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Comelec junks DQ petition vs. Tulfo as ACT-CIS nominee THE Commission on Elections on Thursday dismissed a disqualification case against former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo as nominee of the ACT-CIS party-list. In its resolution, the Comelec Second Division said the poll body has no ju-
risdiction to act on the petition for disqualification. “Under Section 4(b), Rule 5 of Comelec Resolution No. 9366, a petition for disqualification of party-list nominees must be filed at any day not Next page
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 99 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
BRACING FOR 'MAWAR.' Members of
the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police haul family food packs that arrived in Tuguegarao City Thursday preparation for the incoming Super Typhoon 'Mawar.' Inset photo (left) shows a personnel of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office preparing rescue equipment even if the typhoon is not exepcted to hit the capital directly. Facebook page of President Marcos, Norman Cruz
Brace for ‘Mawar’ impact
PBBM orders agencies to prepare for onslaught of super typhoon By Vince Lopez and Joel E. Zurbano
the Philippine area of responsibility after hammering Guam. “We are preparing for its possible efHE government is taking the appropriate steps as fects not only on the northern part of the the country braces for the possible effects of Super country but also in areas that might be possibly hit by the typhoon,” Marcos Typhoon Mawar, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in Filipino. Marcos said Defense Secretary Carassured the public on Thursday. lito Galvez Jr. assured him that the naIn a Facebook post, Marcos said the situation and updates on the expected tional government and local government government continues to monitor the onslaught of Mawar as it moves closer to units (LGUs) are ready to provide assis-
T
tance to areas where Mawar may wreak havoc. “We made sure that funds and food packs have already been positioned, response teams are on standby, and LGUs are ready to assist the areas that might be hit by the typhoon,” he said. Mawar has maintained its strength and its “much closer approach” to the Philippines, the 11 a.m. weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. Mawar was last spotted 2,065 km east of southeastern Luzon, packing maximum winds of up to 185 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph. Moving west at 10 kph, Mawar may enter PAR by Friday evening or Saturday morning and will be given the local name Betty. Next page
Congress okays 4 of 42 priority measures House urged to adopt Senate By Maricel Cruz THE 19th Congress has approved only four of the 42 priority legislative measures of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ahead of its sine die adjournment next week. The House of Representatives already approved 31 of the priority bills, including the four that were also passed by the Upper Chamber. Of the House-approved measures, 27 are still pending with the Senate.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has yet to respond to requests for comment on the legislative performance of the Upper House. Of the four measures passed by Congress, the President has signed into law three: the SIM Registration Act, the bill postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to October this year, and the measure amending the law on the fixed term of military officials. The fourth measure that seeks to condone unpaid loans and their penalties ob-
Gov’t launches free paper ‘The Philippine Gazette’ By Vince Lopez MALACAÑANG on Thursday launched a free newspaper in a bid to disseminate the latest inforinfor mation on the projects and programs of the Marcos administration. The first issue of "The Philippine Gazette" focused on the administration's housing projects. It also featured stories on government initiatives to push for renewable energy, the Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers, and President's recent visit to the United States, among others. Communications Assistant Secretary Francisco Rodriguez III serves as editor-in-chief of the free newspaper. Joining him in the editorial board are Justine Hernandez as Managing Editor and Trish Alcantara as Associate Editor. The Palace says the newspaper is
available for free in select LRT-2 stations (Recto, Cubao, at Santolan); Next page
tained by agrarian reform beneficiaries is still waiting for the President's signature. “We are proud of our collective accomplishment - 31 out of 42 and counting. As of today, we have achieved a significant part of our goal in less than a year of session,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said in a statement. “I thank our colleagues for their hard work, as well as the various political parties in the House which have committed to support the passage Next page
version of Maharlika Fund bill
By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Julito G. Rada SENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday expressed hope that the House of Representatives will adopt the Senate version of the Maharlika Investment Fund bill, which he said would include more safeguards to avoid possible misuse.
While the House passed its version late last year, Zubiri said he hopes the Senate will approve its version by next week. "We are accommodating the last few members who want to interpellate on Monday. Then we can open the period of amendments immediately after," Zubiri said. Because the bill was certified by President Marcos as urgent, the senators Next page
PNP adopts ‘one-strike, no take’ rule vs. gambling By Charles Dantes THE Philippine National Police reaffirmed its commitment to crack down against illegal gambling, which will be supported by a "one-strike and no take policy." PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda said order came as part of the orgaorga nization’s partnership with the PhilPhil ippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
(PCSO) to stop illegal gambling across the country. “We will not tolerate the existence of illegal gambling activities that prey on the most vulnerable members of our society,” Acorda said. “Together with the PCSO, we will deploy all necessary resources and implement stringent measures to put an end to this
menace.” “With this strong stance, the PNP aims to leave no room for leniency in eradicating the illegal gambling menace,” he added. Police officials found guilty of negligence or inaction in their efforts to stop illegal gambling in their area
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‘Queen of rock ‘n’ roll’ Tina Turner, 83
INFO CAMPAIGN.
Photo shows the frontpage of the Marcos administration's free newspaper, 'The Philippine Gazette.'
TINA Turner, the growling songstress whose explosive stage presence electrified fans the world over, left an indelible mark on 20th-century rock with five decades of hits —first with husband Ike Turner, but most memorably as a wildly successful solo act. The Black eight-time Grammy winner lit up the stage from the 1960s onwards—and won a new generation of fans in a stunning comeback after escaping her violent marriage, making her popular music's ultimate survivor. Abandoned by her parents, Turner emerged from Tennessee's cotton fields to become the "Queen of
Rock a n d Roll" who, according to music lore, taught Mick Jagger how to dance—and the Rolling Stones frontman led the flood of tributes Wednesday, following the supersuper star's death at the age of 83. The singer of "The Best" died in Switzerland, where she lived her final years with husband Erwin Bach, a former record label execuexecu tive who was her romantic partner for three decades before they wed in 2013. Next page
Tina Turner (Twitter page of former US President Barack Obama)