News Roundup 17 September 2024
Sep 17, 2024 • 5 min Read
Ex-PNP chief may have been involved in Alice Guo’s escape | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — An unnamed former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief may have been involved in the escape of former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, according to intelligence from a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) executive.
During Tuesday’s Senate probe on Guo’s alleged ties to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), Pagcor Senior Vice President for the Security and Monitoring Cluster Raul Villanueva said there were whispers of a “payola” from Guo.
Villanueva, a retired PNP general, said that there were also personalities involved with Guo’s escape.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the chairperson of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, asked Villanueva who these were.
“It was mentioned, a former chief PNP,” Villanueva said. However, he emphasized that this information was still being verified.
PNP Deputy Director for Administration Police Brig. Gen. Raul Tacaca, who represented the police force, said that they have no information on this yet.
Hontiveros described the revelation as big news.
“No less than a former chief PNP is implicated in the escape of Guo Hua Ping,” she said.
Hontiveros added that this suggests POGO money may have reached the highest levels of the country’s leadership.
“The next president, the next senators, the next local government leaders could be bankrolled by POGO money,” Hontiveros said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Full Story at: Ex-PNP chief may have been involved in Alice Guo’s escape | Philstar.com
Philippines urged to file 2nd arbitration case vs China as Beijing spins narratives over dispute | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government should jolt China into dialing down its maritime aggression by lodging a new arbitration case against them — a move that former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said may eventually “bury” Beijing’s claim of historic rights to nearly the entire South China Sea.
While China refuses to honor the 2016 ruling that dismissed its nine-dash line claim, filing a second case would allow the Philippines to demand reparations for Chinese ships’ destruction of Philippine vessels and curb further aggression, Carpio said in an interview with ANC’s “Headstart” on Tuesday, September 17.
“The rule is once the arbitral case is filed, the parties should not aggravate the dispute. And if the [Chinese vessels] continue to ram our vessels, that will be a disrespect to the tribunal, and the tribunal will be hard on China,” the retired Supreme Court justice said.
China commands the world’s largest naval force and could be waiting to simply damage all of the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) vessels in the contested waters “so they will be out of commission,” Carpio said.
“We are running out of options. If we continue this way, we will run out of our vessels, they will all be rammed,” the retired SC justice added.
The Philippines on Sunday, September 15, pulled out the BRP Teresa Magbanua from its five-month deployment at Escoda Shoal. Authorities said the ship had to return to port due to bad weather and the need to evacuate its sick personnel, dispelling claims that the move had anything to do with the country’s recent talks with China.
Full Story at: Philippines urged to file 2nd arbitration case vs China as Beijing spins narratives over dispute | Philstar.com
PNP forms special teams to probe Quiboloy’s protectors, find Roque | INQUIRER.NET –MANILA, Philippines — Special composite and tracker teams have been formed to investigate those who sheltered alleged rapist Apollo Quiboloy and to locate former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The PNP announced that the teams will include Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) officials.
“We have mobilized a dedicated investigation team to pursue those who sheltered Quiboloy and obstructed justice,” PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The team will coordinate closely with the Police Regional Office 11 and conduct a continuous, thorough investigation to ensure a solid case. This will involve meticulous analysis of digital evidence, testimonials, and documents. We will leave no stone unturned to bring justice to those who have enabled Quiboloy’s evasion,” he added.
Among the primary tasks of the team against Quiboloy’s protectors were collating and verifying social media posts, publications, and other relevant information about Quiboloy; validating and authenticating these materials through the ACG; gathering statements and affidavits from PNP personnel involved in executing the warrant against Quiboloy; securing testimonies from victims and complainants; and collecting documentary evidence from other agencies that may strengthen the case, among others.
Full Story at: PNP forms special teams to probe Quiboloy protectors, find Roque (inquirer.net)
PH Army probes report about Quiboloy using troops as ‘angels of death’ | INQUIRER.NET –MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army will “closely coordinate” with law enforcement agencies to verify reports claiming that some of its reservists are part of alleged rapist Apollo Quiboloy’s “angels of death.”
Army Deputy spokesperson Col. Rey Balido said they have not yet received any information on these claims but will provide an update upon verification.
“Wala pa kami reports about that we will closely coordiante kung kanino galing itong report […] Kung meron tayo makuha info we will provide update,” Balido said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
(We have no reports on this. We will closely coordinate with whoever the sources are and if we receive information we will provide an update.)
But Balido revealed that the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), the media arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ was accredited as a Philippine Army Reseversists affiliated unit in 2015.
“They are called the 2nd Signal Battalion ng Philippine Army affiliated reserved unit, tinap natin sila because of their expertise in communications,” he explained.
(We tapped them for their communications expertise.)
Full Story at: Army probes report about Quiboloy using troops as angels of death (inquirer.net)
