Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
Typhoon Julian to continue dumping rain; Signal no. 4 still up
The state weather bureau says Typhoon Julian is moving away from Batanes, but heavy rains and strong winds are still expected over Northern Luzon areas.
NSC verifying Chinese spy allegation vs Alice Guo
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday said it was up to the proper authorities to determine if dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo was a spy or not.
However, Teodoro said only three things are clear about Guo.
Teodoro: Bamban Pogo’s proximity to military base should’ve been flagged
Local authorities should have raised concerns about the proximity of Bamban town’s Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub to a key military base, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Monday.
Teodoro noted that the Pogo hub linked to dismissed mayor Alice Guo is very close to Camp O’Donnell base in Capas, Tarlac, home of the Philippine Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (Tradoc).
Imee Marcos withdraws from admin Senate slate to ‘shield brother, friends’
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.
Doc Willie Ong bares 2025 Senate run despite cancer diagnosis
Former vice presidential candidate and doctor-vlogger Willie Ong will run for senator in the 2025 elections despite having been diagnosed with cancer.
Ong announced it on Facebook on Monday, saying that he intends to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) on October 2.
BTS’ Suga fined $11,468 for e-scooter drunk-driving incident
Suga of K-pop boy group BTS was fined 15 million won (or $11,468) for driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol.
Judge Lee Yoo-seop of the Seoul Western District Court imposed the fine on Friday in a summary judgment, a legal decision made by a judge without a full trial usually applied to cases deemed relatively minor allowing for a quicker resolution. The amount is identical to the penalty previously requested by prosecutors.