News Roundup 02 July 2024
Jul 02, 2024 • 5 min Read
PAOCC files raps vs Chinese nationals involved in Porac POGO | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Tuesday filed complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against two Chinese citizens in connection with the raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.
According to Darwin Cañete, a prosecutor from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, the two Chinese nationals were charged with human trafficking, as well as violations of Article 294 (robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons), Article 263 (serious physical injuries), and Article 267 (kidnapping and serious illegal detention) of the Revised Penal Code.
“They put workers here from abroad to work in these POGO hubs by force and intimidation [through] whatever leverage or form of pressure, forcing them to do that,” Cañete, said in an interview with reporters at the DOJ on Tuesday.
These are the first charges filed against individuals related to the Porac POGO raid.
Meanwhile, Cañete mentioned that they could not yet reveal the names of the complainants who are also said to be two Chinese nationals.
According to Cañete, one of the victims endured inhumane treatment, being tied to a bed and detained for several days.
Full Story at: PAOCC files raps vs Chinese nationals involved in Porac POGO | Philstar.com
SolGen to challenge Alice Guo’s right to hold office | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) will file a quo warranto petition against Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo this month.
This has been confirmed by Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra in a message toPhilstar.com on Tuesday.
“The OSG will file two separate petitions this month, including quo warranto. We’re just waiting for certified copies of our documentary evidence from official sources,” Guevarra said in a message to Philstar.com.
A quo warranto proceeding is a legal remedy to determine a person’s right to a public office.
Rule 66 of the Rules of Court stipulates that the OSG or a fiscal shall initiate a petition for quo warranto in a court.
If the court grants a petition for quo warranto, the official being assailed will be removed from office.
Guevarra previously said that the OSG will form a “special team” of solicitors that will gather the necessary evidence through different government agencies such as the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Department of Education, the Bureau of Immigration and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The PSA on June 26 said that they had already endorsed the cancellation of Guo’s certificate of live birth, which was found to be full of irregularities, such as incorrect information about her parents’ nationalities, based on the findings that surfaced during the Senate hearings.
Full Story at: SolGen to challenge Alice Guo’s right to hold office | Philstar.com
Angara named as new DepEd chief | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sonny Angara will be replacing Vice President Sara Duterte as the new Education Secretary, the Palace announced Tuesday.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said that Angara will take the helm of the Department of Education (DepEd) starting July 19.
Vice President Duterte resigned as DepEd chief on June 19. She did not provide a definite reason for quitting and only explained that her action was not a sign of weakness, as it was stirred by compassion for teachers and students.
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has announced that he is set to appoint Senator Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara as the new Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), replacing Vice President Sara Duterte, who resigned last June 19, 2024, effective July 19, 2024,” the PCO said in a statement.
According to the PCO, President Marcos announced his decision to choose Angara as DepEd secretary during the 17th Cabinet Meeting in the Malacañang Palace on Tuesday.
“Sonny has agreed to take on the brief of the Department of Education,” the PCO quoted Marcos as saying during the meeting.
Full Story at: Angara named as new DepEd chief (inquirer.net)
Is Duterte liable for ‘hiding’ info on Quiboloy’s location? PNP mulls | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will study if former President Rodrigo Duterte may or may not be held liable for obstruction of justice after claiming he knows – but won’t tell – the whereabouts of fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said they are withholding their comment on the matter for now, pending their assessment of the context of Duterte’s remarks.
“I have to take it in context sa sinasabi niya kailangan ko makausap kung sino ang mga nakausap niya. Ito ba ay sinabi nya just to tease yung kaharap niya? Or joke lang po? Kailangan natin makuha yung konteksto ng kanilang pag uusap because obviously na ang isang tao na alam ang kinaroroonan ng isang wanted person may be held liable of obstruction of justice,” the police official pointed out.
(I have to look into the context of what he said. I need to talk to those he spoke to. Did he say this to tease the person in front of him? Or just a joke? We need to get the context of their conversation because a person who knows the whereabouts of a wanted person may be held liable for obstruction of justice.)
“But then again we want to reserve muna ang ating comment dahil pag-aaralan muna po ng mga abugado ng PNP if those statement may constitute obstruction of justice or just a simple words taken out of context. Nagiingat tayo sa pagbibigay ng judgement until makapag imbestiga,” she added.
(But then again, we want to reserve our comment because the PNP lawyers will first study if those statements may constitute obstruction of justice or just simple words taken out of context. We are cautious in giving judgment until we can investigate.)
Full Story at: Is Duterte liable for ‘hiding’ quiboloy’s location? PNP mulls (inquirer.net)
