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FLAG DAY AMID COVID. The local government of Imus and member of the Philippine Navy conduct a rehearsal for the commemoration of the National Flag Day at the Heritage Park in Brgy. Alapan, Imus, Cavite on May 27, 2021. The event marks the 123-year-old Battle of Alapan on May 28 although presidential proclamation No. 374 officially recognizing the event was signed on March 6, 1965. JR Josue
Tougher lockdown law eyed Congress to pass one with stiffer penalties for violators By Vito Barcelo
M
ALACAÑANG on Thursday urged Congress to file a quarantine law that would set stiffer penalties for those who would breach quarantine protocols, after President Rodrigo Duterte expressed dismay over mounting reports of these violations.
In his public address Wednesday night, Duterte said he was looking for a suitable law to jail quarantine violators, after observing that many Filipinos continue to disregard the government’s call to follow health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID 19.
Presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo said that without such a law, reckless imprudence is the possible complaint that can be filed against any violators. But presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the penalty under reckless Next page
VOL. XXXV • NO. 102 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Leonen escapes impeachment; House panel
NCR Plus tallies lower cases; unanimous, dismisses evidence as ‘hearsay‘ quarantine curbs seen easing By Maricel V. Cruz
By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas QUARANTINE restrictions in Metro Manila and its four neighboring provinces are likely to be further relaxed due to the declining number of COVID-19 cases, the Palace said Thursday. However, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that there are still a lot of factors that should be considered be-
fore restrictions in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus bubble can be eased. “There’s a likelihood that the quarantine classifications might be relaxed on the basis of the formula but subject to the recommendation of Metro Manila [that] any further reopening should be gradual,” he said. In an online press briefing, Roque said the OCTA Research team continues to see a decline in COVID-19 cases in Metro Next page
THE House of Representatives committee on justice on Thursday dismissed the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. The committee, chaired by Rep. Vicente Veloso III of Leyte, declared that the complaint filed by one Edwin Cordevilla, secretary-general of the Filipino League of Advocates For Good Government, was based on hearsay. Forty-four congressmen voted for the dismissal of the complaint while two in-
hibited themselves. Veloso said the committee will return the complaint to the House Secretary General within three session days after it decided on the complaint, with the annotations on why it dismissed the complaint. "Being hearsay and not based on an authentic record, we cannot take this as a ground even on the question of verification on the matter of the court," Veloso said. "The verification failed to satisfy the requirement that the allegations of the complainant must be based on his personal knowledge or must be based on au-
Tug-of-war over ruling party assembly By Vito Barcelo Sen. Manny Pacquiao, PDPLaban president
SENATOR Emmanuel Pacquiao has directed PDP-Laban members to "ignore" Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi's call for a national assembly by the end of the month, the party confirmed Thursday. But Cusi, PDPLaban vice chairman, told Manila Standard in a text mes-
sage the assembly on Monday would push through. In a memorandum dated May 25, Pacquiao, who is party president, "strongly advised" his party-mates not to heed "Cusi's letter calling for a national assembly on May 31, 2021." "Yes, this is a legitimate memorandum from the national headquarters," PDP-Laban Executive Director Ron Munsayac said when
Sec. Al Cusi, PDPLaban vice chairman
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NATIONAL Artist for Visual Arts Arturo Luz passed away on Wednesday night, May 26. He was 94. His daughter, former actress Angela Luz, confirmed the news in her post on social media. “It is with deep sorrow that I announce the passing of my father, our beloved National Artist, Arturo Luz. He peacefully joined his Creator at 8:45 this Next page evening.”
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has reprimanded local government units for choosing to use Pfizer, the US brand of COVID-19 vaccine, noting that being
selective was not feasible in light of the global supply shortage. The President said equality must be followed in the country’s vaccine distribution. “Allowing some localities to administer a single brand of vaccine to their constituents would agitate other LGUs and make Next page similar demands,” he said.
PINOY KILLED IN US MASS SHOOTING
COW FOR A JAB RAFFLE IN PAMPANGA
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2
By Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas, Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos-Araneta
Arturo Luz
Defensor slams House decision: A sorry episode By Rey E. Requejo
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Duterte chides ‘selective’ LGUs
By Bernadette Lunas
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FORMER Quezon City lawmaker Matias Defensor Jr. expressed extreme disappointment Thursday over the House Justice Committee’s dismissal of the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen due to technicality. Defensor said the committee’s decision was “wrong” simply because Edwin Cordevilla’s documents were not “certified true copy” by the Supreme Court. Defensor pointed out that certified
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National Artist Luz passes away at 94
thentic records," he added. Leonen lauded the unanimous vote of the committee on justice of the House of Representatives to dismiss the impeachment complaint against him on ground that it is insufficient in form and substance. Leonen described the House committee on justice’s vote as an affirmation of “constitutional independence of the Judiciary by not allowing others to take advantage of the vulnerability of its members. “They have created a precedent that
COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE
(AS OF 4 PM MAY 27)
1,200,430 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
6,483 48,109 NEW
ACTIVE
20,379
210
1,131,942
4,335
DEATHS
RECOVERIES
NEW
NEW