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DOJ’s Remulla confirms bid to be Ombudsman
FIVEROLLBACK LOCAL BIGTIME HOLIDAYS IN OCT. OF OIL PRICES NEWS// A3 A2 NEWS
MANILA TRENCH ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH RUPTURE DENIED NEWS//A2 WORLD A6
By Pot Chavez VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • VOL. XXXIX • NO. 135 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2025 •
JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed on Monday his intention to apply for the position of Ombudsman. Ombudsman Samuel Martirez is Next page set to retire on July 27.
PNP resurrecting probe P50 daily pay hike set for NCR baseslay earners into PCSO official's Majority of Pinoys back PH rejoining ICC—OCTA survey
PAGASA
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens
By Pot Chavez
CLOSE to six in 10 Filipinos support the Philippines rejoining the International Criminal Court, which is trying the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte, a survey released by OCTA Research on Monday showed. The survey, conducted between
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, PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 over Batanes and the northeastern portion of BaBy Vito Barcelo buyan Islands. and Maricel V. Cruzto continue “’Julian’ is forecast intensifying over the next 24-36 hours asOME it moves Batanes 1.2towards million and/or Babuyan Islands. With the minimum wage current trend in its intensification, the possibility earnersofinreaching Metro super typhoon category is not ruled out,” Manila will get a P50 daily PAGASA said in its advisory. wage hike – the theNational highestDisasMeanwhile, ter Risk Reduction andNCR Manageever granted by the ment Council (NDRRMC) said that wage board. atripartite total of 1.9 million family food packs worth P1.48 billion, other Labor Secretary Bienvenido food items worth P276 million, and Laguesma items said the increase, non-food (NFIs) worth which P919 was unanimously approved by the million were already prepared by wageDepartment board through No. the of Wage SocialOrder Welfare 26, will take effect on July 18. and Development (DSWD). The daily minimum rate in Some P171 million wage in standby Metrois Manila will now to fund also available for increase utilization P695 P645including for the non-agriculby thefrom DSWD, P123 milture sector. lion which can be allotted as Quick Meanwhile, the inagriculture Response Fund for (QRF) the censector, service retail establishtral office of theand DSWD. ments with 15 or employees, In Batanes, thefewer Provincial Diand manufacturing saster Risk Reductionestablishments and Managethat regularly fewer than ten ment Office employ (PDRRMO) advised workers, the wage will and rise residents to minimum secure their roofs to P658window from P608. install shutters as Typhoon Labor groups, however, the Julian is expected to make said landfall wage hike was too measly and pushed Next page for the proposed P200 legislated wage hike that was passed by the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress. “The five P10 coins may be the biggest alms that the wage board
Increase to benefit workers;inlabor Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote1.2m of confidence Quadgroups Comm hit ‘measly’ hike Next page
By Rio N. Araja
S
T
HE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
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 congressmen how Garma allegedly facilitated the PCSO official’s roadside assassination on July 30, 2020 by providing the necessary information about his schedule, details about his vehicle and the funding necessary to A 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 NationalAGRI PolicePRODUCTIVITY. ComBOOSTING President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., together with Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., trade and extrajudicial killings. missioner Leonardo in themachinery and Mobile Soil Laboratories yesterday in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. The initiative supports the administration’s efforts to leads Edilberto the turnover of agricultural planning oflocal the murder. boost production, increase food supply, and help lower the prices of goods. 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. Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. THE legal counsel of Chinese adviser of former President Rodrigo of illegal drugs and illegal activities Colonel, allegedly gained the top businessman Tony Yang soughtrice to Duterte. associated with administration’s push to bring gate prices and high production costs. and ₱18 for wetPOGOs,” palay. Suarez said By Charles Dantes spot at the PCSO because of her indisparage lawmakers’ conclusions Fortun, a lawyer who often finds in a mixture of Filipino prices down to ₱20 per kilo. Mr. Marcos emphasized that de“We will not lowerand theEnglish. buying Next page about his client’s supposedly himself at the center high-profile The solons explained how that the During a dialogue with local agspite plans to lower retail rice prices price,” the President said, adding PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sketchy past and his alleged ties cases, apparently sought to mock matrix details Yang’s connections to riculture stakeholders in the Science for consumers, the government will the support will not be limited to proyesterday assured farmers that the with Philippine Overseas Gaming congressmen, calling their probe other individuals involved in illicit City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, a known maintain the current National Food curement but will also focus on reducgovernment will protect the buying Operators (POGOs) and even “unacceptable.” activities, including operations of agricultural hub, President Marcos reAuthority (NFA) buying price for paing production coststhe through governprice of palay and lower agricultural organized crime. However, House members argued illegal POGOs. sponded to questions about low farmlay at ₱19 to ₱23 per kilo for dry palay ment interventions. input costs, amid concerns over the Next page Lawyer Raymond Fortun they did not come by their suspicions Among the companies implicated questioned the House Quad about Yang recklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. Committee’s impartiality and its On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., ability to pin Chinese national Yang Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga which are being linked to alleged down for ay wrongdoing in a real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. criminal court. Quezon presented a matrix showing The two firms supposedly “I am very interested in how they Yang’s first appearance and his have connections with the Baofu [Quad Comm members] can prove subsequent activities at the Quad Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, this criminal network in court. In Comm hearing. which, in turn, can be directly traced Congress, lawmakers act as both “We saw a pattern, and we tracked to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. "It will and servejudge,” as the he fans’ remindBy Cherrie Anne E.Villahermosa prosecutor said. it to the top of these corporations... During Friday’s Quad Comm ersYang, or souvenir my father's favorwho ofalready admitted we stripped it of its layers , to get to hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang ite areas aat home," she said. Reports VICE President Sara Duterte is against having fake Philippine birth the top and through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” to about his said that the sale” tarpaulin put the sale of a home of former President certificate, is “For the brother of Michael discovered and identified at least two businesses and business partners. up at theagatepresidential of the house in Matina, Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City, saying Yang, economic main actors or players in the issue Next page Davao City was taken down on orders she wants to keep the house and turn it of Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte. into a museum where fans and supportThe former President's partner, ers can visit and see where her father Honeylet Avancena, disclosed on used to eat, sleep, and spend most of his Next page free time.
