Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
- Conclave to elect new pope starts on May 7
- Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong charged with non-bailable trafficking over Porac POGO
- Ombudsman orders preventive suspension of Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia
- Performers Apl.de.ap, J-Rey Soul mourn festival tragedy in Vancouver
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/april-29-2025/
- Conclave to elect new pope starts on May 7
- Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong charged with non-bailable trafficking over Porac POGO
- Ombudsman orders preventive suspension of Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia
- Performers Apl.de.ap, J-Rey Soul mourn festival tragedy in Vancouver
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/april-29-2025/
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NewsTranscript
00:00Today on Rappler
00:06The conclave to elect the new Pope will start on May 7.
00:16Harry Roque and Cassandra Ong are charged with qualified human trafficking.
00:20The Ombudsman suspends Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia.
00:23And Filipino-American performer Apple the App mourns the victims of the Vancouver Festival tragedy.
00:30The Vatican says on Monday, April 28, Roman Catholic cardinals will start their secret conclave on May 7 to elect the new leader of the Church.
00:40The Vatican also says the earliest the conclave would start was May 6.
00:44Starting it one day later gives the cardinals a bit more time for their daily discussions before the important vote.
00:50The date was set during a closed-door meeting of cardinals at the Vatican, the first since Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday, April 26.
00:59About 190 cardinals joined Monday's meeting, including around 100, who are allowed to vote.
01:05About 135 cardinals under the age of 80 from around the world can vote for the next leader of the 1.4 billion member church.
01:13The last two conclaves in 2005 and 2013 took only two days.
01:17But Swedish Cardinal Andras Arborelius said the next one might take longer as many of the cardinals chosen by Pope Francis have never met each other.
01:26Meantime, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was picked by lottery to be one of three helpers to the Camerlengo who takes care of the papal household as they prepare for the conclave over the next three days.
01:37The other cardinals are Cardinal Dominic Mamberti and Cardinal Reynard Marks.
01:41Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who is asking for asylum in the Netherlands, was charged with qualified human trafficking on Monday, April 28, at the Angeles City Court in Pampanga.
01:54This over his alleged involvement in the raided scam farm in Porak, Pampanga.
01:59It is non-bailable.
02:00Also charged with him are Cassandra Ong and 48 others who are allegedly owners, officers, or key employees of the Whirlwind Main Company and Lucky South 99 Pogo.
02:10They are accused of running a scam farm that trafficked workers.
02:14Prosecutors say that, quote,
02:15Crime was committed by a syndicate and in large scale as it was carried out by a group of three or more persons conspiring and confederating with another.
02:23This puts it under Section 6 of the law, a non-bailable offense.
02:27In a message on Monday, Roque says he, quote,
02:30Has not received any resolution.
02:32A judge in Angeles will now determine if there is probable cause to issue arrest warrants for Roque, Ong, and the others.
02:40The Office of the Ombudsman places Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia under a preventive six-month suspension for grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct, serious dishonesty, and gross negligence, among others.
02:52The suspension order, served Monday, April 28, says a permit to a quarry in the protected area was granted by the governor.
02:59Garcia allegedly issued a special permit to a construction firm for the desultation of the Mananga River in Talisay, Cebu without the appropriate permits and consultation with other government agencies.
03:10Garcia meantime says her action was done with the approval of the provincial board, which earlier declared the province under a state of calamity due to acute water shortage.
03:19She emphasizes only by desulting the Mananga River could alleviate the water crisis and that no personal interest or malice is involved.
03:27She also adds her legal team will, quote, challenge this preventive suspension.
03:33Filipino-American music artist Apple De'App expresses his heartbreak online after an SUV rammed the Filipino Lapu-Lapu Festival in Vancouver, Canada, killing 11 people on Saturday, April 26.
03:45The Black Eyed Peas member shares in a Facebook post how he and Filipino-American singer Ray Sowell just finished performing at the event before the incident happened.
03:55He encourages everyone to continue praying for love and strength for the victims, their families, and the organizers of the event.
04:02The artist also shares links for donations, ways to show support, and self-care lines for those mentally affected by the tragedy.
04:09Filipino comedian Joe Coy also expressed his sorrow on Instagram as he mourned the people who died in the tragedy.
04:17More than 20 individuals were also critically injured.
04:19And that's today's wrap.
04:23I'm Cara Oliver.
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