Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
- Marcos orders probe into Villars’ PrimeWater amid mounting consumer complaints
- Philippine government will block Harry Roque’s asylum bid – DOJ
- Philippines, New Zealand sign visiting forces deal
- Former Kalibo mayor and veteran journalist Johnny Dayang shot dead
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/april-30-2025/
- Marcos orders probe into Villars’ PrimeWater amid mounting consumer complaints
- Philippine government will block Harry Roque’s asylum bid – DOJ
- Philippines, New Zealand sign visiting forces deal
- Former Kalibo mayor and veteran journalist Johnny Dayang shot dead
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/april-30-2025/
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NewsTranscript
00:00Today on Rappler
00:06President Marcos orders an investigation into prime water of the Villar family.
00:17The Department of Justice will block Harry Rockett's asylum bid in the Netherlands.
00:21The Philippines and New Zealand sign a visiting forces agreement.
00:24And former Calibo mayor and veteran journalist Johnny Dayang was shot dead at home.
00:32President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will order an investigation into private water utility firm Prime Water owned by the Villar family.
00:40This amid increasing complaints from consumers of poor service nationwide.
00:44Malacanang Press Undersecretary Clara Castro says in a press conference,
00:48Ang kakulangan sa servisyo ay walang puwang sa administrasyon.
00:54Ang pangulong Marcos Jr., mag-uutos po ang pangulong para mag-imbestigan po ito.
01:00Castro told Rappler that the Local Water Utilities Administration will be asked to do the investigation.
01:06Local Water Utilities Administration is a government-owned and controlled corporation that supervises water districts.
01:12Based on Rappler's tally, around 100 of these districts made deals with prime water during the Duterte administration.
01:19Bulacan Province, particularly San Jose del Monte City, was the first to declare multiple investigations into prime water at both the provincial and city levels.
01:28Other towns also tried to challenge their prime water deal in court but failed.
01:32Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro told Rappler that the local government felt, quote,
01:37hostage by prime water, which claimed the joint venture was not under the control of the local government.
01:44The Justice Department says it will block former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's asylum application to the Netherlands.
01:51Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Tee says DOJ Chief Boying Remulia had given him instructions to deal with Roque's case.
01:59In an interview with ABS-CBN, Tee said he was ordered by Remulia to, quote,
02:03notify the government of the Netherlands once the arrest warrant is issued.
02:07On April 28, prosecutors charged Roque when qualified human trafficking at an Angeles City Regional Trial Court in Pampanga
02:13for his alleged involvement in the raided scam farm in Porak, Pampanga.
02:17His case is non-bailable.
02:19Apart from him, Cassandra Ong and 48 others, who are allegedly owners, officers, or key employees of the Whirlwind Mother Company,
02:26and the Lucky South 99 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator, were also charged.
02:30Roque has applied for asylum in The Hague, Netherlands, as he avoids arrest.
02:35But some experts say his asylum request is standing on shaky ground.
02:39Upon the issuance of a warrant by the court, the Philippine government can request Interpol to issue a red notice.
02:45This red notice alerts Interpol member countries to assist in the arrest of the individual named in the notice.
02:53The Philippines and New Zealand signed an agreement on Wednesday, April 30,
02:57allowing their militaries to train in each other's countries.
02:59Philippine Defense Secretary Gibbo Chodoro and New Zealand Minister of Defense Judith Collins
03:05signed a status of Visiting Forces Agreement in Malacanang after a courtesy call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
03:11Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and New Zealand Ambassador Catherine McIntosh are also present at the signing.
03:18Once ratified by the Philippine Senate, the deal will allow the militaries of the two countries to work closer.
03:23A status of Visiting Forces Agreement makes it easier to send troops to each other's countries for training and joint exercises.
03:31The Philippines now has military agreements with four countries, New Zealand, the United States, Australia, and Japan.
03:37Former Calibo Mayor and veteran journalist Johnny Dayang was shot and killed in his residence in Barangay Andagao, Calibo, Aklan, on Tuesday evening, April 29.
03:48He was 89. The assailants are still unidentified.
03:52Based on the initial investigation, Dayang was watching the news when the assailant saw him from outside his house and shot him from a distance.
03:59Officials from the Aklan Provincial Police Office says Dayang was declared dead on arrival in the hospital.
04:06The Presidential Task Force on Media Safety in a statement condemns Dayang's killing.
04:10Dayang was a former president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc., a writer and columnist.
04:16He also served as mayor of Calibo Town from March 1986 to January 1987.
04:22Nelson Santos, the current president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, condemns the killing and calls for justice in a statement.
04:30Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Manny Mogato expresses his grief over Dayang's death and asked, quote,
04:36Who would kill an 89-year-old man of peace?
04:39As of posting, police are still investigating the reason behind the killing.
04:44And that's today's wrap. I'm Cara Oliver. Thank you for watching.
04:48Click the link below for the full story.
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04:59We'll see you next time.