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SUNKEN TANKER’S LEAKING FUEL BLACKENS COAST
PROCLAMATION OF TULFO AS ACT SOLON HITS SNAG
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2 VOL. XXXVII • NO. 21 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Transport groups split on strike Manibela, Piston say protest to push through; Gov’t readies contingencies
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
T
HE weeklong transport strike starting March 6 will push through even as more groups on Thursday said they would not join the protest and distanced themselves from its Manila-based organizers. This early, the government said it is already preparing contingency plans to mitigate the impact of the strike, including free bus and van rides for affected commuters. “The transport strike will push through. Nothing has happened in the Senate hearing. The bottomline is the PUV phaseout
will still happen,” Manibela said in a Facebook post after yesterday’s hearing of the Senate public services committee chaired by Senator Grace Poe. Transport group PISTON said it will not stop protesting until the government revises it PUV Modernization Program, noting that merely extendint the dead-
line is not enough. The Northern Mindanao Federation of Transport Service Cooperative (Nomfedtrasco), however, said it opposes the declaration of Manibela, led by its chairperson Mar Valbuena, for a nationwide transport strike. The statement, signed by Luzminda Escobidal and Melvin Erederos, the group’s chief executive officer and chairperson, respectively, noted that the group’s members are compliant and supportive of the modernization plan. “There were (at least) 20 transport service cooperative members that already Next page
PRO-PUV MODERNIZATION. Transport groups belonging to various cooperatives in the National Capital Region announce they are not joining the looming transport strike next week during a press briefing in Manila on Thursday, March 2, 2023. The groups also urge their fellow drivers to take part in the PUV Modernization program of the government. Danny Pata
PH formulating guides on joint patrols in WPS By Rey E. Requejo
PERSONS OF INTEREST. Six Tau Gamma fraternity members who are considered persons of interest in the
death of Adamson student John Matthew Salilig arrive at the Department of Justice in Manila on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Norman Cruz and Danny Pata
6 suspects in hazing death of Salilig charged, others still at large By Rey E. Requejo, Charles Dantes, hazing death of John Matthew Salilig, a sisted John Michael Salilig, the victim’s alde, 31; Mark Edrosa, 39; and students chemical engineering student at Adam- brother, in filing complaints for violat- Romeo Earl Anthony, 21; Tung Cheng Rio N. Araja and Bobby Lagsa son University, while another suspect ing the Anti-Hazing Act. Teng Jr., 22; Jerome Balot, 22; and SanNamed respondents in the complaints dro Victorino, 28. They were arrested SIX members of the Tau Gamma Phi surrendered to the authorities. The Philippine National Police as- were tattoo artist Michael Lambert Ritfraternity have been charged for the Next page
4,000 displaced ‘sacadas’ to get livelihood help ABOUT 4,000 displaced sugarcane field workers in Calabarzon would benefit from the more than P79 million worth of livelihood assistance and emergency employment to be provided by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The workers are from the Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Inc. (CADPI) Sugar Mill, one of Luzon’s biggest raw sugar producers. The company filed for permanent closure after “experiencing operational and financial challenges within the current conditions affecting the sugar industry in the Batangas area.” In a statement Thursday, DOLE 4-A (Calabarzon) Director Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla assured that the workers would be given due intervention through existing programs of the Next page
THE government is drawing up guidelines for joint patrols with allies in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the face of increasingly aggressive behavior by China in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. Operational details, including the possible engagement of other regional partners, will be part of talks between the Philippines and the United States, which have a mutual defense treaty, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday. Last month, defense officials said they were considering joint patrols with the United States, Japan and Australia, but the DFA did not provide any details this week on which countries would take part in them. The DFA said the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) mechanism with the US draws up activities that will be undertaken by the two allies. Despite a decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in favor of Manila, Beijing still insists it has sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, which is well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In a recent visit to the country, US Defense Secretary Lloyd AustinIII reiterated Washington’s commitment to help defend the Philippines, a long-time treaty ally, against aggression after a Chinese coast guard vessel pointed a military-grade laser at a passing Philippine supply ship near Ayungin Shoal on Feb. 6. The laser-beaming incident off Ayungin — also known by its international name Next page
Floating debris found, likely from missing medic chopper THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ing in Palawan. on Thursday said it found floating This developed as the remains of all debris that could be from the medical four passengers and crew of the Cessevacuation helicopter that went miss- na 340 plane that crashed near Mayon
Volcano two weeks ago have already CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio been brought down from the crash also said the agency would have to site, the Civil Aviation Authority of the consider the recent aircraft incidents Philippines (CAAP) said Thursday. Next page
Malaysia’s PM cites Rizal’s ideals in urging ASEAN to uphold justice By Vince Lopez
RIZAL SCHOLAR. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pays his respects to the
Philippines’ national hero, Dr. Jose PRizal, in a wreathlaying ceremony at the Rizal Park in the City of Manila on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Rey Baniquet
VISITING Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim cited Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal as he called on members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to stay true to the bloc’s key ideals -- stand up for justice and rule of law -- amid the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. A scholar of Rizal’s works, PM Anwar made the statement Thursday in a lecture at the University of the Philippines, which conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gifted the Malaysian head of government – the first to visit Manila under his administration -- with a copy of Rizal’s classic novel, “Noli Me Tangere,” as Anwar wrapped up a two-day official visit. Mr. Marcos gave the book to the premier after their bilateral meeting at Malacañang Palace in Manila, according to a Facebook post by Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) on Thursday. Meantime, the Prime Minister’s spouse, Dr. Wan Azizah binti Wan
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