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Kuwait suspends all new visas for Pinoys KUWAIT has suspended all new visas for Philippine nationals indefinitely, the interior ministry confirmed Friday, as the row between the oil-rich Gulf state and Manila over worker protections and employer rights escalated. This developed as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected imposing a total deployment ban of Filipino workers to the Middle Eastern state, saying the government will continue to
negotiate with Kuwait to improve the current stalemate. The Kuwaiti interior ministry earlier said the Philippines had violated a bilateral labor agreement they signed in 2018 following a previous row over worker protections in the wake of deaths of several Filipino domestic workers. Listed violations include housing Next page
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 100 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Superstorm to linger for 5 days Cagayan, Batanes brace for ‘Betty,’ typhoon in PAR until Wednesday
By Rio N. Araja, Vince Lopez, Julito G. Rada, Charles Dantes, Joel E. Zurbano, Alena Mae Flores, and Darwin G. Amojelar
T
HE country’s northernmost provinces are bracing for the world’s strongest storm this year as Super Typhoon Mawar—named “Betty”locally —entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility early Saturday morning and is forecast to linger in this zone for five days or until Wednesday next week.
Although it is not projected to make landfall on the Philippines, at its closest point the storm could lash Cagayan and Batanes with Next page
READY FOR 'BETTY'. A fishermen in Parañaque City lashes his boat to a bamboo raft to prepare for the coming of Super Typhoon Mawar or Betty, which showed a fearsome eye in photographs by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center on Friday. The state weather bureau's forecast track has the storm lingering in the Philippine Area of Responsibility until Wednesday (inset). Norman Cruz
PH gets G7, Quad support letter on SCS tack THE recent 2023 Group of Seven (G7) and Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) summits expressed support for the Philippines’ position to adhere to the international rules-based order in the South China Sea and to maintain peace and stability in the region. The expression of support was relayed to Communications Secretary
Cheloy Garafil by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko through a letter sent on May 20. Garafil said the letter contains Koshikawa’s report on the outcome documents of the recent summits hosted by Japan. This developed as China on Friday defended its decision to deploy its own
By Vince Lopez PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday that his plan to acquire submarines for the Philippine Navy (PN) is still on the table, with offers from different countries that could involve domestic assembly and construction of naval assets. “There is a plan. But it’s still being developed because the commitment to operate a submarine is not a small commitment. It is a very large
commitment because of the training that is involved, the equipment that is involved, and the operational requirements that are involved are quite significant,” President Marcos said during a media interview following his attendance at the 125th anniversary celebration of the Navy in Naval Base Jose V. Andrada on Roxas Blvd. “So, it is still part of our plan. But right now, we are in the middle of developing mostly our anti-submarine Next page
5th suspect in Degamo Army nabs suspect slay recants, ‘life at risk’ in Adiong ambush ANOTHER suspect in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo has recanted his testimony, a defense lawyer confirmed on Friday. Just like four other fellow dismissed soldiers who have taken back their testimonies, Joven Javier denied knowledge of the March 4 slay and said he was merely forced to admit participation. “We have also informed the court that his life is in danger as there is a plot to have him killed,” defense counsel Danny
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AUTHORITIES have arrested the principal suspect in the February ambush on the convoy of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) said Friday. In a statement, the military said the suspect, identified as Lomala Baratumo, 42, was arrested at a checkpoint in Sitio Morales, Barangay Centrala in Surallah town on Thursday. Colonel Andre Santos, commander Next page
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US, IPEF group agree to boost supply chains
STAYING IN STEP. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. walks with Philippine Navy officers and some Cabinet members as they attend its 125th anniversary celebration and commissioning of patrol gun boats at the PN headquarters on Roxas Boulevard on Friday. Rolando Mailo
PBBM: Submarine plan still on table as Philippine Navy marks 125th year
buoys in Philippine waters, saying they are doing it “in accordance with law.” In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said it sees nothing wrong when Beijing deployed its largest beacon vessels to the West Philippine Sea, several days after the Philippines did the first move.
PARTY-LIST SUPPORT. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (right) receives a framed Manifesto of Support from the officers of the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. led by Ako Bicol Party-List Rep. Elizaldy Co, as they express their unwavering support to the Speaker's leadership. PCF Photo
Party-listers stress support for Speaker By Maricel V. Cruz THE Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. on Friday expressed its unwavering support for the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Led by Ako Bikol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co,
SM-DSWD ‘SIBOL’ PACT. Officials of SM Supermalls join DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian (second from left) as they cut the ribbon to launch their new Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) titled “Sibol” on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia.
the coalition of party-list groups issued a manifesto supporting Romualdez. "We commend Speaker Romualdez's exceptional vision and unwavering dedication to achieving balance and fairness in the work we do. Under his Next page
MINISTERS from the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and 11 other IndoPacific nations will agree at their meeting Saturday in Detroit to bolster supply chains for chips, medicine, and other critical items in the event of an emergency under a US-led economic initiative, sources familiar with the matter said Friday. The enhanced supply chain resiliency will be the first agreement among 14 member countries of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, Kyodo News reported. IPEF represents 40 percent of global gross domestic product, and could help counter China's economic influence in the region. Supplies of food, energy and key industrial products, such as semiconductors, were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine. The IPEF partners, also including Australia, Indonesia, India, South Korea and Next page