UN experts insist on probe of slays By John Paolo Bencito THREE United Nations human rights experts on Thursday renewed their call for the Duterte administration to carry out “prompt, impartial investigations” into the high number of killings associated with its bloody drug war that had seen thousands killed since the President took office last year. Agnes Callamard, Special Rap-
porteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Michel Forst, Special Next page
VOL. XXXI • NO. 280 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net
Joma warns of revolt if Rody goes after left By John Paolo Bencito
TAKE AIM. President Rodrigo Duterte test-fires a sniper rifle donated by the Chinese government while the troops conduct a sniping capability demonstration during his visit at Fort Magsaysay
in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday. Three months ago, during his visit to war-ravaged Marawi City, Duterte also fired a sniper rifle at positions held by Islamic State-linked gunmen to show solidarity with government troops who have been fighting the terrorists. Malacañang Photo
COMMUNIST Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison on Thursday warned that more people would take up arms against the government if President Rodrigo Duterte makes good his threat to go after organizations that he claims are “legal fronts” for the revolutionary movement. “He wants everyone to revolt,” Sison said in Filipino, in an interview with TV5. “Gusto niyang mag-rebolusyon lahat ng tao [He wants everyone to revolt],” Sison, whose seeking exile in Utretch, told TV5. Next page
‘2 justices go against CJ’ Impeachment complaint bolstered
Faeldon defiant, won’t ask Senate to free him FORMER Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon will not request the Senate to release him from its custody even after the Department of Justice had cleared him of wrongdoing in connection with the P6.4-billion “shabu” shipment from China, his lawyer said Thursday. Jose Dino said Faeldon felt vindicated by the DoJ ruling but would not
ask the Senate for his release to send a message to the public that “nobody has to be investigated in aid of persecution and of one senator, in aid of obsession.” “We have not asked the Senate, specifically the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, nor will we ever request it to release captain Faeldon despite the vindication that we received based on
news reports that the DoJ has absolved us from any liabilities,” Dino said in a phone interview. Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday said many of those who participated and witnessed the congressional hearings on the P6.4-billion shabu smuggling case were shocked and angered by the dismissal of the charges against Next page
Transport usec quits amid train glitches as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 system continued to be crippled by technical glitches. TRANSPORTATION UnChavez submitted his irrevodersecretary for Rails Cesar cable resignation to President Chavez resigned Thursday Rodrigo Duterte, saying he
By Darwin G. Amojelar and Macon R. Araneta
was leaving his post because of “recent events involving [the] MRT-3 system and [a] simple sense of delicadeza.” Chavez said his resignation would pave the way for Next page
Palace fears drug menace worsening By John Paolo Bencito, Rio N. Araja and Bill Casas
By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz
T
wo magistrates of the Supreme Court will testify against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, boosting the impeachment complaint against her in the House of Representatives.
Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro is set to testify against Sereno before the House committee on justice, while Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza has attested to one of the impeachment charges involving his earlier appointment to the Court.
De Castro has accepted the invitation of the House panel for her to attend the hearing next week, said lawyer Lorenzo Gadon, the complainant in the impeachment case. “She confirmed her attendance,” Gadon said. A Court insider who
spoke on condition of anonymity also confirmed De Castro would testify against Sereno. “Justice De Castro will appear before the House justice committee on issues under the culpable violation of the Constitution ground against the chief justice,” the source said. De Castro was invited by the House for the internal memorandum filed in the Supreme Court last July questioning several of Sereno’s administrative orders, including the appointment of a Philippine Judicial Academy official and the provision for travel allowances Next page
THE drug situation may worsen if the conduct of the bloody anti-drug operations will not be returned to the Philippine National Police, Malacañang said Thursday. “What he [President Rodrigo Duterte] said was, ‘to Next page
ON THE TRAIN. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque braves lining up in two of Metro Manila’s busiest mass transport systems Thursday, saying at the end of his trip his experience is ‘not that bad’—compared to the thousands of commuters who use the mass transport system daily. He arrived a little past 9 a.m. where he queued up for more than 10 minutes—when the morning rush-hour crowds have reached the sidewalks of Edsa. John Paolo Bencito
Ease curbs on foreign investment, Neda told TO RAISE the Philippines’ level of competitiveness, President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the National Economic and Development
Authority to take “immediIn his Memorandum Orate steps” to lift or ease re- der No. 16 issued Nov. 21 strictions on foreign invest- but only released Thursday, ments in at least eight prior- Duterte ordered concerned ity areas. Next page
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MRT firm offers to fix messy line MRT Corp. , the owners of the MRT-3 System, said that they can rehire Sumitomo and fix the MRT-3 System without stopping operations if the Transportation Department would allow them. MRTC confirmed that Sumitomo Corp. is willing to return as the maintenance Next page
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ENHANCING COMPLAINT. Two magistrates of the Supreme Court—Teresita Leonardo-de Castro (left) and Francis Jardeleza (right) will testify against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, boosting the impeachment complaint against her in the House of Representatives. The former has accepted the invitation of the House panel while the latter has attested to one of the charges. MS File Photo
M’sapano massacre: Ball now in defense court AMPATUAN, Maguindanao―The Families of the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre have renewed their call for justice―even as a private prosecutor said her panel had presented its case, and
that it was now the defense’s turn to present its evidence and counter-testimonies. Lawyer Nena Santos said of the 189 accused, 115 had already been indicted and charged and that others had
either died or turned state witnesses. She made her statement even as Presidential Task Force on Media Security executive director Joel Egco on Next page
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