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Moms show support for breastfeeding HUNDREDS of Philippine mothers simultaneously nursed their babies in public on Sunday, some of them two at a time, in a government-backed mass breastfeeding event aimed at combating child deaths. About 1,500 women, some of them wearing tiaras and superhero Tshirts, sat on the vast floor of a Manila stadium and let their babies suckle to the beat of dance music.
VOL. XXXII • NO. 172 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net
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House feud may reach SC Widodo: Let the mass dance begin JAKARTA, Indonesia—Indonesian president Joko Widodo led some 65,000 of his compatriots in a mass dance through the streets of Jakarta on Sunday to promote the Asian Games and try to set a world record along the way. Next page
Deputy Speaker urges contenders to go to high tribunal
By Rio N. Araja
D
EPUTY Speaker Fredenil Castro said Sunday those who oppose the recognition of the incumbent minority bloc in the House of Representatives should bring the case to the Supreme Court. “I think the best thing is to go to the Supreme Court,” Castro said in Filipino on radio dzBB. “If the Supreme Court decides the question, then nobody will question it. We will immediately abide by what the Supreme Court decides.” Three groups have been seeking to be rec- ognized as the minority bloc after Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ousted her predecessor, Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez These include the groups represented by Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, the incumbent minority leader,
Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo and Alvarez. In the absence of a proclamation of a new minority bloc, Suarez would be recognized in the meantime, Castro added, noting that the position has not been declared vacant. The groups opposing Suarez says he cannot be minority leader because he voted for Arroyo as Speaker, and have threatened to take their case to the Supreme Court. Suarez on Sunday said his attendance at a meeting of the House committee on rules was a sign that his group has been officially recognized as the minority bloc under Arroyo.
“That was the first time that we attended the rules panel meeting to set the plenary legislative agenda under Speaker Arroyo. What else is the indication? It is already clear that we are the recognized minority bloc,” Suarez said. Other minority bloc members who attended the meeting were Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, and Deputy Minority Leader and Coop-Natcco Rep. Anthony Bravo. On Aug. 3, Arroyo vowed not to step into the squabble for the minority leadership among the three contending groups. Suarez, who voted for Arroyo, maintained he would only give up the minority chairmanship if the Supreme Court ordered him to do so. “If I feel that I am not in a position anymore to lead the minority, then I will politely vacate my post if the court says so. May be, we can see some [clarity] if the Supreme Court releases a decision on this,” he said. “Let us get back to work. The House has nine months to go,” he added.
By Rio N. Araja HOUSE of Representatives members on Sunday lauded Speaker Gloria Arroyo for adopting a constitutionally compliant line budgeting system for the proposed P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019 to ensure a pork barrel-free national budget that is fair to all lawmakers, regardless of political affiliation. Former speaker and now Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu of Batangas and Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo cited Arroyo’s statesmanship in ensuring that no congressional districts Next page
Napoles case in US tests PH govt’s option
Palace shies away from P1-m bounty on 4 ex-lawmakers SUNDAY SAUNTER.
By Nat Mariano MALACAÑANG distanced itself from the P1 million bounty raised against National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Liza Maza, former Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, and two former party-list lawmakers. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that even with thje millionpeso reward, Maza remains a member of the Cabinet unless the President fires her. “The P1 million reward offered is a private initiative. As far as we are concerned, all aspects of this case are in the hands of the court and we look forward to an impartial and expeditious trial,” Roque said in a statement Sunday. Citizen’s Crime Watch (CCW), a civil society group, offered the P1 million bounty for any information leading to the arrest of Maza, Mariano, and former Bayan Muna representatives Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño. CCW national president Diego Magpantay said Saturday the amount was raised by concern citizens who do not want to be named. Next page
Arroyo lauded for pork-free budget plan
Pets in tow, a jogger does her morning routine at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ complex in Pasay City. Ey Acasio
144 of the Corporation Code. Section 74 says “the records of all business transactions of the corporation and the minutes of any meetings shall be open to inspection by any director, trustee, stockholder or member of the corporation,” and that the refusal to allow the records to be examined is punishable.
THE Justice Department will discuss with the Sandiganbayan any request from the United States government seeking the extradition of suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles to face trial for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he would confer with the anti-graft court once his office officially receives the extradition request from its counterpart in the United States. options under the Philippine-US treaty will be evaluated by the DOJ when an actual request is made by the US government. We will consult with the Sandiganbayan on this,” Guevarra said, in a text message to reporters on Sunday. He said that while the extradition treaty allows the immediate extradition of Napoles and the suspension of plunder and other cases against her before the anti-graft court, his office would consider the stance of the Sandiganbayan before deciding on the matter. Guevarra said the opinion rendered by Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice
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Tycoon’s scion, 4 other execs face arrest over corporate feud By Rey E. Requejo A PASIG City court has ordered the arrest of George Sycip, son of the late tycoon Washington Sycip, and four other officials of a tuna processing company for violating the Corporation Code of the Philippines. In a July 11, 2018 order, Judge Em-
manuel Pimentel of the Pasig City Metropolitan Court, Branch 69, found probable cause to order the arrest of Sycip, board chairman of Alliance Select Foods International Inc., its president Jonathan Dee and other executives of the company including Marie Grace Vera Cruz, Antonio Pacis and Raymon K.H. See for violating Sections 74 and 75 in relation to Section
By Rey E. Requejo