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Comatosed teen dies
Iranian teenager Armita Garawand died on Saturday a month after falling into a coma following a disputed incident on Tehran’s metro, media in the Islamic republic said. “Armita Garawand, a student in Tehran, died an hour ago after intensive medical treatment and 28 days of hospitalization in intensive care,” reported the Borna news agency affiliated with the youth ministry. The 16-year-old ethnic Kurd was hospitalized in Tehran after she fell unconscious on the metro. Her case was first reported on 3 October by Kurdish-focused rights group Hengaw, which said she had been critically wounded during an incident on the underground train network. Authorities say she suffered a sudden drop in blood pressure and denied that any “physical or verbal altercations” had taken place between her and other passengers. But rights groups have said the teen was critically wounded during an alleged assault by members of Iran’s morality police. It came just over a year after the death of Mahsa Amini, also a young Iranian Kurd, following her arrest by the morality police for allegedly breaching Iran’s strict dress code for women in an incident that sparked mass protests across the Islamic republic. On Saturday, Iran’s Tasnim news agency quoted doctors as saying that Garawand had “suffered a fall resulting in brain damage followed by continued convulsions, a decline in brain oxygen and a cerebral edema after a sudden drop in blood pressure.” WITH AFP The post Comatosed teen dies appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jansen shooting: Police hunt carpenter accused of shooting neighbor during fistfight
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Police here are hot on the trail of a 52-year-old carpenter accused of shooting a neighbor after getting hit with a stick during a fistfight in Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City on Monday, October 16, 2023. They are also coordinating with the family of the alleged suspect to convince him to turn himself over to the authorities. This was according to Police Major Jonathan Bethooven Nifiel Taneo, chief of Mambaling Police Station, who spoke to CDN Digital in a phone interview. The shooting suspect was identified as 52-year-old Roger Tanduyan, a carpenter and a resident of Sitio Kanipaan, Barangay Basak Pardo, Cebu City. Tanduyan is accused of shooting his neighbor whom he got into a fight while in Jansen Street in Barangay Basak-San Nicolas around 8:40 a.m. on Monday. Taneo said that they are coordinating with the suspect’s family to convince him to surrender himself to the police. READ: Woman shot dead while doing laundry inside home in Cebu City “Nakipagcoordinate na ta sa iyang pamilya para, usa sa atong tumong is mapa-surrender. Aside ana, padayon atong pagpangita sa suspetsado kay allegedly, niadto man daw ni sa iyahang relatives,” he stated. He added that the hot-pursuit operation is ongoing to arrest Tanduyan who is allegedly hiding with some relatives. Taneo, however, chose not to divulge where the alleged suspect is believed to be hiding as the operation is ongoing. He also narrated that the shooting incident happened after the alleged suspect got into a fistfight with the victim whom he had been on bad terms with for a long time. The victim was identified as 64-year-old Joventer Margaha, jobless and a resident of Sitio Lusimba in the said barangay. The police report revealed that Margaha was standing in the area when he was suddenly approached by Tanduyan. The two then engaged in a fistfight which escalated after Margaha grabbed a wooden stick and hit Tanduyan with it. Tanduyan then drew a firearm of unknown caliber and shot the victim once, according to Taneo. Tanduyan allegedly shot the victim once on his back which caused the latter to fall to the ground. He then fled the crime scene. READ: Love triangle eyed as motive behind fatal shooting in Hipodromo The shooting incident was reported to the Mambaling Police Station by a concerned citizen minutes after. Responding officers along with personnel from the Barangay Peace and Safety.....»»
Trial of disgraced crypto star Bankman-Fried begins
The trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, former CEO of one of cryptocurrency's biggest exchanges, began Tuesday with a jury set to determine if he committed massive fraud by stealing billions of dollars from clients. The 31-year-old -- once one of the most respected figures in crypto -- now faces decades in prison and could see his name stand alongside Bernie Madoff and Elizabeth Holmes as the era's most prominent fraudsters. The first day of the trial was devoted to jury selection for a case that is set to last about six weeks. Bankman-Fried faces seven counts including wire fraud, securities and commodities fraud, and money laundering. He risks more than 100 years behind bars if he is found guilty on all charges. Bankman-Fried entered the courtroom alone -- without being escorted by security guards -- uncuffed, and took his place alongside his lawyers, an AFP journalist observed. Dressed in a dark suit and striped tie, his usually long curly hair was cut short, reportedly by a fellow inmate at the Brooklyn jail where he is being detained. "You have the right to testify in your defense in this case. The decision is up to you," US District Judge Lewis Kaplan told Bankman Fried. In just a few years, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate turned his FTX platform into the world's second-biggest crypto exchange, making him a tech world billionaire wunderkind. FTX became a global name through a marketing campaign that included celebrity partnerships with stars such as supermodel Gisele Bundchen and basketball legend Stephen Curry, and buying the naming rights for the home arena of the Miami Heat basketball club. Bankman-Fried also stepped in as a kind of savior of the industry when other crypto companies faced difficulties, with FTX swooping in to offer a financial lifeline. At the height of his career, Bankman-Fried was thought to be worth $26 billion as he attracted droves of small investors to invest in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. But his steep rise was matched by his ignominious downfall, which saw him escorted last year by police from his luxury apartment in the Bahamas and extradited to face charges in the United States. 'Gambling at own casino' His empire began to crumble last November when a news report pointed to unhealthy ties between the FTX platform and Alameda Research, Bankman-Fried's personally owned-trading company. The revelations kept growing and major investors pulled their money out of FTX, sinking it swiftly into bankruptcy. Once the dust had settled, some $8.7 billion in client funds was still unaccounted for and Bankman-Fried was accused of using FTX deposits to buy luxury real estate or donate more than $100 million to US politicians through Alameda. "He was gambling in his own casino and it created conflicts of interest," Michael Lewis, an author who followed Bankman-Fried closely during the period, told CBS. Everything "unravels because the depositors at FTX want their money back and it's not all there," the author of "Liar's Poker" and other titles added. The climax of the trial is expected to be when his former friends and colleagues take the stand, including Carlonie Ellison, his one-time romantic partner and Alameda executive, and Gary Wang, his closest associate. Ellison and Wang have also been indicted in the case and agreed to cooperate with US authorities, which may prove Bankman-Fried's undoing. After his spectacular arrest in the Bahamas, Bankman-Fried was initially held under house arrest but was ordered behind bars in August over alleged attempts at witness intimidation. According to prosecutors, while holed up at his parents' home in California, Bankman-Fried spoke regularly to journalists and passed documents to The New York Times in an effort to influence the testimony of Ellison. The post Trial of disgraced crypto star Bankman-Fried begins appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ukraine war recruiters arrested in Cuba
