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NEWS / A2
NEWS / A3 VOL. XXXVI • NO. 372 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
PCG plans laser use in WPS
Coast Guard eyes revised rules of force, plans joint patrols with US By Rey E. Requejo, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz
T
HE Philippine Coast Guard plans to include laser technology in its rules on the use of force after the February 6 laser-pointing incident in Ayungin Shoal involving the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG). “For the Philippine Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard, there are also ongoing talks now about a possibility of joining the US Coast Guard in a joint patrol in WPS (West Philippine Sea),” PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said Monday in an interview on CNN Philippines. Tarriela said the inclusion of lasers in PCG’s rules needs the approval of the National Task Force WPS (NTFWPS), which is chaired by the National Security Adviser – currently Secretary Eduardo Ano -- and counts undersecretaries from 16 government departments and agencies as members. “For the PCG, we are currently including the use of laser technology in our rules on the use of force. But again, our rules on the use of force have to be approved by the NTF-WPS,” he said. Last week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and told him “close friends do not use military-grade lasers Next page
TOUGH TRAINING. The Philippine Coast Guard District Southern Mindanao launches its Water Safety, Rescue, and Survival Techniques Training Class 06-2023 and Basic Lifeguard Training Class 02-2023 in Barangay Labangal, General Santos City, on Monday. About 56 PCG personnel are on a 10-day training on basic life support, water safety, rescue, and survival technique in preparation for Coast Guard missions. PCG Photo
Euro HR solons to visit PH; Remulla pans ICC anew House panel OKs measure calling By Rey Requejo
Department of Foreign Affairs said. Feb. 22 to 24. Six members of the EP subcommitThe visiting members of parliament MEMBERS of the European Parlia- tee will meet their counterparts in Con- will also have audiences with Justice ment Subcommittee on Human Rights gress to exchange views on best practic- Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and will visit the Philippines this week, the es and legislation during their stay from Next page
for ‘Con-con’ to amend ’87 Charter By Maricel V. Cruz
THE House of Representatives committee on constitutional amendments on Monday approved a Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) calling for a constitutional convention to amend the 1987 Constitution. The committee, led by its chairman Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, agreed on “Con-Con” as a mode
to amend the Constitution after having conducted seven public hearings to get the people’s pulse on whether the Charter must be amended. During the hearing, 16 lawmakers voted in favor of the resolution while three legislators voted against and one abstained. The panel, however, suspended deliberations on the committee report on an Next page
Creation of Maharlika Investment Corp. pushed by GOCC overseer By Julito G. Rada THE Governance Commission for GOCCs, the central advisory, oversight, and monitoring body for governmentowned and -controlled corporations, has backed the establishment of the Maharlika Investment Fund. In its position paper on Senate Bill 1670, the GCG pushed for the creation
SHOPPING HAVEN. Baguio City’s famed night market gleams on Harrison Road on a cold Saturday night last weekend. The night market, which had to stop operations at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, reopened on Dec. 1, 2020 for the Christmas season and was allowed to resume full time in February 2021. Rey S. Baniquet
Romualdez, lawmakers express full support for RCEP ratification By Maricel V. Cruz LEADERS of the House of Representatives expressed their full support for the immediate ratification by the Senate of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement so that Filipinos can reap its benefits, including more jobs. “By immediately ratifying the RCEP
of a Maharlika Investment Corporation, which is envisioned to be an independent corporate body under the proposed bill. The MIC is intended to govern and manage the proposed state investment fund. The Governance Commission said the MIC bears the attributes of a GOCC, such as its charter, functions relating to public needs, and state ownership. Next page
Senate raises staff’s inflation stipend to P50k By Macon Ramos-Araneta
Agreement, the Philippines can sooner benefit and take advantage of this mega-trade deal that could attract more foreign investors, create more job opportunities, and curb the unemployment and poverty rates in the country,” said Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, one of the principal authors of House Resolution (HR) 728, which supports the
SENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday announced an increase in the “inflation allowance” of Senate employees from P12,200 to P50,000. During the first-ever face-to-face flag ceremony after the COVID-19 pandemic at the Senate grounds in Manila, Zubiri said the 3,000 Senate employees will receive their inflation
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FREEDOM RITE. Some of 216 persons deprived of liberty (PDL) who completed their sentence on Monday listen to speeches in a ceremony led by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and acting Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. at the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Danny Pata