
SOJ Remulla: We haven't given up on case of missing sabungeros
'Hindi kami nag gi-give up. We have not given up on anything or anybody. Ganon lang talaga, mabagal minsan ang kaso. Ito po ay proseso, kinakailangan po na may ebidensya na makakalap at ginagawa ho namin ang lahat,' Remulla said in an ambush interview.
(We are not giving up. We have not given up on anything or anybody. It's just that sometimes cases move slowly. This is a process, and evidence needs to be gathered, and we are doing everything we can.)
Remulla issued the remark when asked about the sentiment of the families that they feel as if the government has abandoned them due to the lack of progress in the cases.
Meanwhile, the DOJ chief said authorities are currently processing the information provided by 'Alyas Totoy.'
Totoy claimed that the missing sabungeros were thrown into Taal Lake. He also claimed that the abduction and killings were linked to the owner of the cockpit and online sabong operations.
Remulla said he has talked with Totoy regarding his possible enrollment into the Witness Protection Program. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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GMA Network
18 hours ago
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DOJ taps UP for help on missing sabungero case
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked the University of the Philippines (UP) for help with the alleged human remains retrieved during the search for missing sabungeros who were allegedly thrown into Taal Lake, Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said Thursday. Clavano said the DOJ has tapped the UP Anthropology Department as well as the UP Forensic Pathology Department, through forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun, and the Japanese Government. 'The secretary still believes, especially with the teeth, lalo na po 'yung buhok na pwede pa natin ito ma-DNA (especially the hair which which can still subject to DNA [test]),' Clavano said at a press briefing. 'We would like to get the best experts, the best minds, the best technology for us to be able to get to the bottom of this,' he later added. This came after the PNP said that no DNA profiles were extracted from the bones recovered from Taal Lake because the remains have been submerged for a long time and already contaminated. Whistleblower Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan previously told authorities that more than 100 sabungeros were abducted, killed, and then dumped at Taal Lake. The search and retrieval operations began on July 29 and are still ongoing. During the briefing, Clavano presented the developments and alleged human bones retrieved during the dives. He noted that during one dive, authorities also retrieved what seems to be one whole upper body with the skull missing. So far, authorities have recovered what seems to be human ribs, a human skull with its upper teeth, what seems to be hair, and other bones. "We also know that behind the tooth, meron po talagang very potent diyan na area where you can get DNA. Kahit dentures po ang nakita natin, it's possible still that we can use them as DNA samples,' he said. Clavano said that at least 20 families have given their DNA samples. Identification Clothing which could help identify the individuals were also found. However, Clavano said families have yet to report back to the DOJ. 'Pinapakita po natin ito sa mga pamilya at wala pa kaming nakuhang advise pa sa kanila kung sa tingin nila po ay familiar yung mga damit na nakita natin, lalo na 'yung may mga design,' he said. (We are showing this to the families and we have not yet received any advice from them on whether they think the clothes we found, especially those with designs, look familiar.) The Justice spokesman presented a shirt with a pink rose on the upper left side and pants. 'Ang importante din dito ay ma-identify po natin kung sino-sino ang mga ito. And that is why we are doing the DNA testing. That is why we are getting a DNA bank from the relatives. And that is why we are releasing this photos, so that we can identify sana, no, kung sino po talaga ang naungkat na,' he said. (The important thing here is that we identify who these individuals are. And that is why we are doing the DNA testing. That is why we are getting a DNA bank from the relatives. And that is why we are releasing these photos, so that we can hopefully identify who was retrieved.) He stressed that any information from the public would be helpful. Meanwhile, when asked if the DOJ is coordinating with families of the missing sabungeros who withdrew from their case with the Manila court, Clavano said they would welcome it if the families could provide information on the identities of the bodies. 'Sa tingin po natin, kahit umatras na 'yan sila, nakausap na yan sila ng kabilang side, they would still want to know whether or not itong mga remains na ito ay kamag anak nila,' he said. (In our opinion, even if they have already backed out, and have already been spoken to by the other side, they would still want to know whether or not these remains are their relatives.) 'If they do identify, that is something that we can use. Dahil ang interest po ng state ang nakataya po dito. It is no longer a private matter. It is now the state, the people of the Philippines versus the respondents,' he added. (If they do identify, that is something that we can use. Because what's at stake here is the interest of the state. It is no longer a private matter. It is now the state, the people of the Philippines versus the respondents.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

GMA Network
a day ago
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DILG Remulla says Marcos wants 'red carpet treatment' for GMR Group —DILG
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GMA Network
a day ago
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BIR files tax evasion complaints vs. 23 firms, officers over ghost receipts
The Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday filed 23 complaints for tax evasion against numerous corporations and corporate officers involved in the use of ghost receipts to reduce tax liability, resulting in tax deficiencies amounting to P1.4 billion. According to the bureau, they filed complaints against 23 corporations, 56 corporate officers, and 17 certified public accountants for multiple violations of tax evasion, failure to supply correct and accurate information, perjury and false reporting. 'Wala namang operations 'yung mga korporasyon na ito kung hindi magbenta lamang ng resibo. Walang serbisyong ino-offer, walang produktong binebenta kung hindi 'yung resibo mismo talaga,' BIR Commissioner Romeo 'Jun' Lumagui Jr. said. (These corporations have no operations other than selling receipts. They offer no services, they sell no products other than the receipts themselves.) The corporations are involved in construction, manufacturing, food, electronics, entertainment, marketing, retail, and constructions. Authorities refused to name the corporations involved while the investigation is ongoing. 'Maybe we can provide the names of these companies after we have made the initial evaluation so that they are now considered as respondents ready for preliminary investigation,' Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres said. Lumagui said that if found guilty, these individuals must pay their tax liabilities. He said they may also face imprisonment. Meanwhile, the commissioner said they are also investigating content creators and online sellers over their taxes. 'Nagugulat sila kasi minsan sasabihin nila wala silang kinikita pero sa totoo lang nakukuha namin ang information na 'yan. At nakukuha namin lahat 'yan through third-party information. Nalalaman namin 'kung magkano ang kinikita nila,' Lumagui said. (They're surprised because sometimes they claim they're not earning anything, but in truth, we get that information. And we get all of that through third-party information. We find out how much they're actually earning.) 'Tine-check din namin 'yan kung papaano nireport 'yung income sa amin at magkano 'yung tax na binayaran. Kadalasan doon sa mga content creators, wala man lang revenues na nire-report,' he added. (We also check how the income was reported to us and how much tax was paid. Often, among those content creators, there aren't even any revenues being reported.) Lumagui also reiterated that the BIR will not stop going after tax evaders.—AOL, GMA Integrated News