Cuban authorities have arrested 17 people suspected of recruiting locals and nationals in Russia to fight in Ukraine. Cesar Rodriguez, who is heading the investigation of the trafficking ring, announced the arrest in Havana on national television on Thursday. He said one person was suspected of being an “organizer of these activities” while two others were suspected recruiters. The father of two young men recruited by the alleged ring appeared on state television, saying that one of his sons left Cuba in July while the other is still on the island and is being investigated. Last week, Miami’s America TeVe newspaper published what it described as testimonies from two teenagers who said they had been tricked into working alongside the Russian army on construction sites in Ukraine. Another Cuban man told the media outlet that he had signed up with Moscow’s armed forces hoping to legalize his status in Russia. The Cuban government announced Monday the crackdown on the trafficking ring that was incorporating recruits into the military forces operating in Ukraine. The Attorney General’s Office said judicial authorities were considering charges of “human trafficking, mercenarism (and) hostile acts in a foreign state,” which could carry sentences of up to 30 years in jail, life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The Cuban government has categorically denied any complicity with Russia in the alleged trafficking. WITH AFP The post Ukraine war recruiters arrested in Cuba appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI nabs alleged Polish forger
The Bureau of Immigration reported that on 16 August, the BI Fugitive Search Unit apprehended a 48-year-old male Polish fugitive. BI-FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy identified the fugitive as Cezary Krynski. He was arrested in Diliman, Quezon City, pursuant to a mission order issued by BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco. Sy said that the arrest of Krynski stemmed from information obtained from Polish authorities through the PNP’s Intelligence Group stating that Krynski is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by the District Court in Bielsko-Biala for fraud, swindling and forgery. Krynski’s name has likewise been included in the Interpol diffusion list due to his crimes. The Bureau also found out that Krynski is already overstaying in the country, apart from being tagged as an undesirable alien. Krynski is now detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending his deportation proceedings, and his name will be added to the BI blacklist to prevent him from re-entering the country once he is deported. The post BI nabs alleged Polish forger appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI nabs alleged forger, on Interpol’s wanted list
The Bureau of Immigration reported that on 16 August, the BI Fugitive Search Unit apprehended a 48-year-old male Polish fugitive. BI-FSU Chief Rendel Ryan Sy identified the fugitive as Cezary Krynski, who was arrested in Diliman, Quezon City, pursuant to a mission order issued by BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco. Sy said that the arrest of Krynski stemmed from information obtained from Polish authorities through the PNP’s Intelligence Group that stated Krynski is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by the District Court in Bielsko-Biala for fraud, swindling, and forgery. Krynski's name has likewise been included on Interpol's wanted list due to his crimes. The Bureau also found that Krynski overstaying in the country, apart from being tagged as an undesirable alien. Krynski is now detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending his deportation proceedings, and his name will be added to the BI blacklist to prevent him from re-entering the country once he is deported. The post BI nabs alleged forger, on Interpol’s wanted list appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NAIA bomb threat suspect identified
After being identified as the person who allegedly sent a bomb threat through text message to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport hotline, the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group together with the Airport Police Department, arrested the female passenger as the suspect in the recent bomb threat at the NAIA. According to the airport authority, PNP-AVSEGROUP authorities and the APD successfully apprehended a passenger for her alleged involvement in the threat at NAIA Terminal 3 on the night of the same day, based on the report that a text message was received by the NAIA hotline through SMS on Wednesday morning, 16 August 2023. PNP-AVSEU NCR Chief Police Col. Arnel J. Apud identified the suspect as a 21-year-old female presently residing at #036 Jasmine St., Saint 2, Christopher Subdivision, Barangay. Mayapa, Calamba, Laguna, and an outbound passenger of Cebu Pacific flight 5J803 bound for Singapore, with an estimated time of departure of 8:15 p.m. on 16 August. Police Col. Apud said that the reports revealed that after receiving an alleged bomb threat sent via SMS to the NAIA hotline, the operatives from AVSEGROUP, in coordination with the APD, immediately initiated operational research to identify and locate the suspect responsible for the alleged bomb threat. After a thorough investigation and gathering of evidence, later that day, personnel of AVSEGROUP were able to locate the suspect and arrest her for violation of PD 1727, otherwise known as the malicious dissemination of false information or the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives, or any similar device.” She was promptly informed of the nature of her arrest and was apprised of her rights under the law. The suspect was immediately brought to NAIA Police Station 3 for documentation and proper disposition. PBGEN Jack L. Wanky, Director of the Premier Police Force in all airports nationwide, urged the public to refrain from spreading false information regarding security threats. “Such behaviors not only put the safety of all individuals at risk but also disrupt normal operations and induce unwarranted panic to the air-riding public.” “The AVSEGROUP along with airport authorities will not tolerate such reckless behavior. The post NAIA bomb threat suspect identified appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Salesboy nabbed for car theft
