Faces of the News

Maria Serena Diokno

Railing against the hero’s burial for strongman Ferdinand Marcos, the chair of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines quit her post on Tuesday. She called Marcos’ burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani an act that “erases the memory of lives lost.  Saying she wanted to “place her voice on the side of history,” she joined street protests against the hero’s burial at the EDSA People Power Monument the next day. Her father, the late Sen. Jose Diokno, was among those rounded up by Marcos during martial law.

Supt. Marvin Marcos

Here’s one lucky guy. After being relieved over his alleged ties to drug lords, he was reinstated as head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 8 on the orders of a high official. As to who ordered him to reinstate Marcos, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa said he would disclose to senators in an executive session. Sen. Leila de Lima beat him to it by claiming it was Christopher “Bong” Go, special assistant to the President. Mr. Duterte on Friday admitted ordering Dela Rosa to reinstate Marcos.

Jaime Padilla

Emerging from the shadows into the open, the new spokesperson of the New People’s Army (NPA) recently held a clandestine news conference with journalists in Sierra Madre. It was the first public glimpse of the successor of the late Ka Roger Rosal. Wearing a Mao cap, the bespectacled rebel commander spoke about the upside and downside of talking with President Duterte to end the decades-old Marxist insurgency. He made it clear that the NPA would not ally with Mr. Duterte if the country didn’t abrogate its treaties with the United States.

Ma. Celia Fernandez-Estavillo

The longtime corporate secretary, director and head of the legal and regulatory affairs group of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) has resigned, among other key officials, amid the long-running $81-million money laundering scandal. She testified at the Senate inquiry into the cyberheist earlier this year. Now, she said she wanted “to move on” and “pursue other endeavors.” Even RCBC wanted to move on, too, blaming Bangladesh central bank’s negligence for the crime.

Jose E.B. Antonio

In front of family, friends and stakeholders, Jose E.B. Antonio, recently appointed special envoy to the United States, formally celebrated at the Makati Shangri-La the 30th anniversary of Century Properties Inc. His wife, Hilda, pulled off a surprise when she went off script during the ceremonies and asked that a cake be wheeled in, with all 70 candles, to mark the 70th birthday of Antonio. The numbers spelled good fortune. As the matriarch said, 70 years for Antonio plus 30 years for Century equals an eventful century.

Tab Baldwin

Defying preseason predictions, coach Tab Baldwin steered a young Ateneo squad to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball finals against fierce rival La Salle. “Obviously, we all evolved as individuals and these players have grown up a lot this year,” Baldwin said as the Blue Eagles returned to the title round after a three-season absence. But even after his gung-ho crew downed last year’s champion  Baldwin still sees his Blue Eagles as the underdogs against the loaded Green Archers.