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Nation pays respects toPNoy Ex-Prez Aquino passes on at 61, succumbs to chronic renal failure By Rio N. Araja
F
ORMER President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III died Thursday of renal disease secondary to diabetes. He was 61.
According to his sister, Pinky AbelHe was brought to Capitol Medical lada, Aquino died peacefully in his sleep Center but efforts to revive him failed, at home in Times Street in Quezon City said former Interior Secretary Manuel at 6:30 a.m. Roxas II. Next page
Duterte sets 10 days of national mourning By Vito Barcelo, Rio N. Araja, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Maricel V. Cruz, Rey E. Requejo and Joel E. Zurbano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday declared a 10-day period of mourning for former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who passed away on Thursday morning. Next page
VOL. XXXV • NO. 130 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
HONORING 'PNOY'. Officers bring down the flag at Malacanang to halfmast as the nation mourned the passing of Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, the country's 15th President, on Thursday. Aquino's casket was briefly displayed at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City, where his sisters Pinky, Ballsy, Viel and Kris explained the circumstances of his passing. Illustration by Elmer Alitagtag, photos by Danny Pata and PCOO
US, Germany, EU bid farewell to a ’great friend‘ By Rey E. Requejo THE international community on Thursday mourned the death of former Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, and noted his contribution to strengthening foreign relations under his leadership. In a tweet, John Law, Chargé d’Affaires of the US embassy in Manila, expressed his gratitude to Aquino, known as PNoy to Filipinos, for continued partnership with the US, noting that his death was "heartbreaking." "On behalf of the US Embassy, I offer our deepest condolences to former President Benigno Aquino III’s family and loved ones at this heartbreaking time. We are saddened by President Aquino’s passing and will always be thankful for our partnership," said Law. Aquino, 61, who served as President from 2010 until 2016, was well-regarded by the US government, which helped his administration beef up Manila's modest military capacities in the face of a confrontation with China over the contested South China Sea. Germany's embassy in Manila was also saddened by Aquino's death, saying he was a "great friend" to their country. The embassy recalled Aquino's state visit in Germany in September 2014, Next page
BEFORE THE CRASH. In
this file photo, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) receives one of five more S-70i Black Hawk utility helicopters from Poland aboard an Antonov transport plane at Clark Air Base in Pampanga on June 8. In late 2020, the first six helicopters were delivered. AFP PAO Photo
Business groups saddened by his passing
THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Management Association of the Philippines, the Makati Business Club, the Philippine Stock Exchange and former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima separately condoled with the family of former President Benigno Aquino, III only hours after his death in hospital. In a statement, Ambassador Benedicto Yujuico, PCCI president, said: “It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of former President Noynoy Aquino.” Yujuico noted that as Aquino contin-
Face shield use science-based, says Palace By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE government needs to listen to and believe in the experts’ findings that the use of face shields is effective in preventing the further transmission of COVID-19, Malacañang said Thursday. “We have to believe in what science is saying,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in an online press conference. Roque issued the statement, after the Next page
ued “to strengthen the country's fiscal stability and macroeconomic fundamentals that began during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, it was during his term that the Philippines won its first investment-grade credit rating.” In 2013, three years into his presidency, Fitch Ratings raised the country's credit rating to investment grade, citing the political and economic reforms implemented under Aquino. Other credit rating agencies followed suit.” For its part, the MAP said Aquino's administration was marked “by impres-
sive economic growth, with four credit rating upgrades and a significant increase in foreign direct investments, aided by his focus on transparency and good governance. “Although his administration had its fair share of challenges, the reforms he initiated in public infrastructure, the judiciary, education, health care, and social protections created an engine for progress. And he generated a new respect for the country on the world stage. The West Philippine Sea arbitral ruling is evidence of international recognition of our territorial integrity.” Next page
COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE
(AS OF 4 PM JUNE 24)
1,378,260 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
6,043 51,410 NEW
ACTIVE
24,036
108
1,302,814
4,486
DEATHS
RECOVERIES
By Willie Casas THE more infectious coronavirus Delta variant, first detected in India, could cripple the country’s health care system because of its more infectious nature, the OCTA Research Group said on Thursday. OCTA fellow Ranjit Rye warned that the Delta variant, which he described as a game changer, could lead to a surge of COVID-19 cases in the country. Rye warned also that Filipinos should not be complacent and must follow minimum public health protocols. “We want to emphasize that the Delta variant is a game changer. If it enters the country, it will crumble our healthcare system due to the sudden rise of new cases and since the variant is very infec-
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tious as well,” Rye said in a public briefing. “That’s why our first message is that we need to take precautions, now is not the time to be complacent and to be neglectful,” Rye said. “All we know is that some of the vaccines may not be very effective against these new variants... It’s not yet here in the country, it’s not yet spreading, our goal is to prevent that from happening,” he said. As of June 21, the country
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Black Hawk crash kills 6; fleet grounded THE Philippines grounded its entire fleet of Black Hawk helicopters Thursday after one of the new aircraft crashed during a night-time training flight, killing all six on board. Three pilots and three airmen died when their S70-i went down near the Crow Valley training range north of Manila on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said. "The entire Black Hawk fleet are
grounded while the incident is being investigated," Lorenzana said. The country ordered 16 of the multi-role aircraft from a Polish firm that made them under licence from the Sikorsky division of US defence manufacturer Lockheed Martin. Eleven have been delivered since late 2020. The government bought the Black
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