twitter.com/ MlaStandard
facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH
manilastandard.net
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net
MAJORITY OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS FAVOR WEALTH FUND CREATION By Maricel V. Cruz and Julito G. Rada ment areas. A MOBILE phone-based survey found that one in two of respondents who were aware of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) were in favor of the bill creating it, the market research company Tangere said Monday. The survey of 2,400 respondents conducted between Dec. 8 and 10, found that 83.75 percent were aware of the MIF, which seeks to create a sovereign wealth fund to invest in key develop-
The bill creating the fund was recently passed on third and final reading in the House of Representatives. While major business groups and academics said the creation of a sovereign wealth fund was untimely, the Philippine Stock Exchange this week said the MIF could create “a multiplier effect” that could attract more investments and grow the local capital market. “The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc Next page
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 309 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
PBBM calls for stronger AFP Tells troops to gear up for borderless security threats amid peace efforts
Diesel tops oil price hikes at P2.90 per liter
By Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told troops Monday to continue exerting efforts to achieve the peace and security needed to sustain economic prosperity on the 87th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
By Alena Mae S. Flores
“My marching guidance has always re- try remain the priority,” President Marcos mained constant: we commit to the cause of said in a speech. Next page peace. The security and stability of the coun-
THE country’s oil firms implemented a hefty oil price hike of as much as P2.90 per liter for diesel effective today (Tuesday) to reflect the movement of prices in the world market. The price hike ended four weeks of consecutive rollbacks across all oil products. Oil companies also raised the price of kerosene by P1.65 per liter and gasoline by P0.70 per liter. The increase for diesel was nearly double the projection of the Department of Energy on Friday. The DOE forecasted an oil price Next page
NEDA: GROWTH SEEN TO EXCEED TARGET OF 7.5% RALLYING THE TROOPS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his message during the 87th AFP Anniversary Monday afternoon at the Lapu Lapu Grandstand in Camp Aguinaldo,
BUSINESS / B4
Quezon City. Looking on are Speaker Martin G. Romualdez and Department of National Defense OIC Jose Faustino Jr. Ver Noveno
BSP pushes Pinoys split on how to celebrate Xmas: more prosperous or same cash gifts via digital transfer By Maricel V. Cruz
FILIPINOS were split on whether this year’s Christmas celebration would be “more prosperous” or “same” as last year, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed. At least 52 percent of the respondents
By Julito Rada DIGITAL “aguinaldo” for the holidays? The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is urging Filipinos to give digital cash gifts not only to promote financial inclusion but also as a safety measure amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. “We encourage our countrymen to take advantage of the ease and safety provided by digital finance in sending their cash gifts during the holidays,” the BSP said. The Central Bank said Filipinos who intend to give cash as “pamasko” as well as those who want to donate to charitable institutions can transmit money conveniently through a wide array of digital payment channels available in the country. These include interbank fund transfers through InstaPay and PESONet, electronic money issuers that are more commonly known as e-wallets, and QR Ph, which entails code scanning and offers consumers faster, easier,
of Pulse Asia’s “Ulat ng Bayan” survey said they will be celebrating Christmas this year the same way they did in 2021. Of this number, 42 percent said the holiday celebration would be the same as last year while 43 percent said it
EAGLES REIGN. Ange Kouame holds up his Finals MVP trophy as his Ateneo de Manila University teammates celebrate after beating University of the Philippines in Game 3 to claim the Blue Eagles’ fourth UAAP crown in five years, while denying the Fighting Maroons back-to-back titles.
would be more prosperous. Some 10 percent said the celebration last year was not prosperous and would remain the same this year. The remaining 6 percent of respondents said their Christmas celebrations would be poorer than last year.
Next page
Ateneo nips UP in Game 3, regains UAAP hoops crown By Peter Atencio ATENEO de Manila University built a big lead early, kept it three-fourths of the way, then weathered a furious University of the Philippines comeback to score a 75-68 victory and claim its 12th crown in the 85th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball championship at the Araneta Coliseum on Monday night. The Blue Eagles, through BJ Andrade, sank the deciding free throws in the dying seconds to quash a UP mutiny that ran out of time in front of a raucous Big Dome crowd of 21,814. Ateneo thus dethroned the Fighting Maroons and reclaimed the UAAP title it had won in the past three seasons before. To set up their fourth title in five seasons, the Eagles started strong and led
Next page
Next page
2 jail gang men claim drunk Bantag stabbed them TWO gang leaders at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City are planning to sue suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag after months of silence, after he allegedly stabbed them while drunk inside the national penitentiary. According to a 24 Oras TV report on Monday night, Bantag stabbed Ronald Usman and Jonathan Cañeta on their arms and legs after being summoned by the prisons chief to his office on February 1. Eleven other gang commanders were there, they said. Upon their arrival, Usman and Canete said they noticed Bantag drinking with two other commanders, already intoxicated. Cañete said Bantag approached them, then poked his
“Most Visayans (66%) will have a more prosperous holiday celebration this year while a small majority of Metro Manilans (58%) say their celebration this year will be just as prosperous as what they had last year,” Pulse Asia said.
chest with a sharp object. Hurt, Cañete said he parried the blade. He said this angered Bantag, who then stabbed him on the leg. Usman also said he was assaulted by Bantag, who he said stabbed his hand. Bantag is suspended from his post owing to his alleged involvement in the killing of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa. Both prisoners said a certain “Zulueta” approached them the next day and paid them P50,000 each to remain silent. They did not clarify who the official was but said Deputy Bucor Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta is a close ally of Bantag (see related story on Next page
ARGENTINA, MESSI NOW ‘IMMORTALS’ caption
SPORTS / C1