The Philippine Star - October 13, 2024

In this issue

October 13, 2024

PNP chief seeks probe; HR groups want arrest

The country's top cop has ordered a probe on the bombshell testimony of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma that former president Rodrigo Duterte implemented a cash reward system to policemen for the state-sponsored killing of drug suspects.

2 mins

Shear line, easterlies to bring rains over Luzon

The shear line and easterlies may bring rains over parts of the country today, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

1 min

Members give thanks as JILCW celebrates 46th anniversary

Followers of Jesus must only please God and not anyone and anything else, declared Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide (JILCW) ministry leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

2 mins

Bato denies knowledge of drug war reward system

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa yesterday denied having a hand in the cash reward system for policemen under a \"Davao model\" of the drug war during the Duterte administration, as alleged by retired police colonel Royina Garma.

6 mins

BBM returns from Asean meet

President Marcos returned to the Philippines Friday night after attending the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits in Laos.

4 mins

Comelec extends deadline on petition vs nuisance bets

Petitions to declare a political aspirant as a nuisance candidate can be filed from Oct. 14 to 16, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared.

1 min

PAOCC witness claims Guo connected to POGO kingpin

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo is connected with alleged illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) kingpin Lyu Dong, according to a witness under the custody of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

1 min

‘Plea bargain deal by Quiboloy aide won’t affect cases’

The Department of Justice (DOJ) guaranteed that the criminal charges against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy in Philippine courts remain unstirred by the plea bargain agreement with US prosecutors of one of his former assistants, Marissa Dueñas.

1 min

DOT, DILG join forces to ensure safety of tourists

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) vowed to strengthen their partnership to ensure travelers visiting the country's tourist destinations are safe.

1 min

Bill removing mother tongue in education lapses into law

A measure discontinuing the use of the mother tongue as medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3, and making it optional in monolingual classes, has lapsed into law.

4 mins

DMW opens two offices in Central Europe

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has opened two Migrant Workers Offices (MWO) in Central Europe.

1 min

Families of EJK victims pinning hopes on ICC

The families of the victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) are pinning their hopes on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to get justice, which remains elusive more than two years since former president Rodrigo Duterte stepped down from Malacañang.

2 mins

Phl, NZ finalizing roadmap to comprehensive partnership

VIENTIANE – The Philippines and New Zealand are finalizing the roadmap to elevate diplomatic relations to a comprehensive partnership, President Marcos said on Friday.

1 min

Suspected scam hub in Makati raided; 17 foreigners nabbed

Seventeen foreign nationals were arrested in a suspected scam hub in Makati City over the weekend.

1 min

TRB OKs updated toll rates for NLEX Connector

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has authorized the collection of updated toll rates for the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Connector effective Oct. 15.

1 min

QC provides free assessment, treatment for breast cancer

The Quezon City government on Friday urged residents to avail themselves of its programs to detect and treat breast cancer.

1 min

Kerwin sings, again

Supporters of former senator Leila de Lima will be heartened by the public declaration of Kerwin Espinosa that he had wrongly accused her of involvement in the illegal drug trade when she was the secretary of justice.

1 min

Distressed

EYES WIDE OPEN

3 mins

Technology: The future is here

I was in San Francisco for a couple of days where I was invited to deliver remarks and take part in a forum for the Fleet Week Senior Leaders Seminar onboard the USS Tripoli, an America-class amphibious assault ship. With us were US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro as well as representatives of the Pacific Partnership (an annual deployment of forces from the US Navy's Pacific Fleet) and the Koa Moana 24 mission from the US Marine Corps' I Marine Expeditionary Force. Participants to the by invitation-only program include leaders from government, the military, and the private sector.

3 mins

Zero Hunger

BEST PRACTICES

4 mins

The November 2024 priority dates

IMMIGRATION CORNER

1 min

Installation of new Gumaca bishop set for December

The new bishop of the Diocese of Gumaca in Quezon province will be installed in December, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines announced.

1 min

US donates equipment for tilapia farming in Ilocos

The United States, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), donated more than P5 million worth of aquaculture equipment to the Ilocos Norte provincial government to support fisherfolk in sustainably farming tilapia.

1 min

Group lobbies for 11 protected areas bills

BORONGAN CITY – Environment group Oceana, an international ocean conservation organization, is lobbying for Senate approval of bills that seek to establish 11 protected areas in the country.

1 min

Phreatic eruption recorded at Taal Volcano

A phreatic eruption, lasting two minutes, was recorded at Taal volcano yesterday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

1 min

19 trafficking victims rescued in Tawi-Tawi

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Central Tawi-Tawi rescued at least 19 victims of trafficking in persons aboard a passenger ferry bound for Malaysia on Friday.

1 min

Fire breaks out on oil tanker off Germany, crew rescued

BERLIN (AFP) – Fire broke out on board a small oil tanker off Germany on Friday, with seven crew rescued from the burning vessel in the Baltic Sea, emergency services said.

1 min

Florida begins long recovery from hurricanes

FORT PIERCE (Reuters) - Millions of Floridians began a long and difficult recovery on Friday after the state's second major hurricane in two weeks, restoring power, shoveling mud from flooded homes and clearing mountains of debris left by Milton and Helene.

2 mins

NY prosecutors want to combine Weinstein's criminal cases

NEW YORK (AP) - Prosecutors are asking a Manhattan judge to consolidate the two sex crime cases that Harvey Weinstein faces in New York into a single trial this year - a move that the disgraced movie mogul's lawyers oppose.

1 min

TikTok slashes hundreds of jobs in AI shift

Social media platform TikTok is laying off hundreds of employees from its global workforce, including a large number of staff in Malaysia, the company said on Friday, as it shifts focus towards a greater use of AI in content moderation.

1 min

Trump demonizes migrants in dark, misleading speech

Republican presidential candidate and former US president Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Aurora, Colorado on Friday.

1 min

Israel observes Yom Kippur amid firestorm over Lebanon strikes

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel observed Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, yesterday amid a firestorm of international criticism over its military offensive in Lebanon and its soldiers firing on peacekeepers.

1 min

Doraemon voice actor Nobuyo Oyama dies at 90

TOKYO (AP) – Nobuyo Oyama, best known as the raspy voice of Doraemon, the beloved cartoon robotic cat from the future, has died. She was 90.

1 min

Lina powers Lions past Chiefs

There was a reason the San Beda Lions waited so long to have big man Bismarck Lina play.

1 min

Gallent's adjustments

Game Two of the San Miguel Beer-Barangay Ginebra semifinal series in the PBA Governors' Cup turned out to be a humdinger that kept fans at the edge of their Smart Araneta Coliseum seats until the last few seconds of overtime last Friday night. San Miguel pulled off a 131-125 win. If that was an indication of things to come, expect a war of attrition in the best-of-seven duel that's now tied at a win apiece.

2 mins

TNT SHOOTS FOR 3-0 LEAD

Reigning champion TNT goes for the jugular, Rain or Shine wants to stay afloat while sibling rivals San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra break locks in the pivotal Game 3 of the 2024 PBA Governors' Cup best-of-seven semifinals today at the Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite.

1 min

Azkals unbeaten through quarters

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia – The Philippine Azkals roared to the semifinals of the Asia 7s Championship after thoroughly dominating Vietnam, 10-3, in the crossover quarterfinals Friday night at the EV Arena here.

1 min

DOE vows completion of green energy auction

The Department of Energy (DOE) has assured lawmakers that the third round of the green energy auction (GEA) program will be completed before the end of the year.

1 min

SSS names De Claro as OIC

State-run pension fund Social Security System (SSS) has named Robert Joseph de Claro as officer-in-charge head following the resignation of Rolando Macasaet who will vie for a congressional seat.

1 min

Flights to California, Seattle drive up PAL's holiday bookings

SEATTLE — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is expecting a bountiful Christmas this year thanks to forward bookings to the US, especially to destinations in the West Coast.

2 mins

Export targets revised by year-end, says DTI

Adjustments to the country's overall export targets are expected to be approved within the year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

1 min

Farm stakeholders laud law vs smuggling

Stakeholders in the agriculture sector lauded the signing into law of Republic Act 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, by President Marcos, pointing out that this would give the government more muscle to stop the rampant agricultural smuggling hurting Filipino farmers.

1 min

Agri exporters rising through ARISE Plus

GENEVA, Switzerland – Small and medium agricultural players are finding hope in a European Union-funded project that seeks to capacitate them to build their brand, upscale their skills and penetrate foreign markets for their goods.

2 mins

FARMTRI: Cultivating AI for sustainable agri solutions

Just last June, this corner featured an European startup that uses a software-as-a-service application to minimize food waste – a data analytics platform that optimizes the supply chain as it matches fresh produce with traders in real time.

1 min

BPI secures BSP approval to fully divest in GoTyme

Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has received formal approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the sale of its 15 percent stake in GoTyme Bank Corp.

1 min

Red flags and vital signs

HR: 57 BP: 110/70 RR:18 Temp: 36.4 This information is sent to me through our CG (group chat), which monitors the patient's condition. These are called vital signs. Vital signs are critical indicators of a patient's essential body functions and are routinely observed in hospitals to assess and track a patient's health status.

3 mins

Aboitiz Foods opens $45-M Vietnam feed mill

Aboitiz Foods, the integrated food and business arm of the Aboitiz Group, inaugurated last week its $45-million modern feed mill in Vietnam as it seeks to solidify its footprint in Southeast Asia.

1 min

HEADS UP, NEW GRADUATES: SM's job fairs got it all for you

SM J.O.B.S. continues to provide employment opportunities for job seekers, particularly to new graduates who recently entered the labor force. From July to September, SM Supermalls hosted more than 40 job fairs across the country, helping more than 25,000 job seekers connect with employers.

1 min

Digital banks face asset quality risks

AMID GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

2 mins

Vivant exits Watermatic Phl

Listed energy and water conglomerate Vivant Corp. is selling its 60-percent stake in Watermatic Philippines Corp. (WMP) to its joint venture partner, Israel-based WaterMatic International Ltd.

1 min

MerryMart opens largest standalone store

The MerryMart Group of tycoon Edgar \"Injap\" Sia II has opened in Tarlac its largest standalone grocery, marking the 135th branch of its supermarket, with expansion in eight more on the line.

1 min

Figaro brews up slight name change

Food business Figaro Coffee Group Inc. (FCG) is no longer just brewing up expansion plans, but also cooking up a name change to include the non-coffee ventures in its portfolio.

1 min

Forest Lake builds legacy as premier memorial park developer

Forest Lake continues to uphold its commitment to compassionate care, innovative services and customer-centric core values - factors that, to this day, help the industry pioneer sustain its position in the deathcare industry.

2 mins

Star-studded gala to serve as prelude to MMFF's golden edition

\"We're offering many activities to promote the Philippine movie industry.\"

3 mins

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The Philippine STAR is the flagship title of the country's largest and most successful print media enterprise, the Philstar Media Group. Owned and published by Philstar Daily Inc., The Philippine STAR is a vaunted pillar of Philippine journalism whose integrity is anchored on the Biblical motto, “Truth Shall Prevail”. The Philippine STAR is a two-time winner of the prestigious Newspaper of the Year award given by the Rotary Club of Manila.