Faces of the News: September 15, 2024
Royina Garma
The former tough cop of Cebu City and believed to be one of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s most trusted police was reduced to tears last Thursday when the House quad committee cited her in contempt and ordered detained supposedly for evading questions. Specifically, she was grilled about her closeness to Duterte, which lawmakers said would explain how she got the top post at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in 2019 despite having no credentials. “For me Mr. Chair, I don’t feel close and special (to Duterte),” she told a skeptical Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Paduano. Garma was invited to the quad comm hearing after Gerardo Padilla, former warden of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, claimed she pressured him to go along with a plot to kill three Chinese drug lords inside prison in 2016. At the end of the hearing, she broke down and tried to appeal her contempt citation, saying she had a daughter with special needs who needed her. But lawyer Kristina Conti brought to the panel’s attention the story of a mother who lost her son to the drug war: in 2018, at the wake of Rabby Lopez, Garma had “strutted around and hollered, asking ‘Why is there only one dead? There are many of them here!'”—Krixia Subingsubing
Apollo Quiboloy
The self-appointed ‘Son of God’ is now under government custody folllowing his arrest on Sept. 8, after a 16-day manhunt by at least 2,000 police officers inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) central headquarters in Buhangin District, Davao City. Armed with life detectors and ground penetrating radars, and information from, among others, former KJC members, police raiders said they have located the elusive fugitive hiding in an “Armageddon-type bunker,” a claim disputed by his lawyers and followers. The police dug a tunnel to reach Quiboloy starting Aug. 29, although these did no yield quick results. But with increased surveillance work, police grew certain where he and four other coaccused are hiding, asking his lawyers and sect leaders for them to surrender. And just when they were about to assault the KJC bible school, Quiboloy sent feelers they are turning themselves in, on condition they will be whisked to Manila on a government plane and that they be spared the sight of Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Davao regional police chief, who led the hunt for them.—JOSELLE R. BADILLA
Seventeen
Between headlining Lollapalooza Berlin and winning the MTV Video Music Awards 2024 for best group beating the likes of Coldplay and NSYNC, K-pop boy band Seventeen had to fend off zombies to survive in the latest episode of cult favorite Going Seventeen on Youtube. It was a rollercoaster ride for the 13-piece ensemble last week, taking with them a global fandom ready to lap up their every move whether at the Olympic Park in Berlin or via a fan meet in Beijing. But it was not all “Aju Nice (very nice)” in Caratland (fans are called Carats). Chinese member Jun was unable to join Lolla because of a previous commitment. Meanwhile, their company also announced Jeonghan would be enlisting in the military later this month. As the first member to be conscripted, Jeonghan’s absence also meant the 10-year-old group will not be complete again at least until 2030 as one member after the other would have to report for military duty. To comfort fans, Seventeen would be releasing their 12th mini-album in Oct. as a complete group.–IRA P. PEDRASA
Kyle Negrito
There were a lot of doubts about the capability of Kyle Negrito to take over the playmaking duties in Creamline. She had big shoes to fill after all with the departure of Jia de Guzman, arguably the best setter of the country, a year ago. Negrito quashed all that after leading the Cool Smashers to their 10th overall title on Sept. 12 and in the process completed PVL’s first-ever Grand Slam. The winningest franchise has ruled the All-Filipino, Reinforced and just a week later the Invitational Conference even with the absence of aces Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza, who came back just in time to help the Cool Smashers in their last two games. But even with missing teammates, Negrito never doubted their chances of finishing on top. “My confidence in the team was still intact because like what I always say, our advantage in this conference is even if there are absent players, we in Creamline have been together for a long time,” the first-time Finals MVP winner said in Filipino. “So there is no problem no matter who is playing.”—ANGEL B. DUKHA III
Kamala Harris
US Vice President Kamala Harris emerged victorious and shining after her first—and potentially only—debate with former president Donald Trump last September 10. Most—including critics and allies of Trump—conceded that Harris was more “presidential” during the event. She came prepared after five days of practice at a hotel “debate camp” that included a mock studio, according to the Washington Post. An adviser dressed as Trump “method acted” and helped prepare Harris, the New York Times reported. Her performance however failed to deliver significant support for her. “Polls indicate that her debate win has had minimal impact on the overall election,” said The Economic Times, noting she gained only one percentage point in several post-debate surveys. A possible reason is she avoided and “danced around” vital questions during the debate, an “undecided” voter who joined a focus group discussion said. Trump supporters meanwhile criticized the “bias” by ABC News debate moderators, noting that these “fact checked” Trump five times while ignoring the “lies” of Harris. The vice president has sought a second debate but her Republican rival said “only losers” want a rematch.
