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US to expand facilities in PH
Eyes 5 more military areas on top of other projects under EDCA
T
HE United States is interested in building five more facilities in the country under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro said. Bacarro said these include—subject to vetting--two possible sites in Cagayan, one in Palawan, one in Zambales, and one in Isabela. Finalized after eight rounds of talks in August 2013, the EDCA which was signed in 2014 allows US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, the right to build facilities, and preposition
equipment, aircraft, and vessels, but rules out permanent basing. Under the EDCA, the Philippine government is working with the United States to build the future facilities in Cesar Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 274 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
DOJ serves subpoenas to Bantag, Zulueta et al. over Mabasa killing
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PBBM leaves today for APEC Summit set in Thailand
By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Department of Justice served a subpoena to suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag on Tuesday, in connection with his alleged involvement in the killing of broadcast commentator Percival Mabasa also known as Percy Lapid. “The subpoena was served to the last
By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will travel to Bangkok, Thailand on Wednesday, Nov. 16, to join other world leaders for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. The Palace said the President tested negative for COVID-19, after he had come in contact with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who had tested positive at the Group of 20 meetings in Bali, Indonesia. “The President had himself tested as part of the health
known address of Bantag in Caloocan,” Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Charlie Guhit said in a text message to reporters. But he added that the barangay captain told the process server that Bantag no longer stayed at that address after his appointment to BuCor. Guhit said the subpoena against Bantag, who was tagged as the mastermind in Mabasa’s killing, was deemed served. Next page
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NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. The house of suspended prisons chief Gerald Bantag in Tamban Street, Caloocan City where a personnel of the Department of Justice served a subpoena in connection to the murder of broadcaster Percival Mabasa on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. Danny Pata
DOH for extended calamity state if health emergency bill not OK’d By Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz
DAZZLING LIGHTS. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto share a light moment during the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the city hall complex. Manny Palmero
THE Department of Health (DOH) will recommend extending the state of calamity for COVID-19 in the country for next year should Congress reject its proposed bill on a public health emergency.
Speaker raises P70.92m for disaster victims to mark 59th birthday By Maricel V. Cruz and Joel E. Zurbano SPEAKER Martin Romualdez turned his birthday celebration Monday night into an opportunity to help, raising P70.92 million in cash and pledges for disaster victims, with victims of a recent fire in Navotas City as the first beneficiaries. Reports said at least five persons died, while two others were injured in a fire that razed a residential area in Navotas on Monday evening.
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Gov’t sees rate of poverty down to 9% in 2028 By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez
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THE administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is confident it will be able to bring down the country’s poverty rate by half to nine percent by 2028. According to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, the nine-percent goal by 2028 will be accomplished by bringing growth to a higher level, enhancing the quality of growth through the creation of quality jobs, and improving the social protection system, among others. The Marcos administration will present the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023 to 2028 next month,
BIRTHDAY FOR A CAUSE.
Speaker Martin Romualdez turns over to Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco P5 million in cash and 500 rice packs -- raised during his birthday Monday evening -- to help the victims of a fire that razed a residential area in Navotas City. Photo shows residents looking for usable materials that can still be salvaged from their gutted homes. Ver Noveno and Norman Cruz
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BIR chief, CAAP head, DOH Usec. named
Dr. Eric Tayag
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they will urge the Office of the President to extend anew the state of calamity, which is set to expire on December 31. “The option really is for us to extend
Romeo Lumagui Jr.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Dr. Eric Tayag as new undersecretary of the Department of Health and tax lawyer Romeo Lumagui Jr. as commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). An infectious disease specialist, Tayag was previously DOH spokesman, an assistant secretary under the Aquino III administration, and most recently the head of the agency’s Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service. Next page
Manila newborn one of world’s 8 billionth babies By Willie Casas A BABY girl born in the City of Manila early Tuesday is among the newborns symbolizing being the 8 billionth person in the world. MILESTONE BIRTH. Maria Villorente cuddles Baby The baby, identified as Vinice Ma- Vinice, the symbolic 8 billionth human in the world, at the bansag, was born at Dr. Jose Fabella Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila past 1 a.m. Next page
Tuesday. Norman Cruz