twitter.com/ MlaStandard
facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH
instagram.com/ manilastandard
manilastandard.net
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
DEGAMO SUSPECTS CLAM UP AS DOJ PUSHES BACK CASE FILING VS. TEVES By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed Monday that the filing of murder complaints against suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. has been pushed back. This was after several suspectsturned-witnesses in the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo have now refused to cooperate after lawyering up. Remulla said the Department of Justice
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 90 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
was supposed to file the charges on Monday, adding that the cases against Teves would be filed “most probably on Wednesday,” May 17, before the DOJ by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). He cited the reasons for the delay, such as the suspects already in the custody of law enforcement agencies starting to be represented by lawyers. “They were provided with lawyers by some people who are paying for their lawyers who were not there before,” Next page
PH eyes trade-off with Kuwait Keeping shelters for abused OFWs key ‘non-negotiable’ in talks
By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz
K
EEPING shelters for runaway and abused Filipino workers in Kuwait is a “non-negotiable” for the Philippines, the government said, as it expressed openness to lifting its suspension on the deployment of household workers to the Gulf state on the condition that the host country guarantees the protections of migrant workers there. Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Vega and Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Hans Cacdac made the policy statement when asked by lawmakers about the non-negotiables in the ongoing talks with Kuwait over its ban on new Filipino workers. “The non-negotiables are: Our shelters have to remain as it is in the law passed by Congress. Let’s make other compromises but not close down the shelter... There also has to be justice
Next page
PBBM approves import of 150k tons of sugar
Malampaya gas SC 38 extended 15 years to 2039 SC 38 SIGNED. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signs the renewal of the Malampaya Service Agreement Contract (SC 38) Monday at Malacañang Palace. Witnessing the event are
(from left) Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil and businessman Enrique Razon Jr., chairman of Prime Infra, which is part of the consortium operating SC 38. Ver Noveno
By Alena Mae S. Flores, Vince Lopez, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday renewed the production contract for the Malampaya gas field in northwest Palawan, extending it for 15
years until Feb. 22, 2039. “Today we mark a very significant milestone as we pursue another huge endeavor that will promise monumental rewards for our country and our people,” Marcos said at the signing ceremony for the contract renewal at the Palace. The President said that the agreement
was consistent with the Constitution and the state policy of hastening the discovery and production of the country’s indigenous petroleum. The Department of Energy (DoE) said the extension of Service Contract 38, which was to expire on Feb. 22, 2024, would allow for the continued
production of the gas field, ensuring that the remaining gas reserves are further explored and utilized. “The DOE has meticulously evaluated the SC 38 Consortium. The assessment encompassed legal, technical, and financial capabilities, and confirmed Next page
Lawmakers seek probe on NGCP, power outages
By Vince Lopez and Othel V. Campos AHEAD of an expected shortage by August this year, the government has approved the importation of sugar to stabilize its supply -- and is considering a similar move for onions to bring down prices. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved on Monday the additional importation of up to 150,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar to augment the country’s supply and stabilize the price. “We agreed to additional importation of sugar to stabilize the prices. [The] maximum amount will be 150,000 MT but [it will] probably less,” President Marcos said after meeting with Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) acting Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona and board member Ma. Mitzi Mangwang, representing sugar millers. “The exact amount will be determined once we have determined the exact amount of supply, which will come at the end of this month,” Marcos said. He added that the government is opening Next page
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
significant obstacles” for oil markets, analysts at the energy consulting firm Ritterbusch and Associates said. Global oil prices rose slightly this week amid bullish sentiment on the resumption of US buying for reserves.
LAWMAKERS on Monday called for an investigation into the series of power transmission disturbances that caused power outages that inconvenienced the public and resulted in lost income for businesses. On May 8, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the Luzon Grid under red and yellow alerts after a disruption resulted in rotational blackouts due to the tripping of the Bolo-Masinloc 230 kilovolt (kV) Line 2. The alerts also affected the transfer of generated supply from the Luzon Grid to the Visayas Grid, resulting in the Visayas Grid also being placed under yellow alert. A day later, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) reported power supply cuts due to a “temporary system imbalance.” “These successive transmission system disturbances caused inconvenience to communities and losses to businesses. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines as the operator of the transmission system in the country
Next page
Next page
EXERCISE ‘KASANGGA’. Philippine and Australian Army troops stand
in formation while their officers discuss as the 2nd Army-to-Army bilateral exercise between the two countries, dubbed ‘Exercise Kasangga’, kicked off Monday at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. The AUS army will train with the PH Army on urban warfare, counter-terrorism, and jungle survival and tactics. PTV4 screen grabs
Diesel tops oil price hikes today at P1.40/liter on US recession fears By Alena Mae Flores DIESEL led the latest round of oil price hikes of as much as P1.40 per liter effective 6 a.m. today (Tuesday) to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market.
The oil price hike put an end to three consecutive weeks of price cuts, triggered by concerns of a recession in the United States, the world’s largest consumer of oil products. Oil prices fell last week to about 2 percent amid the political standoff on the US
debt ceiling that stoked recession fears in the world’s biggest oil consumer. “Uncertainties regarding the US debt ceiling, recent banking issues that could prompt a credit crunch across much of the oil industry and continued strong possibility of a recession remains...
Navy chief: China ‘obviously crossing boundary’ in WPS MORE BUOYS. Members of the Philippine Coast Guard prepare additional navigational buoys in the Kalayaan Group of Islands in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), including Patag Island, Balagtas Reef, Kota Island, Panata Island, and Julian Felipe Reef. PCG Maritime Safety Services Commander Vice Admiral Joseph Coyme says they serve as a guide for Filipino fishermen and large ships sailing in the WPS. PCG Photo
By Maricel V. Cruz THE Philippine Navy said China is the one crossing the line in the West Philippine Sea amid tensions in the area. Philippine Navy Chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. cited the recent radio challenge made by a Chinese vessel in the area of Pag-asa Island. Next page
Medal standings (as of 9:40 p.m.) Country
G
S
B
Vietnam Thailand Indonesia Cambodia Philippines Singapore Malaysia Myanmar Laos Brunei Timor Leste
122 94 74 70 51 45 30 20 6 2 0
100 76 66 67 77 38 42 20 20 1 0
97 92 92 113 102 57 85 64 56 6 8