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VP Sara crossed the line, says First Lady Liza FIRST Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos did not mince words in expressing her disappointment at Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the latter crossed the line for laughing at insinuations that the
President is a drug user. “Nasaktan ako (I was hurt) because “Bad shot na yan sa akin (She’s a my husband will do everything to probad shot to me),” Mrs. Marcos said in tect you... You ran together right? (You a teaser video of her interview with said) we will rise together again.” Next page “TUNE in kay Tunying.”
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 65 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
HAPPIER TIMES. Vice President Sara Duterte (left) and First Lady Liza Marcos share a light moment during the 2nd State of the Nation Address of President Marcos last year.
Marcos among Time’s 100 most influential persons By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Marcos was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024. Under the category of “Leaders,” Mr. Marcos joined other personalities such as Yulia Navalnaya, wife
of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny; European Council president Donald Tusk; jailed 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi; and Taiwan’s incoming president, Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, Next page
Solons eye Chinese presence in Cagayan NSC, CHeD called to conduct own probes
PBBM knows about Rody-Xi deal—China
By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey Requejo
S
ENATORS are seeking to investigate the reported influx of Chinese students in schools near areas covered by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, in particular in Cagayan that is facing Taiwan, as they called on the Commission on Higher Education and the National Security Council to do their own probe.
By Rey E. Requejo THE Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Thursday refuted President Marcos’ pronouncement that he was not aware of any gentleman’s agreement that was reached during the Duterte administration with Beijing. In a statement, the embassy stressed that it even “repeatedly briefed” the Marcos administration about such an agreement, which had previously prevented the escalation of tensions between the two nations. “In addition to the meetings of China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM), the Chinese side invited the Envoy of the President to China for Special Concerns of the Philippines to Beijing last September to discuss how to properly manage the situation at Ren’ai Jiao, which resulted in an internal understanding,” the embassy statement said. The gentleman’s agreement that Next page
WELCOME CEREMONY. President Marcos troops the line with visiting New New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during arrival honors yesterday at Malacanang. Luxon will be in the country until April 20, 2024 for an official visit. Revoli Cortez
President suspends ban on e-trikes, e-bikes in Metro Manila By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday ordered the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and all local government units within
Metro Manila to provide a grace period for e-bikes, e-trikes, and other vehicles affected by a government ban. The MMDA earlier said that the ban on electric bicycles and tricycles (e-bikes and e-trikes) tricycles,
pushcarts, pedicabs, kuligligs, and light electric vehicles will be enforced on major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region (NCR) starting April 15. “Today, I ordered the MMDA and
all local governments in Metro Manila to grant a grace period to e-bikes, etrikes, and other affected vehicles passing through certain designated roads in Metro Manila,” Mr. Marcos said.
The Chinese embassy in Manila said: The unfounded accusation of our educational exchanges is yet another malicious sleight of hand to incite suspicion and hatred of China. Insightful people in the Philippines have not lost sight of this tendency by calling it ‘McCarthyism’ resurrecting in the Philippines. This deserves high vigilance and must be resolutely opposed.
This came on the heels of a House Resolution filed by Cagayan 3rd District Rep. Joseph Lara for a probe into the alarming rise of Chinese students enrolled in higher institutions in his province in the northern tip of Luzon. Next page
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ERC sets inquiry into power outages By Alena Mae S. Flores and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is set to investigate the cause of the simultaneous outage of power plants, having a combined capacity of 3,233.68 megawatts, which led to the red and yellow alerts on April 16. The ERC said it is closely monitoring and evaluating reports from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and
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SUMMER ADVENTURE. Children hang out at the Philippines’ largest Huetopia play park at SM City Fairview — where unforgettable memories are guaranteed for all ages only at SM Supermalls.
‘Balut diplomacy’ Drier and hotter this coming May—PAGASA goes to Washington By Rio N. Araja
ALMOST all areas across the country, including the National Capital Region (NCR), have been experiencing below-normal rainfall this April, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). From April 1 to April 16, nearly the entire country felt the impact of the ridge of a high-pressure area
(HPA) with 40 percent or less than normal rainfall for the period, PAGASA said. PAGASA said there were only localized thunderstorms in the past days. The ridge of the HPA extending over the eastern sections of Northern and Central Luzon was responsible for the rainfall reduction, it added. Because of such, the public must brace for hot and humid weather.
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By Maricel V. Cruz BALUT diplomacy was put in the spotlight on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. after an American lawmaker surprised members of the Philippine delegation with the iconic Filipino street food. Next page
Map shows how near Cagayan province, where two new EDCA sites are located, to Taiwan.
COAST GUARD SET TO JOIN BALIKATAN NEWS / A2
3 PINOYS DIE IN UAE FLOODS NEWS / A4