Ex-senator Trillanes sues Cayetano, Marcoleta over Senate flood control 'hearing' — ANC

[0:00] Other news now. Former Senator Antonio Trillanes pursues accountability over a Senate Flood Control meeting held earlier this month. [0:07] He sued Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Rodante Marcoleta for cyber libel after the supposed hearing they led accused them of receiving cash tied to the graft scandal and the ICC probe of the Duterte drug war. [0:22] Also named as respondents were 18 former security aides of ex-lawmaker and fugitive Zaldico. [0:28] Trillanes accused them of making libelous and defamatory statements. [0:33] He also vowed to file complaints every time similar statements are made by those he sued. [0:39] Muli, inulit nila yung mga kasinungalingan na sinabi nila na nagbigay sila ng mali-mali atang pera sa akin para doon sa ICC. [0:47] Hindi po totoo yun, kaya bawat salita, bawat pokasyon na sasabihin nila yung kasinungalingan na yun, magpa-file po ako ng kaso sa kanila. [0:57] Ang nature po ng cyber libel is bawat okasyon mo na sinasabi yung kasinungalingan na yun, yun ay one count. [1:08] A familiar name set to be summoned as a witness in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. [1:15] Mary Grace Piatos and former overall Deputy Ombudsman Malchor Carandang were listed by the House Prosecution Panel as witnesses. [1:24] Mary Grace Piatos was among the alleged recipients of the confidential funds from the office of the Vice President in 2022. [1:30] But the Philippines' 36 authority has said it has no birth record of any Mary Grace Piatos. [1:37] The Vice President's camp previously claimed the name could be a pseudonym. [1:42] Meanwhile, Carandang is expected to testify in the impeachment article alleging unexplained wealth. [1:47] Based on a pre-trial brief, the former overall Deputy Ombudsman will testify on the result of his investigation into the bank accounts and transactions of the Vice President as well as former President Rodrigo Duterte. [2:00] The anti-graft court has denied Senator Jigoy Estrada's request to consolidate his plundered graft cases. [2:09] Both cases are pending before separate divisions of the Sandigan Bain. [2:13] In a June 24 resolution, the Sandigan Bain said consolidating the cases linked to the flood control mess would defeat the purpose of consolidation and impede their progress. [2:24] Estrada was arrested earlier this month over his plunder case. [2:28] This comes to the states after he posted bail in a separate graft case. [2:33] Estrada remains detained at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas. [2:40] The Marcos administration is suing former public works officials linked to the flood control scandal for over a billion pesos worth of criminal tax liabilities. [2:50] The Revenue Bureau says the Justice Department has approved the filing of cases against J.P. Mendoza, Hendy Alcantara, and Bryce Hernandez. [2:58] The three former district engineers are facing charges amid huge discrepancies between their declared income and actual expenditures. [3:07] They will also face charges for the non-filing and under-reporting of tax returns for years. [3:13] Alcantara is currently a state witness in the Bulacan flood control case of former Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. [3:19] A Korean fugitive vaunted by the Interpol has been arrested in the Philippines. [3:25] Let's get more details from our correspondent Michael Delizzo. [3:29] Michael. [3:29] After years of hiding in the country, Philippine law enforcers arrested two foreign fugitives, a Japanese and a Korean, [3:38] were allegedly involved in organized crime syndicates engaged in high-profile fraudulent activities. [3:43] In Makare City, a senior member and manager of the Luffy Group, a Japanese criminal syndicate engaged in large-scale fraud across multiple countries, [3:54] was nubbed by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by the Tokyo Summary Court and a Bureau of Immigration warrant of deportation. [4:02] Authorities said the group carries out sophisticated scams by having its members impersonate government officials, [4:08] including police officers and personnel from Japan's Ministry of Finance, to gain the trust of potential victims. [4:15] Meanwhile, Philippine authorities also arrested a Korean national at a mall in Mandaluyong City following a tip from a Filipino informant. [4:23] The 30-year-old suspect was identified as a member of an organized crime syndicate [4:28] that allegedly defrauded multiple victims by impersonating a representative of Korean financial institution Hyundai Capital. [4:35] The arrested suspects were brought to the Bureau of Immigration's warden facility for proper booking and documentation pending deportation proceedings. [4:44] Ron, back to you. [4:45] Michael Deliso with that report. Thanks, Michael. [4:49] President Marcos visits provinces in the south-central Mindanao region, [4:54] where he promised continued support for communities affected by the powerful quake earlier this month. [5:00] Harleen Delgado joins us on the line for more. Harleen? [5:02] Hi, Denise. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited several provinces in the Soxarjan region on Thursday, June 25, [5:10] where he vowed Mindanaoans of support for rehabilitation as they continue reeling from the effects of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake. [5:18] The president went to Coronadal City in South Cotabato for the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang project, [5:24] where in his speech, he made mention of the various assistance provided by the national government [5:28] to quake-hit areas in Mindanao, including cash transfers and housing assistance. [5:34] Marcos Jr. assured continuous aid for rehabilitation [5:37] as he took note of expediting the release of quick-response funds to affected localities. [5:43] The chief executive noted that South Cotabato had been placed under a state of calamity [5:48] following the quake aftermath, where 21,000 families in 170 barangays were affected. [5:54] In the event, he also led the ceremonial turnover of socio-civic projects fund assistance [5:59] worth 40 million pesos to the provincial government of South Cotabato [6:04] and 96 million pesos to the Cotabato provincial government. [6:08] The chief executive also reiterated his move to strengthen direct coordination [6:12] between the national and local governments in dispersing the local government support fund. [6:17] In the same province, Marcos Jr. also visited the Department of Agriculture [6:21] Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty Program [6:24] and the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Walanggutom, [6:27] or the Food Stamp Program, which aims to address involuntary hunger, [6:31] malnutrition, and stunting among Filipinos. [6:34] Earlier in the day, the president also visited Sultan Kudarat, [6:37] where he led the inauguration of the Antong Dam and Irrigation System Project, [6:42] which is expected to benefit over 300 farmers [6:45] and contribute to long-term agricultural productivity and food security. [6:49] Back to you, Denise. [6:50] Harleen Delgado with that story. [6:52] Thanks, Harleen. [6:53] I'll see you next time.