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‘50-50 chance Rody gets interim release’ PNP resurrecting probe T PCSO official's slay into 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 •
Lawyers of drug war victims’ kin urge ICC to reject request
By Pot Chavez, Rex Espiritu, Charles Dantes and Rio N. Araja
HEREisisaa50-50 50-50 HERE chance that that former former chance President Rodrigo Rodrigo President Duterte could secure interim release from the International Criminal Court, said a lawyer representing the families of victims of the previous By Rio N. Araja administration’s bloody war on drugs. HE Philippine National Police The defense team of the 80-yearold Duterte said the former president (PNP) is reopening was not a flight risk and should be its investigation allowed interim releaseinto to a country that was redacted from the the 2020 murder of document they submitted to the ICC. Philippine Based on theCharity request of Duterte’s defense team, theOffice prosecution has Sweepstakes confirmed its its non-opposition non-opposition to to his his confirmed (PCSO) boardThe secretary interim release. prosecution team, however, has yet to make an ofWesley Barayuga.
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 118 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2025 •
Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm
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ficial confirmation of this claim. The ficial ICC never granted those Police facing OnhasSunday, PNP to Chief NextMarpage General Rommel Francisco bil 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 congressmen how Garma allegedly facilitated the PCSO official’s roadside assassination on July 30, 2020 by providing necessary information By Ramthe Superable about his schedule, details about his and Vito vehicle and Barcelo the funding necessary to carry it out. tossed SENATORS yesterday the SENATORS yesterday The whistleblower also tossed implicated blame back at the HousePolice of Represenincumbent National Comtatives for Edilberto supposedlyLeonardo failing to in actthe on missioner the proposed wage hike bill in time planning of the murder. before the 19thwas Congress adjourned. Barayuga a retired police "Whyand is itlawyer that only at the last mingeneral who supposedly ute do theytosay we’re the ones withcausthreatened expose corruption ing the delay and that we have no in the PCSO shortly before he time was to adopt they just sent City. us? If they shot deadwhat in Mandaluyong hadGarma, sent it before herself we anadjourned ex-policeback Lt. then, it would have been to Colonel, allegedly gained easier the top discuss and study," Senate President spot at the PCSO because of her inFrancis Escudero said. Next page He pointed out that the lower chamber ber sat sat on on the the measure measure for for 16 16 months months despite repeated appeals from the upper chamber to adopt its version of the bill. The Senate passed its proposal for a P100 daily minimum wage increase for private sector workers in February 2024, and immediately transmitted it Next page page to the House. Next
Death of wage hike bill House’s fault, senators say
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'
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.
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. Bilyonaryo reported online that By Charles Dantesprotege in “Bautista and his long-time Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos, Aviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are Jr. sent his message of solidarity at the center of the storm after it was to Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
Angara bats for PPP to address massive classroom backlog
THE legal counsel of Chinese businessman Tony Yang sought to disparage lawmakers’ conclusions ANGARA said the Marcos adminEDUCATION Secretary Juan about his client’s supposedly istration is now pushing to adopt Edgardo Friday sketchy past Angara and his said alleged tiesthea Partnership Marcos administration is (PPP) now withPublic-Private Philippine Overseas Gaming model to fast-track classroom conOperators (POGOs) and even pushing to adopt a Public-Pristruction — one of the few viable organized crime. vate Partnership to solutions that can(PPP) scale model up infraLawyer Raymond Fortun close the classroom gap. structure without overburdening the questioned House Quad "Ateducation thisthe(current) budget rate, yearly budget. Committee’s impartiality and close its it will take us the 55 years Angara said MarcostoYang adminability to pin Chinese national 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 istration isthe nowcenter pushing to adopt a the classroom gap,"Angara himself at high-profile Public-Private Partnership (PPP) said apparently in an interview cases, soughtwith to Super mock model to fast-track classroom conRadyo dzBB. congressmen, calling their probe struction — one of the few viable “unacceptable.” Angarathatsaid the shortfall solutions canmembers scale upargued infraHowever, House stems from a confluence of structure without overburdening the they did not come by their suspicions negative forces, such as rapid yearly education budget. about Yang recklessly. population growth, faces agingainfraTHE Philippines masOn Friday,calamities Senior Deputy Speaker structure, that destroy sive classroom backlog of 165,000 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 LONE CRASH Comm hearing. SURVIVOR. “We saw pattern, we tracked Theaback of Airand India flight it to the top these corporations... 171 isofpictured at the we stripped of its layersin, to siteitafter it crashed a get to the top and through it near all, the we have residential area airport in Ahmedabad on two discovered and identified at least Juneor 12,players 2025. Inset main actors in shows the issue India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) meeting with Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, sole survivor of the Air India flight 171 crash, at a hospital in Ahmedabad. AFP
