Abbey M.

MANILA — A potential act of violence at Tolosa National High School in Leyte was prevented after authorities acted swiftly on a tip relayed through Senator Bam Aquino, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla disclosed on June 25, Thursday.

Remulla said they received information from Senator Aquino the previous night about a threat to shoot or stab someone inside the school. The threat had been posted on social media.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) immediately launched an investigation, which led them to a 14-year-old female student identified as the source of the threat.

According to the secretary, the student was found to be experiencing problems at home. 

Authorities also noted that she is an avid player of the online game "Gorebox."

No injuries were reported. The incident remains under investigation.

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The Department of Education (DepEd) has released guidelines aimed at maintaining safe and orderly schools across the country, emphasizing that the effort requires cooperation among schools, families, communities, and the government.

For schools, stricter policies have already been put in place, including ID policies and identification protocols, a visitation management system, regular inspection and monitoring, strict school security procedures, and coordination with local government units and the police.

Parents and communities, meanwhile, are encouraged to support students by checking in on their emotional well-being, listening to their fears and concerns, reminding them that there are adults they can turn to, and immediately reporting any threats of danger within the school.

For students, DepEd reminded that they are not alone and may approach their teacher, guidance counselor, school head, parents, or any trusted adult for help.

To ensure safe and orderly schools, DepEd said it will continue to strengthen youth protection through measures to address bullying and violence prevention programs, mental health and psychosocial support, coordination with LGUs, the police, and partner agencies, and regular review and improvement of school safety systems.

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The House prosecution panel has listed 57 witnesses it intends to present in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, including former Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang and a woman named Mary Grace Piattos, who is allegedly among those who received funds from the Office of the Vice President.

Carandang is being presented by the prosecution to establish his investigation into the bank accounts and transactions of Vice President Duterte and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as to identify the results of that investigation.

Carandang was dismissed by the Duterte administration in 2018 after he disclosed his bank investigation into the former president. The court later ruled, however, that former President Duterte had no authority to dismiss Carandang.

Mary Grace Piattos is also listed as a prosecution witness and is expected to testify in connection with the receipt of confidential funds.

The prosecution is requesting 62 trial dates to present all of its witnesses.

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The National Bureau of Investigation is set to recommend the filing of human trafficking charges against former Congressman Mike Defensor in connection with a KTV bar linked to him that was raided earlier this year.

NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said their investigation revealed that Defensor had personal knowledge of the activities inside the establishment.

"After nating pag-aralan yung kaso together with STG, NCR, lumalabas na talagang si Mike Defensor kasama rito and we will filing this case," Matibag said.

(After we studied the case together with STG and NCR, it turned out that Mike Defensor is really involved in this, and we will be filing this case.)

The NBI raided the KTV bar in April over alleged human trafficking activities on the premises. Records also showed that Defensor is the chairman of Cliffpoint Square, where the establishment is located.

Matibag said the investigation showed that Defensor's involvement went beyond that of an ordinary lessor.

"He has knowledge, he has personal knowledge hindi ordinary na nagpapa renta lang siya, alam niya lahat ang pangyayari and he has the one who consented to the design in order to cater doon sa kanilang plano na human trafficking," the NBI director said.

(He has knowledge, he has personal knowledge — he is not an ordinary lessor. He knew everything that was happening, and he was the one who consented to the design in order to cater to their human trafficking plan.)

The NBI also found that the establishment's actual structure deviated from the floor plan submitted to the Pasig City Engineering Office.

"So ano ang bottom line, chinange nila yung design para yung Chicago at Bleu hotel can perpetrate yung ginagawa nila na human trafficking at malinaw na yung ginagawa ni Mike Defensor kasama siya so hindi sila ordinary lessor at talagang pinagplanuhan yung gagawin they even violated the building code pagpapalit ng design ng walang paalam, so I notice na mayroon na silang sinagot doon may binabanggit silang tao na sinabi nila iyon ang pinagpasahan nila but wala man lang statement yung tao," Matibag said.