A complaint for alleged carnapping is being readied against a 25-year-old salesboy in Parañaque City after he was arrested by authorities at dawn yesterday in Welcome Village, Barangay San Antonio. He was identified as Jomar Codiamat, residing in the same village. The complainant alias Ramil, 54 years old, said he was awakened by screaming from outside their house. Upon checking, he was informed that someone is trying to steal his black Nissan Urvan. He immediately called Barangay San Antonio to report the incident and requested for police assistance from BF Homes Police Substation, Parañaque City which resulted in the arrest of the said suspect. The suspect is detained at Custodial Facility of Parañaque City Police Station for proper disposition. The post Salesboy nabbed for car theft appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Airport authority arrests suspect in NAIA bomb threat
After being identified as the person who allegedly sent a bomb threat through text message to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport hotline, the Philippines National Police - Aviation Security Group, together with the Airport Police Department, arrested the female passenger as the suspect in the recent bomb threat at the NAIA. According to the airport authority, operatives from the PNP-AVSEGROUP and the APD successfully apprehended a passenger for her alleged involvement in the threat at NAIA Terminal 3. Based on the report, a text message was received by the NAIA hotline through SMS on Wednesday, 16 August 2023. PNP-AVSEU NCR Chief Police Col. Arnel J. Apud identified the suspect as a 21-year-old female presently residing at #036 Jasmine St., Saint 2, Christopher Subdivision, Brgy. Mayapa, Calamba, Laguna, and an outbound passenger of Cebu Pacific flight 5J803 bound for Singapore, with an estimated time of departure of 8:15 p.m. on 16 August. Apud said the reports revealed that after receiving an alleged bomb threat sent via SMS to the NAIA hotline, the operatives from AVSEGROUP, in coordination with the APD, immediately initiated operational research to identify and locate the suspect responsible for the threat. After a thorough investigation and gathering of evidence, later that day, personnel of AVSEGROUP were able to locate the suspect and arrest her for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1727, otherwise known as "the malicious dissemination of false information or the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives, or any similar device." She was promptly informed of the nature of her arrest and was apprised of her rights under the law. The suspect was immediately brought to NAIA Police Station 3 for documentation and proper disposition. P/BGen. Jack L. Wanky, director of the Premier Police Force in all airports nationwide, urged the public to refrain from spreading false information regarding security threats. "Such behaviors not only put the safety of all individuals at risk but also disrupt normal operations and induce unwarranted panic to the air-riding public." The AVSEGROUP along with airport authorities will not tolerate such reckless behavior. The consequences of making false claims, especially in relation to threats as serious as bombs, will be meted out to the full extent of the law. We are fully committed to identifying and apprehending individuals who engage in such unlawful activities. The post Airport authority arrests suspect in NAIA bomb threat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2 alleged Indian terrorists deported
On Monday, the Bureau of Immigration announced that it had successfully deported the two Indians who had been tagged as terrorists. According to BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., Manpreet Singh Gill and Mandeep Singh were successfully deported on 13 August via Thai Airways flight bound for New Delhi. Manahan said that the two were escorted by BI Intel officers along with Indian authorities. Manpreet was ordered deported for being an undesirable alien after the BI learned from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation that he is wanted in India for a number of offenses, including violation of the unlawful activities prevention act, and that he is a suspect in a murder there. The Indian government further informed the BI that Manpreet is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Additional Chief Magistrate in Moga Punjab, for violating the country’s Arms Act. Mandeep was tagged as a fugitive and undesirable alien for violating the conditions of his stay. Manahan added that Manpreet and Mandeep were arrested with two others last March 7 in Iloilo City by the BI Fugitive Search Unit with the help of the anti-terrorism group, the Crime Investigation Coordinating Council, the Philippine National Police in Iloilo City, and government intelligence agencies. They were said to be involved in terrorist activities in Punjab, India. The two of their companions, Amrik Singh and Hayer Amritpal Singh, were already deported in May this year. Manpreet and Mandeep were deported after being cleared of local charges in the country. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that their deportation ensures that the country is safe from these undesirable aliens that pose a major threat to our people. Tansingco added that their close coordination with other governments would allow them to continuously hunt down and deport these fugitives. The post 2 alleged Indian terrorists deported appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pasay ‘cybercrime’ hub raided
The Department of Justice on Wednesday disclosed the conduct of a raid in an establishment in Pasay City on Tuesday evening in connection with alleged cyber scams resulting to the arrest of around 650 persons of interest which include foreigners. Reports showed that the persons of interest include over 400 Filipinos while the rest are Chinese and Indian nationals. Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said the hub was allegedly running love scams and cryptocurrency scams, adding that the raid was a result of a build up after they developed an asset inside the said establishment. “This kind of operation usually prospers due to an asset right inside and the asset is our lead for the intelligence that we can gather,” said Ty, adding that the law enforcement group builds up the information provided by the asset to secure the evidence needed to produce a search warrant prior to the actual operation. Ty added that authorities are still identifying the leaders of the illegal activity but they suspect that Chinese nationals are running the said establishment. The raid enabled the authorities to confiscate also found hundreds of phones, computers, SIM cards, and other devices as they implemented a search warrant on the five-storey building. Papers with supposed scripts for love scams and devices for text blasts were also seen in the area. Ty said the raiding team also found conversations between victims, mostly white foreigners and alleged scammers were still accessible on the screen of some computers at the time of the raid. The post Pasay ‘cybercrime’ hub raided appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hardline Cambodian PM Hun Sen to step down after four decades
