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PLEBISCITE OKAYS EIGHT NEW TOWNS IN BARMM NEWS / A2 VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 61• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2024 •
PH-US-Japan bloc to ‘change dynamic’ in region – Marcos Biden sourcing PBBM banking on coalition, alliances to rein in China By Charles Dantes and Rio Araja
P
RESIDENT Marcos arrived in Manila early Sunday morning, confident that his trilateral meeting in Washington with US President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, from whom he secured support for the country's development plan, will “change the dynamic” in the region amid China’s aggressive moves.
BACK FROM SUMMIT.
President Marcos walks beside Philippine Air Force Brig. Gen. Pablo Rustria Jr. (right) as he arrives at Villamor Air Base on Sunday morning from his successful trilateral summit with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Washington DC. PPA Photo
Ex-Ombudsman not qualified to sit on GSIS board – Veloso THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has issued a legal finding that one of its board members, former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, is not qualified to be a trustee as she was not a member of the government insurer at the time of her appointment in April last year. In his letter to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin dated April 11, 2024, GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso submitted the findings of the GSIS “in relation to a whistleblowing complaint” against Gutierrez. Veloso said the complaint was in the form of an anonymous email claiming that Gutierrez “failed to possess the mandatory qualifications required by the GSIS Charter (RA No. 8291) when she was appointed to the GSIS Board.” Next page
‘Coding’ still in force as 2-day strike starts AUTHORITIES will provide free rides to commuters affected by the nationwide transport strike that will be held today and tomorrow. Metro Manila Council (MMC) President and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said vehicles from vari-
“It is going to change the dynamic that we have been seeing in the region, in ASEAN, in Asia, around the South China Sea and certainly I think for the better,” the President said in a press conference shortly after his arrival. He said the leaders of US and Japan vowed to pour billions of dollars for the development and maintenance of critical industries like semiconductors and the creation of clean energy in the country. Next page
Conflicting Rody, China words ‘propel’ House probe – solons
NEWS / A2
THE House of Representatives is “propelled” by conflicting statements from both the camp of ex-
Andrea Brillantes, Lorin Bektas seen Coachella twinning NEWS / A2
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By Rio Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta
#ANONGBALITA?
US President Joe Biden is sourcing $128 million (P7.24 billion) to execute projects for Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines, Malacañang disclosed late Saturday. “President Biden’s new pleasant request seeks 128 million dollars to execute 36 projects and enhance defense cooperation agreement size and that would more than double the amount that we’ve invested in EDCA infrastructure,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told President Marcos, according to Malacañang. Malacañang said Austin relayed this during his meeting with President Marcos at the Pentagon, a day after Mr. Marcos’ trilateral meeting with Biden and Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in Washington. The US defense chief said both countries invested significant time and resources to address shared security challenges.
GUN DEMO. In this photo from the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, sailors participate in a gun demonstration aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins while operating in the Philippine Sea over the weekend. USN Photo via X/Twitter
E-bike ban starts today on major Big City roads ous government agencies will be deployed to strikebound areas in Metro Manila and key cities. Transport groups Piston and MANIBELA called the strike to pressure the government to junk the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program or PUVMP. Next page
$128m for EDCA projects in PH
President Rodrigo Duterte and the Chinese government to investigate their alleged gentleman’s agreement concerning the West Philippine Sea. Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun Next page
4 Pinoys on board as Iran seizes ship THE Department of Migrant Workers on Sunday confirmed that four Filipino seafarers were on board the Portuguese container ship MSC Aries, which was seized by Iranian authorities near the
Strait of Hormuz. “The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirms the seizure by Iranian authorities of the Next page
RISING OIL PRICES. Gasoline station workers measure
their available oil stock at Blumentritt Road in Sampaloc, Manila on Sunday, as another oil prices increase will take effect on Tuesday, April 16. Danny Pata
‘TV Patrol’, weekend variant back on air on Channel 2 today
Cop to sue ‘fake’ niece for using EDSA busway
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2