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
Next page
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry Congress opens
Marcos assures farmers gov’t to maintain buying price of palay
DOTr’s Bautista says online news VP Sara opposes sale, wants report ‘unfounded'
Rody’s house to be a museum
BAUTISTA
By Darwin Amojelar
Navy spokes debunks China claim BADMINTON DIPLOMACY. of military exercises in Scarborough shoal By Rex Espiritu
THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announceTRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime ment by China that it conducted Bautista denied an online news report military exercises off Bajo de claiming that Malacañang was angry Masinloc, also known as Scarborwith the increase in airport fees without ough Shoal, in the West Philipthe approval of the Cabinet members. pine Sea (WPS). “The Bilyonaryo article is maliChina reportedly made the ancious and unfounded,” Bautista said nouncement coinciding with the in a Viber message, referring to the fourth Multilateral Maritime Cowebsite that published the said story. operative Activity between the “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. Philippines, Australia, Japan, Bilyonaryo reported online that New Zealand, and the United “Bautista and his long-time protege in States within Manila’s exclusive Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for SANGYAW FESTIVAL. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G.zone Romualdez leads economic (EEZ) in the the reAviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are motorcade for Sangyaw Festival of Lights—an annual socio-cultural event celebrated gional waters over the weekend. at the center of the storm after it was in Tacloban City every June 29. Tossing of apples to tens of thousands of residents and Navy Spokesperson visitors lining the streets of downtown Tacloban hasPhilippine become a sort of tradition since its for WPS Rear Admiral Roy VinNext page revival in 2008.
China’s ambassador to Manila Huang Xilliian, left, and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Evangeline Ong-Ducrocq take a break for a photo during a day-long sports festival in a popular holiday resort in Tagaytay City. The sportsfest was participated in by Chinese embassy staff and diplomats and a dozen staff cent told reporters fromTrinidad the DFA’s Asia-Pacific Division.that FB post of Ambassador Huang
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. ByTwo Ram Superable Chinese warships were monitored at a distance ranging SENATOR Hontiveros Monfrom eight Risa to 14 nauticalonmiles. day said she willwent file aupformal comOne of these to 1,000 plaint with the National Bureau of yards at the MMCA site but evenInvestigation (NBI) following the retually went away. “It was not lease of a video YouTubeaccorddiscredthreatening, justonnormal,” iting her committee’s work in seeking
20th session with first bills filed
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. By Maricel V. Cruz Department of Foreign Affairs and Ram Superable (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in aREELECTED speech deliveredLeyte at theRep. UN GenFerdieral Assembly York said the nand Martin inG.New Romualdez, who Philippines continuesoftotheemphasize served as Speaker 19th Conthe “importance upholding theby gress, opened theof20th Congress rule of law and the integrity of the filing House Bill No. 1—a landmark multilateral system in the face the of tomeasure aimed at reforming Naday’s tionalglobal Food challenges.” Authority (NFA) to help Quoted by reports, Manalo also bring down rice prices, stabilize said: “The Philippines has consissupply, and strengthen support for tently pursued peace, the sovereign Filipino farmers. equality states, the rights titled and dig-the The ofbill, officially nity of all persons.” “Rice Industry and Consumer EmHe added (RICE) that the country also powerment Act,” is isthe first recognized as the “first Asian legislative proposal of the newReCongress. It seeks to amendNext thepage Rice Tariffication Law and restore the NFA’s regulatory powers to prevent hoarding, profiteering, and price manipulation. Romualdez stressed that rice is the foundation of every Filipino family’s meals and emphasized the urgency of ensuring affordable prices and fair compensation for farmers. Next page
Risa to file case against witness who recanted
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,MEET SM Prime Chairman ofRepresentatives the Executive Committee POWER INHoldings SHANGHAI. of NationalHans Grid T. Sy, PRA President and Chairman(NGCP), of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Roberto Corporation of the Philippines Department of Energy (DOE), Sports) and State Grid S. Claudio,of and PRAmet Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, and Corporation China in Shanghai to advance grid-forming and greenInc. energy proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua strategies. NGCP