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, said Wednesday he will resign and hand power to his eldest son after almost four decades of hardline rule. The former Khmer Rouge cadre has run the kingdom since 1985, eliminating all opposition to his power, with opposition parties banned, challengers forced to flee and freedom of expression stifled. His Cambodian People's Party won a landslide victory in an election on Sunday with no meaningful opposition, taking 82 percent of the vote, paving the way for a dynastic succession to his eldest son that some critics have compared to North Korea. "I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister," the 70-year-old said in a special broadcast on state television. Election authorities disqualified the only serious challenger, the Candlelight Party, on a technicality in advance of the election, and the CPP is expected to win all but five lower house seats. The government hailed the 84.6 percent voter turnout as evidence of the country's "democratic maturity" but Western powers including the United States and European Union condemned the poll as neither free nor fair. Hun Sen said Hun Manet, a 45-year-old four-star general, would take over as prime minister at the head of a new government on the evening of August 22. "I ask people to support Hun Manet who will be the new prime minister," he said. Chinese influence Hun Sen has trailed the handover to his son for a year and a half, and the 45-year-old played a leading role in campaigning for Sunday's vote. But the outgoing leader has made it clear that he still intends to wield influence, even after he steps down, scotching the notion the country could change direction. In his announcement on Wednesday, he said he would become president of the senate and act as head of state when the king is overseas. Under Hun Sen, Cambodia has tacked close to Beijing, benefiting from huge Chinese investment and infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of a naval base that has alarmed Washington. China welcomed Sunday's election, with President Xi Jinping sending Hun Sen a personal message of congratulations. But the flood of Chinese money has brought problems, including a rash of casinos and online scam operations staffed by foreign workers, many trafficked and toiling in appalling conditions. Critics say his rule has also been marked by environmental destruction and entrenched graft. Cambodia ranks 150th out of 180 in Transparency International's corruption perception index. In Asia, only Myanmar and North Korea rank lower. Rights groups accuse Hun Sen of using the legal system to crush any opposition to his rule -- including critical activists and troublesome union leaders as well as politicians. Scores of opposition politicians have been convicted and jailed during his time in power and the law was changed ahead of Sunday's election to make it illegal to call for voters to spoil ballots. Five days before polling day, authorities banned exiled opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy from running for office for 25 years for urging people to void their ballot papers. Opposition leader Kem Sokha was in March convicted of treason and sentenced to 27 years in prison over an alleged plot to topple Hun Sen's government. He is currently serving his sentence under house arrest. The post Hardline Cambodian PM Hun Sen to step down after four decades appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BATO DARES ICC ‘I am here, arrest me!’
By: Ann JEnireene Gomez and Alvin Murcia With GLEN JACOB JOSE, Tiziana Celine Piatos AND JOM GARNER, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa warned of “big trouble” if the International Criminal Court comes to the Philippines to arrest him or anyone else. “I already expected that, their insistence on meddling in our domestic affairs. Let them, let them do what they want,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino in an interview with Frontline Tonight. “I’ll be here, I am not hiding. If they have a warrant of arrest, let them serve the warrant,” Dela Rosa said, with one caveat — that he’ll only allow himself to be arrested by Philippine authorities and not by any foreigner ordered to do so by the ICC. Dela Rosa was responding to a statement of Senate President Miguel Zubiri that the government will have no choice but to turn over anyone to the ICC if the arrest warrant will be coursed through local courts and will be served by local authorities. “We are still a sovereign country, and they (accused) are still citizens of this country. They do that with many other countries. However, the danger there is if Senator Bato dela Rosa goes to a country that is friendly to the ICC, then they will arrest him. Here in the Philippines, the process is they must coordinate with the local courts,” Zubiri said. The ICC’s Appeals Chamber voted 3-2 on Tuesday to deny the Philippines’ appeal to stop the ICC Office of the Prosecutor from resuming its investigation. “There’s no problem if the Philippine government would be the one to arrest me, but not the foreigners,” he said. “If it’s the government of the Philippines that would decide to arrest me, what can I do? But if they (ICC) would come here to take me, our government would have none of that.” “There’s going to be big trouble if they would insist on coming here against our government’s expressed will. That would be too blatant an interference and they would be treating us like fools,” he added. Chill Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino, who offered to stand as legal counsel for a fellow lawmaker in the ICC probe, advised Dela Rosa to “Just chill”. “I accept the proposal of Sen. Dela Rosa to a lawyer for him. I am now speaking as the counsel for Senator Dela Rosa,” said Tolentino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, in an online press conference yesterday. He said nothing has changed in the Philippines’ position on the dismissal of the ICC Pre-Chamber in the country’s appeal regarding the probe of the “war on drugs.” The ICC, he added, has no jurisdiction in the Philippines. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday advised former president Rodrigo Duterte and Dela Rosa to stay away from countries where the ICC has influence. Dela Rosa is accused of implementing the alleged iron-fist policy of Duterte as a Davao regional police official and later as Duterte’s first Philippine National Police chief in 2016. “They are citizens of the republic who also need our protection,” Remulla said, adding that Duterte and Dela Rosa should refrain from going to countries in Europe. Why Sara? But even before Remulla came out with his advice, Dela Rosa had already said he would not deliver himself to the ICC. “I will make sure not to go to those countries that are friendly with the ICC,” he said. He also brushed aside efforts to involve Vice President Sara Duterte in the ICC probe, calling the move politically motivated against one who could become the country’s next president. He reiterated that the Vice President’s name was never mentioned in proceedings that looked into the alleged activities of the so-called Davao Death Squad. On Wednesday, the Department of Justice maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction to investigate the extrajudicial killings allegedly committed during the Duterte administration’s so-called war on drugs. The DoJ expressed