News Roundup 30 September 2024
Sep 30, 2024 • 5 min Read
PNP to reopen 2020 slay case of PCSO official | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police will reopen its investigation into the murder of retired general and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020 as new details came to light implicating high-ranking officials in the killing.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil issued the statement on Sunday after Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group alleged last week during a House committee investigation on extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration that National Police Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo and former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma—both retired police colonels—were the brains behind Barayuga’s murder.
“This revelation demands a thorough reinvestigation of the murder. No one is above the law, and we will seek justice for retired Gen. Wesley Barayuga and his family with the full resources of the PNP,” Marbil said in a statement.
The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), under the new leadership of Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III was tasked with leading the full investigation.
“The CIDG will reevaluate all evidence in light of the new testimony and work closely with other relevant agencies to ensure that the process is thorough, impartial, and transparent,” he said.
Full Story at: PNP to reopen 2020 slay case of PCSO official (inquirer.net)
Imee Marcos withdraws from admin Senate slate to ‘shield brother, friends’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — It’s official: Senator Imee Marcos said she was withdrawing from the administration’s Senate slate.
In a press conference on Monday, she said the decision was meant to protect her younger brother President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from being placed at risk and to shield her friends from getting hurt.
“Para hindi na malagay sa alanganin ang kapatid ko, kasi kinakabahan na nga siya baka ano raw – eh, ‘yung aking ading e baka malagay pa sa alanganin at ‘yung mga kaibigan [ay] masaktan, maigi na ‘yung tumayo akong mag isa kahit napakahirap tumayong mag isa,” Sen. Marcos told reporters.
(To keep my brother from getting into a difficult situation, since he’s already nervous about what might happen – and to avoid putting my little brother at risk or causing my friends to get hurt, it’s better for me to stand alone, even though standing alone is really hard.)
According to Marcos, she was well aware of the hardships that she would face with her decision. She, however, emphasized that she needs to be “free and strong” to “cross the line, talk to all parties and get things done.”
Full Story at: Imee Marcos withdraws from admin Senate slate to ‘shield brother, friends’ | INQUIRER.net
Bamban POGO’s location near military base a red flag, says Teodoro | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Local authorities should have flagged the sprawling 10-hectare Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Bamban, Tarlac due to its proximity to a key military base, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said on Monday, September 30.
Teodoro noted that the Bamban POGO hub is located just two minutes by air from Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac, which houses the Philippine Army’s armor division and its training and doctrine command.
“It is curious that a 32-building complex was operating within two minutes flying time away from the TRADOC [Training and Doctrine Command] and the Light Armor Division,” Teodoro said. “You know all the authorities should have been aware of this at that time, particularly the local authorities.”
The 10-hectare POGO complex in Bamban that authorities raided in March on complaints of human trafficking is around 15-17 kilometers away from the army base by car, according to Google Maps.
At least 165 Chinese nationals who worked for the POGO called Zun Yuan Technology Inc. was deported in May following a high-profile raid. They were involved in “scamming activities,” according to the Bureau of Immigration.
Dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo is facing accusations of having business ties with Zun Yuan after a Senate inquiry found that she was a co-incorporator of a firm that leased its compound to the POGO hub. She is also facing money laundering charges in connection to Zun Yuan.
Allegations that Guo is a Chinese spy were revived in the House of Representatives last week after lawmakers confronted her with an Al Jazeera documentary where she was tagged as such by a self-confessed Chinese spy.
Whether Guo is truly an undercover spy will have to be determined by authorities, Teodoro said, but added that her actions fit “a pattern of these kinds of activities throughout the Philippines,” the defense chief said.
Guo has repeatedly denied engaging in espionage and insists she is a Filipino.
“She falsified documents to pretend that she is a Filipino… and she was an active co-conspirator to a massive illegal criminal enterprise where all illegal activities have sprung from,” Teodoro said.
Full Story at: Bamban POGO’s location near military base a red flag, says Teodoro | Philstar.com
Defense chief urges Congress to amend espionage law to cover peacetime | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro called on lawmakers to amend the espionage law to cover peacetime, not just wartime.
Teodoro made the statement in an ambush interview with reporters on Monday, September 30, following allegations of espionage against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
“What’s important now is that we penalize espionage during times of peace because the espionage law in the Philippines is only effective during times of war. This is also a call to action for our lawmakers to urgently amend the espionage law so that the government can properly respond and address this issue,” Teodoro said in a mix of Filipino and English.
When asked about the allegations of Guo being a spy, Teodoro said that while it is not confirmed if Guo is involved in espionage, her role in a large-scale illegal enterprise within the Philippines is undeniable.
“She falsified documents to pretend that she is a Filipino… She was an active co-conspirator in a massive illegal criminal enterprise, which was the source of all illegal activities. And being a Chinese national engaged in such activities in this country still harms the nation, whether or not it is espionage,” Teodoro said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Full Story at: Defense chief Gibo Teodoro urges Congress to expand espionage law | Philstar.com
