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PH ENVOY WARNS FILIPINO PATIENCE HAS ITS LIMITS OVER WPS ISSUE By Rey E. Requejo THE country’s envoy to the United States warned Wednesday there will be a time that the Philippines “will rise up” in its fight for its territory in the West Philippine Sea after another aggressive move by the Chinese Coast Guard in the country’s waters. Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said that while he wishes the country would not be tested, the patience of the Filipino people
is “very high” but also has “its limits.” “We have just sat by and just tried our best to talk to them to try and just simply allow our fishermen to fish,” he said in a television interview with ANC. “But you know, Filipino patience has also its limits. And I know that…one day, I hope it never happens, that the Filipino will rise up and say enough is enough,” the Filipino diplomat said, hoping this stance would be relayed to those challenging the country’s territorial rights. Next page
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 283 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Senate okays P5.268t budget
But slashes P152.67m in intel funds from 4 depts, agencies By Macon Ramos-Araneta
Vietnam, PH to work closely on trade, agri
HE Senate on Wednesday approved on third and final reading the P5.268 trillion national budget for 2023 after cutting and realigning P152.67 million in confidential funds from several departments and government agencies.
T
security, climate change, defense and food supply. The commitment came from Vietnam National AsVIETNAM on Wednesday committed to cooperate with sembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in a meeting with the Philippines on a wide range of areas that include food Next page
By Vince Lopez and Maricel V. Cruz
House Bill 4488 or the general appropriations bill was immediately approved after its second reading with 21 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions. Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on finance and sponsor of the measure, said the largest realignment came from the proposed P150 million in confidential funds of the Department of Education, which was reduced to P50 million. Other government agencies whose confidential funds were slashed and realigned to operating expenses were the
Department of Foreign Affairs (P5 million), Department of Justice (P19.2 million), Department of Social Welfare and Development (P19.2 million), other executive offices (P6 million) and the Office of the Ombudsman (P20 million). In his sponsorship speech, Angara described the 2023 budget as one that addresses the needs of the people postpandemic, supports the goal of ensuring food security, reviving education and preparing the country for the impact of climate change. “Under the 2023 budget, there will Next page
Pope removes Caritas’ top brass, including Cardinal Tagle as prexy POPE Francis on Tuesday removed the whole leadership of Caritas Internationalis -- the Vatican-based Catholic charity network led by Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle -- after outside experts highlighted management and procedural “deficiencies.” Announced in a Vatican statement, the surprise move unseats the existing leadership, of which Tagle is president. The Pope also appointed a temporary administrator in Pier Francesco Pi-
STRONGER TIES. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets
nelli, a former renewable energy executive and Bain consultant trained by the Jesuits. Despite his removal from office, Tagle will continue to assist Pinelli, he said on Tuesday during a plenary meeting in Rome. The ousters were not due to sexual abuse and financial management, Tagle said, as he read the Pope’s decree, Vatican News reported. It follows a review of the “workplace Next page
with Vietnam’s National Assembly chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in Malacañang on Wednesday. The visiting official said Vietnam is organizing a business forum to lay the groundwork for strengthened trade and investment ties. Inset photo shows Vuong sharing a light moment with Speaker Martin Romualdez at the House of Representatives. Ver Noveno
Cop gets 2 life terms over death of teen boys By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja THE Caloocan City Regional Trial Court has sentenced Police Officer 1 Jeffrey Perez to two life terms plus reclusion perpetua (another 20 to 40 years) after finding him guilty of planting of evidence and torture, in connection with the killings of teenagers Carl
Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo “Kulot” De Guzman in August 2017. In the decision, Presiding Judge Rodrigo Pascua Jr. of the Caloocan RTC, Branch 122, said the lower court gave more weight to the testimony of star witness Arnold Perlada along with the findings of Dr. Erwin Erfe, a forensic consultant and des-
ignated director of the Public Attorney’s Office Forensic Laboratory Service, in convicting Perez of violating the Anti-Torture Act of 2010, and violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for planting of evidence. Next page
CARITAS SHAKE-UP. File photo shows Pope Francis and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle after a mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in March 2021. Pope Francis removed the existing leadership of Caritas Internationalis—the Vatican-based Catholic charity network led by Tagle. AFP
Standard News Editor among 22 Employers must give 13th month pay before X’mas picked for US journalist program By Alena Mae Flores
MANILA Standard News Editor Joyce Babe Pañares has been chosen for the 2022 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists -- Research and Investigations. She will join 21 other participants from 19 countries for the three-week fellowship from Nov. 26 to Dec. 18 that will begin in Washington DC before moving to Baltimore in Maryland, St. Petersburg in Florida, San Diego in California, and Chicago in Illinois. Pañares and PCIJ reporter Cherry Salazar will represent the Philippines in the fellowship. The IVLP is a professional exchange program funded by the US State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs that Manila Standard News Editor Joyce Pañares
offers current and emerging international leaders the opportunity to experience the richness and diversity of American political, economic, social and cultural life.
EMPLOYERS must pay their employees the mandatory 13th-month pay on or before December 24, Christmas Eve, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reminded them Wednesday.
Private sector employers are mandated to pay the benefits due to their workers equivalent to an employee’s one-month salary, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said. This developed as the Department of Trade and Industry released the price
guide for Noche Buena products on Wednesday to guide consumers on the current price of products sold in the market, boost awareness, and assist the public in making informed purchases. Prices have increased by 10 percent Next page
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Suspended prisons chief Gerald Bantag
Bersamin, Diokno get CA nod
Subpoena sent to ‘wrong’ Bantag
NEWS / A4
NEWS / A3
Budget Sec. Benjamin Diokno
Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin