twitter.com/ MlaStandard
facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH
instagram.com/ manilastandard
S
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net • 85646229
manilastandard.net
April 21 a holiday to mark Eid’l Fitr PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared April 21 a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Based on Presidential Proclamation No. 201 dated April 14 and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, the holiday aims to "bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness."
"To allow the entire Filipino nation to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr, it is necessary to declare Friday, April 21, a regular holiday throughout the country," the proclamation read. Eid'l Fitr, dubbed the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," is one of the Next page
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 58 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
NFA plans huge rice import 330,000 MT meant to boost PH buffer stock, but farmers oppose move By Rio N. Araja and Maricel V. Cruz
T
HE National Food Authority (NFA) proposes to import 330,000 metric tons (MT) of rice to replenish the country’s buffer stock, but farmers rejected the suggestion outright on Friday.
In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the NFA wants to import rice “to cover an expected deficit in the country’s buffer stock for the relief operations of various agencies in the event of calamities this year.” The PCO said the NFA’s proposed buffer stock of rice is equivalent to nine days
of national consumption from July 2023 onward and would ensure sufficient volume for calamity and relief requirements from July to December. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., however, said Thursday the NFA should buy its buffer stock from local farmers. A large farmers group agreed. Next page
China: Stop US use of bases to protect 150,000 Pinoys in Taiwan
PBBM, Speaker laud 3,992 Bar exam passers By Rey E. Requejo
is considered the country’s most grueling all came from the University of the national test, the Supreme Court said Philippines. Two examinees shared the A TOTAL of 3,992 law graduates passed Friday. 30th slot. the 2022 online Bar exams, representing The Court said the first five of the 31 The top five Bar passers (from first 43.47 percent of all those who took what examinees who got the highest ratings Next page
By Rey E. Requejo
UP’s ‘Fab Five’ sweep top slots, still in disbelief UNIVERSITY of the Philippines produced a Fab Five of new lawyers on Friday when a quintet of its students topped the 2022 Bar Examinations as announced by the Supreme Court. In an interview with CNN Philippines last night, topnotcher Czar Matthew Dayday said he was crying, screaming, and shouting incoherently with his family after the results came out. Asked why he wanted to be a lawyer, Dayday said: “I wanted to help people and I thought like I was good at solving problems, so I thought being a lawyer is a way to go.” Next page
CHINA cranked up its anti-American rhetoric Friday, as its ambassador urged the Philippines to deny US troops access to its military bases if it “cares genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs (overseas Filipino workers)” in Taiwan. Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian accused the United States of taking advantage of the situation in the Taiwan Strait to expand its military presence in the region. Huang said the safety of the OFWs in Taiwan was not a valid excuse for allowing more US troops access to Philippine military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) because “China is Next page
Las Piñas court orders Bantag et al arrest too By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta
BAR HIGH. Different emotions are on full display among those who passed the 2022 Bar Examinations with results released by the Supreme Court on Friday. Many of the 3,992 examinees who earned their law degrees waited to see the results announced live at the SC Padre Faura complex in Manila. The top five placers all came from the University of the Philippines -- topnotcher Czar Matthew Gerard Torres Dayday (top right photo) and schoolmates Erickson Cayabyab Marinas, Christine Claire Cregencia, Andrea Jasmine Ong Yu, and Kim Gia Grande Gatapia (lower right photo). Norman Cruz
WHO: No more Teves asks to junk firearms raps, DOJ says too late massive COVID By Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and case outbreaks Macon Ramos-Araneta DESPITE the detection several cases of the XBB.1.9.1 COVID-19 variant in the Philippines, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday it does not expect “outbreaks of massive proportions” to happen. Dr. Babatunde Olowokure, WHO Western Pacific Regional Office Emergency Director, said the detection of the sub-variant in the country should be looked at positively as it only shows that systems are working to monitor variants. This developed as the WHO emergency committee is set to meet again inMay to determine whether COVID-19 still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. Data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that from April 3 to 11, the country has detected 39 cases of the XBB.1.9.1 variant that was recently added to the list of variants under monitoring by the WHO. The total number has reached 54 since March. “The transmissibility, yes, we recognize, this may be a challenge. But I think, as we have seen, there’s a slight increase Next page
Justice to dismiss the illegal possession of firearms and explosives filed against him by the Philippine National Police. But DOJ Prosecution Attorney Hegel Jasper A. Balderama said the charges SUSPENDED Negros Oriental 3rd against Teves and his co-respondent District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jose Palo Gimarangan are already subJr. on Friday asked the Department of mitted for resolution.
Teves’ lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, confirmed the charges had been submitted for resolution after the panel of prosecutors conducted its last hearing yesterday. Meanwhile, Pamplona, Negros Oriental Mayor Degamo has decried the Next page
DOLE-SM JOB FAIR PACT. Starting with Labor Day 2023 on May 1 onwards, the Department of Labor and Employment and SM Supermalls will hold DOLE Job Fairs in all 39 SM malls. Signing the agreement are (from left) BLE Director Partick Patriwirawan Jr., DOLE Asec. Lennard Serrano, DOLE Asec. Paul Vincent Añover, DOLE Usec. Carmela Torres, SM Supermalls SVP for Operations Bien Mateo, DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, SM Supermalls VP for HR Cheryll Agsaoay, SM Supermalls SVP for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin, SM SAVP for Mall Operations Queenie Rodulfo, and SM AVP for HR Joseph Rodriguez.
A LAS Piñas City regional trial court on Friday issued another warrant of arrest against former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag and four others over the killing of broadcast journalist Percy Lapid last October. The Las Piñas RTC Branch 254 also ordered the arrest of former BuCordeputy officer Ricardo Zulueta, Israel Dimaculangan, Edmon Dimaculangan, and a certain Orlando. The court’s Presiding Judge Harold Next page