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FIVE RICE CAPLOCAL STAYS HOLIDAYS IN OCT. AMID IMPORT BAN
PBBM orders study of proposed P1 jeep fare hike
NEWS A3 NEWS//A3
ISRAEL CONTINUES OMBUDSMAN FINES TO POUND GWEN P1.2HEZBOLLAH MILLION WORLD / A6 NEWS/ A3
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • VOL. XXXIX • NO. 180 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2025 •
PNP resurrecting probe E-wallets told to unlink fromPCSO e-gambling into official'ssites slay
BSP setsgrateful 48-hour deadline; Maya vow to abide Speaker for PMA Class '83GCash, vote of confidence in Quad Comm By Ram Superable By Rio N. Araja
T
HE Philippine Bangko Sentral HE ng Pilipinas on National Police Thursday ordered (PNP) is reopening electronic wallets,into including its investigation GCash and Maya,of to sever the 2020 murder links to online gambling Philippine Charity platforms within 48 hours. 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 "We ordered them today [to rehelped carry out the killing at the move links to online gambling] withbehest of ex-PCSO general manager in 48 hours," BSP Deputy Governor Royina Garma. Memento Tangonan said during yesMendoza narrated before conterday’s hearing of the Senate Games gressmen how Garma allegedly faand Amusement Committee, chaired cilitated the PCSO official’s roadside by Senator Erwin Tulfo. assassination on July 30, 2020 by “The Monetary Board has approviding the necessary information proved our policy that we order or diabout his schedule, details about his rect the BSP supervising institutions vehicle and the funding necessary to to take down and remove all icons carry it out. and links redirecting to gambling The whistleblower also implicated sites,” Tangonan added. incumbent National Police ComNext page missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the planning of the murder. 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. Colonel, allegedly gained the top spot at the PCSO because of her inNext page
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded' Patidongans file raps vs. ex-CIDG chief Macapaz By Vince Lopez WHISTLEBLOWER Julie ‘DonBAUTISTA don’ Patidongan and his brother Elakim filed administrative complaints yesterday against former Criminal By Darwin Amojelar Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Brigadier Gen.Jaime RoTRANSPORTATION Secretary meo Macapaz alleged Bautista denied over an online newsmisconreport duct in connection with thewas “missing claiming that Malacañang angry sabungeros” case. with the increase in airport fees without brothers, are members. considered the The approval of thewho Cabinet key“The witnesses in the article case, submitted Bilyonaryo is malitheir affidavits at the National cious and unfounded,” BautistaPolice said Commission (Napolcom) headquarters in a Viber message, referring to the in Quezon accusing Macapaz, website that City, published the said story. lawyer JairusisVincent Concina, Lt. “Bilyonaryo inconsistent,” he and added. Col. Rossel Encarnacion misconduct, Bilyonaryo reportedof online that dishonesty,and andhis conduct unbecoming of “Bautista long-time protege in a police officer. Another brother, Jose, Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for accompanied them. Bobby Lim, are Aviation and Airports “There is of no the need for aafter motu at the center storm it prowas prio on the complainant; there is a Next page page Next
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered his economic team to study a proposed P1 fare increase for public utility jeepneys, in particular its impact on commuters and operators. “The President’s directive is to study this carefully because many will bePAGASA affected. This will be decided not only by the DOTr (Department of Transportation) but the whole economic team to determine if the public can bear the additional fare,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said. She said public consultations and hearings would also be held to ensure a balanced approach among stakeholders, including jeepney drivers, has operators, THE government readied and P1.48 commuters. billion worth of aid for communiTransport ties that may be groups hit hard–byPasang typhoon Masda, Alliance of Transport ‘Julian’ which PAGASA saysOpcould erators Drivers’ Associations turn into and a supertyphoon. of (ALTODAP) Asthe ofPhilippines 5:00 PM on Sunday, PA-
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens
page GASA raised TropicalNext 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 Next page
STRENGTHENING THE JUDICIARY. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presents the Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act at Malacañan Palace. Standing as
witnesses, from left,House Pampanga 2nd districtGonzales Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Chief Justice G. Gesmundo, Senate President Chiz Escudero, and A WEB OF CRIME? leaders Aurelio and David Suarez presented this matrix duringAlexander the last QUAD House Speaker Martin The law Article VIII, Sectionled 3 of Constitution, the Judiciary fiscal autonomy, meaning its budget Comm hearing which showsRomualdez. the operations of a reinforces criminal syndicate allegedly bythe fugitive Michaelwhich Yang, grants then economic cannot be lower than the previous year’s that and must be automatically and regularly PPA Pool adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, controlled the illegal activities of thereleased. POGOs and was involved in the drug trade and extrajudicial killings.
