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(Story on A4)
9 OUT OF 10 SUSPECTS TAG REP. TEVES IN DEGAMO MURDER—REMULLA By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 48 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said 9 of the 10 suspects in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation have already issued statements linking Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo A. Teves to Governor Roel Degamo’s murder last March 4. But Remulla said he would leave it up to the panel of prosecutors of the
Department of Justice to decide whether to include Teves among those to be indicted for the crime. This developed as Speaker Martin G. Romualdez has taken upon himself the responsibility of looking out for the interests of the people of the 3rd District of Negros Oriental by temporarily acting as their legislative caretaker. The Philippine National Police has also pieced together almost the entire story behind the killing of Degamo, the PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo Next page told a GMA News program.
Basilan ferry fire death toll: 31
3 kids—including 6-month-old baby—among dead, 230 others rescued By Charles Dantes
A
T LEAST 31 people died and 230 were rescued after a fire engulfed a ferry off Basilan province, authorities said Thursday.
The Lady Mary Joy 3 was traveling from Zamboanga City to Jolo Island in Sulu province when the fire broke out late Wednesday, prompting passengers to jump overboard, disaster officer Nixon Alonzo said. The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, is plagued by poor sea transport, with its badly regulated ferries prone to overcrowding and accidents.
It is also the second serious maritime disaster within a month, following the sinking of the motor tanker Princess Empress off the coast of Oriental Mindoro which is causing an economic and environmental crisis in the provinces along the important Verde Island Passage (see related story below – Editors). Rescuers, including the Philippine Coast Guard Next page
CHARRED REMAINS. This handout picture taken on March 29 and released by the Philippine Coast Guard shows a PCG ship spraying water on fire onboard the Lady Mary Joy 3 during a search and rescue operation in waters off Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan. Hadji Muhtamad Mayor Arsina Kahing-Nanoh (inset) then inspects the ship’s remains in the morning as it ran aground in her town in an effort to save more passengers from perishing. AFP, Mayor Kahing-Nanoh via FB
PH, China set to restart joint oil exploration talks PBBM reaffirms and China are set to resume talks on a possible joint venture for oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea. Manalo’s announcement came as the FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Thursday said the Philippines Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported
By Rey E. Requejo and Charles Dantes
the presence of 20 Chinese and Vietnamese vessels in the waters around Sabina and Ayungin Shoals, and Pag-asa Island in Palawan. The ships, spotted by the BRP
Malapascua during a maritime patrol in the Kalayaan Island Group from March 16 to 21, included two Chinese Coast Guard vessels and a People’s Liberation Army Navy ship. Next page
Or. Mindoro to be placed under state of calamity amid oil spill By Othel V. Campos THE entire province of Oriental Mindoro will be placed under a state of calamity, Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor said Thursday, as it continues to suffer the effects of the massive oil spill from the tanker that sank off the coast of Naujan town last month.
ARRIVAL HONORS.
NEW ‘AMBASSADOR.’ President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. hands the Global Tourism Ambassador Award to Filipino-American actress Vanessa Anne Hudgens during a courtesy call at the Palace on Thursday (see story on A2). OPS Photo
DOJ revising ‘departure formalities’ THE Department of Justice on Thursday stood by the strict implementation of the departure formalities by the Bureau of Immigration, which is intended to help protect Filipinos going abroad against human trafficking and other dangers – despite the flak BI officers are getting from the public for their odd interrogation
methods as revealed on social media. In a statement, the DOJ acknowledged the plight of travelers inconvenienced by the immigration process, particularly those who were forced to miss or rebook their flights. The Justice Department explained that Next page
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez salutes the troops as he walks with Philippine Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño during arrival honors at the Mactan Air Force Base in Cebu Thursday. Romualdez is in Cebu to attend the House of Representatives-Armed Forces of the Philippines Fellowship Series Visayas Leg. Ver Noveno
“Last night, based on the latest report I got from the DOH (Department of Health) and the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), I asked our PDRRMO (Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office) to prepare their recommendation to declare a state of calamity in the whole province, Next page
PH commitment to fight impunity
By Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the rule of law prevails in the Philippines and its criminal justice system is functioning fully. In a video message during the plenary session of the Second Session for Summit for Democracy, Mr. Marcos said the Philippines has been committed to fighting impunity for atrocities despite the country's withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019. Mr. Marcos made the remark following Next page