LAWYERS’ GROUP SLAMS DRUG KILLINGS Murder raps filed vs cops in Kian slay
DEMAND FOR JUSTICE. More than 2,000 who joined
By Rey E. Requejo and John Paolo Bencito
the Pambansang Lakbayan from different regions arrive at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila Thursday for a protest action to condemn the Duterte administration and demand justice in the escalating attacks against communities in the countryside, tribes, schools, extrajudicial killings—with the group lighting a torch before continuing their march to Mendiola, about two kilometers away. Manny Palmero
THE national organization of lawyers urged the Duterte administration to be more transparent in its anti-drug campaign following the killing of 17-year-old student Kian Loyd delos Santos in a police operation on Aug. 16. “In this frenzied fight against prohibited drugs, the nation stands witness to a series of killings, summary executions, and cold-blooded murder,” the Integrated Bar of the Philippines said in a strongly worded statement. The 55,000-strong IBP said that apart from Kian, 91 others were reported dead as a result of police operations dubbed “Operation One Time Big Time” in the National Capital Region and in the provinces of Bulacan and Cavite from Aug. 13 to 20. “We thus urge the national police forces to release information such as pre-operation and spot reports on the aforesaid “Operation One Time Big Next page
THE National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday filed murder charges against the Caloocan City policemen involved in the killing of teenager Kian delos Santos in an anti-drug operation. The NBI said the killing, which Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II described as “which appears illegal,” has sparked public outrage and calls to end killings under the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. Charged were former Caloocan City Police Station 7 commander Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo and the three officers directly tagged in the shooting—Police Officer 3 Next page
Unity, harmony urged amid IS threat
VOL. XXXI • NO. 199 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph
Du30 gives AFP free hand to rid Marawi of holdouts By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has given the military a free hand to rid Marawi of the remaining Islamic State-inspired terrorists who overran the city on May 23. In a speech Wednesday night in Taguig City, Duterte said the ongoing stalemate in Marawi City, which would enter its
101st day Thursday, would have to come to an end soon. “The last time I was there, that would be around five, six days ago, I finally said that: The option is already yours because we cannot have a stalemate for over one year,” Duterte said during the 23rd anniversary of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Next page
Palace: It’s up to Congress to rule on CJ impeachment MALACAÑANG on Thursday distanced itself from the move of some 25 lawmakers allied with the administration to endorse the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, amid supposed corruption allegations against her. In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella
maintained that verified complaint for impeachment “may be filed by any citizen upon a resolution or endorsement by any member of the House of Representatives.” Abella stressed that only the House of Representatives had “exclusive power” to initiate all cases of impeachment. Next page
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday urged the Filipinos to become “catalysts of unity and harmony” in the face of the extremist threats in the country’s south. He also called on the Muslims to “reaffirm their devotion to the virtues of Islam” as they celebrate Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice today, Sept. 1. “With the adversities we face as a nation, let us bring forth the spirit of solidarity in our
shared hope of attaining genuine and lasting peace,” Duterte said. “May this occasion invigorate you to remain steadfast in our task of ensuring triumph against the elements that perpetuate discord and violence.” Duterte earlier declared Sept. 1, or Eid alAdha, as a regular holiday. It commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his Next page
‘Davao group got P8-m’ Taguba: P5-m enrollment fee to facilitate shipment
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
C
USTOMS broker and self-confessed “fixer” Mark Ruben Taguba, told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Thursday he paid a total of P8 million to the Davao Group, in which Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and his brother-in-law Manases Carpio were alleged to be in. Taguba said he was referred to a certain “Tita Nanie,” alleg-
edly a member of the Davao group, by Jojo Bacud, a friend
of Taguba’s father, who was formerly with the Customs police. According to Taguba, he paid an initial P1 million to a certain “Jack,” the supposed “handler” of Duterte, before he went to Davao City to meet with “Small” last January. As a sidelight to Taguba’s statement, tension erupted as staunch allies of President Rodrigo Duterte and opposition senator Antonio Trillanes IV traded barbs over the “invite” to Paolo
Duterte and Carpio in the P6.4billion shabu shipment hearing by the Blue Ribbon committee, referred to by Trillanes as “commite de absuelto.” Trillanes later identified “Small” as Davao City councilor Nilo Abellera Jr. Taguba also identified Abellera as “Small” during the hearing. Taguba said he was fetched by “Jack” upon his arrival at the Davao City airport and brought to a Davao resto-bar where they
HEARING CHARACTERS. (from left) Self-confessed Customs ‘fixers’ Mark Ruben Taguba and Kenneth Dong,
Duterte.
Davao City Councilor Nilo Abellera Jr. Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo
Customs abolition, charges vs Faeldon pressed JOY TO THE WORLD. With the ‘ber’ months starting to roll today, a commercial establishment began Thursday rolling out inventories of sparkling Christmas decorations and trinkets at the capital’s busy Tayuman district—way ahead of the holiday season shopping spree. Norman Cruz
Rody duns Lopez firm for debt By John Paolo Bencito government money. PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to go after the Lopez-owned Benpres Holdings, which has been renamed Lopez Holdings, and six other companies that allegedly owes the
He also accused the company’s owners of benefiting from the corruption in the government. But Lopez Holdings on Thursday said that, contrary to Duterte’s claims, it did not Next page
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Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, to increase revenue collection.” By Maricel V. Cruz and and called for the prosecution of The new agency, he said, Macon Ramos-Araneta former Customs commissioner chairman of the committee on A HOUSE panel has recommended the abolition of the Bureau of Customs and its replacement with a new agency with no history of corruption,
Nicanor Faeldon for allegedly protecting a suspected drug lord during an anti-drug operation in Valenzuela City in May that led to the seizure of 604 kilos of shabu worth P6.4 billion.
dangerous drugs, said his panel’s recommendation was for Congress to pass legislation to replace the Bureau of Customs with a new revenue collection agency “to avoid corruption and
would “strengthen border control function while providing for utmost convenience in the flow of goods.” “The system may consider Next page
PH, other Asean members hammer out sea code of conduct By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Philippines and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and
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S
China are meeting in Manila to start discussions on a code of conduct in the South China Sea. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the COC would be taken up during the 22nd meet-
manilastandard.net
ing of the Asean-China Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties that was convened Wednesday. “The meeting in Manila will
met Abellera and personally handed to him the P5-million “enrollment fee” to facilitate his shipment at the BoC. According to Taguba, his shipment was put on alert at the BoC after his father Rudy had a fight with a certain Mike Sabban, technical consultant of former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon. After the meeting, Taguba said he was brought by Jack Next page
build upon the positive momentum that Asean and China have achieved in implementing the DOC and in moving forward with the talks on the COC,” Next page
Ex-MRT head dismissed, says appellate court By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has affirmed the dismissal of former Metro Rail Transit Authority general manager Al Vitangcol III in connection with his extortion attempt on a Czech company. The CA’s Eighth Division sustained the order of the Office of the Ombudsman in Next page
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