinese businessman Tony Yang sought to disparage lawmakers’ conclusions about his client’s supposedly sketchy past and his alleged ties ed access to the San JuanicoGaming Bridge, with Philippine Overseas which connects(POGOs) the islandsand of Samar Operators even and Leyte crime. in Eastern Visayas, as the organized structure scheduled repairs. LawyerawaitsRaymond Fortun In a statement the city’s inquestioned the from House Quad formation office, the declaration Committee’s impartiality and aims 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 to expedite the mobilization congressmen, calling theirof necesprobe sary resources and safeguard public “unacceptable.” safety. However, House members argued access to San they"With did notrestricted come by their suspicions Juanico, main gateway in and about Yangthe recklessly. page On Friday, Senior Deputy Next Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of Quezon presented SAFETY a matrix showing FIRST. Vehicles Yang’s first appearance and his passing subsequent activities at through the Quad the iconic San Comm hearing. Juanico Bridge “We saw a pattern, onlyand usewe onetracked lane it to the top of these aftercorporations... restrictions we stripped it of itswere layers , to get imposed by to the top and through all, we have theitDepartment of Public Works andtwo discovered and identified at least Highways (DPWH) main actors or players in the issue
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 By Charles are BrickhartzDantes Technology Inc. and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., METRO commuters will which are Manila being linked to alleged soon be able to ride trains without kidnapping. theThe hassletwo of longfirms ticket supposedly lines or reloadingconnections stored-valuewith cards,the according have Baofu to the Department of Transportation Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, (DOTr).in turn, can be directly traced which, The DOTrex-mayor announced Friday to disgraced Alice Guo.that debit cards, Friday’s credit cards, and Comm mobile During Quad wallets like GCash and PayMaya will hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang be contempt accepted for payments on the in for fare “lying” to about his LRT and MRT businesses and railways. business partners. The initiative follows President Next page Marcos Jr.’s directive to modernize
INSIDE A 10-PAGE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
TECH BEYOND THE BEACH / GEAR UP FOR SCHOOL PAGASA YEAR 2025-2026
SECTIONS C, D & E
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid ascan’t Executive 'control Julian' strengthens impeach
trial—Palace
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. ByAsCharles Dantes of 5:00 PM on Sunday, PAand Maricel Cruz Cyclone GASA raised Tropical Wind Signal No. 3 over Batanes THEtheimpeachment trial ofofVice and northeastern portion BaPresident Sara Duterte is no longer buyan Islands. in the hands of Executive branch, “’Julian’ is the forecast to continue a Palace official saidthe on Friday. intensifying over next 24-36 “The very clear that hours asPresident it moveswas towards Batanes from theBabuyan start, heIslands. does notWith wantthe an and/or impeachment there may be current trend because in its intensification, otherpossibility legal meansofto reaching hold people acthe super countable,” Presidential Communityphoon category is not ruled out,” cations Office Undersecretary PAGASA said(PCO) in its advisory. Claire Castro said. Meanwhile, the National Disasthe Vice and President has ter “But Risknow Reduction Managebeen impeached. This is no longer in ment Council (NDRRMC) said that hands themillion President. It wasfood just athetotal ofof1.9 family a suggestion his part if theother impacks worth on P1.48 billion, peachment avoided. food items could worth have P276been million, and (But now),items we all(NFIs) know the impeachnon-food worth P919 ment trial is not the business of the million were already prepared by Executive.” the Department of Social Welfare said the President will not inandShe Development (DSWD). terfere in P171 the impeachment Some million in proceedstandby ings isagainst Duterte,for emphasizing fund also available utilization the the importance respecting instituby DSWD, of including P123 miltionalwhich processes the separation lion can beand allotted as Quick of powers. Fund (QRF) in the cenResponse President will not interfere. tral“The office of the DSWD. HeIn said the process be allowed Batanes, the must Provincial Dito continue, and that and dueManageprocess saster Risk Reduction must be respected. That is advised now in ment Office (PDRRMO) the hands to of secure the prosecutors, the residents their roofsin