DU30’S TRUST RATINGS DROPPED ‘FASTER THAN AVERAGE’ By Maricel V. Cruz
VOL. XXXI • NO. 239 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net
RAGING INFERNO. Wildfires engulf more ground Tuesday across California’s wine country as firefighters struggle to contain wind-whipped flames that have killed at least 10 people, torched more than 2,000 homes and businesses and sent more than 20,000 people fleeing for safety. At least 15 separate blazes burned in nine Northern California counties, prompting evacuations that included patients in threatened hospitals. (Story on A2) AFP
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s satisfaction ratings are dropping faster than those of his predecessors, Social Weather Stations president Mahar Mangahas said Tuesday. The latest SWS survey conducted from Sept. 23 to 27 showed Duterte’s satisfaction rating dropping 18 points from a “very good” 66 the previous quarter to a “good” 48. “I would say that the fall is a little bit faster than average, compared to past presidents…They all fall...It’s not something to be proud about yet. If he can continue and match the records of Cory [Aquino], [Fidel] Ramos, and Noynoy [Aquino], then it’s something to talk about, but it’s still only his second year,” Mangahas said on ANC’s Headstart. Mangahas said a rating of “good” signifies that the leader is still enjoying a “honeymoon stage,” a phase which former President Benigno Aquino III enjoyed for three years. Next page
Duterte family probe set Ubial out as health chief, Palace regrets CA decision By Macon RamosAraneta and John Paolo Bencito THE Commission on Appointments on Tuesday rejected the appointment of Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, who became the fifth member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet to fail to win confirmation. The decision, reached through secret voting in an executive session, was announced during the CA plenary session. Senator Gregorio Honasan II, chairman of the commission’s health committee, said the panel had
reached “a difficult decision” to reject Ubial’s appointment, with 13 members voting against her confirmation. Ubial’s appointment had been opposed by several parties, whose allegations she denied. Interviewed by reporters after the confirmation hearing, a teary-eyed Ubial told reporters she cries easily because she’s fond of watching teledramas. She said she would abide by the CA decision as it was part of the constitutional process. Senate Majority Leader Next page
By John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta
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HE Senate Blue Ribbon committee recommended a lifestyle check on family members of President Rodrigo Duterte—including his son and son-in-law—amid allegations of corruption in connection with the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu that was discovered earlier this year.
CONFIRMATION REJECTED. The Commission on Appointments rejects Tuesday the appointment of Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial as Health secretary, the fifth Cabinet member to be rejected in the 17-month-old Duterte administration. Lino Santos
SC votes 9-6 to uphold De Lima’s arrest, continued detention By Rey E. Requejo and Macon RamosAraneta VOTING 9-6, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed for lack of merit the petition of Senator Leila de Lima seeking her release from detention and stopping her in-
dictment for trading in illegal drugs. During its en banc session, the Court instead upheld the validity of the warrant of arrest issued against her and her indictment before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court for allegedly taking part and benefiting from ille-
Senate panel pushes for ‘lifestyle check’
gal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison. In a decision penned by Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., the Court held that the RTC has exclusive jurisdiction over the drug charges against De Lima, even if her position has a salary grade higher than 27,
which is covered by the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. “The exclusive original jurisdiction of the RTC over violations of RA 9165 is not transferred to the Sandiganbayan whenever the accused occupies a position classified as Grade 27 or higher, re-
gardless of whether the violation is alleged to have been committed in relation to the office being occupied. The Sandiganbayan’s jurisdiction is limited to violations of the anti-graft laws and do not extend to violations of the drugs law,” the decision said. Next page
Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and lawyer Manases Carpio, husband of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, were being linked to the illegal drug shipment that passed through the Bureau of Customs in May. In a 52-page draft committee report, Senator Richard Gordon wrote: “Personalities who, due to their close relationships to persons possessing high authority, are held to higher standards of accountability to the people precisely because of such close relationships. There are many examples that we are aware where rumors of
close relationships abound, regardless of the administration in power.” The draft report also said: “Perhaps this is an opportunity, in aid of legislation, to shed light into this area. In this administration, a similar pattern has emerged, with certain members of the First Family being linked to this sordid affair.” “Therefore, the committee decided to invite the personalities being mentioned, namely, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, and attorney Manases Carpio, and; request the NBI [National Next page
Hazing suspect back with ma from US Murder cases By Joel E. Zurbano, Rey E. Requejo and Bill Casas ONE of the suspects in the hazing death of UST law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo returned to the Philippines on Tuesday after weeks of staying in the United States and following
HE IS BACK. Aegis Juris Fraternity officer Ralph Trangia, one of the suspects in the fatal hazing of University of Sto. Tomas law student Horacio Castillo III, returns with his mother to the Philippines Tuesday from three weeks stay in Chicago, Illinois via Taipei where they had gone after Castillo’s death. Norman Cruz
By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday called on the Philippines’ allies to unite against the “criminal” mind of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who
must “stop threatening the world.” “I hope that in the coming days we should stay together because [our allies] are also put in jeopardy,” said Duterte who visited the Australian Navy’s largest vessel, the HMAS Adelaide, twitter.com/ MlaStandard
By John Paolo Bencito
which is docked at the Port of Manila. “We reiterate our full support for our Australian friends, Americans and even Chinese, Malaysian to show to this one guy that he has to stop threatening the world.” Next page
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Dean Nilo Divina on Tuesday shrugged off the inclusion of his name in the criminal complaint filed before the Justice Department in connection with the hazing conducted by Aegis Juris Fraternity members that resulted in the death of 22-year-old freshman law student Castillo. Next page
Govt insists HR concerns looked into MALACAÑANG on Tuesday insisted the government was addressing human rights concerns in the country, amid threats by European parliamentarians the country risked losing a preferential trade deal if it failed to immediately stop the killings and political persecution of critics. “The President [Rodrigo
PH allies urged to unite vs Nokor’s leader
a police search for him. Aegis Juris member Ralph Trangia arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport around 11:40 a.m. on board EVA Air flight from the United States through Taipei in a connecting flight. In other developments: • University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law
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SEIZED DRUGS. Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña (center) turns over millions of pesos’ worth of seized illegal drugs to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, consisting of five parcels containing 10,000 grams of marijuana and a parcel of ecstasy, estimated to be worth P3 million, at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City. Norman Cruz
down by 8% despite drug war—PNP
THE Philippine National Police on Tuesday said the number of murder cases recorded across the country has dropped despite the bloody war on drugs. In the first eight months this year, the number of murder cases dropped 7.98 percent from the same period in 2016, the PNP said. The PNP’s Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management recorded 6,391 murder cases from January to August 2017, 554 cases less than the 6,945 recorded during the same period last year. Official government figures show a total of 3,811 drug suspects were killed in police anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016 to Aug. 29, 2017. PNP-DIDM director Augusto Marquez said theft is Next page
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