Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
Mabilog bares ‘plan’ to force him to tag Roxas, Drilon as ‘drug lords’
Jed Mabilog, the former mayor of Iloilo City accused of being involved in the drug trade during the Duterte administration, revealed there was an alleged scheme to force him to link former senators Mar Roxas and Franklin Drilon to the illicit business.
Facing lawmakers on Thursday, Mabilog recounted an incident after he left the Philippines for Japan in 2017 due to fear for his life. He said that while in Japan, Police Brig. Gen. Bernardo Diaz advised him to call a mobile number, which turned out to belong to then-Philippine National Police chief Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa, who is now a senator.
Osmeña to solons: Garma on payola and vicious, don’t let tears fool you
“She is vicious. Don’t let Garma’s tears fool you.”
This was how former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña described former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager and Police Col. Royina Garma while stressing her involvement in illegal gambling in the province.
Paolo Duterte wants to quiz resource persons in House EJK probe
Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte expressed his desire to grill resource persons during the hearing of the House of Representatives quad-committee probing the “drug war” and alleged extra-judicial killings during his father’s reign.
The four-panel body approved his request, which he conveyed in a letter, with the lead committee presider and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers directing the secretariat to make sure that an invitation is given to Duterte so he could participate in the next hearing.
Alice Guo says she considers Cassandra Ong a friend
Dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo considers Whirlwind Corporation stakeholder Katherine Cassandra Ong as her friend, despite the latter saying they were not close.
At the hearing of the House of Representatives quad-committee on Thursday, the lead presiding officer and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers asked Guo if she knew the person beside her — Ronelyn Baterna, corporate secretary of raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub Lucky South 99.
24 ex-PNP chiefs under investigation over Alice Guo’s escape – Marbil
Police chief Rommel Marbil said they are presently investigating all 24 former Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs to determine if they are involved in Alice Guo’s escape from Philippine jurisdiction.
During a Senate sub-panel on finance hearing on Thursday, Sen. Robin Padilla inquired whether the identity of the former top cop who allegedly received bribes to assist Guo and her companions, Shiela and Wesley Guo, in fleeing the country despite an immigration lookout bulletin had been established.
Death toll from storms, monsoon rains hits 23 – NDRRMC
The number of reported deaths due to rains triggered by three previous tropical cyclones has climbed to 23, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its situational report on Thursday.
Three more fatalities — two in Zamboanga Peninsula and one in Central Visayas — were added to NDRRMC’s Wednesday’s death toll of 20.
Informant tells PNP of seeing Harry Roque as search continues
An informant has already positively identified former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who faces arrest after the House of Representatives quad committee cited him for contempt.
Lt. Col. Imelda Reyes, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) spokesperson, however, refused to provide further details.
PH mulls leasing foreign ships to expand West Philippine Sea presence
The Philippines is open to leasing ships from other countries to expand its presence in the West Philippine Sea, said the National Maritime Council (NMC) on Thursday.
“Actually parang stop-gap measure–habang wala pa talaga tayong atin, it’s an area, it’s an option na siguro mag-arkila tayo,” said NMC spokesperson Alexander Lopez in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Thursday.
Suspects in Camilon’s disappearance nabbed in Batangas
Authorities arrested a former policeman and his driver-bodyguard, who are tagged in the disappearance of beauty pageant contestant Catherine Camilon.
Ex-police major Allan de Castro and Jeffrey Magpantay were nabbed in Barangay Caloocan, Balayan in Batangas province last Saturday, September 14, according to Police Regional Office 4A spokesperson Lt. Col. Chitadel Gaoiran on Thursday.