Newsmakers of the week
Edgar Matobato
The confessed gun for hire has found himself in the cross hair of the administration after linking President Duterte to extrajudicial killings in Davao. While in Manila, he was ordered arrested by a Davao City court for skipping his arraignment on charges of illegal possession of firearms. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who has taken Matobato under his protective custody, described the issuance of the warrant “highly suspicious.” Matobato has turned himself in to the national police.
Teddyboy Locsin Jr.
His controversial tweet that the “drug menace is so big that it needs a final solution like the Nazis” has touched a raw nerve amid public outcry over the killings of suspected drug users and traders, and sent Twitterworld ablaze. The ANC host, who has been appointed Philippine ambassador to the United Nations by President Duterte, has reportedly deleted his tweet after being bashed by Netizens.
Mark Anthony Fernandez
After lying low from show biz for several months, the actor has found himself in the limelight again, not for a role in a comeback movie or TV series, but for possession of weed. He drove past a checkpoint and sped off, prompting policemen to chase him until he got caught in heavy traffic in Angeles City, Pampanga, on Monday night. He yielded a kilogram of marijuana, which he claimed to use for medicinal purposes, specifically cancer prevention. He had gone into rehabilitation twice in the past for drug addiction.
Joenel Sanchez
The former bodyguard of then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was the latest witness to be trotted out by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III at the House inquiry into the illegal drug trade at the national penitentiary. He claimed to have witnessed the “extraordinary relationship” between De Lima and her former driver, Ronnie Dayan, who allegedly collected payoffs from drug lords at New Bilibid Prison on behalf of his boss. Lawmakers pounced on his testimony to pry out lurid details of De Lima’s love life.
Scottie Thompson
First homegrown rookie to score a triple double since the legendary Johnny Abarrientos. A career-high when his team needed it the most—to knock out the defending champion. Barangay Ginebra needed a hero to help it survive a semifinal showdown with defending PBA Governors Cup champion San Miguel Beer. And Scottie Thompson gladly took on the role. Thompson had 12 points,
11 rebounds and 10 assists as Ginebra scored a 97-96 victory in Game 3.
Gregorio Ma. Araneta III
Irene Marcos’ husband, made the headlines last week after buying for P2 billion the
53.76-percent stake of embattled businessman Roberto V. Ongpin in gaming technology provider Philweb Corp. He was also named Philweb chair following the resignation of Ongpin, whom President Duterte had called out for being an “oligarch.” The son-in-law of the late strongman President Marcos bought the 771.65 million Philweb shares at P2.60 each through the holding firm Gregorio Araneta Inc.
