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AFP ‘revolving door’ policy fixed as PBBM signs tour of duty law By Vince Lopez and Charles Dantes
Republic Act No. 11939, or An Act Further Strengthening Professionalism and Promoting the Continuity of Policies and Modernization Initiatives in the PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), signed into law a bill that amends provi- amends RA No. 11709, signed by former sions of the tour of duty and appointment President Rodrigo Duterte in May last of top military officials. Next page year.
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 92 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Arroyo: No House coup plot
Commits support to PBBM, Romualdez; disavows 'early politicking' By Maricel Cruz
F
ORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo doused speculations that there was more to her replacement as senior deputy speaker of the House of Representatives as she affirmed her commitment to support the legislative agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Speaker Martin Romualdez. Mrs. Arroyo, who issued Wednesday evening a terse one-sentence statement that it was the prerogative of the House to replace her, explained in length Thursday her position. “As I have learned during my three decades as a politician, such events are part and parcel of Philippine politics. Still, I do not want it to precipitate or intensify any tendencies towards early politicking. We are just barely a year into the administration of President Marcos, Jr., and it would be unfortunate if early politicking resulted in any dilution of the tremendous mandate that the UniTeam, led by our President, earned in the 2022 elections. After all, the President ran on the plat-
form of unity,” she said. She said she learned of the election of her province-mate, Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, as senior deputy speaker in her place on Wednesday. ‘My first reaction was that it is always the prerogative of the House to make changes in its leadership structure. Thus, I congratulate Dong, and I hope his new position will help him fulfill his mandate to represent our fellow Kapampangans,” she said. Arroyo admitted that when President Marcos won, she wanted to aspire for the Speakership of the House. “But it soon became apparent that he
THROWBACK PHOTO. File
photo shows President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. flanked by then Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Speaker Martin Romualdez during the APEC Summit in Thailand in November 2022.
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PH-Kuwait talks deadlocked; Protection for OFWs upheld By Rey E. Requejo PHILIPPINE officials defended measures to protect Filipino migrant workers in Kuwait that triggered a retaliatory response from the Kuwaiti government, which banned the entry of new OFWs. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said its senior officials and those from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) met with their Kuwait counterparts in talks held
Tuesday and Wednesday. "The delegation explained that all actions taken by the Philippine embassy and the Philippine government are solely to ensure the safety and welfare of our own nationals," the DFA statement read. "Providing protection to a country’s citizens abroad is a well-established duty of consular offices under international law and conventions," it added. During the talks, Philippine officials said they "expressed full respect" for Kuwaiti laws and thanked their Kuwaiti counterparts "for the hospitality of its Next page
Australia unveils defense, ODA packages for PH Vietnam hits Beijing, Manila over ‘illegal’ actions in South China Sea LIGHT MOMENT.
VIETNAM on Thursday criticized both China and the Philippines, accusing the two countries of infringing on its sovereign rights following recent actions in the South China Sea, which Hanoi calls the East Sea. Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Pham Thu Hang was asked by reporters over China’s actions at the
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong shares a light moment with Philippine Coast Guard commandant Admiral Artemio Abu, who thanked Canberra for all its assistance – from vessel acquisition to maritime domain awareness capability development programs.
By Rey Requejo AUSTRALIA on Thursday disclosed a package of new maritime cooperation initiatives for the Philippines, including the turnover of drone equipment and other technology to strengthen the
Paracel archipelago, which Beijing calls Xisha Islands, as well the installation of navigational buoys by the Philippines in the Spratly Islands or the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea. According to Voice of Vietnam, Hang said Hanoi has sufficient legal basis and historical evidence to assert its Next page
PGH raises concern over marked increase in COVID-19 admissions country’s maritime domain awareness, as Canberra sees Manila as a "vital security partner" in maintaining a "peaceful, stable and prosperous" IndoPacific region. This came after Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong held a meeting
with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on how to elevate both countries' partnership from "comprehensive" to "strategic." “We discussed today ways in
THE Philippine General Hospital said it has been admitting more COVID-19 patients, most of whom had comorbidities, in its facilities over the past week. PGH spokesman Dr. Jonas del Rosario said from only 10 patients last week, they now have 60 admitted patients. “Most are vaccinated, but have no
boosters. Some of them are unvaccinated,” he said. “We will be forced to convert more beds into COVID beds or rooms for COVID patients if needed,” Del Rosario added. The Philippine Heart Center, on the Next page
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Lawyer: Ex-DOJ exec bribed slay suspects PAGASA says 90% chance El Niño By Rey E. Requejo to last till 2024 and Rio N. Araja A FORMER undersecretary of the Department of Justice tried to bribe detained suspects to stop cooperating with the investigation of the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel R. Degamo and nine other persons, a lawyer alleged Thursday. Levito Baligod, counsel for the Degamo family, said the suspects are
currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). “A certain high-ranking official of the Department of Justice before with the rank of Usec (undersecretary) is working with some jail guards at the NBI detention facility to offer money to the detainees so that they won’t cooperate with the government,” Baligod said in an interview with CNN Philippines. Baligod did not name the former DOJ undersecretary, the jail guards or the suspects under NBI detention. Next page
By Rio N. Araja THE state weather bureau on Thursday said there is a 90 percent chance that the El Niño phenomenon will persist until the first quarter of 2024. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s forecast showed there Next page
FIRST IN BATAAN. SM City Bataan, the 83rd SM mall in the country, has recently opened. Leading the ceremonial ribbon cutting are (from left) SM Engineering Design and Development Corp. President Hans Sy Jr., SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, Bataan Vice Governor Cristina Garcia, Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, Balanga Vice Mayor Vianca Lita Gozon, Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia, SM Prime Holdings Inc. President Jeffrey Lim, and Super Value Inc. President Herbert Sy.