FACES OF THE NEWS
Rosmah Mansor
Malaysians continued to be transfixed by Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, despite the indignity of being questioned for three hours by corruption probers. Netizens from Southeast Asia’s fourth largest economy quickly noted that the 66-year-old matron faced probers in a red and blue traditional ensemble with a quilted red bag that fashionistas identified as a Versace Demetra, which costs about $2,500. Rosmah’s opulent lifestyle has angered Malaysians who have struggled with rising prices, with many of them comparing her to former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos. While Attorney General Tommy Thomas has pledged a fair investigation that will spare no one, Malaysians are still awaiting word on the ongoing money laundering probes in at least six countries, including the United States.
Emilio Aquino
Homegrown Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) veteran Emilio Aquino, a certified public accountantlawyer, is the new chair of the corporate and capital market regulatory body, with a seven-year term. Aquino, who hails from Mindanao like President Duterte, faces a challenging regulatory environment marked by nascent financial technology innovations like cryptocurrencies that regulators around the world are still trying to decipher. He is also tasked with boosting investor protection, especially with the proliferation of scammers who are likewise invading digital space. Prior to his appointment, Aquino had been an SEC commissioner since 2016. He also served the SEC from 1993 to 2005 in various leadership positions. He was head of the SEC Davao and Zamboanga extension offices and later became director of several SEC units. This San Beda College law graduate placed 16th in the 1992 bar exams.
Kevin Durant
Whatever hopes the Cleveland Cavaliers had nursed of joining the NBA Finals contention at their home court were dashed when Kevin Durant of the rival team stepped up his game in Game 3 of the series. The Golden State Warriors took a 3-0 lead after Durant buried a dagger trey from almost the same spot—and time—where he buried the same clutch shot to put Golden State irreparably ahead, 3-0. More than Game 4’s rout and eventual sweep of the Cavs, the Durant dagger in Game 3 practically sealed the title for the Warriors, who have ascended the halls of greatness with their third crown in the last four years. After nailing 43 points in Game 3, Durant capped the sweep with a triple double (20 points, 12 rebounds and a playoff career-high 10 assists). The Golden State Warriors forward was aptly named Finals MVP—his second—after averaging 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game in the series.
Guillermo Eleazar
Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar formally assumed the helm of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on June 4 after a stint of just over a month as head of the Calabarzon regional police. Immediately after he assumed the post, the Metro Manila police solved, in just eight hours, the killing of Ombudsman Assistant Special Prosecutor Madonna Joy Ednaco-Tanyag with the arrest of suspect Angelito Avenido Jr. Eleazar has vowed to continue then NCRPO chief and now Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde’s programs to instill discipline among Metro policemen and ridding the ranks of rogues. In sustaining the war on drugs, Eleazar proposed the random inspection of students’ bags in school to check for narcotics. He later clarified that the inspections would be conducted by teachers in coordination with the Parents-Teachers Association after the Department of Education raised concerns over the method.
Kris Aquino
It was an eventful and emotional week for actress and TV-movie personality Kris Aquino, who took to social media to call out former entertainer and Assistant Communications Secretary Mocha Uson for dragging Aquino’s late parents into the controversial kiss between President Duterte and a married overseas Filipino worker in South Korea. Aquino, the youngest daughter of the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino, took offense when Uson compared Mr. Duterte’s very public—and many described as inappropriate—kiss during an official visit to the buzz on the cheeks that two female supporters had given Senator Aquino just before he was assassinated in August 1983. While Mr. Duterte apologized to the actress for Uson’s actions, the former dancer refused to. Aquino, however, had the last laugh when Uson described her as a “drama queen.” “Queen” is the word, Aquino said triumphantly.