‘Unfriendly’ Korean fighter jets grounded By Francisco Tuyay
MILITANTS’ ARCHENEMY. This photo, taken on June 24, but released only on July 13, shows a Philippine Air Force South Korean-made FA-50 fighter aircraft flying overhead while targetting militant Islamist positions in Marawi City. ‘Friendly fire’ from a fighter jet has left two soldiers dead and 11 injured as government troops try to crush the militants. AFP
Reduced scope of martial law eyed—top cop By John Paolo Bencito
THE newly acquired FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea have been grounded after a “friendly fire” incident killed two soldiers and injured 11 others, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Thursday. “The FA-50 will momentarily be pulled out from deployment until the investigation is finished and once we ascertain the reason
why the bombs went off target,” AFP spokesman Restituto Padilla said in a news conference. “The AFP is suspending the use of that particular aircraft. For any further airstrike until such time that the cause of the accident has been determined, or the failure of the equipment has been determined,” he added. This was the second time troops were killed in a friendly Next page
OFFICIAL ESTEEM. Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa clasps a 5.56 mm K3 SAW gun, formally known as Light Machine Gun, M249, the American adaptation of the Belgian FN Herstal, of the Philippine Government Arsenal during the 25th Defense and Sporting Arms Show at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City Thursday. Manny Palmero
SECURITY officials are considering proposals to reduce the scope of martial law in Mindanao, but maintained calls for its extension before it lapses on July 23. At the sidelines of a gun show opening in Mandaluyong City, Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa insisted that they would be asking for an extension of martial law, based on his last conversation with Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año. “We might reduce its scope. [AFP chief General Eduardo Año] and I spoke about the possibility of reducing its scope or [having] martial law over the whole of Mindanao still,” Dela Rosa said. Dela Rosa said they need to submit their recommendation to President Rodrigo Duterte before martial law lapses on July 23. “The military will have their own perspective—for tactical reasons or strategic reasons, why martial law should be extended,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino. “On my side, from the law enforcement perspective, what are the investigative reasons we need to extend it. We will make our position paper.” Duterte on May 23 placed the entire Mindanao under martial rule following clashes between government forces and Islamic State-inspired extremists in Next page Marawi City.
VOL. XXXI • NO. 150 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph
Turkish group probed Imee, ‘Ilocos Six’ ask SC for TRO vs House inquiry By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz ILOCOS Norte Gov. Imee Marcos on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to take jurisdiction on the habeas corpus case of the
six detained Ilocos Norte officials pending before the Court of Appeals following the House of Representatives’ refusal to release them on the order of the Court of Appeals. In a 67-page petition Marcos and the so-called “Ilocos Six”―Pedro S. Agcaoili Jr., Encarnacion A. Gaor, Josephine P. Calajate, Genedine D. Jambaro, Eden C. Battulayan and Evangeline C. Tabulog―sought a temporary restraining order stopping the investigation of the House committee on good govern-
ment and public accountability of Ilocos Norte’s alleged misuse of P66.45 million in tobacco excise funds. Marcos on Thursday also denounced what she described as a “hostage crisis” in Congress Next page
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s reinstatement of a police officer accused of rubbing out a town mayor inside a Leyte provincial jail last year drew an angry re-
Transparency in China package vowed BEIJING―The first projects that will take off as part of the Chinese development package to help the Philippines are the simpler ones that will be built for free to ensure they
M
ALACAÑANG on Thursday vowed to hold accountable organizations abetting terrorism amid accusations from the Turkish ambassador to the Philippines that a terrorist organization that instigated last year’s failed coup in Turkey has branched out to the Philippines.
By Joel E. Zurbano
FOR HER PEOPLE.
will be transparent and corruptionfree, an official said here Thursday. Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana was responding to the question how to avert the recurrence of shady Chinese dealings with the
By John Paolo Bencito
In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the military is verifying the statement of Turkish Ambassador to Manila Ester Cankour that Turkish terrorists, particularly the Fetullah Gulen Movement, is already in the Philippines. “We will investigate organizations abetting or aiding terrorism and will hold them accountable, especially those that may be Next page
‘Rubout’ cop back, sparks uproar
Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos shows Thursday a copy of an Omnibus Petition she filed before the Supreme Court for and on behalf of the House-detained ‘Ilocos 6’ asking the high court to assume jurisdiction over their petition for habeas corpus. Norman Cruz
By Macon R. Araneta
Palace: Fetullah Gulen a terror front?
Philippine government. “The challenge here is how to do it and avoid the problems we’ve had in the past,” Sta. Romana said. He also said President Rodrigo Next page
sponse from lawmakers Thursday, including administration ally Senator Panfilo Lacson. “There is one phrase to describe this whole damn thing,” Lacson, a former police chief, said. “P-----ina! [Son of a bitch!]”
“It is not even a reinstatement,” he said, one day after Duterte and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa ordered Supt. Marvin Marcos back to active duty, despite homicide Next page
CA justice named to high court By Rey E. Requejo and John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has promoted Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. to associate justice of the Supreme Court to replace Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes, who retired on July 6. Duterte also appointed retired general Eduardo del Rosario chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, taking over the post from Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Next page
SIGNIFICANT SYMBOLS. Zoo founder Manny Tangco presents
Thursday at the Malabon Zoo and Botanical Garden the pigeons of the world exhibit and tiger cub named ‘Tiger Economy—the pigeons symbolizing the Filipinos’ yearning for peace in Marawi City and in the world and ‘Tiger Economy’ symbolizing the aspiration for a prosperous economy. Andrew Rambulan