PH lobbies UN for Security Marcos enacts law boosting Council seat Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry THE legal counsel of Chinese businessman Tony Yang sought to disparage lawmakers’ conclusions about his client’s supposedly sketchy past and his alleged ties with Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGOs) and even organized crime. Lawyer 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 By Ram Yang, a Superable presidential economic
COMPLAINANTS. adviser of former President Rodrigo
Brothers Julie 'Dondon', left, Duterte. and Elakim Patidongan, Fortun, a right, lawyer who often finds accused-turnedhimself at whistleblowers the center high-profile in the cases, apparently to case mock missing sought sabungeros congressmen,holdcalling their probe a press conference “unacceptable.” yesterday after filing their affidavitsargued against However,complaint House members formerby CIDG Director Brig. they did not come their suspicions Gen. Romeo Macapaz about Yang recklessly. the National Police On Friday,atSenior Deputy Speaker Commision headquarters Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga in Quezon City. 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, and we tracked it to the top of these corporations... we stripped it of its layers , to get to the top and through it all, we have discovered and identified at least two the Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms main actors or players in the issue (OSAA) on Aug. 13, following media reports about the incident. “Today, 14 August 2025, the OSAA has submitted its report on the incident. As instructed by Senate President (Francis) Escudero, we have provided a copy of this report to the
judiciary’s fiscal autonomy
of illegal drugs and illegal activities associated withDantes POGOs,” Suarez said By Charles in a mixture of Filipino and English. PRESIDENT The solons Ferdinand explained"Bongbong" how the Marcosdetails Jr. onYang’s Thursday signed into matrix connections to law the Judiciaryinvolved Fiscal Autonomy other individuals in illicit Act, granting the Philippine judiciary activities, including the operations of greaterPOGOs. independence over its budget illegal andAmong operations. the companies implicated before officials from are Speaking Brickhartz Technology Inc. all three branches of government and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd.,at Malacañan Palace,linked President Marcos 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 Charles Dantes businesses and business partners. Next page MALACAÑANG said Thursday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not considering appointing a separate lead investigator to look into alleged irregularities in flood control projects, despite a recommendation from Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. In a press briefing, Presidential
THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the United Nations (UN) toreinforces give it a seat on said the measure constituthe UNsafeguards Security Council, tional to ensurehighlightthat courts ing country’s strong record andfacanthe function "without fear, without dedication to upholding the rule of vor, and without anyone holding them law. by the purse strings." Department of Foreign Affairs "Our Constitution already man(DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in dates: The Judiciary shall enjoy fiscal aautonomy," speech delivered at the UN GenPresident Marcos said. eral"Under Assembly New said the thisin law, theYork proposed budPhilippines continues emphasize get of the Judiciary willtogo straight to the “importance of upholding Nextthe page 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 Communications Undersecrerecognized as the Office “first Asian Retary Claire Castro said the President has already established aNext system page to investigate such projects through the Regional Project Monitoring Committees. ‘‘The President has already provided the mechanism and system for how this can be investigated,’’ Castro
Palace junks special investigator for flood control projects inquiry No ‘smoking gun’ in Senate ‘pot’ probe THE Senate has concluded its investigation into the alleged use of marijuana by a staff member within the chamber’s premises. In a statement issued Wednesday, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. said the probe was conducted by
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal By Rex Espiritu
House invites citizen groups in GAA hearings
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 By Maricelcoinciding V. Cruz with the fourth Multilateral Maritime Cooperative the SPEAKER Activity Ferdinand between Martin G. RoPhilippines, Australia, Japan, mualdez has made history in the push New Zealand, and the United for a more open and accountable govStates Manila’s ernmentwithin by turning over exclusive copies of economic zone (EEZ) the rethe P6.793-trillion 2026in National gional watersProgram over the(NEP) weekend. Expenditure to repPhilippineofNavy Spokesperson resentatives civil society organiNextVinpage for WPS Rear Admiral Roy zations (CSOs).
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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. AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, Two Chinese warships were was honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding monitored at a distance ranging Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership in retail development. from eight to 14 nautical miles. (From left to right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA WATCHDOGS. Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez turns a copyand of the P6.793-trillion 2026 National Expenditure One of these went up to 1,000 Martin G.Vice President andover President COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) Program yesterdaysite to representatives organizations during a simple ceremony held at the Social HallHans of the Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee T. Sy, yards at(NEP) the MMCA but even- of civil society House of Representatives. The event is in line with the initiative to allow of theQuorum participation of people’s inRoberto the PRAHouse's President and Chairman International, Inc.organizations (Toby’s Sports) tually went away. “It was not chamber's budget deliberations. Joining Speaker Romualdez were Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander ‘Sandro’ Marcos, Committee S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and on threatening, normal,” Appropriationsjust Chairperson andaccordNueva Ejica 1st District Rep. Mikela Suansing; Bataan 2nd District Rep. Albert Garcia, Vice Chairperson of proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua the committee; and other House leaders. Next page Ver Noveno