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
GATCHALIAN SEEKS P1/KWH SUBSIDY FOR POOR CONSUMERS
COVID POSITIVITY RATE SLOWS DOWN TO 3.3%—OCTA
NEWS / A4
NEWS / A3 VOL. XXXVII • NO. 37 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Teves defies House deadline
Solon ready to face sanctions but won’t risk safety in returning back now By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey Requejo
N
EGROS Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is not likely to return to the country today as he would rather face administrative sanctions by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges over his continued absence instead of facing what he claimed to be grave security threats to his life, his legal counsel said. PORT CALL. A US Navy personnel patrols the deck of the USS America (LHA-6) as it docks at the Port Area in Manila on Sunday, March 19, 2023, for a port call. The LHA-6 routinely collaborates with allied forces and partners in the Indo-Pacific to maintain regional security. Danny Pata
House Speaker Martin Romualdez earlier gave Teves until March 20 to surface after denying his request for a twomonth leave of absence. Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla said based on the reports received by the DOJ, Teves is no longer in the United States and is currently “in Southeast Asia.” Next page
Zubiri assures House he will ‘keep Oil spill impact on livelihood, prices worsens an open mind’ on Charter change By Macon RamosAraneta and Rio N. Araja
SENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri has assured the House leadership he will “keep an open mind” on efforts to amend the Constitution to bring about economic reforms. “Senate President Migz personally assured me that he will keep an open mind on the move by the House of Representatives to institute economic reforms through constitutional amendments,” said
SENATOR Bong Revilla urged the government over the weekend to investigate the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities in many towns of Oriental Mindoro, following the oil spill caused by the MT Prince Empress, which sank off the Naujan coast with 800,000 liters of industrial fuel on Feb. 28. This as Pola, Oriental Mindoro Mayor Jennifer Cruz appealed for an alternative livelihood program for her constituents as the impact of the oil slick worsens. “Right now, it's getting harder
House Speaker Martin Romualdez after his phone conversation with Zubiri. “He informed me that the Senate is waiting for the report of their Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes chaired by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, for appropriate plenary action,” Romualdez added. Romualdez, however, said he was Next page
Romualdez to agri cartel resource persons: Tell the truth or go to jail
Next page
By Rio N. Araja, Macon RamosAraneta and Rey E. Requejo
DIRE WARNING. The UP Marine Science Institute’s latest trajectory of the oil spill shows it is critical to stop the seepage before the end of the Amihan season to prevent the oil slick from reaching Verde Island Passage.
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Sunday warned resource persons they could be set to jail for lying to the House committee on agriculture and foods as it resumes its hearings on the spikes in the prices of onions and
other agricultural goods. Romualdez said the panel is determined to unmask the unscrupulous financiers and traders behind the onion and vegetable cartel responsible for the high prices. He said they have demonstrated their resolve by citing in contempt and detaining three officials of Argo International Forwarders Inc. for refusing to cooperate Next page
Gov’t to finish infra projects of Duterte THE government will continue unfinished projects of past administrations under the Philippines’ ongoing infrastructure push, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Saturday on his video blog. The Marcos administration recently approved 194 "high-impact" infrastructure projects worth P9 trillion,
around 70 of which were proposed under the Duterte administration, the President said on YouTube. The government wants to improve the country’s digital connectivity, flood control, irrigation, water supply, health, power and energy infrastructure, Mr. Marcos said. Next page
CHASING HAPPY.
In celebration of International Day of Happiness today (March 20), SM Mallof Asia brings back its complex-wide celebration that will surely make one smile. Visit the #WorldofHappinessatMOA experiential t unnel and installation perfect for all kids and kids at heart until the end of March.
WINNERS ALL. House Speaker Martin Romualdez (standing, center in white shirt) leads Manila Polo Club officials during the awarding ceremonies for the winners of the Manila Standard Cup at the Enrique Zobel Field in Makati City on Sunday March 19,2023. To his left (in black uniform) is Minxie Romualdez, whose Black team scored five goals to beat the Orange team. (See full story on B1) Manny Palmero
DOE studies effects of SC ruling on WPS joint exploration By Alena Mae S. Flores and Macon Ramos-Araneta
implication of the Supreme Court (SC) covered 142,886 square kilometers in the decision declaring as unconstitutional South China Sea. the tripartite agreement for a joint marine The DOE said the SC decision, released THE Department of Energy (DOE) seismic undertaking (JMSU) between the in full on Friday but promulgated on Jan. said over the weekend it will study the Philippines, Vietnam, and China, which Next page