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PBBM: Shun Cold War outlook Calls on Asia-Pacific nations to be free from the clutches of geopolitics
By Vince Lopez and Vito Barcelo
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday that countries in the Asia Pacific region should chart their own destiny away from the clutches of intense geopolitical rivalry, noting that there is unanimity among those nations not to embrace the Cold War mentality. Speaking during a luncheon hosted for him and the Philippine Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) by the economic team in Davos, Switzerland, President Marcos said countries in the Asia Pacific are facing pressure to take sides as a result of intense geopolitical tension in the region. The President said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies are very well committed to the idea that they cannot return to the Cold War formula, in which they have to choose whether to be under the Soviet Union or the United States spheres of influence. “No country grew wealthy without a very strong trade relationship, not only with one or two other countries but with the rest of the world.... We all desire, especially let us say around the South China Sea, we all desire a more multi-polar [geopolitics],” Mr. Marcos said. “However, the forces of us going back to that Cold War type of scenario where you have to choose one side or Next page
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 338 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
INVESTMENT PITCH. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his economic team are joined by seven Filipino business tycoons -- Sabin Aboitiz, president and CEO of the Aboitiz Group and strategic convenor of the Private Sector Advisory Council; Kevin Andrew Tan of Alliance Global, Jaime Zobel de Ayala of the Ayala Group; Lance Gokongwei of JG Summit Holdings; Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corp.; Teresita Sy-Coson of SM Investments; and Enrique Razon of International Container Terminal -- in Davos, Switzerland during the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Inset photo shows Mr. Marcos attending the opening of the WEF 2023. The President also had a bilateral meeting with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. Presidential Communications Office
Mr. Marcos joins other world leaders at WEF opening Diokno sees faster growth in 2022 than GDP target of 6.5% to 7.5% By Othel V. Campos and Maricel V. Cruz
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday attended the formal opening of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023 at the Davos Congress Center in Switzerland. Mr. Marcos is scheduled to address
the WEF today (Wednesday, Jan. 18, Manila time). Ahead of the formal opening, Mr. Marcos made an investment pitch for the Philippines that gained “a very positive response” from some of the world’s top business leaders, Speaker Martin Romualdez said.“This is an auspicious start and bodes well for the success of
the President’s mission here at the WEF and that is to position the Philippines as an investment hub and gateway to the Asia-Pacific region,” Romualdez said. “Everyone was excited about the Philippine recovery story and agreed that it is the future investor haven for Western capital,” he added. Next page
THE government expects a strong full-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2022, most likely much faster than its growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent, Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Monday.
In a speech during a luncheon hosted for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Philippine chief executive officers (CEOs) in Davos, Switzerland, Diokno said because of the expected slowdown of the global economy, the Philippine Next page
Ninja cop, two others arrested in buy-bust ops By Joel E. Zurbano
DINAGYANG COLORS. Ilonggo Artists work on Dinagyang murals along Lapuz district in Iloilo City. Arnold Almacen
Galvez admits ‘rumblings’ in the military, vows to fix things within 3 months By Macon Ramos-Araneta NEWLY appointed Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday admitted “rumblings” within the military due to Republic Act 11709, which grants a
three-year fixed term for the AFP Chief of Staff and other key officials, but said this situation would be resolved within the first quarter of 2023. In the hearing to amend the law conducted by the Senate Committee on
National Defense chaired by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Galvez revealed the unrest among some AFP members as they have not been promoted, and that the law has gravely affected their morale. The delayed appointments, he said,
will mostly affect those officers who belong to the Philippine Military Academy Classes of 1990 and 1994. “But if we can fix it now, this will be a huge help. It will (remove) apprehensions Next page
DOJ files kidnapping raps vs. six in sabungeros case
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KIDNAPPING and serious illegal detention charges were filed Tuesday against six persons allegedly involved in the disappearance of six cockfighting enthusiasts or “sabungeros” in January last year, Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Mico Clavano said. The information was filed with the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) against farm manager Julie Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion, and Roberto Matillano Jr. Clavano said the prosecutors also recommended that no bail be set for the respondents. “All remain at large. The Department of Justice, therefore, encourages law enforcement agencies to keep a look
Cakes, pastries to be costlier as eggs prices spike By Othel V. Campos
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VIETNAM PRESIDENT QUITS AMID ANTI-GRAFT PURGE WORLD / B2
ANOTHER policeman was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation Monday night in Sta. Cruz, Manila, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday. This was as PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said only 18 police generals and full colonels have yet to heed Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos’ call for them to submit their courtesy resignations in the government’s bid to purge the force of “ninja cops” or those involved in the illegal drug trade. In a radio interview, Fajardo said 98% or 935 out of 953 senior PNP officers have already tendered their courtesy resignations as of Monday. The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced the arrest of Police Staff Sergeant
LEAP OF LUCK. As the Year of the Water Rabbit forecasts hope this 2023, SM Supermalls roll out Chinese New Yearthemed activities like this art installation at SM Davao.
PRICES of cake and other pastries are seen to go up soon as egg prices remain high due to tight supply, a group of bakers said Tuesday, about three days after they also warned of bread prices rising by P2 to P4 due to costlier eggs triggered in turn by recent cases of bird flu. Asosasyon ng Panaderong Pilipino president Chito Chavez told ABSCBN that pandesal and bread loaves Next page