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US toFIVE continue LOCAL oilHOLIDAYS blockadeINvs. OCT. V’zuelaNEWS —/ A3Rubio
Trump Gov’t toeyes grantG’land, sees Cuba’sfare fall,hike provisional warns if dieselColombia hits P60/l
By Alena Mae S. Flores
By Rio Araja, Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s calls that and Katrina Manubay Greenland should become part of the United States was met with international THE Land Transportation Franchising condemnation Monday as the autonoand Regulatory Board said it may immous Danish territory’s prime minister plementhisanfoot across-the-board provisionputting down on the issue. al fare increase once the price of diesel
ISRAEL CONTINUES US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on TO POUND HEZBOLLAH Sunday said Washington would continue to enforce an existing “oilmoon quaranBLOOD MOON. The blood is WORLD / A6 tine” Venezuela. seen against in Manila on Tuesday evening. The
page event occurs during a total lunarNext eclipse when the earth moves directly between the moon and the sun, casting a shadow on the satellite’s surface and causing it to appear crimson, according to NASA. This is the last of three blood moon events – the first occurred in March 2025 and the second one happened in September 2025. This will happen again on Dec. 31, 2028. Edd Castro
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • VOL. NO.22325 3 SECTIONS PAGES P20 TUESDAY, JANUARY VOL.XXXIX XL • •NO. • 3•SECTIONS 1616 PAGES •• P20 •• WEDNESDAY, MARCH6,4,2026 2026•
PNP resurrecting probepower PBBM vetoes P92.5b PBBM eyes special unprogrammed to slash fuel funds excise taxes into PCSO official's slay Hefty oil price hike looms: P10.20/l for diesel; P5.50/l for gas
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PH airsPAGASA concern over V’zuela dev’ts
Washington’s military intervention in Venezuela has reignited fears for Greenland, which Trump has repeatedly said he wants to annex, given its strategic location in the Arctic. THE government While aboard has Airreadied Force P1.48 One billion worth of aid for communienroute to Washington, Trump reiterties may be hit hard by typhoon ated that his proposal. ‘Julian’ which PAGASA says “We need Greenland from the could standturn into a supertyphoon. point of national security, and Denmark Asgoing of 5:00 ondoSunday, PAis not to bePM able to it,” he said in GASA raised Tropical Cyclone response to a reporter’s question. Wind Signal No. 3 over Batanes Next page and Alena the northeastern portion of BaBy Charles Dantes, Mae Flores, Maricel buyan Islands. Cruz and Alena Flores “’Julian’ is forecast to continue intensifying over the next 24-36 RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hours as it moves towards Batanes said he will ask Congress leaders and/or Babuyan Islands. With the trend in itspower” intensification, to grant current him “special to the possibility of reaching super slash excise tax on petroleum products typhoon category is not ruled out,” should Dubai PAGASA crude oil $80 per saidsurpass in its advisory. Meanwhile, the National Disasbarrel amid escalating tensions in the ter Risk Reduction and ManageMiddle East. ment Council (NDRRMC) said that a total of 1.9 million family food This as industry sources packssaid worth P1.48 billion, other consumers face heftyfood oil price TaxP276 cut likely if and items worth million, hikes of up to P10.20non-food per liter items (NFIs) worth P919 crude tops for diesel and P5.50million per literwereDubai already prepared by for gasoline next week, with $80 ofperSocial barrelWelfare the Department the Department of Energy sayand Development (DSWD). assures oil ing it was “hoping for the best P171Gov’t Some million in standby but preparing for the fund worst.” reservesfor enough is also available utilization “I am going to talk to the by the DSWD, including P123 milfor almost 60 leaders in both the House and can be allotted asdays lion which Quick in the Senate to maybe — this Fund (QRF) in the cenResponse is not yet a sure thing, butoffice this of the DSWD. tral is something that we areIn discussing andthe it could be helpfulDi— Batanes, Provincial is to give me, the President, authority to reduce excise tax saster the Risk