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‘TOTOY’ TAGS MORE PEOPLE, INCLUDING SOLON, IN ‘SABUNGEROS’ CASE By Pot Chavez, Maricel Cruz and Rex Espiritu WHISTLEBLOWER Julie Patidongan has tagged lawyer Caroline Cruz, the executive director of the Pitmaster Foundation, and Ako Bisaya party-list Rep. Sonny Lagon as being involved in the case of the missing “sabungeros” – the latest names to be dropped in Patidongan’s almost daily revelation since coming out in the media.
“Atty. Caroline Cruz is involved,” Patidongan said in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel. Patidongan, who earlier named gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang as among the masterminds in the disappearance and murder of the “sabungeros,” said Cruz was the one who previously prepared his recantation in exchange for P300 million. Next page
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 152 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025
Bato next on ICC arrest list? Palace says will cooperate with Interpol if order is released
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HE Philippines may arrest a senator who served as police chief during then President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs if the International Criminal Court issues a warrant over the campaign that left thousands of suspects dead, the top aide to current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said yesterday. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin told Kyodo News that Sen. Ronald dela Rosa would receive “treatment similar to what we did to Duterte,” who was arrested by Philippine police in March for alleged crimes against humanity over the killings, following a warrant issued by the court in The Hague. Next page
Drug war, ‘sabungeros’ link? Preposterous—Rody FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte described as “preposterous” recent reports that the case of the missing “sabungeros” may be connected to his bloody war on drugs, his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte said. This as Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said investigators are eyeing possible links of the individuals allegedly behind the case of the disappeared “sabungeros” to the exNext page
ON TRACK. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. briefs the media
Friends with Ang, but no more biz ties—OVP spokes
yesterday after inspecting the Camp Aguinaldo section of the Metro Manila Subway Project in Quezon City. With the president are DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. DOTR Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon, and PCO Secretary Dave Gomez. Inset shows the a commuter hugging the President during his visit at a Light Rail station in Quezon City. PCO
THE spokesperson of the Office of the Vice President Ruth Castelo said she remains friends with gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang – who has been tagged as one of the masterminds in the case of the missing “sabungeros” – but their lawyer-client relationship ended in 2009.
Seniors, PWDs now enjoy 50% train discount—PBBM
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US Navy to build small boat repair facility in Oyster Bay
WPS FRONTLINE. A general view of Philippine Navy vessels anchored at Oyster Bay naval facility where the US Navy plans to build two boat repair facilities for smaller craft operating in the western Philippines. Inset shows location of the facility in Palawan island, west of Manila. AFP
THE US Navy plans to build two repair facilities for smaller vessels operating in the western Philippines, the US Embassy said Wednesday, with one about 240 kilometers (150 miles) east of a fiercely contested reef in the South China Sea. Located in the Spratly archipelago, the Second Thomas Shoal hosts a small detachment of Philippine forces aboard a grounded navy vessel and has been the site of clashes with Chinese ships. Beijing claims almost the entirety of the crucial waterway despite an international ruling its assertion has no merit. The US government’s contracting website, Sam.gov, locates one of the proposed repair facilities in Palawan province’s Quezon municipality. The facilities “will provide repair and maintenance capabilities for a variety of (Philippine) vessels including 7.32-meter (24-foot) watercraft as well as other smaller conventional watercraft,” the bid notice for the Quezon project reads. The Philippines owns several vessels Next page
First Lady will not join PBBM’s working visit to US By Charles Dantes FIRST Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will not join President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on his upcoming July 20 to 22 working visit to Washington, D.C., a palace official
said yesterday. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro responded “No” when asked if the First Lady would be part of the President’s delegation. She confirmed that key Cabinet officials will
be joining the trip. “Yes, there will be people accompanying him,” Castro said in Filipino. “I’m just not sure if I have the authority to give details on that. It would probably be better Next page
By Charles Dantes THE 50% fare discount for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) riding LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 trains took effect yesterday. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the launch of a new Department of Transportation (DOTr) initiative, saying that the fare relief is an expansion of an earlier discount program for students and is aimed at further easing the financial burden of vulnerable sectors. “Now we will add senior citizens and PWDs to that group,” Mr. Marcos said to a crowd of elderly commuters. “They can also get a 50% discount.” Next page
ONLINE GAMBLING ADDICTION A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE—DOH NEWS / A2
Senate eyes Aug. 4 start of VP Sara’s impeach trial By Ram Superable THE Senate is preparing to reconvene as an impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial set to begin on August 4, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva said Senate President Francis Escudero has started consulting with senators on the projected timeline. Villanueva added however that the schedule is tentative, as the Senate would have to reorganize first once the 20th Congress opens on July 28. Next page