News Roundup 14 June 2024
Jun 14, 2024 • 5 min Read
First Lady says she drank from Chiz’s glass in ‘mischievous’ bet | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A ten-second conversation can explain the “mischievous” context behind why First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos was seen swiping a wine glass out of Senate President Chiz Escudero’s hands and drinking from it at a recent event in Malacañang, or so she claims.
Araneta-Marcos described the viral incident that took place on Independence Day as a playful exchange between herself and Escudero, who she said noticed that she “could use a drink” after greeting dozens of ambassadors in the annual reception for diplomats.
The brief clip that went viral on social media, which was spliced from a Radio Television Malacañang video, shows Araneta-Marcos immediately turning away from Escudero after drinking from his glass to greet those behind her. The Senate president was seen smiling while holding his glass as the First Lady received another glass from a waiter.
But in a radio interview on Friday, the president’s wife recounted word-per-word the conversation between her and the Senate president before and after she drank from his glass and handed it back to him.
Prior to the First Lady’s interview, Escudero had explained the situation to reporters as him being a “gentleman” by “waiting on a lady (first or otherwise).”
For the First Lady, this was how the moment went down:
“When Chiz saw me, he said, ‘Wow — bilib din ako sa iyo (I’m impressed with you). May energy ka pa after standing and smiling for over an hour. (You still have energy after standing and smiling for over an hour). I’m sure you could use a drink,'” Araneta-Marcos said.
“I laughed and said, ‘You bet.’ And so I mischievously got his glass of champagne, took a sip and told him, ‘Eww hindi naman malamig ang champagne (Your champagne is not cold).’ After that, I gave his champagne glass back to him and we both had a good laugh over that,” she added.
Full Story at: First Lady says she drank from Chiz’s glass in ‘mischievous’ bet | Philstar.com
Economic Charter change absent in Escudero, Romualdez talks | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero and Speaker Martin Romualdez, in their first official meeting, only discussed legislation aimed at lowering rice prices and they remained silent on the issue of economic Charter change.
“A key focus of the meeting was the amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law, identified as a top priority,” Romualdez said in a statement.
House Bill 10381, which would strengthen the government’s buffer stocking authority and restore some functions of the National Food Authority, aims to provide “quality affordable rice to Filipinos and increase the income of Filipino farmers,” he added.
The Escudero-Romualdez meeting listed several priority measures, but Resolution of Both Houses 7 approved by the House was notably absent, including its Senate version, Resolution of Both Houses 6.
Romualdez is confident that with their meeting, the Marcos administration’s priority measures that have been passed by the House will eventually be signed into law.
Escudero said their meeting was “productive and encouraging.”
“This initial engagement was an essential step in re-establishing a strong and collaborative relationship with the House leadership, particularly after a period of strained relations between the Senate and the House of Representatives,” he added.
They agreed to set aside differences following the word war between the two chambers over the proposed Charter change through people’s initiative under the leadership of then-Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Full Story at: Economic Charter change absent in Escudero, Romualdez talks | Philstar.com
PNP: Charges filed vs 6 Quiboloy followers over alleged assault | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Charges have been filed against six members of Apollo Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) after their alleged attempt to attack authorities, the Davao police told INQUIRER.net.
In a text message, Police Regional Office (PRO) 11-Public Information Office chief Major Catherine Dela Rey said the six individuals are now facing charges of obstruction of justice, illegal possession of bladed, pointed, or blunt weapons, as well as disobedience of lawful orders.
“Please be informed that at around 4:30 p.m. of June 13, 2024, the cases for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1829 (Obstruction), Batas Pambansa number 6 (Illegal Possession of bladed, Pointed or Blunt Weapons), and Article 151 (Disobedience of lawful; orders of persons in authority or their agents) were filed against the suspects during the implementation of warrants of arrest at Glory Mountain,” dela Rey said.
Earlier, Philippine National Police Spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the six attempted to attack authorities during the latest attempt to serve warrants against Quiboloy in Davao City.
The KJC members were not named, but they were described to be “bearing weapons” such as knives and guns.
Full Story at: PNP: Charges filed vs 6 Quiboloy followers over alleged assault (inquirer.net)
Pogo crackdown widens; ‘250 to 300’ not licensed | INQUIRER.NET – MABALACAT CITY — The newly installed Pampanga police director on Thursday vowed to go after illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) that might be clandestinely operating in the province.
Police Col. Jay Dimaandal said his very first order to all 21 city and municipal police chiefs in Pampanga was to inspect all compounds and buildings in their respective areas of responsibility.
“There might be fenced compounds or buildings that might be hosting or being used as Pogo hubs,” he said.
Dimaandal said the inspection would be done in coordination with the local government units (LGUs). He invoked the power of “police visitation” and the right of LGUs to inspect all commercial establishments in their jurisdictions.
Full Story at: Pogo crackdown widens; ‘250 to 300’ not licensed (inquirer.net)
