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Defense chief wants to know outcome of Duterte-Xi meet DEFENSE Secretary Gilbert Teodoro is inclined to know what former President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed during their recent meeting to “judge if it is a cause for concern or not.” But Teodoro on Thursday also ex-
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 156 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
pressed support for all kinds of moves meant to connect with Beijing, which saw its relations with Manila warm considerably under Duterte. In a press conference, Teodoro said the Department of Defense would like
‘PH to refocus WPS efforts’ Next page
Centino: Address geopolitical issues in troubled waters
By Francisco Tuyay and Vince Lopez
O
UTGOING Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino said Thursday his appointment as Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea was brought by the need to refocus government efforts and address pressing concerns in the volatile waterway. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro agreed, telling reporters yesterday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s appointment of Centino “underscores the importance of the WPS and the dynamic of the events which occur there on a daily basis.” This also reflects the need of the President to have someone focus on the sea lane as a “presidential adviser with Cabinet stature,” Teodoro added. This developed as the government said it is keeping a close eye on Taiwan, the Philippines’ northern neighbor, amid the possibility of an invasion from China. “That is a thing that we continue to monitor daily and hopefully the engagements bilaterally between the United States and China lead to the diffusion of tensions in that territory,” said Teodoro. The country’s defense sector also supports fully the appointment of Philippine Army (PA) commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. as the next AFP chief of staff, replacing Centino. Teodoro said this appointment, and the AFP turnover ceremony scheduled today highlight the stability of succession in the military. Next page
Millions suffer from extreme heat in three continents DEADLY HEAT. A person rests at the First Congregational United Church of Christ shelter in Phoenix, Arizona. The church opened its doors, providing water, food, and refreshments
for residents seeking relief from the heat. Temperature forecasts for Europe and the Mediterranean (inset) showed the world is on track for its hottest July since measurements began, the European Union’s climate observatory said. AFP
MILLIONS suffered through intense heat Wednesday as fires raged, health worries mounted and the world appeared headed for its hottest month of July on record.
As temperature records tumbled destructive weather. on three continents, experts pointed Governments and the World Health the finger at climate change driven Organization issued warnings as vulby the burning of fossil fuels, say- nerable parts of the population suffered. ing global warming had a key role in In Greece, two forest fires, fanned by
strong winds, were raging to the west of Athens, and another on the tourist island of Rhodes where residents had to decide whether to flee. Next page
Marcos: Keep PH’s role in global maritime industry By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday asked new graduates of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) to help maintain the country’s global role in the maritime industry. In his keynote address during the commencement exercises for 224 cadets of the “Madasiklan” Class of 2023 in San Narciso, Zambales, the President challenged the graduates to keep the counNext page
GRADUATION RITES. President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, July 20, 2023, leads the 200th commencement exercises of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in San Narciso, Zambales. Joey Razon
EVERYDAY HERO.
Ej Obiena
OBIENA NOW WORLD NO. 2 IN POLE VAULT
San Pablo City Mayor Vic Amante (right) and First Lady Gem Castillo fete SM City San Pablo mall guard Hassan Pasco with the “Gem of the City Award” for saving the life of a 74-yearold mall customer.
SPORTS / C1
CBCP: FILIPINO GIRL EYED FOR SAINTHOOD NEWS / A2
SIMULATION. Members of the Civil Disturbance Management of the Philippine National Police hold simulation exercises at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig ahead of the 2nd State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 24, 2023. Norman Cruz
‘Admin’s performance rating dips to 60%; Inflation still top concern’ By Gabriellea B. Pariño THE administration’s performance rating dipped to 60 percent in the second quarter of the year from, down from 62 percent in the first quarter and 64 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022, the latest Pahayag survey conducted by Publicus Asia Inc. showed. Vice President Sara Duterte, who also serves as the Education secretary, emerged as the most approved Cabinet member, garnering a favorable rating of 59 percent. Following closely behind, President Marcos, in his role as the De-
partment of Agriculture (DA) secretary, received a 49 percent approval rating. Other Cabinet members and their respective approval ratings are as follows: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Rex Gatchalian (47 percent), Department of Finance (DOF) Sec. Benjamin Diokno (46 percent), Department of Health (DOH) OIC Rosario Vergeire (45 percent), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Sec. Susan Ople (44 percent), Department of Tourism (DOT) Sec. Ma. Esperanza Christina Frasco (43 percent), Next page
President, VP, Speaker log highest approval, trust ratings—survey By Maricel V. Cruz
Marcos Jr. and other top government ment Foundation Inc. (RPMD). cent approval rating, while President officials with high approval and trust Following his first year as leader of Marcos clinched an approval score of SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romual- ratings based on the latest survey con- the House of Representatives, Speaker 82 percent. dez has joined President Ferdinand ducted by the RP-Mission and Develop- Romualdez got an impressive 70-perNext page