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Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net •09173382170 / 85646229 INAUGURAL PASIG PASIG VOYAGE. VOYAGE. AA replica replica of of the the INAUGURAL ancient balangay balangay boat, boat, named named‘Florentino ‘Florentino Das’ Das’,, makes makes its its ancient way along along the the Pasig Pasig River River on on Sunday Sunday as as part part of of an an advocacy advocacy way campaign promoting promoting the the capital’s capital’s main main water water artery artery as as aa campaign ‘cultural heritage heritage corridor.‘ corridor.‘ On On board board the the balangay balangay were were ‘cultural former Usec. Usec. Art ArtValdez, Valdez, leader leader of of the the expedition expedition that that former travelled through through southeast southeast Asia Asia and and China, China, MMDA MMDA General General travelled Manager Nicolas NicolasTorre Torre III, III, MMDA MMDA Deputy Deputy Chairman Chairman Usec. Usec. Manager Frisco San San Juan, Juan, Pasig Pasig Ferry Ferry head head Eng. Eng. Bob Bob Dadural Dadural and and Frisco Philippine Coast Coast Guard Guard Pasig Pasig Station Station personnel personnel led led by by Cmdr. Cmdr. Philippine Combe. Facebook Facebook page page of of Fung FungYu Yu Combe.
NEWS / A3
ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • VOL. XL NO. VOL. XL • •/ A6 NO. 93 93 • • 33 SECTIONS SECTIONS 16 16 PAGES PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, MAY 18, 2026 • WORLD
PNP resurrecting probe into PCSO official's slay Senate becomes court T for impeachment today PAGASA
Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens
SolGen SC for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm Speakerasks grateful to allow arrest By Rio N. Araja of Bato for ICC HE Philippine By Pot PotNational Chavez Police By Chavez
(PNP) is reopening
THE Philippine Philippine government government has has asked asked THE its investigation into the Supreme Supreme Court to to allow allow the arrest arrest of of the Court the Senator Ronald dela Rosa in connection Senator Ronald dela Rosa in connection the 2020 murderCriminal of Court with an an International International Criminal with Court Philippine Charity (ICC) case case tied tied to to former president president RoRo(ICC) former drigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. drigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. Sweepstakes Office In an an 83-page 83-page comment comment filed filed bebeIn (PCSO) board secretary fore the the High High Court, the the Office Office of of the the fore Court, Solicitor General General (OSG) sought sought the the Solicitor (OSG) Wesley Barayuga. denial of of Dela Dela Rosa’s Rosa’s petitions petitions seeking seeking denial to stop stop authorities authoritiesPNP from Chief enforcing any to from enforcing any On Sunday, Police ICC warrant warrant against him. him. ICC against General Rommel Francisco MarThe ICC last week week unsealed an ararlast an bil The saidICC he ordered theunsealed reopening of rest warrant against Dela Rosa issued rest warrant against Dela Rosa issued the cold case after whistleblower in November November 2025, accusing him, in Police Lt. Col.2025, Santieaccusing Mendozahim, told Next page the House Quad CommitteeNext thatpage 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 carry it out. The whistleblower also implicated incumbent National Police Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo in the By Vince Vince Lopez By Lopez planning of the murder. Barayuga was a retired police PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) PHILIPPINE National (PNP) general and lawyer whoPolice supposedly chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. threatened to expose corruption withon Sunday directed an internal inveson Sunday directed an internal invesin the PCSO shortly before he was tigation into allegations that that police tigation allegations shot deadinto in Mandaluyong City.police escorted black vanancarrying carrying Senator escorted aa black van Senator Garma, herself ex-police Lt. Ronald Dela Dela Rosa out out of the thethe Senate Ronald Rosa of Senate Colonel, allegedly gained top compound last Thursday, May 14. compound Thursday, May spot at thelast PCSO because of14. her inNext page Nartatez said said the the PNP PNP leadership leadership Nartatez launched separate separate verification verification to to deterdeterlaunched mine whether whether any any unauthorized unauthorized police police mine assistance to to Dela Dela Rosa Rosa took took place. place. assistance
Nartatez orders probe into police hand in Bato’s Senate escape
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 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
But coup rumors echo in chamber; critics press for trial By Ram Ram Superable, Superable, By Rolando Ng Ng III, III, Rolando and Rio Rio Araja Araja and
D D
ESPITE rumors rumors of of ESPITE another leadership leadership another coup, the the Senate Senate coup, is set to convene as an imimis set to convene as an peachment court court Monday Monday peachment afternoon to to hear hear the the cases cases afternoon filed against against Vice Vice President President filed Sara Duterte, whose allies Sara Duterte, whose allies took control control of of the the chamber chamber took last week. last week. 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 In aa May May 15 letter letter to senators, senators, SenIn 15 to Senadviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal activities of the POGOs and was involved in the drug ate President Alan Peter Cayetano said ate President Alan Peter Cayetano trade and extrajudicial killings. said
