Security tight at PH Senate amid reported threats — ANC

[0:00] Acting Philippine Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian defends his move to increase security [0:04] and limit access to the Senate's premises. Gatchalian insists he has operational control [0:10] of the chamber, even as Senator Alan Cayetano claims otherwise. Victoria Tulad reports. [0:17] Following the announcement of heightened security in the Senate amidst a supposed threat, [0:22] a work-from-home setup amongst senators and employees was implemented on Wednesday, June 10. [0:28] Vehicles which tried to enter the Senate were strictly screened, and those who are not in the list of [0:33] employees allowed to come in were stopped. According to Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Alfred Corpus, [0:39] those who are allowed to enter are essential staff, such as employees who are tasked to handle the [0:44] activities of their senators. These individuals must seek permit from Corpus' office first. [0:50] Visitors, meanwhile, are prohibited. Additional police were also deployed in the Senate premises. [0:56] Acting, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said he has instructed Corpus to coordinate with [1:02] different intelligence agencies, such as the PNP, AFP, and National Intelligence Coordinating [1:08] Agency, to validate information about the supposed threat. He clarified that the Senate is not on lockdown. [1:14] We're still awaiting for a feedback. We're conducting paneling. Sinisecure natin yung... [1:20] We're doing everything to secure the Senate premises now, including the safety of our senators and the employees. [1:30] We have to take this seriously dahil ang aking pinaka-priority ay safety. [1:36] Gatchalian refused to say who are possibly behind the security threat, but said it might be connected [1:42] to the alleged 18 former employees of former ACOBICOL Partylist Representative Zaldico, who claimed they delivered [1:50] suitcases containing money to different personalities. [1:53] May mga personalities na na-mention ang NBI. Pati hindi ko muna sasabihin, because we're investigating [2:00] and validating. It's a possibility na armed group yung mang gulo. [2:04] Senator Panfilolaxon, meanwhile, said the 18 self-proclaimed bag men might be used to cause disturbance. [2:11] The opinion ko ito, nadis kasi namin ni Direkto Matibag. Halimbawang, periyong nabing walo, pagsisinungaling [2:20] na hindi nag-attend, pinastay for contempt. At pagkatapos in order na i-arrest. [2:28] Posible mangyari yung element, not necessarily from the uniformed services, kung hindi mga sibilyan, [2:35] manggugulo doon. [2:37] ABS-CBN asked the legal counsel of the 18 men for comment, but Attorney Levito Baligod has yet to reply. [2:44] Gatchalian also mentioned that they are preparing for possible protests on June 12 Independence Day [2:50] because the Senate may be a target. As for the criticism of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano that [2:55] only a few senators were informed about the alleged threat, Gatchalian said everyone was informed [3:01] through the memo that he issued on Tuesday. [3:04] Bilang acting Senate President, I have to do what I have to do to protect the institution and to protect [3:09] the employees. Gatchalian appealed to all employees, senators included, [3:14] to work from home until June 11. He said they will still assess if this arrangement is needed [3:19] for next week. Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News. [3:24] More cyber libel and perjury complaints are filed against 18 supposed bag men of fugitive [3:30] ex-Philippine Congressman Zaldi Koh. The latest complaints were filed by Iloilo [3:35] Representative Janet Garin after the bag men and their lawyer accused her of receiving illicit payoffs [3:41] connected to flood control corruption and the International Criminal Court's investigation [3:46] of the Duterte Drug War. [3:48] Unang-una, hindi ko kilala yung 18 bodyguards drivers na allegedly ay nasa former Congressman [3:58] Zaldi Koh. Wala akong kilala sa kanilang lahat. Ang kilala ko lang ay si former Congressman [4:03] Mike Defensor. And of course, kilala ko lang si Attorney Baligo dahil sa politika namin sa [4:08] leite, ay kalaban niya yung aking pamilya. [4:12] Manila Representative Benny Abante filed cyber libel and libel cases Tuesday against the 18 men [4:19] and their lawyer, Levito Baligot. Partylist Representative Laila Delima, former Senator [4:23] Sonny Tulianas, and Prisons Bureau Chief Gregorio Catapang also filed similar complaints. [4:31] The mother of an Ateneo University basketball athlete who drowned during a team exercise is unconvinced [4:38] by the school's explanation that her son's death was an accident. Friends, family, and [4:43] supporters of Rene Baterbonia have begun paying their respects to the late athlete. Andrea [4:49] Taguines has this story. [4:52] Based on the account given by some Ateneo officials and coaches, the basketball team was supposed [4:57] to conduct running drills in the sea when large waves suddenly came in. Officials also denied [5:04] claims that players were made to wear ankle weights. For Rauvelin Baterbonia, the mother [5:10] of Ateneo basketball recruit Rene Baterbonia, their explanation isn't enough. Rauvelin met [5:16] with three officials from Ateneo de Manila University Wednesday morning. According to the university, [5:21] Rene drowned while participating in a team-building activity in Dipakulau Aurora last Monday, but [5:28] its representatives declined to grant interviews. Later in the day, the Baterbonia couple faced [5:34] the media. Rauvelin said, Ateneo clarified to her that the players were not made to wear [5:39] weights while doing running drills in the sea, contrary to what's spreading on social media. [5:45] Two of the coaches they spoke to were present during the training camp in Aurora. [5:49] Wala daw dinagay dito ng mga weights, wala, wala. Habi niya. And