News Roundup 09 October 2024
Oct 09, 2024 • 4 min Read
Rodrigo Duterte may be invited to House probe into EJKs — lawmakers | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — House lawmakers are considering inviting former President Rodrigo Duterte to the quadcom’s investigation into drug-related extrajudicial killings after his name was mentioned by several implicated resource persons.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, October 9, Rep. Bienvenido Abante (Manila, 6th District) said that the joint committee may invite Duterte “by the next hearing on EJKs.”
Abante, who co-chairs the House quadcom, expressed his appreciation for Duterte’s openness to attend.
Duterte told reporters at a press conference on October 5 that he is willing to attend the congressional probe into his administration’s EJKs but also hopes lawmakers “would ask educated questions.”
However, Abante said that the quadcom may not invite him at this time, given the number of resource persons already invited and have yet to be questioned in connection with retired police chief Royina Garma’s cases.
Meanwhile, Rep. Dan Fernandez (Santa Rosa, Lone District), another co-chair of the quadcom, clarified toPhilstar.com that the House mega panel’s investigation is a “continuing invitation” for Duterte.
Fernandez explained that having the former president attend one of the hearings would give him the opportunity “to shed light on many issues” surrounding extrajudicial killings and to defend himself against the allegations made by victims of the drug war.
“It is a continuing invitation for the former president … that will give a better view for us to recommend better legislation and also for the former president to ventilate his position on some allegations pertaining to what the victims of the war on drugs were saying,” he said.
Some resource persons and victims of Duterte’s war on drugs allege that the former president is responsible for all the killings.
Full Story at: Rodrigo Duterte may be invited to House probe into EJKs — lawmakers | Philstar.com
Workers’ party surprised as Apollo Quiboloy runs under them | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Apollo Quiboloy’s submission of his Senate candidacy has caught the president of the party he is running under off-guard as he said that neither he nor other leaders of the party approved his nomination.
Quiboloy’s certificate of candidacy, submitted Tuesday, October 8, lists his candidacy as part of the Workers and Peasants’ Party (WPP). But WPP President Sonny Matula said he is “not aware” of who cleared the detained sex trafficker’s nomination.
“Only three individuals are authorized to sign on behalf of WPP: the Chair, the President, and the Senior Vice President. As President, I can confirm that I did not sign any CONA for Quiboloy,” Matula said in an X post.
The WPP president said the party’s chairperson, Ariel Arias, and senior vice president, Oscar Morado, have “no knowledge of signing a CONA for him.”
The Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA), issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), is an official document from a political party that confirms a candidate as their chosen representative for a specific elective position.
“We will be inquiring from COMELEC who signed his CONA,” Matula said.
Comelec Spokesperson Rex Laudiangco told reporters late Tuesday that the poll body will consult with its law department on the matter.
“Since COC is executed under oath, failure to declare the truth may subject the aspirant to perjury,” Laudiangco said.
Full Story at: Workers’ party surprised as Apollo Quiboloy runs under them | Philstar.com
Hontiveros on Quiboloy’s senatorial bid: Let’s not elect lawbreakers | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Don’t elect lawbreakers, Sen. Risa Hontiveros urged voters on Wednesday.
She made the call in reaction to Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy’s senatorial bid in May 2025. He filed his certificate of candidacy on Tuesday through his lawyer Mark Tolentino.
“Apollo Quiboloy, magkaroon naman kayo ng kaunting hiya,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
(Apollo Quiboloy, you should have a little shame.)
“For someone facing multiple charges, including human trafficking and child abuse, and who even hid from the law, you really had the audacity to present yourself to the public as a candidate for legislation,” she added in Filipino.
Full Story at: Hontiveros on Quiboloy’s senatorial bid: Let’s not elect lawbreakers | INQUIRER.net
Sandiganbayan drops P276-M civil case vs Marcos estate due to delay | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has dismissed a P276-million civil case against the estate of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., in which the former first couple was accused of using their associate Roman Cruz in purchasing parcels of land supposedly through ill-gotten wealth.
In a resolution dated October 4, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division granted the motion made by the Marcos estate — particularly former first lady Imelda Marcos and incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — to dismiss Civil Case No. 006 due to inordinate delay.
According to the Marcoses, allegations against the estate of former President Marcos can no longer be substantiated because the case was dismissed by Sandiganbayan in October 2012, while the Supreme Court eventually added that the Marcos estate is excluded from the Bill of Particulars previously filed.
Full Story at: Sandiganbayan drops civil case vs Marcos estate due to delay (inquirer.net)
