1 April 21-27, 2022
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION
www.pnewstoday.com
THE PREMIER FILIPINO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN THE U.S. SINCE 1961
Vol. 61 No. 37 April 21-27, 2022
NEWS AND VIEWS YOU TRUST
WHO, DOH AIR WARNING: POSSIBLE COVID-19 SURGE ‘Agaton’ deaths hit 178, over 100 still missing
Cases may reach 500,000 by mid May; Duterte, orders facemask use til June 30 By ALFRED GABOT, Editor-in-Chief
MANILA – As the new corona virus cases continue to go down, the Department of Health warned that the country may see a resurgence of COVID-19 infections by middle of May following big political rallies and campaigns and almost normal activities of people where minimum public health standards are lax. Page 9
Isko’s call for Leni to withdraw backfires By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor
MANILA – Their united front quickly broke apart even before their joint presscon ended. Presidential bets Isko Moreno, Ping Lacson and Norberto Gonzales tried to present a picture of unity during their Easter Sunday presscon at the Manila Peninsula hotel in Makati City, but Moreno’s call for Vice President Leni
Robredo to withdraw from the race was immediately rejected by Lacson moments after the Manila mayor’s unexpected demand. Lacson said he was blindsided by Moreno’s statement, which the senator said was done without his knowledge or permission. Gonzales also rejected Moreno’s call the day after Page 8
Comelec division throws out last disqualification case vs Marcos By Claire Morales True
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division has dismissed the last pending disqualification case against presidential candidate former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos for lack of merit.
The case against Marcos was filed by the group Pudno nga Ilokano represented by former Comelec Chairman Christian Monsod. Marcos immediately lauded the decision coming before the May 9 elections, say- Page 8
COMMITMENT. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (right) shakes hands with US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Aus�n III at the Pentagon in Washington DC as Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez looks on.
US reaffirms ‘ironclad’ commitment to PHL amid row in South China Sea WASHINGTON – For the second time, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and his US counterpart, Lloyd J. Austin III met at the Pentagon in Washington DC on April 19 (Philippine time) in another bilateral meeting on enhancing the two nations’ alliance. Reports from Washington indicated that during the meeting, Austin affirmed anew his country’s commitment to Philippine security under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty amid new tensions in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea due to incursions by China in the Philippine exclu-
sive economic zone and continental shelf. In a statement, the U.S. Defense Department reiterated that America’s commitment to Philippine security is “ironclad,” and that the two countries’ mutual defense treaty commitments extend to Philippine armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft in the South China Sea. In 2016, the United Nationsbacked arbitration court invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea. Austin and Lorenzana affirmed the vital importance of ensuring peace and stability in the South China Sea,Page 10
By Jeanne Michael Penaranda BAYBAY CITY, Leyte – The fatalities in the landslides and floods that hit Leyte, Samar and the Visayas triggered by tropical depression Agaton soared to 178 with over 100 still missing as authorities abandoned the search and rescue operations. This as the partial cost of damage to public infrastructures was estimated by the Department of Public Works and Highways at P1.45 billion while agricultural losses was placed at P2.3 billion by the Department of Agriculture. Agaton battered Leyte and Samar provinces and other areas in the Visayas on April 10 before it left the country triggering massive floods and landslides brought about by rains bigger than those of typhoon “Ondoy” that killed at least 76 persons while over 140 people were missing at press time. Of the reported missing persons after the landslide, 73 are in Baybay City and 55 in Abuyog town. The death toll from the landslides in Baybay City and Abuyog in Leyte alone climbed to 170 as of April 17 as responders stopped retrieval operations two weeks afPage 8 ter the tragedy.
Isko, Ping, Gonzales not backing out of prexy race for Leni
Adaza fearless forecast: Robredo will be elected president VIEWS & COMMENTS
SHOWBIZ
SPORTS
What to do if you lost your Green Card
Gloria Sevilla dies in Bay area, industry mourns
Casimero replaced in WBO title fight in UK
By A�y. Lozano
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