twitter.com/ MlaStandard
facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH
S
manilastandard.net
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net
‘PH CAN WITHDRAW FROM RCEP DEAL IF DISADVANTAGEOUS’
PH BACKS UN RESO URGING RUSSIA TO END UKRAINE WAR
NEWS /A4
NEWS /A2 VOL. XXXVII • NO. 14 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Better PH human rights noted
EU panel lauds ’promising’ steps taken, including war on drugs shift
V
ISITING members of the European Union parliament noted improvements in the human rights environment in the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. "It was better than it was under President [Rodrigo] Duterte,” said European Parliament member Hannah Neumann in a press briefing yesterday. “People were more open to discussing human rights, but things could improve if they were implemented,” she added. In a separate statement, the EU Parliament members "welcomed the new government’s commitment to engage on human rights with the international community, including UN mechanisms." They said they were "encouraged by promising first steps and announcements in this regard, notably within the framework of the UN Universal Periodic Review." They likewise "noted favourably the President’s commitment to change the focus of the 'war on drugs' away from a punitive approach towards prevention and rehabilitation, and welcomed the commitment not to reintroduce the death penalty.' Neumann, who is a vice chairperson
Thick clouds, risky terrain foil retrieval
Next page
Diesel forecast to lead oil price cuts next week By Alena Mae S. Flores DOMESTIC pump prices may go down by as much as P1.70 per liter next week to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market, an industry source said. The source said the forecast of an oil price rollback is based on theindicative movement of pump prices computed based on four-day trading and foreign exchange movement. "Diesel – possible rollback of P1.50 to P1.70 per liter. Gasoline – possible rollback of P0.90 to P1 per liter," the source said. Next page
DANGEROUS RETRIEVAL. Members of the search and retrieval team secured equipment from the ill-fated Cessna 340 that crashed on the west side slope of Mayon Volcano. From Camalig Mayor Caloy Baldo
THICK clouds and dangerous terrain proved to be challenging in the retrieval of the bodies of the four fatalities of the Cessna plane that crashed in Mayon Volcano, Camalig Mayor Carlos Baldo said. The wreckage of the Cessna 340 plane, which went missing on Saturday morning three minutes after taking off from the Bicol International Airport, is located at an elevation of 3,500 to 4,000 feet on the west side slope of Mayon. “We cannot complete the operation today because even when the weather was fair yesterday, Mayon was covered in thick clouds. Our retrievers could hardly perform their task... And when
Next page
PBBM orders ‘green lanes’ for strategic investments By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the creation of green lanes in government offices in order to promote the Philippines as a "top investment destination."
In Executive Order No. 18, the President said there was a need to ensure the country's regulatory environment is conducive to business operations to encourage investors to engage in strategic investments. "Consistent with the EightPoint Agenda of the
administration and as part of the continuing efforts of implementing ease of doing business reforms, it is imperative to adopt measures that will expedite transactions with the government," the President said in the order. EO 18 covers all national government agencies (NGAs) and their regional and
provincial offices, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and other government instrumentalities, as well as local government units (LGUs), involved in the issuance of permits, licenses, certifications or authorizations (collectively referred to herein as ‘ Next page
Town mayor injured in another ambush, cops look into pattern By Joel E. Zurbano A MAYOR from a town in Maguindanao Del Sur was shot and wounded by two gunmen Thursday night in Pasay City, making him the third local official targeted for assassination in the span of a week. Mayor Ohto Caumbo Montawal of
Datu Montawal (Pagagawan), Maguindanao Del Sur suffered two gunshot wounds in the hip and left arm and was initially brought to the Ospital ng Maynila. He was later transferred to Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa City, where he was declared out of danger. Next page
JOINT MILITARY DRILLS. Filipino and Australian soldiers take part in the Philippine-Australia Army-to-Army exercise being held inside a military camp in Cotabato City. AFP
Romualdez assures public no abuse of wealth fund in general that the proposed Maharlika In- CEO Forum at the Manila Marriott hotel vestment Fund (MIF), a sovereign wealth Friday. fund, would not be abused. “As far as the issue of possible misuse Romualdez made the assurance in a and abuse of the fund, let me assure 'SPEAKER Martin G. Romualdez on FriNext page day assured businessmen and the public recorded video message before the Asia
By Maricel V. Cruz and Julito G. Rada
HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS. Members of a delegation of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights, led by Hannah Neumann (center), hold a media briefing at the Yuchengco Institute for Advanced Studies in RCBC Plaza, Makati City on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 (See story above). Norman Cruz