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Senate eyes P150 pay hike as ‘compromise’ PNP resurrecting probe into S 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 •
PBBM to weigh impact of legislated wage increase By Othel V. Campos, Ram Superable, Charles Dantes and Vito Barcelo
ENATORS are weighing the possibility of either adopting the Houseapproved proposal for a P200 legislated wage hike, which is double the P100 wage hike measure By Rio N. Araja approved by the Upper Chamber, arriving at a HEorPhilippine compromise at P150. National Police is reopening Senator(PNP) JV Ejercito on Thursday said discussions remain ongoing, with its investigation into a possible compromise figure of P150 the ofHouse and being2020 floated murder between the Senate proposals. Philippine Charity "At the very least, we can ensure Sweepstakes Office there will be an increase. We would (PCSO) secretary also like to board hear opinions before we approve it, and we have to make sure Wesley Barayuga. that businesses can afford it and can
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 110 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2025 •
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
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survive," EjercitoPNP said. Chief Police On Sunday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. General Rommel Francisco Maris closely studying the proposed bil said he ordered the reopening of measure, the Palace said, emphathe cold case after whistleblower sizing that its economic impact Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza told must be thoroughly reviewed the House Quad Committee that behe fore a final made.at the helped carrydecision out the iskilling
Next page 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 BUSINESS/ B1 about his vehicle and the funding necessary to carry it out. The whistleblower also implicated incumbent National Police Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo in the planning of the murder. Barayuga was a retired police / A6 supposedly general and WORLD lawyer who 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-
JCR GIVES PH ‘A-’ RATING
US TRAVEL BAN ON 12 NATIONS
UP Law faculty, Charter framer warn vs. junking VP impeach trial By Ram Superable, Maricel Cruz and Miguel Gil PAGASA
FACULTY members of the University of the Philippines College of Law called on the Senate to "forthwith proceed" with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, expressing "grave concern" over attempts to declare the case as de facto dismissed. "A premature dismissal will undermine the core democratic principle of checks and balances. In contrast, THE government has readied P1.48 proceeding with the impeachment billion worth of aid for communitrial will uphold the Senate's constities that may be hit hard by typhoon tutional mandate on public trust and ‘Julian’ which PAGASA says could accountability," read the open letter turn into a supertyphoon. which had at least 116 signatories as As of 5:00 PM on Sunday, PAof Thursday afternoon. GASA raised Tropical Next Cyclone page 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 Management Council (NDRRMC) said that 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
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens
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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 FREE and extrajudicial killings. THEM ANIMALS. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) activists wearing Barong Tagalog, Baro’t Saya, and animal head masks march to Rizal Park yesterday to lay wreaths at the Rizal Monument. The activity, held ahead of Independence Day, aims to highlight the message “Freedom is for all,” including animals held in captivity at Manila Zoo and other zoos across the country. Norman Cruz
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry PBBM orders DOH to deal with HIV upsurge PH inflation drops to 1.3% in May, lowest since Nov 2019
By Charles Dantes Next page and Ram Superable
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded' PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of
THE legal counsel of Chinese businessman Tony Yang sought to disparage lawmakers’ conclusions Health (DOH) to streamline and exabout his client’s supposedly pand its HIV-related followsketchy past and hisservices alleged ties ing a significant surge in infections, with Philippine Overseas Gaming with 57 new (POGOs) cases reported Operators and daily even from January to March 2025. organized crime. Health Secretary Teodoro HerboLawyer Raymond Fortun questioned the House Quad Committee’s impartiality and 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 sa said the president public himself at the centerordered high-profile hospitals to simplify procedures for cases, apparently sought to mock people living with HIV (PLHIV), encongressmen, calling their probe suring faster access to free antiretro“unacceptable.” viral (ARV) drugs consultations. However, Houseand members argued Next page 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, IN and we tracked it to the top of these corporations... we stripped it of MEMORIAM. its layers , to get to The Philippine Postal the top and through it all, we have Corporation (PHLPost) discovered and identified least two released aatspecial main actors or players in the issue commemorative stamp honoring the late Pope Francis (Story on A2). PHLPost
BAUTISTA
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 By Maricel V. Cruzthe said story. “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. SURIGAO del reported Sur Rep. online Johnnythat PiBilyonaryo mentel on proposed “Bautista andThursday his long-time protegethat in Meta, the Airlines, companyUndersecretary behind Facebook Philippine for and Instagram, be required obtain Aviation and Airports BobbytoLim, area congressional can at the center offranchise the stormbefore after ititwas operate in the Philippines. page Meanwhile, two Cabinet Next secretar-
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 By Darwin G. Amojelar illegal POGOs. and Maricel V. Cruz implicated Among the companies are Brickhartz Technology Inc. and Technology Ltd., THEXionwei country’s inflation Co. dropped which linked to alleged below are 2% being in May, the lowest rate kidnapping. since November 2019, the PhilipTheStatistics two Authority firms supposedly pine (PSA) said have connections with the Baofu Thursday. Compound Accordinginto Bamban, the PSA, Tarlac, the inwhich, turn, can betodirectly flation in rate slowed 1.3% intraced May to disgraced Guo. is from 1.4% ex-mayor in April. Alice This figure During Friday’s Sentral Quad ng Comm within the Bangko Pilihearing, lawmakers cited Tonyof Yang pinas (BSP) forecast range 0.9 in about his to contempt 1.7% for for the “lying” month, to bringing the businesses and average business partners. year-to-date inflation to 1.9%. Next page
THE Philippine government on 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 ‘‘We are encouraged by this de(DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in velopment. It reflects the success of a speech delivered at the UN Genour sustained efforts to protect the eral Assembly in New York said the purchasing power of Filipinos and Philippines continues to emphasize ensure a more affordable cost of livthe “importance of upholding the ing,’’ said Undersecretary for Policy rule of law and the integrity of the and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon of multilateral system in the face of tothe National Economic and Developday’s global challenges.” ment Authority. Quoted by reports, Manalo also Among the most significant indisaid: “The Philippines has consiscators was the effective zero inflation tently pursued peace, the sovereign rate experienced by the bottom 30% equality of states, the rights and digof income households in May 2025 a nity of all persons.” sharp decline from 5.3% in the same He added that the country is also month last year. For these households, recognized as the “first Asian Refood inflation also dropped to 2% Next page from 8.2% in May 2024. Next page
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal By Rex Espiritu 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 ies asserted that social media Coplatfourth Multilateral Maritime forms haveActivity the primary responsibiloperative between the ity to ensure that content providers Philippines, Australia, Japan, do not Zealand, violate the and law, particularly in New the United spreading fake news, deepexclusive fakes, and States within Manila’s AI-generated disinformation. economic zone (EEZ) in the rePimentel, of the gional watersvice overchairman the weekend. House Committee on Information and Philippine Navy Spokesperson NextVinpage for WPS Rear Admiral Roy
Solon pushes franchise for META, even as it commits to purge fake news
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 and embarrassed,” Trinidad said. Two Chinese warships were monitored at a distance ranging By Pot Chavez from eight to 14 nautical miles. One these Trial wentCourt up to(RTC) 1,000 THE of Regional of yards theThursday MMCA site but evenManilaat on entered a 'not tually wenton away. was posnot guilty' plea charges “It of illegal threatening, just normal,” accordsession of firearms and explosives
Court enters not guilty plea for Teves on guns, explosive raps
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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, ARRAIGNMENT. A heavily-guarded former lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr., PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto who wore a bulletproof vest and a Kevlar helmet, is mobbed by the media after his S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and arraignment yesterday for illegal possession of firearms and explosives at the Manila proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12. Norman Cruz