00:00A warm, fine and delightful Wednesday evening to all, Gabrielle Lopez here, homegrown and pleased to bring you PTV News Now.
00:09Lots of stories to unpack here, starting with...
00:12The Philippine National Police has deployed personnel and resources nationwide to assist residents affected by Tropical Storm Verbena.
00:20Acting PNP Chief Lieutenant General Jose Melencho Nartates Jr. said officers are conducting evacuations, securing shelters and helping with rescue efforts despite floods, landslides and power outages.
00:33Police units in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Cebu have carried out river monitoring, transport of evacuees and clearing operations in heavily hit areas.
00:43The PNP also urged the public to follow evacuation orders, avoid flooded roads and report emergencies through official hotlines.
00:51Officials added that no police stations were damaged and that preparedness efforts with LGUs ensured uninterrupted mobility and communication.
01:01After the first set of arrest warrants of 17 DPWH officers and SunWest Construction Co. was released last Friday,
01:09another group of 8th House lawmakers was conveyed to the Office of the Ombudsman for indictments on graft and malversation charges earlier this afternoon.
01:18At the top of the list is former Acobico party list representative and on the run, Zaldi Ko,
01:23followed by Uswag Ilongo party list representative James Jojo Ang Jr.,
01:28Pusong Pinoy party list representative Jernie Nisay,
01:31Bulacan 2nd District representative Agustina Pancho,
01:35Cagayan 3rd District representative Joseph Lara,
01:37Surigao del Norte 1st District representative Francisco Matugas,
01:41Tarlac 3rd District representative Noel Rivera,
01:44and a whale among the big vicious construction worker solidarity representative Edwin Guardiola,
01:50whose fleet of imported autos and vast real estate properties easily dwarf the disguise.
01:55The construction companies linked to them are not directly owned,
01:59but in their children, spouses, or kin's names,
02:02which are clear cases of conflict of interest and a violation of the law.
02:06The Ombudsman has its work cut out over the next few weeks and months,
02:10with a few thousand likely personalities up for graft and malversation charges
02:14on either phantom or poorly built flood control structures.
02:20Founded at the height of the Second Global War in 1942,
02:24Voice of America, or VOA, is the largest and oldest American broadcasting company,
02:29which is totally funded by the U.S. federal government and headquartered in Washington, D.C.
02:34Its primary objective then, to counter propaganda from the Axis powers,
02:39Germany, Italy, and Japan,
02:41and disseminate factual reporting of events in countries under authoritarian rule,
02:45where the freedoms of speech and press are acculturated.
02:49Case in point, VOA has cemented itself as a pillar of balanced reporting in Islamic Indonesia,
02:54which has pleaded for its continued service in the Southeast Asian region.
02:58When Indonesia declared independence in 1945,
03:03VOA was already a trusted voice in the region.
03:08For over 80 years,
03:10the voice of America has been a beacon of truth
03:13and a bridge of understanding between the United States and the world.
03:18Since 1942, VOA Indonesia has not only informed audiences,
03:23but also shaped history,
03:25fostering mutual respect and democratic values during pivotal moments.
03:30With more than 64 million weekly listeners and viewers,
03:34VOA's programs are embedded in Indonesia's mainstream media landscape.
03:39Crucially,
03:40VOA fills critical gaps in Southeast Asia media environment.
03:45During many political developments in the region,
03:49VOA provided balanced reporting,
03:51a model replicated in Indonesia and throughout the region
03:56to counter disinformation and uphold press freedom.
04:01VOA is not merely a broadcaster.
04:04It is a pillar of balanced reporting.
04:08In Indonesia,
04:09it has nurtured generation of informed citizens
04:13and strengthened bilateral ties.
04:16The defunding of VOA would cede ground to other actors,
04:20which has expanded its media partnerships
04:22and narratives in Indonesia.
04:25VOA's balanced reporting
04:26and strong collaboration
04:28with more than 500 Indonesian affiliates
04:31make VOA a lifeline for independent journalism.
04:36The reason to abandon this mission now
04:38would undermine decades of progress
04:41and leave millions in the dark.
04:47That brings us to the end of tonight's show.
04:50And our newscast will be back tomorrow ready
04:52with more breaking headlines and stories
04:54making waves across the nation and beyond.
04:56This is Gabrielle Lopez calling it tonight
04:58and thanks for letting us be part of your evening.
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