and hands of the Senate,” sheasadded. install window shutters Typhoon She iscalled on the publiclandfall to alJulian expected to make low the legal process to unfold and Next page to judge the actions of officials involved in the proceedings. "The people will be the ones to watch and judge. The prosecutors must do their job, and the senators must perform their duties as senatorjudges,” Castro said. As this developed, House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union on Friday said the latest Nexton page THE Philippine government Sunday publicly called for the United Nations (UN) to give it a seat on the UN Security Council, highlighting the country’s strong record and 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 public transportation and streamline Philippines continues to emphasize commuter convenience by introducthe of upholding the ing “importance globally competitive, tech-driven rule of law and the integrity of the solutions. multilateral system inSecretary the face ofVince toTransportation day’s challenges.” Dizonglobal said the new cashless turnstiles Quoted reports,inManalo also will begin by operating July, forming said: “The Philippines has consispart of a broader initiative to create tently pursued peace, the sovereign an “open-loop” automatic fare collecequality of states, the rights and digtion (AFC) system. nity"Iofknow all persons.” even credit cards are acHe added country is also cepted now.that Youthecan just tap your recognized “first need AsiantoRephone. Youasnothelonger buy a Beep card," Dizon said in a press page Next page briefing at Malacañang. Next
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
Tacloban under emergency state over bridge repair LRT, MRT to accept debit, Next page
By Rex Espiritu and Othel V. Campos
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'
THE Tacloban City Council declared a state of emergency due to restrict-
due to structural concerns. The DPWH has limited the entry of vehicles with a 3-ton axle load and initiated a series of measures to mitigate the impact on transportation cent Trinidad told reporters and that commerce between Manila troops did not monitor andthat Samar. any such activity, Leyte adding BeiTacloban LGU jing’s statement was meant only
credit cards, GCash in July
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal
BAUTISTA
By Rex Espiritu
By Darwin Amojelar TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista denied an online news report claiming that Malacañang was angry with the increase in airport fees without the approval of the Cabinet members. “The Bilyonaryo article is malicious and unfounded,” Bautista said in a Viber message, referring to the website that published the said story. “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. Muntinlupa Bilyonaryo reported online that Mayor Ruffy “Bautista and his long-time protege in Biazon Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for 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 made the anBy Joelreportedly E. Zurbano nouncement coinciding with the fourth Multilateral Maritime CoTHE Sandiganbayan found former operative between the lawmaker Activity and reelected MuntinPhilippines, Australia, Japan, lupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon guilty of New Zealand, andwith thethe United graft in connection alleged misusewithin of hisManila’s P2.7-million PriorStates exclusive ity Development Assistance economic zone (EEZ) in theFund re(PDAF) as theover city's gional waters therepresentative weekend. back in 2007. Navy Spokesperson Philippine court Roy sentenced for The WPS anti-graft Rear Admiral Vin-
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? Forwith them notLim to look Biazon—along Janet Naweak embarrassed,” Trinidad poles, and Dennis Cunanan, Maria Rosaid. salinda Lacsamana, and Evelyn De Two Chinese warships Leon—to six to eight years ofwere immonitored distancedisqualifiranging prisonment at andaperpetual from to 14 office. nautical miles. cationeight from public were found vioOneThey of these went guilty up to of1,000 latingatSection 3(e) site of but Republic yards the MMCA evenAct 3019 the Anti-Graft tually wentor away. “It was and not Corrupt Practices Act. threatening, just normal,” accord-
Ruffy Biazon found guilty in PDAF case
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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 (Toby’s Sports) Roberto MORTAR TRAINING. FilipinoInternational, and AmericanInc. marines fire mortars S. yesterday Claudio, and PRA of Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and as part the ongoing KAMANDAG 9th iteration training program. proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua