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ROMUALDEZ LAUDS SOLONS AFTER SURVEY
DEGAMO PROBE IN SENATE TO AID DOJ, SAYS BATO
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2 VOL. XXXVII • NO. 53 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
China drills Taiwan strikes
Taipei rips ‘Joint Sword’ simulation, US monitoring Beijing actions closely
B
EIJING—Chinese fighter jets and warships simulated strikes on Taiwan Sunday as they encircled the island during a second straight day of military drills that were launched in response to its president meeting the US House speaker.
DND: EDCA sites won't threaten PH sovereignty By Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz THE Department of National Defense insisted Sunday that the proposed four military sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States will not threaten the country's sovereignty—despite potentially drawing the country into a conflict with China over Taiwan, a US ally. In a statement, the DND reiterated that the agreed locations for the new EDCA sites were by invi-
The exercises sparked condemnation from Taipei and calls for restraint from Washington, which said it was "monitoring Beijing's actions closely". Meanwhile, Philippine authorities continued to remain mum about the drills even as the Department of Defense underscored the benefits of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) it has with the US, which China has said would draw the country into its conflict with Taiwan (see related story on A1— Editors). Next page
tation of the Philippines and are by no means "unhampered" or "unimpeded." But the Defense department remained silent over China’s military drills around Taiwan, which stretched into a second day yesterday, even as opposition lawmakers voiced concern over two of the EDCA sites being placed in Luzon near Taiwan, just 400 kilometers away to the north. Defense analysts also claimed the US would use the sites to deter China’s advance into Taiwan. “The new sites definitely will be
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CHOPPER FLYBY. A Chinese military helicopter flies past tourists at a viewing point over the Taiwan Strait on Pingtan island, the closest point to Taiwan, in China's southeast Fujian province on April 7, as China's military exercises around the island nation stretched for a second day. AFP
Gas price hike at P2.80/l today, diesel up P1.70/l
By Alena Mae S. Flores and Macon Ramos-Araneta GASOLINE prices are expected to go up P2.80 a liter on Tuesday as world oil prices surged following the decision of Saudi Arabia and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
to cut their production of crude. Unioil Philippines said in its advisory that fuel prices are expected to go up for the week of April 11 to 17 by P1.50 to P1.70 per liter for diesel and P2.60 to P2.80 per liter for gasoline. Saudi Arabia and OPEC announced last week a reduction in the oil output by 1.16 million barrels
Pope bewails Israel-Palestine tensions Speaker Martin Romualdez
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
PBBM: Day of Valor highlights ‘indomitable spirit’ of Filipinos By Vince Lopez, Maricel V. Cruz, and Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday said the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor today highlights the Filipino people’s “indomitable spirit” in the face of
challenges and adversity. In his message, President Marcos pointed out that the country has faced numerous challenges that “tested our faith yet showed the world the indomitable spirit of every Filipino.” “Defined by our feats rather than our trials, we have emerged as a
VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis noted his "deep concern" on Sunday over a flare-up in tensions between Israel and Palestinians, delivering an Easter Mass in which he denounced the barriers to peace in the world. He said the renewed violence "threatens the desired climate of trust and mutual respect needed to resume dialogue", addressing a
crowd of some 100,000 gathered in Saint Peter's Square. The Argentine pontiff, a week after leaving hospital, also cited a string of "stumbling blocks" to peace in the world during his traditional Easter message, making special mention of the war in Ukraine. "Help the beloved Ukrainian Next page
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President, Speaker: Easter is time of hope, renewal, recovery for PH PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday urged Filipino Catholics in the country and abroad to take the Easter celebration as a time for renewal and recovery. Speaker Martin G. Romualdez also urged Filipinos to rest and reflect during the “time of hope” as Christians commemorate the resurrection of
Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. In his Easter Sunday message, President Marcos enjoined the faithful to take the day “to pause and give thanks for the opportunity for renewal and recovery as we push through our quest for genuine unity and progress for all.”
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URBI ET ORBI. Pope Francis waves from the loggia of St. Peter's basilica after delivering the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing for Easter on April 9 in The Vatican. AFP
per day to boost prices. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the government to prepare amid the expected Next page global price surge.