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2 PAF pilots die in Bataan crash, plane with 6 on board missing
By Joel E. Zurbano TWO Philippine Air Force aviators were killed in a crash Wednesday, while rescuers were searching for another plane that went missing the previous day with 6 people on board, authorities said.
ILL-FATED TRAINING AIRCRAFT. A handout photo from
the Bureau of Fire Protection Region III taken and released on January 25, 2023 shows rescuers retrieving a body from a crashed plane in Pilar, Bataan where two Philippine Air Force aviators were killed. AFP / Bureau of Fire Protection Region III
During a training exercise, the military’s SF260 Marchetti plane plummeted onto a rice paddy in Pilar town near Manila, killing the pilot and another aviator, Bataan province’s police chief Col. Romell Velasco said. “It’s a total wreck. The wings were Next page
Onion to sell at P100/k—DA
Suspends P250 SRP as import, harvest supplies soon out in market By Maricel V. Cruz and Othel V. Campos
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NION prices which recently shot up to more than P600 per kilo are expected to drop to P100 to P150 a kilo with the importation of more than 5,000 metric tons (MT) of the commodity, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 346 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
High operation cost main trigger of egg price spike LOCAL egg producers on Wednesday reiterated their reasons for raising prices a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. questioned why prices for the commodity have surged despite ample supply in the market. Increasing transport and fuel costs
and losses due to overproduction and avian influenza or bird flu are among those reasons, Philippine Egg Board Chairman Gregorio San Diego said after Mr. Marcos sought an explanation for the “wide gap” between the farmgate and retail prices of eggs.
WHO chief worried over COVID deaths By Willie Casas THE World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday expressed concern over the increasing number of COVID-19 deaths worldwide. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said more than 170,000 people died from COVID-19 in the past eight weeks, and said the actual number could be much higher. “I remain very concerned by the situation in many countries and the rising number of deaths,” he said. “While we are clearly in better shape than three years ago when this pandemic first hit, the global collective response is once again under strain.” Next page
Dolly de Leon fails bid in Oscars nominee list
“Those who get eggs from the farm, especially if the farm is far away, of course oil prices have increased, same with other expenses like the toll fees also have an impact. During transport, if some eggs break, I think that Next page
In a statement, the Palace said the DA has deferred the extension of the P250 suggested retail price (SRP) for red onions due to the forecasted lower price range following the harvest season. Meanwhile, a DA official came under fire at a congressional hearing when he was unable to explain whether a cartel in the local onion industry was behind the high prices. At a hearing of the House committee on agriculture and food, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo admonished Bureau of Plant Industry Director Glenn Panganiban, who balked at saying whether such
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Ex-PSG chief, 6 soldiers tagged in Yvonette Plaza killing POLICE on Wednesday tagged Army Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III as the mastermind in the killing of businesswoman Yvonette Plaza last December. The Special Investigation Task Force Plaza, which held a press conference in Davao City, identified six more soldiers as suspects in the killing. Region XI Police chief Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo said the killing was a “crime of passion,” as Durante – a former head of the Presidential Security Group -- was reported to be in a relationship with Plaza, whom he said was only a “friend.” Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Durante, who led the PSG under President Rodrigo Duterte, has been relieved as commander of the 1001st Brigade “to give way to an impartial and thor- Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III ough investigation. “The Philippine Army will not condone Durante earlier denied involvement in the any criminal act committed by its person- killing of Plaza, saying his name was being nel,” Brawner said. dragged because of a Facebook post made by “The Army ensures the public that this inci- Plaza in April last year. dent is not service related.” “Yvonne was a friend. My name is being
Slain Davao-based businesswoman Yvonette Plaza
dragged based on an FB post made last April 2022 wherein I allegedly hurt her. She later retracted the post and issued a statement that I did not in any way harm her,” Durante had said. Next page
Senator links Chinese mafia to human traffic
By Nickie Wang IT WAS a record-setting year for Asian actors in the Academy Awards – also known as the Oscars – with Chinese-American Michelle Yeoh and the sci-fi hit Everything Everywhere All at Once leading the nominations. But film critics were surprised when Filipina actress Dolly de Leon, who exDolly hibited a powerful performance de Leon in Triangle of Sadness, failed to become one of the five main contenders for the best supporting actress race. Triangle of Sadness is up for the coveted best picture and original screenplay awards. It is a satirical black comedy film written and directed by Ruben Östlund who scored the best director nomination for his English-language feature film debut.
a cartel existed. “Director, do you believe that there is a cartel in this industry?” Quimbo asked the director of the bureau, an attached agency of the DA. “Ma’am, I can’t say if there’s a cartel, but it seems that it seems that aside from production and importation, there’s something else that is exerting some kind of control,” he replied, also in Filipino. “I don’t know if that’s the word you call it, madame.” Quimbo, senior vice chairperson of the House committee on appropriations,
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
NEW YEAR’S CALL. Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta (center, seated) and PAO forensics director Dr.
Erwin Erfe (left, seated) visited Manila Standard on Jan. 16, 2023 as part of her media rounds for the start of the year. Shown in photo are (clockwise) reporter Rio Araja, Manila Standard Publisher Mr. Rolando Estabillo, Webcast Head Randy Caluag, City Editor Jimbo Gulle, and News Editor Joyce Pañares.
SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday called for a thorough investigation of Immigration officials, saying the Chinese mafia may have more connections inside the bureau due to the persistent reports of outbound human trafficking of Filipinos forced to work as cryptocurrency scammers. The senator then called for the overhaul of the Bureau of Immigration “to ensure the protection of every Filipino leaving our borders.” Next page