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Fourth of a six-part supplement to mark Women’s Month SEE PAGE A3
House panel acts vs. Teves VOL. XXXVII • NO. 40 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Solon still no-show until deadline, sanctions for decision at plenary
By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo
T
HE House of Representatives committee on ethics and privileges committee is submitting to the plenary its recommended action against Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. following his failure to meet a 24-hour ultimatum to return to the country and submit himself to the panel last Monday. The House in plenary session will mended action on Teves. then decide Wednesday through a vote Congress goes on a Lenten recess whether to accept the panel’s recom- starting March 25.
Rufus rejects ‘secret’ meet on ‘Cha-cha’
This developed as four more suspects considered “major players” in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, have surrendered to the Philippine military, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tuesday. Remulla stressed that while authorities are looking for at least three more suspects, almost all on the “attack team” is now in the custody of authorities. Emerging from an executive session Next page
VOTE DONE. House ethics committee chairman Rep. Felimon Espares of COOP NATCCO party-list explains the panel has already voted on a ‘recommendation on sanctions’ to be imposed against Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves. COOP NATTCO via Twitter
Japan’s deep sea device spots tanker 400 meters deep off Mindoro By Charles Dantes, Vince Lopez, Rey E. Requejo, Willie Casas, and Maricel V. Cruz
By Maricel V. Cruz THE chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments on Tuesday rejected the suggestion of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri for leaders of the two chambers to meet behind closed doors on the House Charter reform initiative. “I am against any executive session or secret meeting on this matter. Let us be transparent. We are discussing the fundamental law of the land, not just a proposed piece of legislation. Let us not hide our discussions from the public,” Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said. He said lawmakers should avoid discussing anything in secret, except certain issues like those affecting national security, foreign policy, and the country’s territorial integrity. On Monday, Zubiri suggested holding a closed-door caucus to prevent lawmakers from “grandstanding.” But Rodriguez said the Senate president was again showing his “fear of the unknown” by anticipating that some lawmakers would show off in a public hearing. “He should trust his Congress colleagues to follow decorum. He should not mistake passion for showboating,” he said.
TANKER FOUND. Pictures taken by the
Japanese remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) Hakuyo spot the hull of the MT Princess Empress and the source of some of its leaking industrial fuel (inset) in the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, around 7.7 nautical miles away from Balingawan Point and nearly 400 meters beneath the waves. PH Coast Guard photos
One-strike policy for ‘ninja cops’ a must—Speaker
be devolved to local government units (LGUs) as a result of the Supreme Court’s Mandanas-Garcia ruling. In a sectoral meeting in Malacañang Tuesday, President Marcos discussed the roadmap extending the transition to
SPEAKER Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly enforce a onestrike policy against “ninja cops” and other erring policemen, including their immediate superiors. Romualdez will meet again with PNP officials following reports that 13 personnel of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detention Group (CIDG)National Capital Region were accused of extortion recently by a group of Chinese businessmen. “What is happening to our policemen? They are supposed to protect our citizens, but they are accused of... extortion and illegal activities,” he said. “I am appealing to our PNP chief to apply the one-strike policy not only to those involved in these activities but also to their superiors. If the erring po-
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CONGRESS HEADS. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (right) discusses with Senate President Migz Zubiri the plans for hosting the 31st Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum in November in Manila during a luncheon meeting with ambassadors and diplomats of APPF-member countries at the Shangri-la Hotel in Global City, Taguig on Tuesday (see story on A6). Ver Noveno
PBBM: Study LGU devolution further PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered government agencies to study Executive Order No. 138 for possible amendments and to determine what national government functions should
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US, PH blast China ‘grey zone’ ops in SCS ‘impeding’ fishermen’s rights
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By Vince Lopez
THE MT Princess Empress, which sank three weeks ago with its cargo of 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, has been found, officials said Tuesday, as the slick reached waters known for their rich marine life. The tanker sank on Feb. 28 off Mindoro, and diesel fuel and thick oil from the vessel have since contaminated the waters and beaches of Oriental Mindoro province and other islands. The tanker was found by a Japanese remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor said. The vessel was found 7.7 nautical miles away from Balingawan Point in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, nearly 400 meters below the waves. Dolor said he received the first photos showing the exact location of the vessel on Tuesday morning. The national disaster agency said the ROV would assess the hull’s condition before a decision was made about how to “control the spill from its source.” The Philippines has sought assistance from several countries, including Japan, the United States and France, to help contain and clean up the slick.
Bill lets married women keep own surnames THE House of Representatives on tion of the country’s 72-year-old New House Bill 4605 on third and final readTuesday approved on final reading a bill Civil Code (NCC). ing. that will allow married women to retain With an overwhelming 277 votes, “Although our Civil Code currently their maiden surname, amending a por- the House of Representatives approved Next page
By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz
war—in the South China Sea, saying these acts interfere with the livelihood of Filipino fishermen. In a readout provided by the US DeTHE defense secretaries of the United States and the Philippines jointly de- partment of Defense following a phone nounced China’s “gray-zone” opera- call between US Defense Secretary Next page tions—activities that just fall short of
SUMMER’S HERE. A
couple enjoys the sunset on a beach facing the West Philippine Sea in Morong, Bataan. PAGASA on Tuesday announced the onset of the dry season with the end of the northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan” (see full story on A2). Manny Marcelo
‘AMIHAN’ ENDS, DRY SEASON IN NEWS / A2