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China nixes US Energy Dept. claim that COVID-19 came from lab leak BEIJING—China on Monday rejected claims that the COVID-19 pandemic arose from a leak at one of its laboratories, following media reports that the US Department of Energy has determined that was the most likely cause of the outbreak.

The conclusion—noted in a classified report by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines’s office, The Wall Street Journal reported -- marks a shift by the Energy Department, which had previously said it was undecided on Next page

VOL. XXXVII • NO. 18 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Sea issue recasts AFP task’

PBBM tells troops PH faces more complex problems over boundaries By Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta

HE mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has evolved amid the “most difficult and complicated” issue on the South China Sea in this part of the world and the “intensification of the competition of superpowers,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in his talk to the troops before the Visayas Command in Cebu on Monday.

“If before, we had what we say to be clear boundaries of our country, now that is being questioned and several things are happening... We are facing a more complex foreign situation in the Philippines. As they say, in this part of the world, here in the Philippines, the South China Sea is the most complicated geopolitical situation in the world,” the President said.

“If there is a war in Ukraine, here the South China Sea is said to be the most difficult and most complicated problem.” “This is why I say that the mission of the AFP has changed. And now we have effectively watched over matters that before we did not have to think much about. There was a time when we did not have to worry about these Next page

Transport strike set vs. sector’s modernization By Maricel Cruz

MORE PNP GEAR. High speed tactical watercraft figure prominently among the new equipment procured by the Philippine National Police (PNP), which its chief PGen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.

presented on Monday. These also include patrol vehicles, guns, and others worth P1.2 billion during the PNP Capability Enhancement Program at Camp Crame in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

Speaker vows House support in bigger campaign vs. crime By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo SPEAKER Martin G. Romualdez on Monday night committed the solid support of the House of Representatives for the authorities’ intensified campaign against crime “to ensure the safety of our citizens.” Romualdez made the announcement following a closed-door meeting at the House with Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. that he sought amid recent incidents of gunrelated violence against certain local officials and hapless civilians. “I talked to the President (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) earlier (in Cebu) and he was pleased that we are giving more attention to recent crimes,” Romualdez said during the meeting. Abalos and Azurin reported to the Speaker that the country’s crime rate went down despite the recent high-profile incidents. “We gave Sec. Abalos and Gen. Azurin our assurance that the House of Representatives would be open to pro-

viding the PNP with adequate funding support and other resources -- as well as new legislation if necessary -- to buttress the campaign against crime, which is our shared concern,” Romualdez said. Other leaders who attended the meeting include House Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, Camiguin Rep. Jayjay Romualdo, and Agusan del Norte Rep. Joboy Aquino II. Abalos and Azurin were joined by PNP Chief of Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, National Capital Region Police Chief Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, and PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo. Meanwhile, Abalos Jr. has ordered the PNP to intensify its campaign against loose firearms in the wake of three separate attacks on locally elected officials. “There is a need to dismantle these private armed groups and confiscate Next page

30k housing units

Bus Rapid Transit

Kadiwa ng Pangulo

AT LEAST 30,000 housing units will be built for Cebu City residents under the flagship project of the current administration, the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program (4PH), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday. During the groundbreaking ceremo-

THE President also led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project, which aims to decongest traffic in Cebu City and give commuters a faster and safer mode of transportation. The ceremony officially kicked off the civil works for the four stations under

THE President also launched the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” in Cebu City following the success of the “Kadiwa ng Pasko” during the Christmas season to provide consumers with fresh and affordable agricultural and fishery products. The President said he was elated

AYUDA FOR CEBU. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the distribution of various cash assistance to almost 3,000 beneficiaries

and local government units in Mandaue City, Cebu on Monday. With him are (from left) Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, and Speaker Martin Romualdez. Rey S. Baniquet

Makati orders Smart telco HQ shut over P3.2b tax, biz permit problems By Rey E. Requejo and Darwin G. Amojelar

By Maricel V. Cruz

President gives back to Cebu in return to province

Lawmakers OK hybrid Con-con for Charter edit VOTING 17-2 with zero abstention, the House of Representatives committee on constitutional amendments on Monday approved a committee report that calls for a “hybrid” Constitutional convention to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Charter. At the same time, the committee

TRANSPORT groups on Monday announced they will hold a weeklong transport holiday in the National Capital Region and Region 3 from March 6 to 12 to protest the government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista immediately appealed to transport groups to hold a dialog first with concerned officials before holding the strike. “You know, we should seriously think about stopping operations. There should be a dialogue first,” Bautista said in a statement. “Let’s understand what the issues are because we might just be misunderstanding each other. I think the problem is that the DOTr had no representative during the discussions to clarify the issues,” he added. The PUV modernization program aims to replace traditional jeepneys with vehicles powered by more environment-friendly fuels. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said

CLOSURE ORDER. Officials of the City of Makati place a sign over the main doors of the Smart Communications office along Ayala Avenue in the city’s central business district on Monday, marking its closure over what the LGU said was for operating without a business permit since 2019. Lino Santos

THE Makati City government has ordered the closure of Smart Communications Inc. headquarters for operating without a business permit since 2019. The city government issued the closure order on Feb. 23 against the headquarters, located at 6799 Ayala Avenue in Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati City, for violating Section 4A.01 of the Revised Makati Revenue Code or City Ordinance No. 2004-A-025.

“You are hereby commanded to cease and desist from further operating your business establishment until such time compliance with the said ordinance is made,” stated the order. The company said its legal and tax teams are in talks with the Makati City local government over the alleged P3.2 billion tax deficiencies and for operating without a business permit since 2019. “Smart remains committed to complying with Makati City’s local tax ordinances, and with applicable national Next page