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 fourth Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity between the Philippines, Australia, Japan, Modi Zealand, and his people, saying the New and the United Philippines is “deeply saddened” by States within Manila’s exclusive the London-bound Air India economic zone (EEZ) in AI-171 the reflight that crashed gional waters over in theAhmedabad, weekend. India on Thursday. Philippine Navy Spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vin-
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 from 14 post, nautical miles. In a eight social to media President One of went are upextending to 1,000 Marcos saidthese the Filipinos yards atcondolences” the MMCAtosite even“heartfelt India,but “espetually went away. “It ones was ofnot cially to the families and loved threatening, all those who lostjust theirnormal,” lives.” Nextaccordpage
PBBM extends sympathies to India over crash Next page
MALACAÑANG acknowledged acknowledged the MALACAÑANG Philippine Constitution Association’s (PHILCONSA) concerns over the Senate’s returning the articles of imPAGASA peachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Lower House, but said it has not lost faith in Congress’s ability to resolve internal disagreements. In a press briefing yesterday, Presidential Communications Communications Office Office UnderUnderdential secretary Claire Castro said Mr. Marcos is even open to facilitating dialogue between the two chambers, if necessary. "The President President is is confident confident that that any any "The disagreements will be resolved by the THE government has readied P1.48 two houses," she told reporters. billion worth of aid for communi"The President is open to any diaties be hit hard by typhoon loguethat to may promote cooperation and the ‘Julian’ of which PAGASA says could stability democracy in the country," turn into a supertyphoon. Castro added. As of 5:00 PM on Sunday, PANext page page Next GASA 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 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
BACK TO SCHOOL. Principal Reynora Laurenciano distributes school supplies and uniforms to high school students at President Corazon C. Aquino High School in in Baseco Baseco Compound, Compound, Tondo, Tondo, Manila, Manila, in in preparation preparation for for the the 2025-2026 2025-2026 school school year. year. According According to to the the Department Department of of Education Education (DepEd), (DepEd), at at least least 27 27 million million School students are expected to return to both public and private schools on June 16 for the upcoming academic year. Danny Pata
By Rex Espiritu
By Darwin Amojelar
By Charles Dantes and Rio N. Araja
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Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal
BAUTISTA
Marcos confident solons can break impeach impasse
Next page
of illegal drugs and illegal activities associated with POGOs,” Suarez said in a mixture of Filipino and English. and it may takeexplained more halfthe a school buildings, andthan decadesThe solons how century to resolve at the current long underinvestment in basicto matrix details Yang’s connections rate of construction due to education facilities. other individuals involved in budillicit getary constraints, according toof activities, includinginvolves the operations The concept ‘build Education Secretary Juan Edgardo illegal POGOs. now, lease to government.’ This Angara. Amongthe the private companies implicated means AtBrickhartz this budget Technology rate,sector it will will take are Inc. build first, then thethe government us 55 years to close classroom and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., pays in installments overwith10 gap,"Angara in anlinked interview which are being 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 By Alena Mae S. Flores businesses and business partners.
THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the United Nations (UN) to give it a seat on the UN Security Council, highlightSuper Radyo dzBB.strong record and ing the country’s years. dedication to upholding rule Angara said the shortfall Angara stressed that the thisstems set-of from a confluence of negative law. up will not pass on the cost of forces, such as ofrapid population Department Affairs construction to theForeign students or growth, aging infrastructure, ca-in (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo their parents. a speechthat delivered the UN Genlamities destroyatschool build“Students won’t pay ings, and decades-long underinvesteral Assembly in Newhave Yorkto said the anything. The government will ment in basic education Philippines continues to facilities. emphasize Next page page the “importance of upholding the Next 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 This willasbethe the“first thirdAsian consecutive recognized Reoil price hikes for gasoline and diesel page amid volatility in world oilNext prices. Department of Energy Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) director Rodela Romero said that based
Big-time oil price hike next week due to lower inventories
CONSUMERS will have to Next bracepage for a big-time oil price hike next week, with as much as P1.40 per liter due to optimism over the US-China trade deal and falling crude inventories.
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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 TOASTING REPUBLIC. Marcos Jr. with Group) Vice PresidentTHE and President and COOPresident of Golden,Ferdinand ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Ambassador Mohammed Rida El Fassi, Vice Dean of the Diplomatic Corps proposed Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, a toast Vin D' Honneur ( wine of honor)International, for government and diplomatic PRAduring President and Chairman of Quorum Inc. officials (Toby’s Sports) Roberto corps at the Malacañan Palace on 12, 2025. A vin d'honneur one of Inc. twoand official S. Claudio, and PRA Director andJune President of Sportshouse Int’l.isLeisure, receptions hosted byOFR the President the Philippines at Malacañan Palace to celebrate proponent of PRA President’sofAward Mars C. Chua New Year's and Independence Day. PPA POOL