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IN MET R MANILAO
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 35 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES MARCH 17, 2024
PH SETS NEW WORLD RECORD: LARGEST LUNG FORMATION THE Philippines set a new Guin Guinness World Record for “largest human lung formation” at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Saturday ahead of World TubercuTubercu losis Day. An adjudicator from the GuinGuin ness World Records said the new record of 5,596 participants sursur passed that of India with 5,003 participants in 2017 “TB continues to be a global concern even in 2024. With over a million cases, the Philippines has the third-highest number of TB cases worldwide. Unfortunately, among all infectious diseases in the nation, TB remains one of the leading causes of death even though it can be cured,” Health secretary Ted Herbosa said as he accepted the Guinness World Records awards. “Our attempt to break the Guinness World Record isn’t just about setting records. It’s a call to action and a show of our shared commitment to overcome the challenges posed by tuberculosis. It’s a movement to reshape perceptions, break stigma, and advance the global conversation on tuberculosis, following the directive of President Marcos to stop the TB problem,” he added.
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WORLD RECORD. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa raises the Guinness World Records plaque for the largest human image of an organ – in this case a lung – at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on March 16, 2024 ahead of World Tuberculosis Day. Norman Cruz
‘ECONOMIC CHA-CHA EFFORTS ON TRACK’
ZUBIRI, ROMUALDEZ VOW TO MUSTER NEEDED VOTES By Charles Dantes
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RAGUE—Both leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives assured the public that efforts to amend restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution are on track. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who earlier said he will not force his colleagues to vote for amending the Charter as it might cost him his position, said the Upper House needs “a bit more time” to get it done. “We’re convincing our colleagues to make sure we have the three-
fourths vote on this measure. It’s ongoing. We’re on track,” said Zubiri, who joined the Philippine delegation in Prague Thursday. ‘’We have to make sure to convince our colleagues on this issue,that’s why we need a bit more time but it’s being done. Nothing is stalled,” he added.
For his part, Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House has followed the lead of the Senate in crafting the amendments. The House last week approved on second reading Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 and is set to finalize the approval on third reading this week before the Lenten break. RBH No. 7 is identical to the Senate’s RBH No. 6 except for the manner of voting, with the former pushing for a separate vote of both chambers of Congress in approving the amendments. The proposed House and Senate changes were on the grant of legislative franchises to and ownership
of public utilities in Article 12, and ownership of basic educational facilities in Article 14, and advertising firms in Article 16. A congressional leader welcomed the pronouncement of both leaders of Congress. Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco said adopting the economic amendments will create about two million jobs and will sustain efforts of the Marcos administration to decrease the unemployment rate. “Removing economic restrictions to foreign investment in our Constitution is the lowest hanging fruit especially for an emerging economy like ours,” Haresco said.
PBBM: BACK-TO-BACK EU VISITS OPEN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES PRESIDENT Marcos on Saturday said his back-to-back visits to Germany and the Czech Republic opened doors for more opportunities to deepen the Philippines’ cooperation with the two Central European nations. In his arrival statement, Mr. Marcos said the signing of several agreements and the support from the German and Czech governments to resume the negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Philippines are among the successful outcomes of his trips. “Overall, I am confident that these visits to Germany and the Czech Republic have strengthened our bonds with these two countries in Central Europe and created opportunities for co-
ExBureau of Corrections officer Ricardo Zulueta
operation and prosperity,” he said. Negotiations for the PH-EU trade deal began in December 2015, but the European Commission suspended negotiations due to concerns over human rights abuses in the Philippines during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal drugs. European Commission Ursula von Der Leyen expressed the EU’s intention to relaunch FTA talks under the Marcos administration during her visit in Manila in 2023. Mr. Marcos said his visit to Berlin was part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Philippines’ bilateral ties with Germany last year and the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
THE Philippine National Police on Saturday said former Bureau of Corrections deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta — a co-accused in the killing of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa — died due to heart failure on March 15. Zulueta died at the Bataan Peninsula Medical Center in Brgy. San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan, the PNP said.
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By Vince Lopez INTERIOR Secretary Benhur Abalos has formed a task force to investigate how a controversial resort was constructed within the Chocolate Hills protected area in Bohol. “We have mobilized a special investigation team to swiftly ascertain any liability of local officials in this matter,” Abalos said. He said the DILG was deeply concerned over the construction and operation of the Captain’s Peak Resort despite lacking an Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC). “Local officials found complicit or negligent with respect to any violation will face legal action. These officials may be suspended or dismissed,” Abalos said. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, for its part, said the resort may face up to a P5 million fine for operating without an ECC. The department said it will also probe if its local field offices should be held liable for the controversial resort. Environment Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga earlier lamented the resort was able to obtain a building permit and subsequently a permit to operate from the Sagbayan municipality despite lacking an ECC. Chocolate Hills is a UNESCO world heritage site and was declared aprotected area through Proclamation No. 1037 issued by the late President Fidel Ramos in 1997.
I BACK HOME. President Marcos arrives at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Saturday, March 16, 2024, following his working visit to Berlin and state visit to Prague.
EX-BUCOR OFFICIAL, SUSPECT IN PERCY LAPID SLAY, DIES By Vince Lopez
DILG FORMS TASK FORCE TO PROBE BOHOL RESORT
Based on the initial police report, Zulueta was rushed to the hospital by his brother, Ronald, and was declared dead by his attending physician, Dr. Jollybenson Alami. Zulueta, together with former BuCor director general Gerald Bantag, was accused of killing the radio broadcaster and commentator. Roy Mabasa, the brother of Lapid, said ‘’an independent autopsy report would assuage the public that we are indeed after the truth.’’ instagram.com/ manilastandard
‘’We would like the PNP to ascertain the real cause of his death since he was originally tagged as one of the masterminds in the killing of @lapidfire,’’ Mabasa said on X. He also disclosed the hearing against Bantag set for March 18, 2024 was suspended anew following the request of prosecutors. Last year, prosecutors indicted Bantag and Zulueta for two counts of murder for the killing of Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor.
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MARCOS, AMID HIGH TRUST RATE, VOWS TO WORK HARDER NEWS | A3
IN GAZA, THERE ARE NO MORE ‘NORMAL-SIZED BABIES’— UN WORLD | A4
PH EYES IMPORTING AVIAN, SWINE FLU VAX FROM CZECH NEWS | A2
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