Reduction and Manageon petroleum products should Dubai(PDRRMO) crude exceedadvised $80 per ment Office barrel,” Mr. Marcos said. residents to secure their roofs and Fuel subsidies mayinstall also bewindow triggeredshutters if the Dubai crude avas Typhoon erages at least $80 perJulian barrelisforexpected one month. to make landfall Acting Finance Secretary Frederick Go added: “To be clear, Next page this (special power) does not mean the authority will be automatically exercised. It is a precautionary measure — a ready poliA WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD cy tool that the President may use, if necessary, to act swiftly in
Americans told to leave as ‘26 pork-free, bars politicians from ‘ayuda’ distribution Iranbudget strikes US Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm embassies
By Charles Dantes, Thony Rose Lesaca, By Rio N.hitAraja DRONES the USMaricel embassies in Ram Superable, Riyadh and Kuwait on Tuesday as Cruz and Barcelo HEVito Philippine Iran hit back at industrial and diplo-
T P
matic targets across the Middle East National Police RESIDENT and Washington warned its citizens to (PNP) reopening evacuateFerdinand the entireis region. Marcos In Washington, Trump warned that its investigation into Jr. could signed into law the strikes continue for weeks the 2020 murder of or months. On Monday, the US State this year’s P6.793 trillion Department had urged “Americans to Philippine Charity national budget, DEPART NOW” fromvetoing all of the counSweepstakes Office tries and territories of the almost P92.5 billionMiddle in East “due to serious safetysecretary risks.” (PCSO) board unprogrammed funds while “From the beginning we projected Wesley Barayuga. four to five weeks, but we have putting tighter controls oncapability to go far longer than that,” Trump On Sunday, PNP including Chief Police public spending, said at the White House. General Rommel Francisco Marbarring politicians And, speaking to from NewsNation, bil said he ordered the reopening of Trump warned Iran would “find out distributing other the cold case cash after and whistleblower soon” how he planned to retaliate for Police Lt.ofCol. Santie Mendoza told forms “ayuda.” the Riyadh embassy attack the House Quad Committee that he In an earlier interview with the New helped carry out the killing at2026, the "With National Budget York Post,theTrump—who campaigned behest of ex-PCSO general manager your government's direction is clear, it on promises to end US involvement Royina Garma. will be more prudent in wars—refused toand rulemore out respondeployMendoza narrated beforefunds," consible in spending the people's ing US ground troops to Iran “if they gressmen how Garma allegedly fathe President on Monday said, adding were necessary.” cilitated the PCSO official’s roadside thatFour unprogrammed appropriations days after US and Israeli strikes assassination on July 30, 2020 by will notIran’s be treated as "blank killed supreme leaderchecks." and trigproviding the be necessary information “Leta regional me clear:Agence the Unprogered war, France about his Appropriations schedule, details about his grammed not blank Presse (AFP) reporters are in the Saudi vehicle and the funding necessary to page capital saw smoke damage onNext the walls carry it out. and roof of the embassy. The whistleblower also implicated Saudi police were swarming over the incumbent National Police ComNext missioner Edilberto Leonardo inpage 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 By Charles Dantes spot at the PCSO because of her in-
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PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat ARRESTED.
CommAhearing shows the operations a criminalR.syndicate fugitive Michael then economic NEWwhich BEGINNING. Presidentof Ferdinand Marcos Jr.allegedly presentsled theby signed copy of theYang, 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) at the Ceremonial Hall of adviser of former President Rodrigo The Duterte, thatbudget, controlled the illegal activities the12314, POGOsamounts and wasto involved in the drugRevoli Cortez Next page Malacanang Palace yesterday. national enacted as Republic ActofNo. Php6.793 trillion. trade and extrajudicial killings.
