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HAPPY NEW YEAR
Rody insists on face-off with Joma By MJ BlancaïŹor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte mocked self-exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison over the latterâs purported difïŹculty in hearing, even as he renewed his invitation for a one-on-one talk. In a speech Monday, President Duterte said he wants to ask his former professor
what he wants in exchange of ending the decades-long communist insurgency. âWeâre trying to have a talk. But what I want, I told Sison, âYou come home and we will talk alone.â Just the two of us. I donât want a panel,â Duterte said. âSabi nila medyo bungol-bungol na daw. Ah, mas maganda âyan (They say he is hard of hearing. Ah, thatâs better),â the President said. Next page
VOL. XXXIII âą NO. 321 âą 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES âą P18 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 âą www.manilastandard.net âą mst.daydesk@gmail.com
âBetter life, growthâ for Pinoys Palace sees exciting prospects in 2020 under maverick leader By MJ BlancaïŹor
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ILIPINOS should expect a better quality of life and an improved economy in 2020 under President Rodrigo Duterteâs âstrong-willed maverickâ and âincorruptibleâ leadership, the Palace said Tuesday. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the administration is optimistic that Filipinos would live comfortably this year. âWe feel it in our bones that there will be more productive and progressive changes to come as this administration led by this strong-willed maverick and incorruptible President charts the destiny of this nation beyond our wildest dreams,â Panelo said in his New Year message. Panelo said the administration may face âgreater challenges,â but he said there were also âexciting prospects for a better Philippines.â
âAs we turn a new page in our history and face greater challenges and exciting prospects for a better Philippines, even as we learn from the lessons of the past, and draw inspirations from the changes that lifted us, we resolve to help one another in building a nation living in comfort, in peace and in progress,â the Palace ofïŹcial said. That is the dream of the President and âwe will be together in seeing that dream to fruition in all its splendor,â he added. Results of recent Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia surveys showed that a majority of respondents are welcoming the new year with hope and positivity,
FINANCIAL AID. President
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Rodrigo Duterte leads the turnover of financial assistance worth P10 million to earthquake victims in Davao del Sur during the 60th founding anniversary of Cor Jesu College in Digos City on Monday. Malacañang Photo
The Presidentâs New Year message
THANKSGIVING PROCESSION. Thousands of Catholic devotees participate in the annual Thanksgiving procession with the image of the Black Nazarene in Manila on Tuesday. Thousands of barefoot devotees are expected to join the religious procession in the capital, starting New Yearâs Eve and ending on Jan. 9, hoping to touch a centuries-old icon of Jesus Christ called the Black Nazarene, believed to have miraculous powers. AFP
Feast of Nazarene: Cops on full alert By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila police force will be on full alert during the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, on Jan. 9, ofïŹcials said The National Capital Region Police OfïŹce is coordingting with the Armed Forces and local government ofïŹcials to ensure peace and order during the Traslacion. Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police OfïŹce said Tuesday it had
succeeded in shortening the duration of the Black Nazarene thanksgiving procession on Monday night following the implementation of a new security scheme. âThe NCRPO marked a safe and sound Black Nazarene thanksgiving procession which started at about 11:45 p.m. Monday and ended at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, as airtight security had been employed,â NCRPO acting chief Debold Sinas said in a statement. Next page
Fireworks injuries trigger call for ban AT LEAST 62 people have sustained injuries related to ïŹreworks since Dec. 21, the Health department said Tuesday. But that number is 63 percent lower than the ïŹve-year average of 169 cases recorded within the same period from 6 a.m. of Dec. 21 to 5:59 a.m. of Dec. 31. Along with the departmentâs call on the public to skip ïŹrecrackers in their New Year celebration, Senator Win Gatchalian renewed his call to ban the sale and use
of ïŹrecrackers except for the authorized ïŹreworks displays. âBagamaât naging bahagi na ng ating tradisyon ang pagpapaputok tuwing Bagong Taon, walang saysay ang pagpapanatili sa mga ito kung nalalagay naman sa panganib ang ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga kabataan,â Gatchalian said. The ïŹreworks victims were aged one Next page
AMPAW ENVELOPE.
One of lion dancers gets Tuesday the so-called ampaw envelopeâ called Hongbao in Mandarin and Lai See in Cantoneseâin front of a stall along Binondo district in Manila as part of the New year tradition. Lino Santos
I JOIN the entire Filipino nation and the global community in welcoming the New Year 2020. We celebrate this occasion with our loved ones, filled with gratitude for blessings received in the past and with much optimism for the wonderful possibilities ahead. As this administration enters its fourth year, I am hopeful that all our policies and programs for the improved welfare of our citizens and the continued progress of the Philippines will be realized with the active participation of everyone. Let us begin
anew with a stronger commitment in our shared task of nation-building and ensure that all our development efforts will be made sustainable and inclusive. While the New Year is indeed a time to reflect on lessons learned, it is also an opportune time to do better and aim higher. With the guidance and grace of the Almighty and the enduring spirit of bayanihan and malasakit, I am confident that we will achieve a stronger and brighter future for our people.
DILG chief âreadyâ for handlerâs task INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday said he is ready to comply with President Rodrigo Duterteâs order to supervise the Philippine National Police. âThe President is still searching for a permanent chief PNP and my job is to supervise the organization on his behalf as his alter ego, being the DILG secretary and chairman of National Police Commission [Napolcom]. I will do my job until the President chooses the next chief PNP,â Año said in a statement sent to reporters. âI believe he has choices in his mind but he is closely watching the performance and conviction of these candidates, particularly on the ïŹght against illegal drugs and professionalizing the PNP ranks,â he said. The PNP is currently headed by Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa as ofïŹcer in charge. PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said Gamboa fully respects Next page