Author: Izel Abanilla

MANILA, Philippines – Following President Marcos’ word that heads will roll with the controversial escape of ex-Bamban town Mayor Alice Guo last July, Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said he personally recommended to the President the termination of Commissioner Norman Tansingco as Immigration chief “in the midst of his shortcomings as a leader.”  In an interview on ANC’s “Headstart” with Karen Davila, Remulla expressed his disappointment in Tansingco for his supposed lack of action and failure to manage matters under his watch leading to various immigration concerns which have compromised national security for quite some time. “I talked to him more…

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Bong Go attested that former President Duterte has not and will never allow illegal activities under his watch during the resumption of the Senate hearing on illegal POGOs last Monday, September 9. “I am here, not to defend former President Duterte but to tell the truth sa pagkakilala ko po sa kanya, knowing former President Duterte for the longest time when he was still the mayor of Davao, hindi talaga pumapayag ng ilegal ‘yun,” he said before the Senate committee on women investigating the alleged involvement of ex-Bamban town Mayor Alice Guo with illegal offshore gaming…

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte was nowhere in sight at the House of Representatives today for the resumption of the deliberation of the 2025 proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President. Instead, she sent a letter to Speaker vMartin Romualdez and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co saying she has fulfilled all the necessary supporting documents and that the OVP defers to the discretion of the House Committee of Appropriations to decide on its funds. “The [OVP] has submitted all necessary documentation to the House of Representatives – Committee on Appropriations, including a detailed presentation on…

MANILA, Philippines – Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy was not arrested, he surrendered. Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel of the controversial televangelist, belied the claim of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos that Quiboloy was arrested because contrary to his post, the latter voluntarily turned himself in to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.  “Based on reliable information, our client, Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy voluntarily surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, specifically the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces, or ISAFP,” Topacio said in a statement released shortly after Abalos posted about Quiboloy’s arrest. Topacio, at one point even…

MANILA, Philippines – After months of hide and seek, Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is now finally in the hands of justice. Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos announced the breakthrough in the long search for the fugitive televangelist Sunday, September 8 but did not reveal details about his arrest.  “NAHULI NA PO SI APOLLO QUIBOLOY,” Abalos said in his post.  He made another post with a photo of Quiboloy and friends using the same caption. Police Regional Office 11 chief Brig. General Nicolas Torre III who led the manhunt for Quiboloy heaved a sigh of relief after the…

MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos explained his and Philippine National Police chief Police General Rommel Marbil’s photo with dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo after lawmakers blasted government officials for having selfies with the ex-mayor. The photo which gained massive criticisms from netizens and even lawmakers is for documentation, said Abalos. “Nag-request si Alice na kausapin kami ni chief and sinabi talaga na meron siyang death threats and in-assure ko siya na death threats ‘wag niyang alalahanin, ang importante sabihin niya ang totoo, lahat,” Abalos said in a briefing upon their arrival to the Philippines from Indonesia. “Pina-document…

MANILA, Philippines – While Sen. Risa Hontiveros blasted taking selfies with newly-deported dismissed Bamban town Mayor Alice Guo, President Marcos sees nothing wrong with taking photos with the latter as such an act is now part of modern culture. “I think that is…part of the new culture now na magpakuha na ng kahit ano. Tapos ipo-post nila, tingnan mo o nakasama ako dito sa team ng ganyan-ganyan. Ang tawag natin sa Pilipinas, we are the selfie capital of the world di ba. Eh di nag-selfie. Hindi mo naman mapigilan ang tao na ngumiti,” Marcos said in an interview. “They just…

MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos assured that ex-Bamban town chief Alice Guo will be treated by the Philippine National Police just like any other inmate. She will also be accessible to the media anytime. “No cellphone, no aircon, no special treatment and media can inspect her cell anytime,” Abalos posted Friday. Guo, who was fresh from her deportation early Friday, was transferred to Camp Crame at 3:06 a.m. after securing a medical examination and documentation shortly after her arrival in a private hangar in Pasay City, PNP Spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo confirmed. Devoid of her lavish living, Guo…

MANILA, Philippines – Apart from her standing Senate warrant, ex Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is now facing another warrant of arrest, this time from a Tarlac court issued last Thursday. Capas, Tarlac Regional Trial Court Branch 109 issued a warrant of arrest against Guo for alleged violation of Section 3 (e) and (h) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. As bailable offenses, release of the accused is fixed at P90,000 for violation of Section 3 (e), and another P90,000 for violation of Section 3 (h). The warrant also stated that arresting officers are…

MANILA, Philippines – Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor expressed fear for her life and sought the help of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos soon after she was transferred by the Indonesian government to Philippine authorities on Thursday. “Sec. patulong po, may death threat po kasi ako,” Guo said in the 29:22 min-long video uploaded by Abalos on Facebook. The audio was cut off as two were talking but shortly after, he was heard off saying, “Titignan natin ito, kaya nga kumuha na kami ng private plane dito.” The dismissed mayor was arrested in a hotel in the early morning of September 4.…