DBCC cuts growth target to 5-6% Repatriation Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry Poquiz held on inciting sedition amid headwinds of OFWs stalls raps, freed after posting P48k bail due to travel By Pot Chavez and Rex Espiritu disruption DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded' Next page
NEWS / A3 Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens
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 Major even Retired Philippine Air Force organized crime. Poquiz was arrested General Romeo LawyerAquinoRaymond Fortun at Ninoy International Airport questioned House Quad Terminal 3 on the charges of inciting to Committee’s impartiality and after its sedition but was later released ability pin Chinese national Yang postingto bail. down for posted ay wrongdoing in a real Poquiz bail of P48,000 as criminal set by thecourt. court and was subsequently “I am very interested in how they freed. [Quad Comm members] canwarrant prove He has a standing arrest this network City in court. In issuedcriminal by the Quezon Regional Congress, lawmakers as both Trial Court Branch 77 onact December 5, prosecutor and judge,” he said. 2025, for inciting to sedition. Yang, already admitted The casewho stemmed from his earlier having fake forces Philippine birth call for thea armed to rise against certificate, is theduring brother of Michael the government anti-corruption Yang, presidential rallies in aNovember last year.economic Poquiz’s lawyers criticized the police over the arrest, but police officials
THE country is expected to post solid growth in the medium term even as economic managers lowered targets amid global and domestic headwinds, By Charles Dantes Planning, Department of Economy, Ram Superable andand Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said. PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. Balisacan saidFerdinand the Development on Tuesday said more than Budget Coordination Committee 1,400 now Filipinos multipleproduct Middleto East expects grossindomestic excountries havetorequested pand 5 percent 6 percentrepatriation this year, as fighting Israel lower than thebetween previously setand 6 toIran 7 intensified, but airport closures and percent. ongoing missile strikes have stalled "The reason for the scaling down of evacuation efforts. growth rose from the realities we have seen, Meanwhile, both globallythe and government domestically,"is closely monitoring the potential Balisacan said during a Palace briefing impact ofciting escalating in the yesterday, recenttensions assessments Middle East on remittances from from the International Monetary Fund, overseas workers (OFWs), World BankFilipino and Asian Development warning that the situationNext remains Bank. page volatile and difficult to predict. Senate President Vicente Sotto III urged Filipinos around the world to remain calm and united as tensions escalated in the region following reBy Charles Dantes ports of theBAUTISTA death of Iran’s supreme leader as a result of the bombings. PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” The President said 10 Filipinos in By Rex Espiritu Marcos Jr. on Tuesday vowed to Iran, 297 in Israel, 22 in Jordan, 231 By Darwin Amojelar strengthen the Philippines’ “strategic in Bahrain, 586 in Dubai and 270 in THE Philippine Navy debunked partnership” with South Korea as he Abu Dhabi have formally sought reon Sunday the recent announceTRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime welcomed President Lee Jae Myung patriation, bringing the total to 1,416. ment by China that it conducted Bautista denied an online news report to Malacañan Palace on 77th de anmilitary exercises offtheBajo claiming that Malacañang was angry Next page niversary of diplomatic relations beMasinloc, 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. scheme involvingAustralia, 18 former soldiers . ByBilyonaryo Ram Superable Philippines, Japan, reported online that Marcos insisted that serious accusaNew Zealand, and the United “Bautista and his long-time protege in tions made underManila’s oath must exclusive be formally SENATOR Imee Marcos on Tuesday within Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for VICTORIOUS. Rising stars Alex EalaStates and American Iva Jovic explained and substantiated under fired back at Senate President Pro Temeconomic zone (EEZ) in the offireAviation and Airports Lim, are tennis veterans Venus Williams and congratulate each Bobby other after beating cial scrutiny. pore Panfilo Lacson over his objecgional waters over the weekend. Svitolina, (7), 6-1, doubles opening round of the ASB Classic in at theElina center of the7-6 storm afterin itthe was “This is not about the affidationsAuckland, to a proposed Senate inquiry Philippine Navywhether Spokesperson New Zealand. WTA into vits deserve to be dignified. When acthe alleged P805-billion cashNext delivery for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vinpage
adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Fortun, a lawyer who often finds said due process observed in the himself at the was center high-profile implementation of the warrant. cases, apparently sought to mock ‘‘The case was investigated and congressmen, calling their probe pieces of evidence were referred and “unacceptable.” forwarded to House the prosecution, the However, members and argued courtdid found This was they not probable come by cause. their suspicions a result of the work of the prosecuabout Yang recklessly. tionOn service and now Deputy he will be tried. Friday, Senior Speaker That’s theGonzales process; there’s perAurelio Jr. ofnothing Pampanga sonal,’’ a police official said.Suarez of and Deputy Speaker David Poquizpresented said the police force should Quezon a matrix showing follow due and enforce Yang’s firstprocess appearance and the his law without fear or favor.at the Quad subsequent activities He underwent Comm hearing. booking procedures at Camp Crame after and his we arrest and “We saw a pattern, tracked was court that isit to presented the top ofbefore thesethe corporations... suedstripped the warrant. we it of its layers , to get to Forcesitofall,thewePhiliptheThe top Armed and through have pines (AFP)and on Monday said the arrest discovered identified at least two of the actors retiredorofficer wasincarried out main players the issue through lawful means, reflecting the
PBBM vows to level up PH, Navy debunkspartnership China claim Sokorspokes strategic
ESCALATION. Smoke billows at the facilities, top photo, hit by Iranian drones at the Saudi oil refinery at the Ras Tanura oil production complex near Dammam, Retired in Saudi Arabia’s eastern province on the Gulf coast,Major General Romeo V. Poquiz is halting its operations. Inset at left shows militants handcuffed being arrested Philippine government on protesting fuel priceTHE increases even asafter the President, at yesterdaycalled at the Ninoy Aquino publicly Unitright,activities leads a specialSunday meeting of the Cabinetfor onthe steps to of illegal drugs and illegal International Airport (NAIA) (UN)crisis to give it a seat beSuarez taken to manageed theNations developing arising fromon associated with POGOs,” said Terminal 3 in connection with the UN Security Council, highlightIsrael, Iran confl ict. AFP, Manny Palmero, in a mixture of Filipinothe andUS, English. the rebellion andPCO sedition The solons explained how the matrix details Yang’s connections to other individuals involved in illicit activities, including the operations of illegal POGOs. Among the companies implicated are Brickhartz Technology Inc. and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., which are being linked 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 businesses and business partners.
