News: Indonesia says Veloso coming home on Dec. 18

Monday, December 16, 2024

Indonesia says Veloso coming home on Dec. 18

December 17, 2024

MASS AT DAWN Catholics on Monday attend the first of the traditional nine-day "Simbang Gabi" at the 400-year-old St. Mary Magdalene Church in Kawit, Cavite. The dawn Masses start on Dec. 16 and culminate on Christmas Eve to prepare the faithful for Christmas, observed as the birth of Jesus Christ. —RICHARD A. REYES

Hi there. Indonesia says Veloso coming home on Dec. 18

Malacanang and an Indonesian official have confirmed that, at last, Mary Jane Veloso is returning to the Philippines after 14 years behind bars in Indonesia, nine of which she spent on death row for a drug trafficking conviction.

Following public ire over massive cuts to education in the approved 2025 budget, President Marcos has committed to restore the P10B slashed from the proposed DepEd funding -- though it won't be through a line-item veto, he said.

More red flags for PhilHealth: Some 4,000 deceased senior citizens remain in its database, while data on more than a million others were either incomplete or erroneous, according to the Commission on Audit.

Due to what Israel said was the Irish government's "extreme anti-Israel policies," including recognition of a Palestinian state and support for international legal action against its war in Gaza, Tel Aviv said on Sunday it would close its Dublin embassy.

How to fix Manila's road safety crisis? It "requires more than assigning blame; it demands structural reforms that prioritize accountability, enforce compliance, and foster collaboration between the government and civic society," writes Segundo Romero in Opinion.

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BUSINESS

SMC to rent Nayong Pilipino property for airport project

SMC Infrastructure, a unit of Ramon Ang-led San Miguel Corp. (SMC), has sealed a 25-year lease agreement with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to use the gaming regulator's 15-hectare Nayong Pilipino property for the conglomerate's airport development project.

By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral

REGIONS

Cebu court sets trial for 24 Red-tagged NGO workers

CEBU CITY—Two dozen members of a nongovernment organization (NGO) are facing trial for allegedly providing financial and logistical services to communist rebels. Judge Marlon Jay Moneva of the Regional Trial Court Branch 74 in Cebu City has set the first trial of the case on Feb. 4, 2025

By Ador Vincent Mayol

REGIONS

UAAP'S KQ, JD off to next chapter

Kevin Quiambao and JD Cagulangan ended their collegiate careers on contrasting notes after a hardfought UAAP Season 87 men's basketball finale. Quiambao, a two-time MVP, announced his departure from La Salle to pursue a professional career in Korea, while Finals MVP Cagulangan led UP to reclaim the crown, capping his legacy with a second championship. They expressed deep gratitude for their journeys.

By Angel B. Dukha III

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LIFESTYLE

Inside Gary V's home studio

Singer Gary Valenciano said he intends to remove all of his music-related souvenirs from their home in Antipolo City and put them in storage—at least, until the family's plan to put up a museum comes to full fruition.

By Marinel Cruz

INQUIRER PLUS-EXCLUSIVE

T-bill rates rise ahead of BSP policy meeting

The government was able to raise its target amount of short-dated debts during its last sale of Treasury bills (T-bills) for the year despite higher rates sought by investors, who are now waiting for the next move of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral

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