deep disappointment and strong disagreement with the denial by the ICC of the Office of the Solicitor General’s appeal to stop the probe on account of the Philippines having withdrawn from the ICC, and its having a fully functioning justice system. It said the rejection of the appeal was based on the ICC’s flawed interpretation of its jurisdiction as a court of last resort — that it could only assume jurisdiction when a member country showed it was not capable of investigating and prosecuting crimes within its borders. The DoJ pointed out that the principle of complementarity, enshrined in the Rome Statute that created the ICC, recognizes the jurisdiction of local courts to try crimes within their respective countries. “The dissenting opinions of two esteemed justices out of the five-judge panel highlight the grave errors in the majority decision,” the DoJ said in a statement. “These dissenting justices rightly recognized the Philippines’ commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining an independent and effective legal system.” “Their dissenting opinions underscore the existence of a legitimate difference of legal interpretation, casting doubt on the majority’s ruling,” it added. Remulla had lambasted the ICC for meddling in Philippine affairs and said the government would not honor any arrest warrant issued by the ICC. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his predecessor, Duterte, had been firm in saying the ICC had no jurisdiction over events that transpired in the Philippines. PNP no ICC lackey Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said it would not be dictated to by the ICC as it recognizes the stance of the government that the international tribunal has no jurisdiction over the conduct of the drug war probe. “The PNP is under the executive department and we will follow the lead of the national government that there is a question with respect to sovereignty and jurisdiction of the ICC,” PNP spokesperson P/Col. Jean Fajardo said. Duterte, as Davao City mayor from 2011 to 2016 and as the country’s president from 2016 to 2022, is seen as the ICC prosecutor’s primary target, along with his former police chief, Dela Rosa. Government data showed that about 6,200 people died in “legitimate” anti-drug operations during the Duterte presidency, including law enforcement officers killed in action. Government critics claim as many as 15,000 to 30,000 were killed. Meanwhile, Vice President Duterte appeared to have been included in the complaints filed with the ICC prosecutor, along with her father’s long-time aide, the now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. “No comment,” was the terse reply of the Vice President’s camp on her alleged inclusion in the ICC complaints. Go, on the other hand, said the ICC had no “business meddling in our internal affairs, where our courts remain fully functional and free from political interference.” “Probes into the war on drugs are presently being conducted by the competent authorities. Filipinos should be judged by fellow Filipinos before Philippine courts operating under Philippine laws,” Go said. With the ICC ruling, the DoJ vowed to continue to defend the sovereignty and integrity of the nation’s legal system and strongly urged the ICC to reconsider its decision and recognize the Philippines’ unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the pursuit of justice. “Furthermore, we would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to the well-being and support of all victims affected by the drug war,” Remulla’s department said. “The DoJ, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, is willing and able to assist those who had suffered harm or loss during this challenging period. We encourage all individuals with evidence and witnesses to come forward and share their testimonies with us,” it added. Former president Duterte, through his former spokesperson Harry Roque, shrugged off the ICC decision. In a Facebook post, Roque said Duterte has always maintained that as an independent and sovereign state, only Philippine courts can try any crime committed in Philippine territory. “He has time and again said that because of this, he will face all his accusers anytime but before Philippine courts and before Filipino judges only,” Roque said. In a television interview, Zubiri said the upper chamber would “not give up” Dela Rosa should the ICC issue a warrant of arrest against the latter. “Without the local warrant of arrest issued by the courts, then as far as I’m concerned, he is still a working member of the Senate and accorded of course that respect, similar to Senator De Lima and Senator [Antonio] Trillanes,” he said. “Only when the warrant of arrest was issued, then we allowed or we agreed that he may be taken in custody,” he added. The post BATO DARES ICC ‘I am here, arrest me!’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lawyers seek De Lemos head for NBI blunder
A group of lawyers who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal blamed the recent significant mistakes of the National Bureau of Investigation on overstaying Director Medardo de Lemos and called for his immediate resignation. The Department of Justice confirmed that Jose Adrian “Jad” Dera, a co-accused of former senator Leila de Lima in her remaining drug case, was arrested by authorities on Wednesday, 21 June, after he allegedly went out from and came back to the NBI Detention Center. Dera’s lawyer says his medical condition necessitates his leaving the NBI premises, even as the NBI has its medical doctor. DoJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said that “firearms, cash, and other contraband” were confiscated from Dera. Six NBI security personnel were arrested together with Dera. Dera is also implicated in the slaying of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo last 4 March 2023. Lawyer Levito Baligod, legal counsel for the Degamo family, said that aside from Jad Dera, alleged co-mastermind Marvin Miranda also enjoys furlough from corrupt NBI officials, leaving the NBI Detention Center as he pleases. A reliable source inside the bureau revealed that the Degamo witnesses’ recantation started with the arrest of Marvin Miranda, the alleged recruiter of the killers of Gov. Degamo. The same source said that he is an asset/informant of a newly-appointed Chief of a District Office of a province near Metro Manila, promoted by the NBI Director De Lemos himself. The same source said that unknown to the public, it was kept from the Department of Justice officials’ knowledge that Miranda is an asset/informant of a newly-installed Chief of a District Office of a province near Metro Manila. The same Chief of the District Office is married to a lady agent who also was a newly-installed Bureau Chief. The same person is rumored to be the paramour of the NBI Director. She was reported to have been with the latter during a foreign trip. “Miranda is a Trojan horse who has a connection with the top officials of the Bureau. And this is just one of the many things that are eroding the morale of the career officers and personnel of the NBI,” the source said in dismay. The widow of Governor Degamo, Pamplona, Negros Oriental Mayor Janice Degamo, in her Facebook post, said; “I have lost my trust in the NBI… It is in