00:00 Today on Rappler
00:12 Logistics firm Transpac releases hostage DepEd learning materials
00:17 Chinese ships remain in Ayungan after waterblasting Filipino ships
00:22 The US government has not filed any request to extradite wanted preacher Apollo Kibuloy
00:27 A UST 2023 bar top notcher gets nearly 2 million pesos in rewards
00:32 Asia Artist Awards honors Lim Young Wong, Stray Kids, New Genes, and Seventeen
00:37 plus a slew of Filipino actors and entertainers
00:41 SB19's Josh Cullen releases his latest solo single "Get Right"
00:45 And pop singer Olivier Rodrigo and actor Louis Partridge's public displays of affection
00:50 seem to confirm dating rumors
00:55 Days after a Rappler expose, the Department of Education says it's been suddenly informed
01:00 by Las Pinas-based logistics firm Transpac that the department "may now haul the goods stored in warehouses"
01:06 The DepEd says when it received Transpac's notice, regional units immediately started hauling them
01:12 On Sunday, December 3, Rappler published an investigative report showing some 3 billion pesos' worth of learning materials
01:19 were held hostage due to non-payment of warehousing fees
01:23 The agreement with Transpac was carried over from the previous administration
01:27 and a spilled over to Vice President Sara Duterte's term as education secretary
01:31 Due to the failure of Transpac to deliver the goods completely and on time, DepEd says it could not pay
01:37 because the firm has not yet distributed the materials to intended beneficiaries
01:41 At least nine Chinese maritime militia ships and one China Coast Guard vessel remain inside and within the vicinity of Ayungan Shoal
01:51 a feature some 105 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan and well within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ
01:58 Western Command Chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos says the crew of the BRP Sierra Madre, which serves as an outpost in the shoal
02:06 sent troops aboard rubber boats to non-confrontationally drive away the Chinese vessels, but the attempts have been ignored
02:13 Carlos adds, typically between one and three CMM ships and at least one CCG vessel are in the vicinity of Ayungan Shoal at all times
02:22 The most recent resupply mission on December 10 saw the CCG blasting water cannons at supply boats contracted by the military
02:29 It also water-cannoned a Philippine Coast Guard vessel
02:33 The Philippines has filed diplomatic protests over the December 10 incident
02:39 The United States government has not filed any request to extradite Davao-based preacher Apolo Quiboloy, who is wanted there for sex trafficking and financial fraud
02:48 The US-Philippines Extradition Treaty requires a request to go through a diplomatic channel, but no request has reached the Philippines Department of Justice
02:57 As for comment on why the US has not filed an extradition request, the US Embassy in Manila says it will have to defer to the US Department of Justice as it is an ongoing law enforcement matter
03:08 Quiboloy is the close spiritual advisor of former President Rodrigo Duterte
03:13 The media outlet he owns, SMNI, was the favored news outlet of Marcos and Duterte during the campaign
03:19 The US Justice Department has not responded to inquiry as of writing
03:23 University of Santa Tomas' 2023 Bar Top Notchers received monetary rewards from the Divina Law Foundation and its Alumni Association
03:34 2023 Top Notcher Ephraim B. received a total of Php1,950,000 from USD Law Dean Nilo Divina, Tomasian lawyer Ray Aubin, and the USD Law Alumni Foundation
03:46 He received the check from Divina Law during a testimonial dinner
03:50 His fellow Tomasian Top Notcher, Pio Vincent Buencamino, who placed eighth, received a total of Php730,000
03:58 B. aced the 2023 Bar examinations, obtaining a grade of 89.26%
04:04 He is the fifth Top Notcher from USD, bringing the university back to the bar's top one after 21 years
04:11 South Korean award-giving body Asia Artist Awards honors top talents in Asia for achievements in the entertainment industry
04:20 This year's ceremony was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan
04:24 The winners of the grand prizes include Lim Young Woong for Fandom of the Year and Stray Kids for Stage of the Year
04:31 New Jeans wins two awards, one for Singer of the Year and Song of the Year for its song "Ditto"
04:37 Seventeen's FML wins Album of the Year while its subunit, BSS, takes home the grand prize for Performance of the Year
04:44 Filipino talents were among the winners, among them actress and host, Mele Cantiveros, in the Best Actor Award
04:51 Actors Catherine Bernardo and Daniel Padilla each win the AAA Fabulous Award
04:56 PPOP powerhouse SB19 wins the AAA Hot Trend Award
05:01 while Filipino pop band, Ben&Ben, wins the AAA Best Choice Award
05:05 SB19's Josh Cullen releases his solo comeback single "Get Right" on Friday, December 15
05:13 In his music video launch, Josh says the single leans towards EDM pop,
05:18 comparing it to his previous single "Wild Tonight" which was leaning more towards pop
05:23 This is his most recent collaboration with his cousin Ultra The Bullet, following "Sofa", "Kilala" and "Happy Birthday"
05:30 Josh also says he received acting offers in the past but declined them
05:47 but notes he might give it a try this time
05:49 American pop star Olivia Rodrigo seemingly confirms her relationship with rumored boyfriend
05:56 and budding English actor, Louis Partridge, after US media reports public displays of affection between the two
06:03 Photos of the two kissing at a gas station quickly went viral on social media platform X,
06:09 amassing more than 100,000 likes, with fans celebrating the alleged couple's hard launch
06:14 Representatives for both Olivia and Louis have yet to comment on the circulating photos
06:19 The pair was recently seen in a video together at Z100's Jingle Ball
06:24 and the SNL After Party where Olivia performed, further fueling dating rumors
06:28 The 20-year-old Louis is best known for his role as Lord Tewksbury in Enola Holmes and Enola Holmes 2
06:35 while Olivia, 20, rose to mainstream acclaim with her 2021 debut album Sour and sophomore album Guts
06:42 She was named Billboard's 2022 Woman of the Year
06:45 And that's today's wrap. I'm Michelle Abad, thank you for watching.
06:51 Click the link below for the full story.
06:53 Follow us on Rappler's YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
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