News Roundup 12 September 2024
Sep 12, 2024 • 5 min Read
Duterte ordered killing of Chinese inmates, BuCor exec confirms | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Corrections Senior Supt. Gerardo Padilla has confirmed a hitman’s testimony that former President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the killing of three Chinese nationals jailed at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, adding that it was also true that the ex-leader congratulated him.
During the quad committee’s fifth hearing on Thursday, Padilla gave the panels a supplemental affidavit, which became the subject of Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr.’s interpellation.
Gonzales asked Padilla if he could confirm the testimony of Leopoldo Tan, the hitman assigned to kill Chu Kin Tung, Jackson Lee, and Peter Wang. Tan testified during the August 22 quad committee hearing that he overheard Padilla speaking with Duterte, who congratulated the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) official for a “job well done.”
“Dito po sa aking affidavit, babasahin ko po: ‘Pinapatotohanan ko ang sinabi ni Tata na no’ng papunta kami sa investigation section ay tumunog ang cellphone ko at ito ay sinagot ko. Ang tumawag sa akin ay ayon sa boses ay dating president Rodrigo Roa Duterte at sinabing ‘Congrats, Superintendent Padilla, job well done, pero grabe ‘yong ginawa, ginawang dinuguan’,” Padilla said, echoing Tan’s exact words.
(Here in my affidavit, I will read it: ‘I am confirming the statements of Tata that when we went to the investigation section, my cell phone rang and I answered it. The person who called me, according to the voice, is former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte and he told me ‘Congrats, Superintendent Padilla, job well done, but it’s too much, they turned it into blood stew.)
“So Colonel Padilla, ngayon binasa mo ‘yong sa’yong salaysay na number four and six, ngayon inaamin mo na ngayon na totoo ang mga sinasabi ni Leopoldo Tan alyas Tata, na tinawagan ka ni presidente Duterte pagkatapos patayin ang tatlong Chinese?” Gonzales asked.
(So Colonel Padilla, now that you read parts number four and six of your affidavit, are you now admitting that the statements of Leopoldo Tan alias Tata — that former president Duterte called you after killing the three Chinese — are true?)
“Yes, Your Honor, as the voice I have heard over the phone,” Padilla replied.
Full Story at: Duterte ordered killing of Chinese inmates, BuCor exec confirms (inquirer.net)
Ex-police official Garma cited for contempt in quad comm hearing | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Former police Col. Royina Garma has been cited for contempt for lying and providing evasive replies during the House of Representatives quad committee hearing on Thursday.
Garma was being asked by Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano about her link to former President Rodrigo Duterte, given that she gained important positions in the government during the Duterte administration.
Garma denied these assertions from Paduano, leading the lawmaker to move for her contempt citation.
“You still have ten years supposedly before you retire, ten years, but you opted for early retirement. Then, in less than a month, according to you it’s just 15 days, you were assigned to PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office). Then a while ago lawmakers asked you, ‘Are you close to the president, because of those promotions?’ You said maybe; everything’s maybe,” Paduano said.
“Now I will ask you, are you special and close to the former president? Yes or no only […] Oh why can’t you answer? This is just simple,” he asked again.
“No, Mr. Chair, because you said am I close or special to the president […] Mr. Chair, I’m not close, I was fired, I was even placed on floating [status] before during his time,” Garma replied.
But upon further examination from Paduano, Garma changed her tone, being open to the possibility of her being “special” to Duterte.
Full Story at: Ex-police official Garma cited for contempt in quad-comm hearing (inquirer.net)
China will ‘crush’ foreign encroachment in South China Sea — military official | PHILSTAR.COM – BEIJING, China — China will “crush” any foreign incursion into its sovereign territory including in the South China Sea, a senior Beijing military official said Thursday on the sidelines of a defense forum.
“We hope that the South China Sea will remain a sea of peace,” Chinese army Lieutenant General He Lei told a small group of journalists including AFP at the Xiangshan forum.
But, he said, “if the United States moves its pawns behind the scenes, if it pushes countries to the front line, or if the United States itself ends up on the front line, then we in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army… will never have any patience”.
“We in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army will resolutely crush any foreign hostile encroachment on China’s territorial, sovereign and maritime rights and interests with firm determination, staunch will, strong capability and effective means,” he said.
Washington and Beijing have verbally sparred over China’s increasingly assertive approach in disputed maritime regions, including the South China Sea.
In recent months, Chinese vessels have engaged in a series of high-profile confrontations with Philippine ships in the waters, which Beijing claims almost in their entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
On Thursday, Lieutenant General He said a resolution to those tensions “depends on the United States”.
Full Story at: China will ‘crush’ foreign encroachment in South China Sea — military official | Philstar.com
House panel moves to slash more than half of OVP budget | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) will see its budget halved under the House Committee on Appropriations following Vice President Sara Duterte’s absence and failure to justify the proposal.
The panel unanimously decided to cut the OVP’s budget from the original P2.026 billion in the 2024 National Expenditure Program down to P733.2 million.
Rep. Stella Quimbo (Marikina), the committee’s senior vice chair, said that the panel members’ vote was unanimous.
“The committee on appropriations decided to recommend a reduced budget for the Office of the Vice President,” Quimbo said at a press briefing on Thursday September 13.
The panel slashed the following items from the OVP:
- Supplies – P200,000,000
- Personnel services for consultants – P92,408,000
- Financial Assistance – P947,445,000
- Rent/Lease Expenses – P48,306,000
- Utility Expenses – P5,000,000
This P1.293 billion taken from the original proposal will be divided into between the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health (DOH).
Full Story at: Sara Duterte’s OVP budget slashed in half | Philstar.com
