News Roundup 01 October 2024
Oct 01, 2024 • 5 min Read
Witness protection eyed for Barayuga slay whistleblower | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is looking into admitting in its witness protection program (WPP) Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza, according to the chair of the House super panel investigating the links of the Pogo (Philippine offshore gaming operators) industry into illegal drugs and other criminal activities.
Mendoza, in an earlier hearing by the House quad committee, had tagged two former ranking police officials in the 2020 killing of retired general and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
Quad committee chair Robert Ace Barbers on Monday said Mendoza could be eligible for witness protection as an exception to the ban on public officials being admitted into the program.
Apart from uncovering details that had prompted the reopening of the investigation into Barayuga’s killing, the super panel had also established that former President Rodrigo Duterte had gathered alumni of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) to discuss a so-called “Davao template,” days before assuming the presidency and launching his drug war.
The committee—made up of the House panels on dangerous drugs, public order and safety, human rights, and public accounts—is also looking into the link of Pogos with the extrajudicial killings during Duterte’s drug war.
Full Story at: Witness protection eyed for Barayuga slay whistleblower (inquirer.net)
Bong Go clarifies: I don’t know details in Barayuga slay | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Bong Go has clarified that he was not aware of any details regarding the killing of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga, adding that he supports the reopening of investigations of the incident.
In a statement on Tuesday, Go denied claims from ex-PCSO chairperson Anselmo Pinili that he knew information related to Barayuga’s death.
Go’s clarification came after the House of Representatives quad committee hearing on Friday, where Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop asked Pinili if they had information on the killing of Barayuga. In response, Pinili said that he has relayed the possible motive and suspects behind the hit in a privileged conversation with former undersecretary Jesus Melchor Quitain and Senator Go.
“Nais ko ring klaruhin na wala akong alam sa sinasabing motibo sa kanyang pagkamatay o sa anumang impormasyon na mayroon si dating PCSO Chair Anselmo Simeon Pinili ukol dito,” Go said.
(I also want to clarify that I do not know anything about a motive to kill Barayuga or any information that Pinili has about this.)
According to Go, he was already a senator when the incident happened, adding that he was then focused on the Senate committee on health.
“Senador na ako noong panahon na iyon at nakatutok tayo sa pandemya bilang chair ng Senate committee on health. Tumutulong ako sa Duterte administration noon sa pagtugon sa mga suliranin ng bansa, ngunit kapag may inilalapit sa akin na mga isyu o report, palagi kong inire-refer ang mga iyon sa kaukulang opisina, ahensya o opisyal. Lalo na kung hindi ko naman trabahong aksyunan ang mga iyon dahil Senador ako na may sariling mandato,” he added.
(I was already a Senator when that happened. During that time, I was focused on the pandemic as chairperson of the Senate committee on health. We helped the Duterte administration in responding to the problems of the country, but when issues are brought up to me, I always refer these to the proper office, agency, or official, especially if it is not my job to respond to it as I am a Senator with my own mandate.)
Full Story at: Bong Go clarifies: I don’t know details in Barayuga slay (inquirer.net)
Manila court convicts fratmen in Atio Castillo hazing | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines (2nd update, 2:50 p.m.) — Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 11 on Tuesday, October 1 convicts the members of Aegis Juris fraternity who were involved in the hazing of University of Santo Tomas civil law freshman Atio Castillo in 2017.
The following frat men are convicted and sentenced to reclusion perpetua or 20-40 years of imprisonment: Mhin Wei Chan, Jose Miguel Salamat, John Robin Ramos, Marcelino Bagtang Jr., Arvin Balag, Ralph Trangia, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver Onofre, Joshua Macabali and Hans Matthew Rodrigo.
The court also ordered the 10 accused to pay penalties of P461,800 as actual expenses, P75,000 as civil indemnity, P75,000 as moral damages and P75,000 as exemplary damages.
The frat men have been in the Manila City jail since Mary 2018 after the Manila court ordered their arrest.
The first conviction in the hazing death case occurred in 2019 when John Paul Solano, who transported Atio to the Chinese General Hospital, was found guilty of obstructing justice by the Manila Metropolitan Court Branch 14. He received a prison sentence of two to four years.
Full Story at: Manila court convicts fratmen in Atio Castillo hazing | Philstar.com
Supreme Court denies ‘amparo’ protection for Harry Roque | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines (Updated 4:40 p.m.) — The Supreme Court has denied a request for a special protective order, known as writ of amparo, filed on behalf of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque by his daughter.
Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting explained that the writ Roque hoped could be his recourse does not apply to his situation. Prior to entering politics, Roque was a human rights lawyer.
“The scope of amparo is limited to extra-judicial killings and threats thereof, which is not present in this case,” Ting said at a press conference on Tuesday, October 1.
The court, however, has required the House of Representatives joint quadpartite committee to comment on a separate petition for prohibition.
Roque’s daughter filed the petition before the Supreme Court on September 23.
In the plea, Bianca Roque argued that a legislative inquiry must respect the individual rights of those invited to or affected by the hearings, adding that the “the power of legislative inquiry must be carefully balanced with the private rights of those affected.”
She also urged the high court to define the borders of the powers of Congress where “the fundamental consitutional rights of every citizen should be given primacy.”
Full Story at: Supreme Court denies ‘amparo’ protection for Harry Roque | Philstar.com
