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VP SARA NAMED NEW NTF-ELCAC CO-VICE CHAIR
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NEWS / A2
WORLD / B2 VOL. XXXVII • NO. 85 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
‘ASEAN must uphold int’l law’ PBBM makes push for rules-based system amid SCS tensions
By Vince Lopez
L
ABUAN BAJO, Indonesia—The Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) must take decisive and responsive action and be “the master of its future” on geopolitical issues concerning the region, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday as he urged the bloc to “double its efforts” when it comes to upholding international law. ASEAN navies, in a meeting in Manila, have agreed to craft their first joint maritime guidelines on distances to be maintained, among others, to avoid collisions. The guidelines are separate from the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea that is still under negotiation between ASEAN and China.
Mr. Marcos made the call during the opening of the plenary session, a day after saying he would continue to push for the completion of the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea during the 42nd edition of the ASEAN Summit. “In order to harness the potential of our region, I believe that ASEAN must double its efforts especially in these following priority areas: first, ASEAN should uphold international law and the international rules based system which has underpinned the peace, security, stability, and prosperity of our region,” said Mr. Marcos who is scheduled to return to Manila tonight (Thursday evening). Next page
ASEAN AGENDA. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is welcomed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo during the opening of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia at Labuan Bajo in Indonesia. Inset photo (top) shows ASEAN leaders posing for a family photo: (from left) Mr. Marcos, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Don Pramudwinai, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Mr. Widodo, Laos’ Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Brunei’s Prime Minister Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia’s President Hun Sen, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and East Timor’s Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak. Inset photo (bottom) shows Trade chief Alfredo Pascual (left) and Speaker Martin Romualdez (right) listening intently to Mr. Marcos delivers his statement Wednesday morning during the opening session. AFP
Youth key for ASEAN to remain as ‘epicenter of growth’—Marcos
east Asia will remain the epicenter of “It is clear again that the future of tion of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEgrowth if it continues to empower its ASEAN lies in our ability to support the AN) summit. “And this we must do by LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia—Presi- young people on whom the region’s fu- youth in attaining their full potential,” providing the skills and motivation to Marcos said at an event at the AssociaNext page dent Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said South- ture depends.
By Vince Lopez
Interpol flags Teves, NBI wants passport canceled By Rey Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta
Suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.
charges filed against him. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday said the InternaINTERPOL has already issued a no no- tional Criminal Police Organization tice against fugitive lawmaker Arnolfo (Interpol) has already issued a blue noTeves as the National Bureau of Inves Inves- tice so that the fugitive’s whereabouts tigation (NBI) is poised to seek the can be monitored. “There’s already a notice. What is hapcancellation of his passport to pening now is we’re being informed of his force the congressman to return Next page to the Philippines to face murder
BSP, NPC look into GCash glitch, as solons seek separate probe By Julito G. Rada, Rio N. Araja, lier reports of unauthorized cash transactions from Globe-backed fintech giand Macon Ramos-Araneta ant GCash. The Department of Justice is also THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the National Privacy Commission said looking at the reports, but Justice SecNext page Wednesday they are investigating ear-
Meralco sees higher power rates Senate panel okays across-the-board wage hike driven by generation charge hike
Zubiri also said a Technical Working Group will discuss a proposed graduated wage increase scheme for local micro, THE Senate Committee on Labor has already approved in small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which make up principle the Across-the-Board Wage Increase Act, Senate over 90 percent of businesses in the country. Next page President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday.
By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Othel V. Campos
By Alena Mae S. Flores, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz CUSTOMERS of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will likely experience higher electricity rates in May driven by the P0.34 per kilowatthour increase in the generation charge. Meralco’s generation charge went up to P7.6697 per kWh in May from P7.3295 per kWh, according to its latest billing distributed to consumers. “There is an upward pressure on
electricity bills this month, mainly due to the expected increase in the generation charge,” Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said. Higher demand drove Wholesale Electricity Spot Market prices in April, which will be reflected in the May billing. WESM is the trading floor for electricity. “The peso depreciation, which affects our PSAs [power supply agreements] and IPP [independent power producer] contracts, may also weigh on Next page
Medal standings (as of 9:40 p.m.) Country
G
S
B
Vietnam Cambodia Thailand Indonesia Philippines Singapore Malaysia Myanmar Laos Brunei Timor Leste
49 46 45 34 26 24 20 13 5 1 0
49 41 33 31 44 22 19 10 11 1 0
56 51 53 56 54 25 39 31 34 3 2
WAGE HIKE PUSH. Various labor groups hold a picket at the gate of the Senate while lawmakers discuss the proposed Across-the-Board Wage Increase Act on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Danny Pata
SWS: 41% say publishing gov’t criticism dangerous
ALMOST half of Filipinos in a survey The pollster said it aimed “to assess served on May 3. The SWS survey showed that 47 agreed it was dangerous to publish anything respondents’ opinions on the state of critical of the government, a recent Social press freedom in the country.” It noted percent of Filipinos believed it was Next page Weather Stations (SWS) poll showed. that World Press Freedom Day was ob-