this facility that all gunmen recanted (their testimonies). Paano nangyari yun?” She added that “as if the Bureau has no IDEA at all how things like this could happen. Tapos nangyari ito na nahuli si Dera??? Tapos wala itong kinalaman sa recantation? Hanggang saan sa NBI umabot ang P25 million?” “We would request another agency of the government to handle the Degamo case, wag na sa NBI (expletive),” Mayor Janice emphatically said. An NBI source said the recantation of testimonies of all 10 gunmen in the Degamo case is a first in the history of the Bureau. The same group of lawyers said De Lemos might as well resign. He should have retired weeks ago as he reached the age of compulsory retirement last 8 June having reached the age of 65. “The compulsory retirement age of the NBI Director is sixty-five (65). Said position cannot be reappointed because the position is technical and not confidential,” as stated in the description of the position of the NBI Director. Extended term A copy of a memorandum from the Office of the President circulated on social media dated 9 June 2023, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin to Secretary of Justice Crispin Remulla, states “… Mr. De Lemos, who holds a coterminous appointment as Director (Director VI) of the NBI, is considered automatically extended in the service upon reaching the compulsory retirement age of 65 years on 8 June 2023, until the expiry date of his appointment which is until the end of the term of the President, unless his services are earlier terminated”. Executive Order 136 series of 1999 or the law Requiring Presidential Approval of Requests for Extension of Services of Presidential Appointees Beyond the Compulsory Retirement Age, however, states: “That Officials or employees who have reached the compulsory retirement age of 65 years shall not be retained in the service, except for exemplary meritorious reasons.” “The blunders at the NBI is surely not a meritorious reason for De Lemos to be extended in office,” one of the lawyers said. Also cited was a memorandum from Executive Secretary Salvador Madialdea, under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, dated 18 February 2021, and addressed to the heads of departments, agencies, offices, and instrumentalities of government, including Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations or GOCCs. “To ensure the effective and efficient delivery of service, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has instructed the strict adherence of all concerned to Republic Act 8921, otherwise known as the Government Service Insurance System Act 1997, which provides that the compulsory retirement age of government employees is sixty-five (65) years. As such, the extension of service of government officials and employees who have reached the compulsory retirement age will no longer be allowed,” the memorandum read. The post Lawyers seek De Lemos head for NBI blunder appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DI emir meets end
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Authorities here on Wednesday reported that the alleged head or emir of the Dawlah Islamiya in the Philippines died after exchanging fire with state troops serving warrants of arrest in Marawi City. Joint Task Force ZamPeLan commander Maj. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete said that the emir — identified as Fahar Pumbaya Pangalian alias Abu Zacharia — died during the firefight. Also killed in the clash was Joharie Sandab alias Morsid, the DI-Philippines sub-leader for finance and logistics. Reports disclosed that police and military forces were about to serve warrants of arrest when Abu Zacharia and his men opened fire and lobbed improvised bombs toward government forces at 1:30 a.m. According to Nafarrete, a joint law enforcement operation was conducted at the safe house of Abu Zacharia in Barangay Bangon, Marawi City as government forces backed by armored personnel carriers were approaching Abu Zacharia’s location when his group resisted, triggering a firefight. Nafarrete added that Abu Zacharia threw a 60mm mortar and two hand grenades toward the troops’ position during a 10-minute heavy exchange of gunfire. While the soldiers were conducting a clearing operation in the area, they recovered the dead body of Abu Zacharia and two M16A1 rifles with ammunition. Nafarrete also reported that a soldier was wounded during the exchange of gunfire and is currently undergoing medical treatment in one of the hospitals in Marawi City. Meantime, Morsid was killed in the firefight against soldiers of the 103rd Infantry Brigade and the Philippine National Police. Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said that the death of the emir was a significant breakthrough in the campaign against the Daulah Islamiyah. He also believes that the death of Abu Zacharia will be the downfall of the IS-inspired group in our area of operation. “This achievement is attributable to the solidarity among various sectors. May we continue to walk the path leading to internal security with utmost sincerity and dedication,” Galido said. The post DI emir meets end appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bren Esports’ Chong cleared on alleged drugs importation case
The Court of Appeals recently dismissed a case against e-sports businessman and enthusiast Bernard Lu Chong and recalled a warrant of arrest issued last 13 April 2023. In its 27-page decision penned by Associate Justice Bonifacios Pascua and concurred to by Associate Justices Louis P. Acosta and Jennifer Joyce C. Ong, the CA annulled the smuggling and drug importation charges against Chong for lack of merit. On the basis of the affidavits filed before the PDEA National Capital Region, the CA found an alleged attempt to confuse authorities because documents filed by SITC Container Lines Phils., Inc. wrongly point to Fortuneyield, as the consignee alleged drug shipment originating from Vietnam. Chong was supposedly president of the company at the time the shipment was made, which was later proven false. Subsequent investigations and documentation however, proved that it Fortuneyield was merely the shipper and it is a company called Wealth Lotus that was the actual consignee of the shipment which came from China and not Vietnam. The petition filed by Chong also stated that “that there was no probable cause to indict him as one of the accused in the present case as he was no longer connected with Fortuneyield long before the commission of the alleged importation of illegal drugs.” The court’s dismissal the case, for lack of probable cause, was made after Chong’s lawyers clearly established that the shipment was not consigned to Fortuneyield and that Chong “was no longer connected to the company during the time of the alleged shipment” and investigation. After being cleared from the case, the arrest warrant imposed on him was also retracted. To recall, Chong was implicated in an illegal shipment of 276.34 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride with an estimated value of about P1.6 billion. The supposed drugs were concealed in sacks of plastic resin and seized by operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency at the Manila International Container on 22 March 2019. Chong is known in e-sports circles as president and CEO of Esports Arena, Bren Esports, BrenProTV and Next Talents, BrenPro, Inc. He is also top man at local sports footwear brand World Balance and even led Bren Esports to become Mobile Legends world champion in 2021. The post Bren Esports’ Chong cleared on alleged drugs importation case appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wanted Japanese ‘thief’ collared
