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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 25 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Manuel Villar
John Gokongwei
Enrique Razon
3 tycoons topbill richest in PH By Jenniffer B. Austria
petrochemicals, power generation and financial services. Ports tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., who also owns integrated entertainment and gaming complex Solaire Resorts & Casino, came in third with net worth of $4.8 billion.
‘Narco-list was based on wiretaps’
REAL estate tycoon and former Senate president Manuel B. Villar emerged as the Philippines’ richest man, according to Forbes Magazine’s list of world’s richest for 2019. By Nat Mariano, Maricel Cruz, Macon RamosWith a net worth of $5.5 billion, Next page Araneta and Rey Requejo Villar owns three listed companies: Vista Land & LifRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s escapes Inc., Golden Bria list of narco-politicians, Holdings Inc. and Starmalls Inc. which includes at least six Villar, who now ranks congressmen, was based on 317th worldwide, took “wiretapped” information that the top spot occupied by retail tycoon Henry Sy came from foreign governments Sr., who passed away monitoring drug syndicates from Jan. 19. Taking the second their respective countries. spot is business tycoon John Gokon“No law states that being given [wiregwei Jr., with a net tapped] information is illegal. In fact, I worth of $5.1 bilthink we should be thankful that we are lion. Gokongwei, being provided information relative to who ranks 343 the criminal activities in this country,” worldwide, is curPresidential Spokesman Salvador Panrently the chairman elo said. emeritus of con“The experts [on surveillance] are glomerate JG SumIsrael, America, Russia, China. In mit Holdings Inc., other words, they provide us with the which has investinformation. If it was just us—we ments in food mancan’t do that because our instruments SEASON OF REFLECTION. Catholic devotees in a church in Manila touch a crucifix on Ash Wednesday to start their season of reflection and ufacturing, airline, preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for are outdated,” the Palace official 40 days. AFP added. Duterte has authorized Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to release the list of 82 politicians who are suspected of being involved in the drug trade either as financiers or protectors. Flores were relieved because of their Earlier, police arrested PO2 Marlo SiPDEA director general Aaron Aquino By Joel E. Zurbano command responsibility upon the instruc- blao Quibete for robbery extortion and said 64 of the politicians are seeking METRO Manila police director Guill- tion of Philippine National Police director P/Cpl. Anwar Encarnacion Nasser for elective positions in the May 13 midermo Eleazar on Wednesday ordered the Oscar Albayalde, Eleazar said. kidnap-for-ransom and extortion. term polls. relief of commanders of Eastern Police The entire force of EPD District Drug Quibete was caught red handed acceptBy Nat Mariano “There were originally 83 in the list District and Pasay City Police Station af- Enforcement Unit composed of 15 per- ing the marked money from the combut with the recent arrest of Mayor ter officers from their drug enforcement sonnel and all 27 members of the Pasay plainant during an entrapment conducted PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will have [Norodin] Salazar of Maguindanao, the units were arrested for kidnapping and station drug enforcement team were also by agents of the Metro Manila Special no hand in Congress’ “intramurals” list is now down to 82. If I am not misextortion. relieved and are now being investigated Operations Unit in front of a fastfood over the alleged realignments in the taken, at least six or seven are congressEPD director C/Supt. Bernabe Balba to determine if they were also engaged in restaurant on Evangelista and Dela Paz 2019 national budget, Malacañang said and Pasay Police Chief S/Supt. Noel illegal activities. Next page men,” Aquino said. Next page Wednesday. “The President will not interfere with their intramurals. They will have to settle whatever conflict they have among themselves,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters in a text ZAMBOANGA City has declared a state lion liters. message. of calamity due to a dry spell caused by The local agriculture office, meanHe made the statement following the the El Niño phenomenon, a report said while, said 600 hectares of rice fields allegations of Senator Panfilo Lacson Wednesday. have been hit by the dry spell. that House Speaker Gloria Macapagal City Disaster Risk Reduction and Also on Wednesday, the Manila Water Arroyo was manipulating Management Office Chief Elmeir Apo- Co., which supplies water to 23 cities and the 2019 budget even linario told UNTV that the city council towns in Metro Manila and Rizal, said it after its ratification. passed the resolution declaring a ca- is ready for the summer months and the In other developlamity upon his office’s recommenda- El Niño. ments: tion after drought affected crops, the Jeric Sevilla, corporate strategic af• The chairman irrigation for rice fi elds and the city’s fairs group head, said the water firm has of the House of water supply. already put in place beginning this month Representatives’ “We are now under state of calamity its water supply contingency plan. Committee on Apby reason of the advisory [about] He also called on customers in Metro propriations the El Niño,” Apolinario said. Manila’s east zone covering 1,400 square Next page The Zamboanga City Wa- kilometers to use water “more responsiter District recently began bly and wisely.” rationing water after The Philippine Atmospheric GeophysON THE HUSTINGS. Leyte 1st District Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, running its daily production ical and Astronomical Services Adminas first nominee of the Tingog Party-List, delivers her ‘malasakit’ message to more dropped 50 percent istration earlier said the the country was than 1,000 poor residents during a caucus in Barangay Manibaug Paralaya in Porac, from 158 million already experiencing a mild El Niño with Pampanga, vowing to support the education, health and livelihood programs of Speaker liters to 80 milNext page Gloria Arroyo. Ver Noveno
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Palace refuses to intervene in ‘pork’ dispute
Top cops in EPD, Pasay kicked out over extort raps
El Niño: State of calamity in Zambo City
Woman takes role as Captain Marvel
New SSS law now in force; chief quits
LOS ANGELES—Iron Man, Thor, Captain America: Scores of Marvel movies had superheroes taking turns to save the world on the big screen before a woman finally captured a leading role in the comic franchise’s films. Next page
SOCIAL Security System president and chief executive Emmanuel F. Dooc resigned Wednesday at the same time Republic Act No. 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018 Next page took effect.
Jailbirds lose privileges DIRECTOR General Nicanor Faeldon of the Bureau of Corrections on Tuesday canceled the privileges of more than 45,000 inmates nationwide following the supposed incessant entry of various contraband items into the penal institutions, especially the New Bilibid Prison. “Effective today, all privileges will be canceled,” Faeldon said in Jun Veneracion’s report in GMA’s 24 Oras. Next page