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Cop gets 2 life sentences for murder of teeners in alleged staged holdup By Rio N. Araja A FORMER police officer has been convicted over the killings of Carl Anthony Arnaiz and Reynaldo De Guzman, alias “Kulot” in 2017, who were teenagers at the time.

In an 80-page decision, Navotas Regional Trial Court Judge Romana Lindayag Del Rosario sentenced excop Jeffrey Sumbo Perez to reclusion perpetua or imprisonment of up to 40 years without eligibility for parole for Next page

VOL. XXXVII • NO. 32 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

House opens gov slay probe Police face grilling over Degamo killing with Teves still abroad By Maricel V. Cruz, Rio N. Araja, Rey E. Requejo, Charles Dantes, and Macon Ramos-Araneta

HE House of Representatives begins hearings today (March 14) into the failure of the police to protect Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, who was gunned down and killed along with eight others in his own home on March 4 in a brazen day-time attack.

RUNNING THE HOUSE. Tingog Party-List Rep. Yedda K. Romualdez stands on the Speaker’s podium as she and other women legislators took the reins of the House of Representatives on Monday in celebration of National Women’s Month. Tingog FB Photos

Lady legislators lead House plenary session to mark Women’s Month By Maricel V. Cruz IN CELEBRATION of Women’s Month, the House of RepresentaRepresenta tives yesterday featured an allwomen ensemble of officers— from the presiding officer to the majority leader---leading the plenary session. “It is an honor to be present today (Monday) with fellow women who work tirelessly to make the Philippines a

‘Oil spill covers space of 1,000 football fields’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz THE oil spill from the sunken tanker M/T Princess Empress has spread to an area the equivalent of “around a thousand football fields,” the environmental group Greenpeace Philippines said. “Based on our satellite imagery from our mapping team in Greenpeace International, we have seen as of March 8, around 6.2 kilometers worth of oil is continually being spilled,” Greenpeace Philippines campaigner Jefferson Chua told ANC in an interview. “This is equivalent to around a thousand football fields. So, we can imagine how big that is,” Chua added. The tanker, which was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, sank on February 28 off the waters of Naujan in Oriental Mindoro. “With their projection of around a thousand barrels a day being spilled, we will see all of that 800,000 liters spilled,

better place for our countrymen,” said Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez in her brief opening remark before the plenary sessions. “Women are powerful agents of change, and the advancement of women in the society, including increased leadership and decision-making roles, is a positive indicator of progress for all of us,” she added. Based on existing House rules, Speaker Martin Romualdez designated women lawmakers – Yedda Romualdez, Linabelle Ruth Villarica, Florida Robes, Rosanna Vergara, Lorna Silverio,

Sta. Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, chairman of the House committee on public order and safety, said his panel has invited Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr., and the PNP official responsible for the governor’s police escorts, five of whom did not report to duty on the day of the attack. Next page

DOJ, PNP vow to build ex-AFP, ex-cop database THE Department of Justice on Monday vowed to build a database of police officers or military personnel who were dismissed or went absent without leave. “So that if ever they will be part of any security forces, they should have good identification and they will have

PBBM directs 2 agencies to join forces, combat human trafficking

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday directed the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) to harmonize government and private sector efforts in combating human trafficking. The President said human trafficking could compromise the country’s economy and national security. “The IACAT and the PAOCC must

take the lead in harmonizing government initiatives, public private partnerships to thwart the business of human trafficking in its multifarious operations on the ground and now becoming more and more important online,” Mr. Marcos said during a briefing at Malacañang. The President specifically directed SECURITY PACT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnesses the signing of a the Presidential Communications Of- memorandum between the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and National fice (PCO) to assist the IACAT in Grid Corporation of the Philippines at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace on launching a communication campaign Monday. Signatories are NICA chief Ricardo de Leon (left) and NGCP President and CEO Next page Anthony Almeda, with Defense OIC Carlito Galvez watching. Rolando Mailo

COMRADES IN ARMS.

Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Leodevic Guinid, US Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Vanantwerp, Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner, Commanding General of the US Army Corps Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson, and Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Alvin Flores, Salaknib exercise control group director, link arms during the opening ceremony at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija (see story on A2). AFP

-- which features multiple universes, sex toys and hot dog fingers -- also won best director, best actress, best original screenplay, best editing, and both the best supporting actor and actress prizes. Michelle Yeoh, who is Malaysian, becomes the first ever Asian woman to win best actress, for her portrayal of an exhausted Chinese laundromat owner embroiled in battle with an inter-dimensional supervillain -- who happens to be her daughter. “Thank you to the Academy, this is history in the making!” she said. Next page

‘Everything Everywhere’ conquers Oscars with Asian stars Yeoh, Quan

OSCAR WINNERS. Ke Huy Quan, Michelle Yeoh, Brendan Fraser, and Jamie Lee Curtis (from left) pose with their Oscar trophies in the press room during the 95th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 12. AFP

By Maricel Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE head of the House panel pushing for Charter amendments yesterday urged the Senate to consider the assessment of Fitch Solutions that constitutional economic reforms will improve the country’s investment and business climate. Senator JV Ejercito, however, said there are only four to five senators who are supportive of the move, echoing an earlier statement of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri that Charter change advocates do not have the numbers in the Upper Chamber. “The Senate cannot and should not ignore our initiative, which is an expression of the people’s consensus we gathered in our recent nationwide public hearings and consultations,” said House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chairman Rufus Rodriguez. On March 6, the House overwhelmingly voted to approve Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 which calls on

HOLLYWOOD—Surreal sci-fi film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” dominated the Oscars on Sunday, winning seven golden statuettes including best picture, Hollywood’s most coveted prize. The unorthodox but beloved movie

Solon pushes senators to talk ‘Cha-cha’ over