The Bureau of Immigration announced the arrest of a Japanese national who is wanted in Tokyo for involvement in financial fraud. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the fugitive as Sato Shohei, who was nabbed last 24 April in Pasay City by the BI Fugitive Search Unit operatives. Tansingco said the arresting agents were armed with a warrant, which he issued pursuant to a summary deportation order that the BI Board of Commissioners issued against Shohei in February this year. The BI chief added that suspect was ordered deported after Japanese authorities sought their assistance in locating and arresting Shohei, whose name was already placed on the immigration blacklist. BI-FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy, meantime, disclosed that Shohei was issued an arrest warrant by a summary court in Tokyo, where a case for theft was filed against him in October last year. Japanese authorities have reportedly alleged that Shohei conspired with several other accomplices to steal money from the bank accounts of victims whose ATM cards they obtained by misrepresenting themselves as police officers or financial service agency representatives. The fugitive is currently detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City while awaiting deportation The post Wanted Japanese ‘thief’ collared appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US guardsman to appear in court over Pentagon documents leak
A 21-year-old national guardsman was due to appear in court on Friday, authorities said, after he was arrested on suspicion of leaking a trove of sensitive US government secrets. Jack Teixeira, an employee of the US Air Force National Guard, was to make an initial appearance in a Massachusetts federal court, a district court official told AFP. His dramatic arrest was broadcast live on US TV networks Thursday following a week-long investigation into one of the most damaging leaks of classified information since the 2013 dump of National Security Agency documents by Edward Snowden. US Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters Thursday that Teixeira had been arrested "in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information." News footage of the operation in the southern Massachusetts town of North Dighton showed the suspect dressed in red shorts and a T-shirt with his hands behind his head, backing slowly toward rifle-armed, camouflage-clad law enforcement personnel who took him into custody. Police in the small town in the northeastern state sought to reassure the community about the heavy law enforcement presence, saying in a statement that there was "no threat to public safety." The US National Guard Bureau said Teixeira had enlisted in September 2019 and was an IT and communications specialist who reached the rank of airman first class -- the third-lowest for enlisted air force personnel. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a statement praising the Justice Department and FBI "for their swift arrest in connection with this investigation." Austin added that he was ordering a "review of our intelligence access, accountability, and control procedures within the (Defense) Department to inform our efforts to prevent this kind of incident from happening again." Teixeira's arrest came a day after The Washington Post reported that hundreds of pages of documents had been posted on the social media platform Discord by a man who worked on a US military base. Top secret material According to The New York Times, a "trail of digital evidence" pointed to Teixeira as the leader of the private group on Discord, called Thug Shaker Central, where the documents surfaced. The embarrassing security breach has revealed US unease over the viability of a coming counteroffensive by Kyiv's forces against Russian troops as well as concerns about Ukrainian air defenses and pointed to US spying on allies including Israel and South Korea. President Joe Biden addressed the leak earlier on Thursday during his visit to Ireland, saying he was "concerned". US media reported that the Biden administration is seeking to beef up its monitoring of social media sites and chat rooms after intelligence agencies failed to spot the leaked documents online for weeks. The Pentagon has also "begun to limit who across the government receives its highly classified daily intelligence briefs," CNN reported on Thursday. The alleged leaker reportedly went by the nickname "OG" and regularly posted documents in the chat group in question for months. The group of around 24 people, including some from Russia and Ukraine, bonded over their "mutual love of guns, military gear, and God," and formed an "invitation-only clubhouse in 2020 on Discord," reported the Post -- which like the New York Times cited unidentified members of Thug Shaker Central. OG told the group members that he spent "some of his days inside a secure facility that prohibited cellphones and other electronic devices," the Post report said. He first wrote down the contents of classified documents to share with the group, but later began taking photos, telling other members not to share them, the newspaper reported. OG had a "dark view of the government," and "spoke of the United States, and particularly law enforcement and the intelligence community, as a sinister force that sought to suppress its citizens and keep them in the dark," the Post said, citing one of the group's members. A Discord spokesperson told AFP that user safety is a priority and that content violating its policies can result in people being banned, servers being shut down, and police alerted. "In regards to the apparent breach of classified material, we are cooperating with law enforcement," the spokesperson said. "As this remains an active investigation, we cannot provide further comment at this time." The post US guardsman to appear in court over Pentagon documents leak appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US airman arrested over Pentagon documents leak
