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DEGAMO KIN: MORE EXECS ON KILL LIST
FIRST LADY OFFERS MARRIAGE TIPS TO BACOLOD COUPLES
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2 VOL. XXXVII • NO. 30 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Oil spill puts Verde Island in peril UP study shows oil trajectory to reach biodiversity center this week Verde Island Passage
Verde Island Passage
DANGER CLOSE. These maps supplied by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute on Sunday show a recent simulation model over five days (March 12 to 16) on the oil spill from the sunken tanker in Oriental Mindoro creeping its way up to the Verde Island Passage (encircled), the strait that separates the islands of Luzon and Mindoro. The 1.14-million-hectare passage is extremely rich in marine biodiversity that is in harm’s way if the spill is not contained soon. By Charles Dantes, Angelica Villanueva, Rio N. Araja, and Othel V. Campos
T
HE ongoing oil spill from MT Princess Empire might hit the ecologically rich coastal area of the Verde Island Passage within the week with the continuous release of industrial fuel oil from the sunken tanker.
The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute on Sunday showed the results of a recent simulation model on the oil spill crisis after the oil tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel sank last February 28 in the waters off Oriental Mindoro. The simulation focused on the tanker's
location from March 10 to 16 and claimed that the non-stop discharge of oil from the alleged seepage area and the weakening of the northeast monsoon or "amihan" may lead the oil to flow northwards toward Verde Island. The Verde Island Passage is a body of Next page
China warns EDCA to ‘harm’ PH interest, regional peace By Rey E. Requejo THE Chinese Embassy on Sunday said the United States was dragging the Philippines into its issues with China by establishing additional military bases in the country and warned that this may “seriously harm” Manila’s national interests and regional peace and stability. The Chinese Embassy issued the
statement after US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said, in an interview, that she did not believe that Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites would serve as a “magnet” for Chinese “aggressive behavior.” On the contrary, she said, these sites would help keep people safe. But the Chinese Embassy countered Next page
Probe Degamo’s five escorts not on duty on fatal day—Speaker SUMMER SPLASH. Hundreds try to beat the heat in the waters – however murky due to pollution -- off Baseco Beach in Tondo, Manila on Sunday. Norman Cruz
PCO: Digital media literacy tack on deck Labor groups By Vince Lopez THE government will implement a Digital Media Literacy campaign this year to equip the most vulnerable communities with knowledge and tools “to be discerning of the truth,” a Presidential Commu-
nications Office (PCO) official said. PCO Undersecretary Cherbett Karen Maralit issued the statement during the CyberSafe Against Fake News, a side event to the 67th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Next page
INAUGURATION. Tingog Party-list Reps. Jude Acidre and Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (second and third from left) cut the ribbon to open the Alagang Tingog Center Satellite Office and kick off the distribution of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) for 100 individuals at the Lapu-Lapu City Sports Complex in Cebu. With them are (from left) OPAV Usec. Terence Calatrava, Tingog Regional Chair for the Visayas Happy Calatrava, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard "Ahong" Quirante Chan, and Lapu-Lapu Rep. Ma. Cynthia K. Chan. Miko Noveno
By Rio N. Araja, Charles Dantes, and Macon Ramos-Araneta
Degamo to report for duty on the day he was gunned down in his own house. Based on reports, the Speaker said, five out of Degamo's six Philippine National Police escorts did not show up for SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romualdez duty on March 4, when a group of gunon Sunday called for a congressional in- men entered his house and fired upon the quiry over the failure of several police es- governor, killing him and eight others. corts of slain Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Next page
oppose gov't rightsizing bill
AT least four umbrella networks of labor groups have expressed their opposition to the National Government Rightsizing Bill, saying this could lead to job losses at the level of rank-and-file employees. In a statement, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), the PublicSector Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), the Confederation of Independent Union in the Public Sector (CIU-SENTRO), and other NAGKAISA Labor Coalition affiliates said the government should insteadprotect the rights of government workers. “We voice anew our opposition to the Rightsizing Bill (House Bill No. 7240), which could result in further streamlining of the rank and file and much needed workforce in the public sector, while maintaining top government positions that are hardly needed, and are responsible for eating up the bulk of the country’s budget for basic services,” FFW President Sonny Matula said. “We call on the government to ensure workers' representation as it is crucial that Next page
PLANE AND REMAINS. Photos from the Isabela Incident Management Team show the remains, in body bags, of the pilot and five passengers of the Cessna plane that went missing for nearly two months arriving in Divilacan town on Sunday afternoon. IIMT/ Coast Guard/Army photo
Poor weather stalls Cessna recovery work AUTHORITIES in Isabela province were still braving poor weather and terrain conditions to transport the bodies of the six victims aboard the Cessna 206 plane that crashed in the province last January. In a statement on Sunday, the Isabela
Incident Management Team (IMT) said the retrieval team had "not reached the point where the second team is waiting to take over." The remains of the passengers are expected to arrive in Cauayan on Monday, Next page