Faces of the News: December 8, 2024
Harry Roque
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has left the Philippines undetected by authorities and may face charges to be filed by the Bureau of Immigration (BI). On Dec. 3, his lawyers submitted his counteraffidavit to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in response to a complaint for qualified trafficking stemming from his alleged ties to a raided Pogo, or Philippine offshore gaming operator.
The document, which indicated that it was notarized at Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi was dated on Nov. 29. In a virtual press briefing on Dec. 3, Roque said he traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) solely to have his counteraffidavit notarized, and that he was no longer in the UAE by then. Hours later, the BI issued a statement saying he might have left the country “illegally” as there were no record of his departure through the regular channels.
The DOJ issued on Aug. 6 an immigration lookout bulletin order against Roque after he was linked to Lucky South 99 Corp., a Pogo in Porac, Pampanga, that was raided by authorities in June. —JANE BAUTISTA
Michael Rama
Former Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is apparently one who just won’t give up or give in. On Dec. 2, he showed up unannounced at the flag-rising ceremony at City Hall, placing himself side-by-side with his former ally, Raymond Garcia, who has been installed by the Department of Interior and Local Government as mayor following Rama’s dismissal from government service by the Ombudsman because of nepotism.
Wearing his signature green polo shirt with the embroidered Cebu City logo and the word ‘Mayor,” Rama first entered the main building to ‘’inspect” the various offices before joining Garcia in the flag-raising ceremony. Garcia acknowledged his presence but addressed him as “former mayor” later in a speech before the gathering of local government employees.
Rama eventually left the place later that morning, but had since insisted that he remained the city mayor, saying he had yet to receive a copy of the Ombudsman’s decision dismissing him. He also maintained that he had already served the six-month suspension imposed by the antigraft body in relation to another case. —ADOR VINCENT MAYOL
Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao’s accomplishments in the boxing ring continue to be celebrated even in retirement. The former senator on Thursday became one of the six male and female boxers elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, an honor that would surprise practically no one given his feats.
Pacquiao joined boxing’s elite company for being world champion in eight different divisions and producing victories over some of the sport’s biggest names like Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez and Oscar De La Hoya. Pacquiao’s inclusion in the Hall of Fame came four years after his last bout. But while a sports legend bowed out, a politician came out swinging, ready for more rounds.
Pacquiao will be formally enshrined in July 2025 in New York, joining Vinny Paz, Michael Nunn, Mary Jo Sanders, Yessica Sanchez and Anne Sophie Mathis. Retired referee Kenny Baylees, who had officiated 11 Pacquiao fights, including the super bout with Floyd Mayweather, is also an inductee. —JONAS TERRADO
Pope Francis
Pope Francis once again urged members of the Catholic clergy to make their homilies not only inspired by the Holy Spirit but, as much as possible, also sweet and short.
“After eight minutes, preaching gets dispersive and no one understands,” he said in off-the-cuff remarks made during his general audience at St. Peter’s Square in Rome on Dec. 4.
“Never go over 10 minutes, ever! This is very important. Priests must not preach about themselves, but about the Gospel,” he added, drawing approval from the Vatican pilgrims.
The Pontiff noted that some priests would have homilies lasting for 20 to 30 minutes, so long that bored churchgoers would be tempted to briefly step outside, perhaps have a smoke, and return only once the preaching had finished.
To have an effective homily, the Pope said, the priest must have “one idea, one sentiment, and one invitation to action,” all delivered in 10 minutes at the most. The 87-year-old leader of the Catholic Church gave a similar advice in June this year and in February 2018. —DEXTER CABALZA
Yoon Suk-yeol
Claiming there were “threats’’ coming from North Korea’s communist forces and “antistate elements,” South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night. Lawmakers, however, were able to mobilize quickly and rejected Yoon’s decree in a vote, forcing him to revoke the declaration about six hours later.
Yoon—who was known for his campaign against corruption—was himself facing corruption allegations and a plunging approval rating. His wife was also embroiled in a scandal and was facing an investigation for accepting an expensive bag as a “gift.” Yoon apologized to the South Korean nation on Saturday but did not resign.
“The declaration of martial law arose from my desperation as the president,” he said in a televised address. He would now leave it it to his People Power Party (PPP) “to stabilize the political situation” and to decide “the issue of my term in office.”
Later on Saturday, Yoon was to face an impeachment vote but the PPP opposed the move, with all but one of its member staying at the National Assembly for the proceedings. But party leader Han Dong-hoon conceded that Yoon could no longer perform the duties of a president normally and that his “resignation … is inevitable.” —PRESS RELEASE
