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Imelda recovering from angioplasty FORMER First Lady Imelda Marcos, mother of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is “recovering well” after undergoing angioplasty, her daughter, Senator Imee Marcos, said Thursday. “Haha, successful angioplasty, had stent put in and recovered quickly,” Senator Marcos said in a text message to Manila Standard.
“My mother Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos underwent a successful angioplasty last May 7 at St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City. [She] is recovering well and will be sent home this week,” Imee said in a separate statement confirmed by her office. In March, rumors of the death of the Next page
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 86 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Kuwait shuts door on Pinoys
‘Iqama’ holders exempt from entry ban sparked by labor row By Rey Requejo
T
HE Kuwaiti government has imposed an entry ban on all Filipinos, except those with an “iqama” or residence permit, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.
BACK FROM LABUAN BAJO. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. salutes the troops at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on May 11 as he returned from a successful participation in the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Alfred Frias
DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes, in an interview with CNN Philippines, said the ban took effect on May 10 and covers Filipinos, even those issued with visas, who are entering the Gulf state. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., upon his return from the ASEAN Summit in Indonesia last night, did not answer questions on this issue, nor has the Presidential Communications Office released a statement on it as of press time. Filipinos already on their way to Kuwait have been kept from boarding their flights following the country’s suspension of their visas, GMA News TV reported last night. According to a report on “24 Oras,” a Filipina skilled worker already in Dubai was no longer allowed to take her connecting f light to Kuwait. Her recruitment agency officer in the Philippines said the worker was being asked for a civil ID, which is only issued after completing a medical Next page
PBBM appeals ASEAN ends gab with united stand on Myanmar, more work on COC for review of Veloso case GDP growth slows to 6.4% in 1st quarter By Vince Lopez
sus among nine member-states to engage all stakeholders to end the bloodshed in LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia—The As- Myanmar, including junta leaders who sociation of Southeast Asian Nations were previously barred from attending Leaders’ Summit ended with a consen- ASEAN high-level meetings.
In his 25-page chairman’s statement, “We welcomed ongoing efforts to Indonesian President Joko Widodo also strengthen cooperation between ASErenewed the bloc’s commitment to work AN and China and were encouraged for the early conclusion of the Code of by the progress of the substantive Conduct on the South China Sea. Next page
LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asked Indonesian President Joko Widodo to reexamine and reconsider the case of jailed overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso on the sidelines of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Meruorah Hotel here. “I said, the best that we can do I suppose is for the Indonesian authorities to
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By Julito G. Rada
Coming home is best, Marcos advises Teves PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday urged Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves to return to the Philippines after Timor-Leste denied his request for political asylum. “Come home. That’s the best advice that I can give him,” Marcos said while Next page
REVENGE SPENDING. People purchase some ready-to-wear dresses manufactured locally at Quiapo, Manila on Thursday, as the economy expanded 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported said on Thursday. Danny Pata
THE economy grew by 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023, slower than 8 percent a year ago and 7.1 percent a quarter ago amid the persistent high inflation that affected consumption, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Thursday. National statistician and civil registrar general Dennis Mapa said in a press briefing the 6.4 percent GDP growth in the first quarter was the lowest growth registered after seven quarters when the country started to recover from the pandemic in the second quarter of 2021. On the other hand, Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the Philippines grew the fastest in the region during the period and it should Next page
Meralco raising rates; fuels up by P1.15/l next week By Alena Mae S. Flores
warned that higher rates would likely continue until next month due to higher CONSUMERS can expect a double temperatures that would drive demand. Residential customers consuming whammy of higher power rates and 200 kWh will see an increase of around pump prices soon. The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) P35 in their total electricity bill, al-
Medal standings (as of 9:40 p.m.) Country
G
S
B
Vietnam Cambodia Thailand Indonesia Singapore Philippines Malaysia Myanmar Laos Brunei Timor Leste
57 56 54 42 35 27 25 14 6 1 0
56 44 39 34 27 51 32 13 14 1 0
71 55 58 59 33 65 50 38 38 4 2
though higher consumption translates to a higher increase, the power retailer said in a statement. Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said they expect higher rates and higher Next page
SC stops order unseating mayor Rosal of Legazpi By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court on Thursday issued a status quo ante order temporarily preventing a Commission on Election order disqualifying Legazpi City, Albay Mayor Geraldine Rosal. Next page
SET FOR MOTHER’S DAY. A mother and child pose at the Mother’s Day display in SM City on Thursday ahead of the actual celebration this Sunday. The mall operator said Filipinos can expect endless surprises with exciting gifts, incredible finds, yummy blowouts, and more bonding moments with #IncredibleSuperMomsAtSM with their own #SuperMom at their favorite SM Malls nationwide.