ing the country’s strong record and charges filed against him before dedication toa upholding ruleAtty. of Quezon Citythe court. law. Ferdinand Topacio Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in a speech delivered at the UN General Assembly in New York said the Philippines continues to emphasize the “importance of upholding the 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 recognized as the “first Asian Re-
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Jovic trump of military exercises inEala, Scarborough shoal Williams, Svitolina DOJ confirms new plunder charges in Auckland event tween the two countries. In remarks delivered at the State Dining Room, told the Philippine cent Trinidad reporters Presthat ident said the visit by his South Manila troops did not monitor Korean counterpart underscored any such activity, adding that Beidecades of cooperation anchored on jing’s statement was meant only shared commitments to “freedom, for its internal audience. prosperity.” “Ourand troops did not observe Bypeace, Peter Atencio any exercise, we have to Next underpage stand that sometimes, THE PHILIPPINES' Alex EalaChina began is thisjust forastheir internal audithedoing new year she ended the last ence,a significant right? Forvictory. them not to look —with weak andher embarrassed,” Trinidad Fresh off gold-medal clinching winsaid. at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, Two that Chinese Eala carried winningwarships momentumwere to cusations of in such are of made at a seriousness distanceround ranging themonitored center court the opening under pain of perjury, the duty of from eight to 14 nautical miles. the women’s doubles action at the 2026 our institution notASB to ignore but to One of these went up them, to 1,000 ASB Classic ofisthe Tennis Center examine them,” she explained. yards at the MMCA site but evenin Auckland, New Zealand, where she Doubts about theJovic veracity the went away. “Itpulled wasof andtually doubles' partner Iva offnot allegations, according to Next theaccordsenator, threatening, just normal,” page
Ping, Imee clash over inviting ‘Baligod 18’
Next Nextpage page
filed vs. Co, unnamed co-accused
By Pot Chavez
However, Martinez declined to identify the specific flood control projTHE Department of Justice (DOJ) on ect involved so as not to preempt the Monday confirmed that former Ako panel of prosecutors. Bicol Party-list Representative While no of counsel appeared for the AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman ofZaldy the Executive Committee SM Prime Holdings, Cowas is facing a plunder complaint filed former lawmaker, Martinez clarified honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding byFilipino the National ofAward Investigathat leadership the proceedings not be susRetailersBureau President for his visionary in retailwould development. tion (NBI). (From left to right): PRA Director and Director pended. of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA In an interview justice Vice President andwith President andreportCOO of Golden,‘‘We ABC, Inc. Penshoppe are(The working with Group) a timeline T. Liu,Department SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Hans T. Sy, they ers,Alice Justice spokesperson here. Any Committee respondent, whether PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, (Toby’s Robertoin acAttorney Polo Martinez saidSouth the DOJ appear Lee orInc.not, we Sports) willand proceed STRATEGIC PARTNER. Koreanof President Jae Myung First Lady S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and received one additional plunder case cordance with the intimeline under Kim Hea Kyung arrive at President’s the Presidential Wing ofC.Villamor Airbase Pasay City on the proponent of PRA OFR Award Mars Chua against Next page TuesdayCo. for a two-day state visit. Avito Dalan rules,’’ he said.