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OUTLOOK FOR AREAS POTENTIAL FOR DRY SPELL AND DROUGHT Legend:
DROUGHT DRY SPELL DRY CONDITION NOT AFFECTED
VOL. XXXIII • NO. 26 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Philippine Sea
West Philippine Sea
Palace: No narco bets wiretapped Insists on release of suspects’ list By Vito Barcelo, Rio N. Araja and Rey E. Requejo
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Sulu Sea
RESIDENTIAL Spokesman Salvador Panelo on Thursday said nobody on the list of narco-politicians had been wiretapped.
Panelo backtracked from his earlier pronouncement that foreign governments had provided information obtained through wiretaps on Filipino politicians allegedly involved in illegal drugs, but said such intelligence would not be ignored.
Source: PAGASA
El Niño impact heats up early, drought in 22 provinces seen By Rio N. Araja
The Agriculture department has created a national El Niño task force to moniTHE Agriculture department and other tor and coordinate various efforts to mitigovernment agencies have stepped up gate the effects of El Niño not only with mitigation projects and its attached agencies and programs as 22 provbureaus, but also with the inces are expected to National Disaster Risk experience drought in Reduction and ManageApril due to El Niño. ment Council. Agriculture SecrePiñol appealed to aftary Emmanuel Piñol fected farmers to come said their agency has MANILA Water consumers forward to report damage drafted a Niño miti- have started experiencing and losses on their crops gation and adaptation limited water supply since to their local governments’ plan designed to lessen Wednesday as the conces- agriculturists, who will rethe impact of drought sionaire implemented water lay the information to their to the agriculture sec- service operational adjust- regional office for the protor and restore produc- ments due to the rapid de- vision of assistance. tive capacity for the cline of the water level at La The Agriculture deNext page next cropping season Mesa Dam. partment is also eyeing in the affected areas. Next page
Manila Water limits supply
Go gets going, surges to top 3 in poll survey; Poe still ahead By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE ranking of President Rodrigo Duterte’s former aide Christopher Go surged to No. 3 from fifth to sixth as Senators Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar maintained their grip on the No. 1 and 2 spot based on the latest Social Weather Stations survey. Go, whose campaign slogan is “Serbisyo ang bisyo,” said the survey results had inspired him to work even harder to present his advocacy to serve the people. He urged the Filipino people to try his
brand of service. During the past election surveys, Go hardly made it to the “Winning Circle” until he showed a strong showing when he started moving around helping people, especially fire victims, aside from his campaign materials and political advertisements that sprouted all over the country. Go was endorsed by the President and Hugpong ng Pagbabago, the regional party established by presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. Next page
“As far as I know, nobody has provided us with wiretapped information,” Panelo said in a mix of English and Filipino, adding that his remarks Tuesday about foreign sources were based on an “educated guess.” Next page
Rody affirms PH claim to Sabah By Vito Barcelo THE Palace on Thursday contradicted visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who said that the Philippines has no claim to Sabah. “The position of the President is that we do have a claim. This has been a bone of contention ever since the time of President Ferdinand Marcos,” said Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, in a mix of Filipino and English. President Rodrigo Duterte was to meet Mahathir in the Palace Thursday afternoon, but Panelo said Sabah was not on the agenda. When he was running for office, Duterte said he would pursue the country’s claim to Sabah. Next page
MAHATHIR IN MANILA. President Rodrigo Duterte shakes hands with Malaysia’s Minister Mahathir Mohamad (above) after reading their joint statement at the Malacañang Palace in Manila on Thursday. Mahathir also welcomes (below) former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Senate President Vicente Sotto (not in photo) when the Congress delegation calls on the Malaysian leader at the Shangri-La Makati Hotel in Makati City. AFP
DOJ special panel to take up abuse cases vs women, kids THE Department of Justice will launch a special body to be called Committee on Decorum and Investigation to handle cases of violence and harassment against women and children. This coincides with the National Women’s Month Celebration every March 8, which coincides with the worldwide observance of the International Women’s Day. The theme of the cleberation, from 2017 to 2022, is “We Make Change Work for Women,” which, officials said, highlights the empowerment of women as active contributors to and claimholders of development. Next page
Barbie at 60 ‘wrinkle-free’
OFW sheds light on HK maids’ plight
EL SEGUNDO, United States— She is turning 60 this year and still doesn’t have a single wrinkle. Blonde or brunette, slender or curvy, black or white, princess or president, Barbie is a forever
HONG KONG—The case of a Filipina domestic worker in Hong Kong who was sacked after being diagnosed with cervical cancer—leaving her without healthcare—shines a light on the exploitation of tens of
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Mahathir warns Duterte vs influx of alien workers MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday warned the Philippines against letting in foreigners who could “disturb the political equations” as President Rodrigo Duterte’s Beijing pivot has sparked an influx of Chinese workers. At least 200,000 Chinese have flocked to Manila since Duterte’s 2016 election, many of them employed by online gaming firms that cater to Chinese players, a Senate inquiry was told late last year. This has touched off Next page