(So the bottom line is, they changed the design so that Chicago and Bleu hotel could perpetrate their human trafficking activities. It is clear that Mike Defensor is involved — they are not ordinary lessors. They planned everything. They even violated the building code by altering the design without permission. I also noticed they already gave a response mentioning a person they claim they transacted with, but that person has no statement on record.)

Matibag also announced that charges of solicitation would be filed against a certain Laurence Tan, who was among those arrested.

"Mayroon doong personality na nahuli si Mister Laurence Tan will be also filing sa kaniya ng crimes of solicitation iyon yata ang ating ipa-file diyan," he said.

(There is a certain personality who was caught — Mr. Laurence Tan — and we will also be filing charges of solicitation against him.)

The NBI chief denied that the case against Defensor was politically motivated.

"Well nakita niyo yung mga ebidensiya, malinaw yun mga ebidensiya natin, this is the very reason why we are putting out the evidence to the public so that the public can judge pulitika ba talaga ito or talagang may violation ba na ginawa," Matibag said.

(Well, you saw the evidence — our evidence is clear. This is the very reason why we are putting the evidence out to the public, so that the public can judge whether this is really political or whether there was truly a violation committed.)

For his part, Defensor denied the allegations in a video he posted online, saying all structural changes to the establishment were approved by the Pasig City building official under Mayor Vico Sotto.

"Yung mga sinasabi nilang istruktura, papaanong mangyayari yung istruktura ito'y lahat ini-approve ng Pasig City, inapprove ito ng building official sa ilalim ng ating butihing Mayor Vico Sotto kaya itong sinasabi nilang kalokohang iniba ko raw ang building plan ay wala pong katotohanan," Defensor said.

(As for what they are saying about the structure — how could that be, when everything was approved by Pasig City? It was approved by the building official under our good Mayor Vico Sotto. So this nonsense they are saying about me changing the building plan has no truth to it.)

Defensor also accused the NBI of failing to look into what he described as corruption allegations involving the bureau director's own wife.

"Ang NBI dapat ginagamit sa tama iyang mga kurapsyon, iyan ang dapat imbestigahan eh papaanong magkakaroon ng imbestigasyon na tama na hinihingi ng taumbayan kung ang asawa mismo ni Attorney Melvin Matibag akala mo kung sino bureau director lamang akala mo kung sino na siyang magsalita eh maging sa mga Senador, itong mga kalaban sa pulitika eh hindi niya maimbestigahan dahil mismong sila ay involve sa bilyong-bilyong kurapsyon sa flood control diyan sa San Pedro, Laguna," he said.

(The NBI should be used properly — corruption is what should be investigated. How can there be a proper investigation as the public demands when the wife of Attorney Melvin Matibag herself — acting as if the bureau director is someone great, speaking even to senators — those political enemies cannot be investigated because they themselves are involved in billions worth of corruption in flood control projects in San Pedro, Laguna.)

Despite the impending complaint, Defensor said he is prepared to face the charges the NBI intends to file against him.

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) denied receiving any warrant of arrest from the court against Senator Rodante Marcoleta.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said reports circulating online claiming the agency already holds an arrest warrant for the senator are not true.

Director Matibag also denied separate claims that the NBI has received a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Christopher "Bong" Go.

"Nababasa ko iyan eh may mga tao na nagcha-challenge na si Matibag natakot ewan ko kung sino ang mga iyan na dahil ayaw arestuhin si Marcoleta naririnig ko iyan pero wala pong warrant of arrest eh, these people who are challenging me na arestuhin, bring me a legal and valid warrant of arrest to anybody and we will enforce it, we will arrest anyone," Matibag said.

(I've been reading that, there are people challenging that Matibag got scared, I don't know who these people are — because they don't want Marcoleta arrested, I've been hearing that — but there is no warrant of arrest. To the people challenging me to make an arrest, bring me a legal and valid warrant of arrest for anybody and we will enforce it, we will arrest anyone.)

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