INQToday: Go gave cops cash as ‘allowance,’ not bounty – Dela Rosa

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:

Bato: Go gave cops cash as ‘allowance,’ not bounty

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, as the senior aide of former President Rodrigo Duterte, did give out a cash “allowance” to police officers, but it was never intended as a bounty for slain drug suspects, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said on Wednesday.

“Go really gave out money because he was instructed by Duterte even when we were still in Davao,” he told reporters in a phone interview, partly confirming a claim made by retired Police Col. Royina Garma during a House inquiry.

Repatriated Filipinos from Lebanon now 488 – DMW chief

The Philippines has repatriated 488 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents from Lebanon amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Wednesday.

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing over PTV4, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the government is responding to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to secure the safety and welfare of Filipinos affected by the conflict in Lebanon.

One Direction ex-member Liam Payne dies in Argentina hotel fall

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, was found dead after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, local officials said.

Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, resulting in “extremely serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.