FBI agents on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old national guardsman suspected of being behind a major leak of sensitive US government secrets -- including about the Ukraine war. Broadcast live on TV networks, the dramatic arrest was the culmination of a week-long investigation -- fuelled by frenzied media coverage -- into one of the most damaging leaks of classified information since the 2013 dump of National Security Agency documents by Edward Snowden. Addressing a news briefing, US Attorney General Merrick Garland named the suspect as Jack Teixeira, an employee of the US Air Force National Guard and the reported leader of the online chat group where the document trove first emerged. Arrested "in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information," Teixeira was taken into custody without incident by FBI agents, Garland said. News footage of the operation, in the southern Massachusetts town of North Dighton, showed the suspect dressed in red shorts and a t-shirt with his hands behind his head, backing slowly toward rifle-armed, camouflage-clad law enforcement personnel who took him into custody. Police in the small town in the northeastern state sought to reassure the community about the heavy law enforcement presence, saying in a statement that there was "no threat to public safety." The US National Guard Bureau said Teixeira enlisted in September 2019 and is an IT and communications specialist who reached the rank of airman first class -- the third-lowest for enlisted air force personnel. He was expected to make an initial appearance in a Massachusetts federal court as early as Friday. The Pentagon has said the leak presents a "very serious" risk to US national security, and spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder on Thursday condemned it as a "deliberate criminal act." In response, the Defense Department is "examining and updating distribution lists, assessing how and where intelligence products are shared, and a variety of other steps," Ryder told journalists. Teixeira's arrest came a day after The Washington Post reported that hundreds of pages of documents had been posted on the social media platform Discord by a man who worked on a US military base. Top secret material According to The New York Times, a "trail of digital evidence" pointed to Teixeira as the leader of the private group on Discord, called Thug Shaker Central, where the documents surfaced. The embarrassing security breach -- which included top secret documents -- has revealed US unease over the viability of a coming counteroffensive by Kyiv's forces against Russian troops as well as concerns about Ukrainian air defenses and pointed to US spying on allies including Israel and South Korea. President Joe Biden addressed the leak earlier on Thursday during his visit to Ireland, saying he was "concerned" but that federal authorities were "getting close" to identifying the source of the leak. The alleged leaker reportedly went by the nickname "OG" and regularly posted documents in the chat group in question for months. The group of around 24 people, including some from Russia and Ukraine, bonded over their "mutual love of guns, military gear, and God," and formed an "invitation-only clubhouse in 2020 on Discord," reported the Post -- which like the Times cited unidentified members of Thug Shaker Central. OG told the group members that he spent "some of his days inside a secure facility that prohibited cellphones and other electronic devices," the Post report said. He first wrote down the contents of classified documents to share with the group, but later began taking photos, telling other members not to share them, the newspaper reported. OG had a "dark view of the government," and "spoke of the United States, and particularly law enforcement and the intelligence community, as a sinister force that sought to suppress its citizens and keep them in the dark," the Post said, citing one of the group's members. A Discord spokesperson told AFP that user safety is a priority, and that content violating its policies can result in people being banned, servers being shut down, and police alerted. "In regards to the apparent breach of classified material, we are cooperating with law enforcement," the spokesperson said. "As this remains an active investigation, we cannot provide further comment at this time." The post US airman arrested over Pentagon documents leak appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Revilla seeks probe on PNP execs’ part in P6.7-B shabu haul
As the authorities are not letting their guard down on the possible involvement of more high-ranking cops in the P6.7-billion shabu haul last year, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. called for a senate inquiry on the matter. Revilla filed Senate Resolution No. 564 earlier this week, directing the proper Senate committees to conduct a legislative inquiry against the alleged involvement of more Philippine National Police officials in operating illegal drugs. To recall, PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. approved on 6 March the dismissal from the service of Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., a member of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group and was arrested along with nine others, in a buy-bust operation in Manila, which led to the seizure of 990 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride locally, known locally as shabu, in October last year. In developments, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos on 5 April revealed that more police high-level officials are linked to the illegal distribution of P6.7-billion worth of shabu. Abalos said there was a "massive attempt" from the PNP to cover up Mayo's arrest and the seizure of P6.7 billion worth of illegal drugs. Revilla said this incident could put a stain on the police organization's efforts against criminalities. He then cited in his resolution the need to further investigate the matter so that the authorities can lay down a system that would prevent a repeat of the same scenario wherein cops are being tagged in illegal trading activities, particularly drug operations. Based on the testimonies of several personalities and other pieces of evidence gathered by the fact-finding investigation of the National Police Commission, Revilla stressed that doubts come out on Mayo’s sole involvement. The report also suggested that he may not have acted alone. "Sec. Abalos thus far has risen to the occasion and stepped up to this big challenge," he added. In CCTV footage played during Abalo's recent press briefing, it showed that high-ranking PNP officials were present during the conduct of the buy-bust operation. Abalos claimed that video footage depicts way far from the reports and statements submitted by the PNP. Revilla, in response, said they must be put into proper interrogation and "let the criminal face the consequences." Among those seen in the footage identified as Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., who was then Deputy Chief PNP for Operations; Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, PDEG director; Col. Julian Olonan, chief of PNP Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit Region 4A; Capt. Jonathan Sosongco, head of the PDEG SOU 4A arresting team; Lt. Col. Arnulfo Ibañez, OIC of PDEG SOU National Capital Region; Maj. Michael Angelo Salmingo, deputy of PDEG SOU NCR; Lt. Col. Glenn Gonzales of Quezon City Police District; Lt. Ashrap Amerol, intelligence officer of PDEG Intelligence and Foreign Liaison Division; Lt. Col. Harry Lorenzo, Manila Police District Moriones Station Commander; and Captain Randolph Piñon, chief of PDEG SOU 4A Intelligence Section. The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs previously cited two PNP-PDEG agents in contempt during a hearing on 15 March, “lying and causing confusion to the panel” during the discussion on the issue of sneaking out a portion of the seized 990 kilos of illegal drugs. The PNP PDEG officials and the buy-bust team were also present in the hearing. The post Revilla seeks probe on PNP execs’ part in P6.7-B shabu haul appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»