the chamber chamber would would convene convene as as an an imimthe peachment court court at at 33 p.m. p.m. Monday Monday “in “in peachment accordance with with the the applicable applicable rules rules accordance and procedure.” procedure.” and “In observance observance of of the the solemnity solemnity of of “In the proceedings proceedings and and pursuant pursuant to to the the the Senate’s Rules Rules of of Procedure Procedure on on ImImSenate’s THE legalTrials, counsel of Chinese peachment Trials, all Senator-Judges Senator-Judges peachment all businessman sought to are enjoined enjoined to toTony wearYang their robes robes upon are wear their upon disparage lawmakers’ conclusions the convening convening of of the the Impeachment Impeachment the about his presence client’sand supposedly Court. Your Your presence and cooperation cooperation Court. sketchy pastto his alleged ties are essential essential toand the proper proper and orderly orderly are the and with Philippine Overseas Gaming conduct of of these these proceedings,” proceedings,” CayCayconduct Operators (POGOs) and even etano said. said. etano organized crime. Next page page Next 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 Yang, a presidential economic
Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry
Next page
PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat
THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the Unitadviser of former President Rodrigo of illegal drugs and illegal activities ed Nations (UN) to give it a seat on Duterte. associated with POGOs,” Suarez said the UN Security Council, highlightFortun, a lawyer who often finds in a mixture of Filipino and English. ing the country’s strong record and himself at the center high-profile The solons how the PRAYERS. Several members of the the prosecution prosecution panel of the theexplained House of of Representatives Representatives yesterday jointo priests led by by Rev. Rev. Teodoro PRAYERS. Several members of panel of House yesterday join priests led dedication upholding the Teodoro rule of cases, apparently sought to mock matrix details Yang’s connections to Bacani, Jr. Jr. for for photo photo after after aa Mass Mass for for Peace Peace and and Accountability Accountability held held on on the the eve eve of of the the convening convening of the Senate Impeachment Court Bacani, of the Senate Impeachment Court law. congressmen, calling probe who other individuals illicitCendana at the the EDSA EDSA Shrine. Shrine. Amongtheir the lawmakers lawmakers who attended the mass massinvolved were Reps. Reps.in Percival Cendana (Party-list, (Party-list, Akbayan), Akbayan), Leila Leila De De Lima Lima at Among the attended the were Percival Department of Foreign Affairs “unacceptable.” activities, including the operations of 3rd (Party-list-Mamamayang Liberal), Liberal), Joel Joel Chua Chua (Manila, (Manila, 2nd District), District), Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo, (Iloilo, 3rd District), District), Jude Jude Acidre Acidre (Party-list, (Party-list,Tingog), Tingog), (Party-list-Mamamayang 2nd Lorenz Defensor (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in Next page page Next andHowever, Terry Ridon Ridon (Party-list-Bicol Saro). House of of Representatives House membersSaro). argued illegal POGOs. and Terry (Party-list-Bicol House Representatives a speech delivered at the UN Genthey did not come by their suspicions Among the companies implicated eral Assembly in New York said the about Yang recklessly. are Brickhartz Technology Inc. Philippines continues to emphasize On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., the “importance of upholding the Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga which are being linked to alleged rule of law and the integrity of the and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of kidnapping. multilateral system in the face of toQuezon presented a matrix showing The two firms supposedly day’s global challenges.” Yang’s first appearance and his have connections with the Baofu Quoted by reports, Manalo also subsequent activities at the Quad Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, said: “The Philippines has consisComm hearing. which, in turn, can be directly traced tently pursued the sovereign ers from from bothpeace, the House House of RepRepers both the of “We saw a pattern, and we tracked to ex-mayor Alice Guo. Bydisgraced Rex Espiritu Espiritu By Rex equality of states, the rights and could digresentatives and and the the Senate Senate could resentatives it to the top of these corporations... During Friday’s Quad Comm nity of all persons.” OMBUDSMAN JesusTony Crispin OMBUDSMAN Jesus Crispin be implicated implicated in the the ongoing ongoing ininbe in we stripped it of its layers , to get to hearing, lawmakers cited Yang He added that thethat country also “Boying” Remulla said to hisabout officehis is “Boying” Remulla said his office is vestigations and that theisOffice Office vestigations and the the top and through it all, we have in contempt for “lying” recognized as the “firstis Recurrently handling handling between 35 and and currently between 35 of the the Ombudsman Ombudsman isAsian preparing of preparing discovered and identified at least two businesses and business partners. 45 active investigations involving 45 active investigations involving mm miittNext ccoonnssppiirraaccyy--ttoo--ccoom --pplluupage nnddeerr main actors or players in the issue Next page flood-control projects projects nationwide, nationwide, flood-control complaints tied tied to to the the cases. cases. complaints with more more cases cases expected expected to to be be filed filed with “We have have ongoing ongoing investigations investigations “We ILLEGALS. Defense Defense Secretary Secretary Gilbert GilbertTeodoro Teodoro and and PAOCC PAOCC Undersecretary Undersecretary Benjamin Benjamin Acorda Acorda inspect inspect the the facility facility of of aa steel steel firm firm ILLEGALS. in the the coming coming months. months. in involving flood flood control,” control,” Remulla Remulla involving inside the the Philippine PhilippineVeterans Veterans Investment Investment Development Development Corporation Corporation (PHIVIDEC) (PHIVIDEC) Industrial Industrial Authority Authority in in Misamis CagayanOriental de Oro City where inside where 69 Speaking during during the the DZRH DZRH Speaking said. “Our estimate is around 35 to to said. “Our estimate is around 35 69 Chinese nationals were for allegedly working without necessary government permits. photo shows a soldier Chinese nationals were heldheld for allegedly working without thethe necessary government permits. LeftLeft photo shows a soldier guarding program Executive Executive Session Session on on program 45 ongoing ongoing investigations.” investigations.” 45 guarding the raid last DND Saturday. DND those heldthose in theheld raidin last Saturday. Saturday, Remulla Remulla said said lawmaklawmakSaturday, Next page page Next
DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'
DND digging into By Darwin Amojelar illegal operations CDO steel of steel firm firm BAUTISTA
TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista denied an online news report claiming that Malacañang was angry with the increase in airport fees without the approval of theofCabinet THE Department National Defense THE Department of members. National “The has Bilyonaryo article is mali(DND) launched has an intensive inDefense (DND) launched cious and unfounded,” Bautistaillegal said vestigation into investigation the alleged an intensive into in a alleged Viberand message, referring toand the operation employment of undocuthe illegal operation website that published the said story. mented foreigners a steel company employment of by undocumented “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. in Cagayan de Oro City, company Misamis Oriforeigners by a steel in Bilyonaryo reported online that ental. Misamis Oriental. “Bautista andSecretary his long-time protege in Defense Gilberto TeoDefense Secretary Gilberto Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for doro Jr. Jr. himself visited thethe state-run Teodoro himself visited stateAviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are Philippine Veterans Investment Develrun Philippine Veterans Investment at the center the storm after it was opment Corp.of(PHIVIDEC) Industrial Development Corp. (PHIVIDEC) Authority complex in Cagayan de Oro Industrial Authority complex
Nextpage page Next page Next
Ombudsman probing 35-45 flood control cases involving politicians
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal By Rex Espiritu Hot and rainy weather today—PAGASA THE Philippine Navy debunked
By Sunday Rio N. N.the Araja By Rio Araja on recent announcement by China conducted SANGLEY Pointthat in itCavite Cavite City, SANGLEY Point in City, military exercises off de Cavite; Coron Coron and and Cuyo Cuyo in inBajo Palawan; Cavite; Palawan; Masinloc, also known as ScarborCBSUA-Pili in in Camarines Camarines Sur; Sur; and and CBSUA-Pili ough Shoal, in the are West PhilipDipolog in Zamboanga Zamboanga expected to Dipolog in are expected to pine Sea (WPS). China reportedly made the announcement coinciding with the fourth Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity between the Philippines, Australia, Japan, PHILHEALTH'S expanded benefit New Zealand, and the United PHILHEALTH'S expanded benefit packages are now now delivering tangiStates within Manila’s exclusive packages are delivering tangible results results for for millions ofinFilipinos, Filipinos, economic zone (EEZ)of the reble millions significantly reducing out-of-pocket gional waters over the weekend. significantly reducing out-of-pocket health expenses while inspiring Philippine Navywhile Spokesperson health expenses inspiring stronger participation from theVinprifor WPSparticipation Rear Admiral Roy stronger from the pri-
cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that Beisizzle at atstatement 45°C on on Monday. Monday. sizzle 45°C jing’s was meant only The Philippine Atmospheric, GeoGeoThe Philippine Atmospheric, for its internal audience. physical and Astronomical Services physical and Astronomical Services “Our troops did not observe Administration (PAGASA) said the Administration (PAGASA) the any exercise, we have to said underheat index in Dipolog City on Sunday heat index in Dipolog City on Sunday stand that sometimes, China is Next page page Next 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 eight to sector. 14 nautical miles. vate healthcare healthcare sector. vate OneOver of these went up to 1,000 Over the the past past two two weeks, weeks, President President yards at the MMCA site but Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and PhilFerdinand R. Marcos Jr. andevenPhiltually went away. “It Dr. wasEdwin not Health President President and CEO CEO Dr. Edwin Health and threatening, normal,” accordM. Mercado Mercadojust personally witnessed M. personally witnessed
More PhilHealth benefits ease money woes Next page page Next
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 PresidentPresident and COOFerdinand of Golden, R. ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) MORE BENEFITS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Marcos, Jr. talks talks to aa doctor doctor MORE BENEFITS. Jr. to Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, to check out the benefits provided by Philhealth during a visit to St. Elizabeth to check out the benefits provided by Philhealth during a visit to St. Elizabeth PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, (Toby’s President Sports) Roberto Hospital in General General Santos City. City. With the the President isisInc. Philhealth President and Hospital in Santos With President Philhealth and S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and CEO Dr. Edwin Edwin M. Mercado. Mercado. PhilHealth CEO Dr. M. PhilHealth proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua