INQToday: Veloso ‘elated’ to go back home; Chinese spies enter PH through Pogos – Hontiveros

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

Mary Jane Veloso ‘elated’ to return to PH

Mary Jane Veloso, who was sentenced to death in Indonesia on drug charges said Thursday that she was “elated” to be returning home, after a deal brokered between the two nations.

Veloso was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 carrying a suitcase lined with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin and later sentenced to death by firing squad.

Chinese spies enter PH through Pogos – Hontiveros

Chinese spies have entered the Philippines through the Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Thursday.

At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Hontiveros confirmed receiving new information about Chinese spies in the Philippines and vowed to disclose the information during the Senate panel on women’s last hearing on the illegal activities of Pogos on November 26.

Hontiveros: Some gov’t execs teaching Pogos to mask activities

Sen. Risa Hontiveros bared that some government officials are allegedly coaching illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) to conceal their activities as business process outsourcing (BPO) firms.

According to Hontiveros, doing so would enable the illegal Pogos to continue their enterprises despite the ban order of President Bongbong Marcos Jr.

NDRRMC: Death reports due to cyclones Nika, Ofel, Pepito rise to 12

The reported death count from the onslaught of three recent tropical cyclones rose to 12, based on the latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Of the number, however, the NDRRMC could validate only five cases so far, according to the agency’s situational report on the impacts of cyclones Nika (international name: Toraji), Ofel (international name: Usagi), and Pepito (international name: Man-yi) issued at 8 a.m., Thursday, November 21.

Sandiganbayan OKs deal between PCGG, alleged Marcos Sr. ‘crony’

The Sandiganbayan has approved the compromise agreement between the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and the heirs of an alleged crony of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., concerning purported ill-gotten wealth and properties.

In a resolution dated November 19, the anti-graft court’s Second Division has granted the Joint Omnibus Motion filed by the PCGG and the heirs of Roman Cruz Jr. dated October 25 of this year.