Latest news with #Mariano
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
Another co-accused of Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong arrested
'Mariano', one of co-accused of Harry Roque and Cassandra Ong in a qualified trafficking in persons case, was arrested in Clark, Pampanga May 29, 2025. CIDG Authorities arrested in Pampanga another co-accused of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Cassandra Ong in a qualified trafficking in persons case. The person was identified as "Mariano," one of 49 co-accused of Roque and Ong. Mariano was arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Anti-Organized Crime Unit (CIDG AOCU) in Clark, Pampanga, the CIDG said in a press release issued Saturday. According to the CIDG, Mariano is one of the security guards on duty "when the alleged qualified trafficking in persons happened in Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc., a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga." "I urge the other 49 co-accused to surrender yourselves to the CIDG and authorities because the Tracker Teams are pursuing you 24/7 and will catch you anytime soon. Isa-isa na kayong natutunton (We are tracking you one by one)," CIDG Director Police Major General Nicolas Torre III said. The CIDG deployed tracker teams nationwide starting May 15 to serve arrest warrants against Roque, Ong, and several others. Roque and others are the subject of arrest warrants for qualified trafficking in persons in connection with the illegal activities in POGO hub Lucky South 99 in Pampanga. No bail was recommended. The arrest warrants were issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 118, Angeles City, Pampanga on May 15. "The Warrant of Arrest stemmed from the airtight complaint filed by CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit (AOCU) against the accused in connection with the implementation of Search Warrants for Violation of Republic Act 9208 (Anti- Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended) in alleged Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs - Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc. in Grand Palazzo Royals, Fil-Am Friendship Hi-way, Brgy. Cutcut, Porac, Angeles City, Pampanga on June 7, 2024," the CIDG said. On May 22, one of the co-accused of Roque and Ong, a man identified as "Marlon", was arrested in an entrapment operation in in Barangay Tabun, Mabalacat City, Pampanga. Marlon was the operation officer of the security agency operating when the qualified trafficking in persons was happening in Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc, the CIDG said. Roque has denied the accusation and said he is not and has never been a legal counsel of any illegal POGO and was neither a counsel of Lucky South 99. He also said that he only accompanied Ong in a meeting previously as he thought she was a victim of estafa. The former presidential spokesperson is currently seeking asylum in the Netherlands. —KG, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Survivor 50: Boston Rob explains why he turned down Jeff Probst
For many Survivor fans, it seemed inconceivable to put together an all-star cast for the 50th season that didn't include Rob Mariano — better known as Boston Rob. The five-time castaway, who finished runner-up to his eventual wife Amber Brkich on Survivor: All-Stars before finally winning Survivor: Redemption Island in season 23, is arguably the most well-known player ever marooned. But when the season 50 castaways were revealed, Boston Rob was nowhere to be found. SURVIVOR 50: Mike White's return has an obvious White Lotus problem It turns out, this wasn't an egregious snub. After fans voiced numerous complaints about Mariano's absence for the milestone season, Boston Rob took to Twitter/X to set the record straight. Wow!!! I got all of your DM's and messages so so many thank you all!! ♥️ But literally don't be mad @survivorcbs and @jeffprobst early on they called and asked… I wanted my spot to go to someone else. I am truly fulfilled with my Survivor Journey and I'm eternally grateful!🔥 — Boston Rob (@BostonRob) May 30, 2025 It's somewhat comforting to know host Jeff Probst at least reached out to offer Boston Rob a spot on the island, but Rob essentially confirming his Survivor days are over definitely stings. Many fans have called for Rob to replace Probst as host if and when the latter ever decides to hang up his torch snuffer. It seems like that might be the only chance we get to see Mariano return to Fiji. Until then, we'll have to just tip our cap to one of the most entertaining castaways to ever play the game. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Survivor 50: Boston Rob explains why he turned down Jeff Probst
Boston Globe
23-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
The millionaires tax is becoming a slush fund for Democratic leaders
When it was before voters, the millionaires tax sparked a debate about whether it would scare rich people and businesses away. That's still a real danger. But there was always another, subtler risk that came with the surtax: that it created a multibillion-dollar slush fund that the Legislature could abuse. And some of the Democrats' latest maneuvers are evidence that the tax is doing just that. Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Senators put the finishing touches on a millionaires tax spending bill this month meant to allocate a $1.3 billion surplus from the surtax. At the 11th hour, leading Democrats passed $10 million in earmarks in a so-called corrective amendment, which is meant for technical errors. The corrective amendments included $1.6 million for Spilka's district, which, Advertisement The House version of the bill wasn't innocent either, with Mariano claiming the award for largest earmark at $25 million for a 500-spot garage in his hometown of Quincy. Advertisement 'It's certainly not what I was out there knocking on doors for,' one supporter of the millionaires tax The projects are transportation and education related — though Mariano was stretching the definition pretty far with the parking garage. That's not the issue. The issue is the backroom way Democrats are divvying up the tax revenues. Still, if you didn't think the Legislature would handle the bonanza behind closed doors and to the benefit of leadership, you haven't been paying attention. And while it isn't unusual for leadership to use corrective amendments to add earmarks, the timing and magnitude of this one raises red flags. 'Business as usual at the State House,' Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance president Paul Diego Craney told me. 'What makes this [amendment] a little more egregious is that it's going to the leaders. It didn't require debate, it didn't require a roll-call vote.' Not only are the leaders abusing the trust that voters placed in them in 2022, but their fiscal flippancy is also inconsistent with Democrats' economic fearmongering. Under Spilka's leadership, the Senate launched RESPONSE 2025 to 'counter federal threats' from the Trump administration, But if federal policy is on the verge of wrecking the state economy, wouldn't it make sense to return some state money back to 'your businesses, your employees, your families, and your bottom lines' instead of putting it into pork projects? It's easier for state Democrats to bash President Trump's policies than to exercise any restraint of their own. Advertisement Meanwhile, progressives are proclaiming vindication on the economic impact of the tax policy itself before all the evidence is in. The progressive Institute for Policy Studies published a There is almost no chance of repealing the millionaires tax, which would take a constitutional amendment. Maybe that's why Democratic leaders feel free to pig out from the proceeds. It seems like the tax revenue is helping education and transportation indeed — educating voters about how Massachusetts Democrats took them for a ride. Carine Hajjar is a Globe Opinion writer. She can be reached at
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Senior member' of ‘Sex, Money, Murder' gang arrested in St. Johns County
A man who deputies say is a 'senior member' of the 'Sex, Money, Murder' gang was arrested in St. Johns County, the Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday. Andrew Mariano, 23, of Flagler Estates, was taken into custody 'on charges related to racketeering, conspiracy to commit homicide, directing activities of a criminal gang, and money laundering,' SJSO said in a Facebook post. He was one of ten 'senior members' arrested around the state, SJSO said. The arrest was a result of a years-long investigation by the Broward County Sheriff's Office into the 'Sex, Money, Murder' gang, which is affiliated with the Bloods, a major street gang. 'Additionally, detectives discovered a kill list of the gang members' intended victims and notified them before the crimes occurred. Ultimately, saving their lives,' BSO said in a news release. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] For Mariano's arrest, a warrant was served on his home by SJSO and BSO. Guns and drugs were discovered at that time, authorities said. 'The investigation revealed Mariano is responsible for trafficking in drugs and firearms across northeast Florida,' SJSO said in its post. SJSO said Mariano is out of jail on bond. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mass. Republicans assail $25M for parking garage pet project in House speaker's district
Massachusetts Republicans teed off on the top Democrat in the state House on Wednesday for slipping $25 million for a parking garage in his district that critics have denounced as the ultimate 'power play.' State House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, successfully inserted the language into a bill last month that doled out $1.3 billion in surplus cash from the state's so-called 'Millionaire's Tax.' It gave a leg up to the city of Quincy, which is building a 500-spot parking garage for a new Beth Israel Deaconess-run medical facility, according to The Boston Globe, which was the first to report the news. Under state law, money from the Millionaire's Tax, formally known as the 'Fair Share Amendment,' is intended to support education- and transportation-related programs. The chamber allocated $353.5 million for education and $828 million, most of it for the MBTA, for transportation. Critics told the Globe that the language Mariano inserted into the bill stretched the intent of the law., Mariano's actions "siphon money from roads and bridges," and 'back toward the political donors who have padded his campaign account, John Milligan, the executive director of the state Republican Party, said in a statement. "The migrant shelter crisis continues to bleed money from our budget while Massachusetts is ranked the second-most expensive state for families, but State House leadership is still managing to use taxpayer dollars to take care of the friends who have long taken care of them,' Milligan said in an email. In a statement to the Globe, Mariano defended the move, saying the money would pay for an 'essential component' of the new health care facility. 'Providing support for key transportation infrastructure projects, especially projects that are related to the health and well-being of our residents, is one of the most fundamental ways that state government can better the lives of the people that it serves,' Mariano said, according to the newspaper. Quincy has gone all-in on the project, investing $157 million to build a pair of parking garages in Quincy Center, according to the local Patriot-Ledger newspaper. More political news Read the original article on MassLive.
