INQToday: Napoles found guilty of 8 graft, malversation raps; given 64 yrs in jail

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

Napoles found guilty of 8 graft, malversation raps; given 64 yrs in jail

Janet Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the pork barrel scam, is found guilty of eight charges of graft and malversation, according to Sandiganbayan on Friday.

Napoles, together with former National Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor) officials Rhodora Mendoza, Victor Cacal, and Maria Ninez Guañizo, were also found guilty of graft and malversation charges.

Pagasa announces onset of ‘amihan’ season

It’s time to ready the cold weather gear as the state weather bureau has announced the onset of the northeast monsoon, or amihan, in the country on Friday.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), northeasterly solid winds, as well as the gradual cooling of the surface air temperature, were observed in northern Luzon, which indicates that the northeast monsoon winds have begun to blow.

Philippines, Saudi Arabia ink $4.2B worth of business deals

The Philippines and Saudi Arabia signed investment agreements worth $4.2 billion, Malacañang said on Friday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., still in Saudi Arabia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council between business leaders of the two countries worth $120 million.

Teodoro orders DND employees to stop use of AI photo-enhancing apps

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. ordered Department of National Defense (DND) employees to avoid using artificial intelligence (AI)-powered apps that create enhanced portraits.

He cited concerns about identity theft.

LTFRB ‘whistleblower’ withdraws recantation that cleared Guadiz

Supposed “whistleblower” Jeffrey Tumbado on Friday reaffirmed his previously recanted corruption allegations against suspended Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chair Teofilo Guadiz.

“Kung ano man ang naging pahayag ko sa presscon sa UP Hotel noon, ay totoo at patuloy na titindigan ko na maraming sangkot na personalidad at opisyal sa mga katiwalian sa LTFRB, dahil ako mismo ang saksi,” said former LTFRB executive assistant Jeffrey Tumbado in a new statement.

Plane fares to rise in November

Airline passengers will have to pay more for their tickets next month after the Civil Aeronautics Board approved a higher fuel surcharge.

In an advisory, the regulator announced that it raised the fuel surcharge to Level 7 for November from the current Level 6.