then, aksidente [5:58] lang daw talaga yung nangyari. Tapos, ano lang, sinabi ko lang sa kanila nga, aksidente [6:09] yung nangyari dahil sakupulangan nyo. Kasi punta kayo dun, wala kayong rescuer, may medic daw [6:19] sila per first aid lang. But Rauvelin says, she still struggles to accept that explanation, [6:25] especially since her son was a good swimmer. She said Ateneo also apologized to the family, [6:31] but... Sabi ko, hindi may babalik yung sorry sa anak ko. Hindi na mabubuhay yung anak ko sa sorry nyo. [6:40] Bigyan nyo lang ako ng clear na yung parang explanation na maanong ko sa sarili ko, matanggap ko na aksidente lang talaga. [6:57] Mrs. Baterboña also questioned why the team's activity pushed through despite the sea conditions at the time. [7:05] She also said she was dissatisfied with what she described as limited communication from Ateneo after the incident. [7:12] She even had to seek help from local officials of Agusan del Sur just to travel to Metro Manila. [7:18] According to the family, Ateneo assured them that it is prepared to help with their needs, [7:23] including transporting both the family and Renee's remains back to the province. [7:27] Rauvelin said Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin has not yet reached out to her, [7:33] though she admitted she herself might not be ready to face him. [7:36] Lawyers Israelito Torrion and Jimmy Bondoc, who serve as legal counsel of Renee Baterboña's family, [7:43] have confirmed that they will be writing to the Department of Justice [7:46] to request for the issuance of an immigration lookout bulletin order against Baldwin. [7:52] Meanwhile, friends, family, and supporters continued to arrive to pay their respects to Renee, [7:57] including his former high school teammates in Davao, [8:00] the Ateneo men's basketball team, and fellow athletes he competed with in the Palarong Pambansa. [8:06] As teammates, alam namin kung kung gaano ka mabuting tao si Bobet, [8:15] so ayun, napakasakit na para sa amin. [8:18] Nung nalaman ko, parang napakasakit kasi parang hindi ko na siya teammate, parang ako na siyang brother eh. [8:29] The media are still not being allowed inside the chapel. [8:32] But in photos shared by his former coach, Renee's poster can be seen on display. [8:39] And laid on top of his casket are two of his jerseys, [8:43] both symbolizing the achievements of the former Palarong Pambansa champion and MVP, [8:49] and of dreams left unfulfilled. [8:52] Andrea Taguines, ABS-CBN News. [8:55] A post-mortem examination of Baterbonyas' remains indicate his death was a result of asphyxia by drowning. [9:04] A task force to be formed by the National Bureau of Investigation will also look into the tragedy. [9:10] A resolution filed in Congress seeks a review of existing safety standards in Philippine sports. [9:23] The U.S. launches air operations against targets in Iran, [9:27] following accusations linking Tehran to the downing of a U.S. military helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. [9:33] Iran retaliated with strikes in several countries in the region, including Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. [9:40] In a social media post, Trump said Iran had been slow in negotiations and warned of consequences if talks fail. [9:48] The exchanges marked another escalation after previous cross-border attacks already strained an existing ceasefire. [9:55] An alleged knife attack triggers widespread rioting in Northern Ireland. [10:01] A Sudanese man is accused of stabbing a local in the neck and head. [10:06] The attacker appeared in court Wednesday to face charges of attempted murder. [10:10] Protesters, angered by the stabbing, set fire to buses and cars. [10:15] Some also stormed homes, forcing residents to flee. [10:18] Philippine shares closed lower Wednesday as investors stayed cautious of a crucial U.S. inflation report. [10:27] The details from Michelle Ong. [10:31] Asia stocks slid a new Wednesday, dragged by a tech sell-off and escalating tensions in the Middle East after U.S. forces struck Iran. [10:39] Investors also trimming their positions ahead of a key inflation reading in the U.S. [10:42] The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index down 2.5 percent, putting the benchmark on track for a fourth loss in five sessions. [10:50] Here at home, Philippine shares also closing lower for the day. [10:54] The direction of interest rates, which we expect short-term rates to continue to move higher, [10:58] given inflation is still expected to move up, especially as we are expecting officially El Nino. [11:07] So that would add up again to the threats on potential higher food prices. [11:14] So it's really interest rates now that is really dictating. [11:18] I think market has already adopted to the Gulf crisis. [11:23] In corporate news, Nickel Asia subsidiary Samar Nickel Mining has entered into an operating agreement with San Juanico Resources, [11:30] granting Samar Nickel the right to operate San Juanico's mineral claim holdings [11:34] under a mineral production sharing agreement that covers an aggregate area of approximately 3,432 hectares [11:42] located in the municipalities of Candelaria and Santa Cruz in Zambales. [11:47] Meanwhile, Ross Holdings says its wholly owned subsidiary, Central Azucarera Don Pedro, or CADP, [11:51] has executed a deed of absolute sale covering the sale of idle machineries and equipment [11:57] previously used in the operations of the sugar refinery plant in Azubu, Batangas, [12:01] to a company called Infinity Multi-Aggri Development Corporation for P600 million pesos. [12:07] And finally, DigiPlus Unit, Total Game Zone Extreme Incorporated, or TGXI, [12:12] is partnering with New Coast Leisure Inc. to integrate, aggregate, and provide technical support [12:17] and operate approved online gaming and related gaming content [12:20] with online gaming platforms and the La Vie Resort and Casino Manila. [12:25] Michelle Long, ABS-CBN News.