LP MAY JOIN FORCE WITH NEW ADMIN ALLIANCE, SAYS ANALYST
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IN MET R MANILAO
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 86 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES MAY 12, 2024
By Maricel V. Cruz A PROFESSOR from the University of the Philippines on Saturday said that the opposition, including Liberal Party, may consider joining administration’s senatorial slate in 2025 should its members find “points of unity” with the newly announced Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas. Dr. Edna Co, a former dean at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, said politics in the Philippines is about formation of alliances and coalitions. “Politics, generally, is not about drawing lines, but of coalitions of alliances of parties and other potential political players to increase chances of winning,” she said, adding that political parties in the Philippines do not operate in the same way that parties do in other countries. Co said that while there are many political parties in the country, they are not distinct parties “in substance” and are more similar to each other than they are different. “They are looking for ways to merge and unite. The goal is ‘how do we win?’ but they are not a political party in substance — it’s all very fluid,” she said. Co stressed that the LP, which used to be a ruling party, may find several points of unity with the Marcos administration, including on foreign policy. She said that the LP and the Marcos administration have agreed on issues like sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.
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CORAL DUMPING LINKED TO CHINA PCG WARNS ACTIONS MAY BE PART OF BEIJING’S WPS CONSTRUCTION PLAN
By Charles Dantes
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HE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) expressed concern on Saturday over the dumping of crushed corals near Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, raising the possibility of a link to China’s potential construction plans in the West Philippine Sea. PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela made this statement while reporting that more than 30 Chinese militia boats, along with China’s research ships, Navy vessels, and a helicopter, were spotted near Escoda Shoal. “These are also the Chinese maritime militia vessels that we have seen in the area of Escoda Shoal. Approximately, more than 30 Chinese maritime militia who swarmed here are not leaving and the Philippine Coast Guard continues to document in case they have activities.,” Tarriela said in a Saturday news forum in Quezon City. Tarriela mentioned research by University of the Philippines (UP) marine scientists led by Dr. Jonathan Anticamara, showing that sandbars at Sandy Cay were growing bigger. However, Tarriela stressed that at Escoda Shoal, these activities are just beginning. Tarriela pointed out that China uses corals as “pantambak (landfill)” for building islands. “That means they have to kill all the corals, as many corals as possible,
for them to use that as a foundation for their island reclamation,” he explained. “So, if we say that this dumping of coral they did on Sandy Cay has allowed them to expand this land area, surface area as an artificial island then, most likely, if we don’t monitor this and keep an eye on it, we might just be surprised in the coming months that in Sabina Shoal, the islands they made here are also getting bigger,” Tarriela said. “But again, the other problem here is this: What they use as fill material in these areas are corals. So, that means, they have to kill all the corals as many as possible for them to be able to use that as a foundation for their island reclamation,” he added. Tarriela further ensured PCG’s continued monitoring of said ships to observe China’s activity in the area.
DANCE FEST. Students from
different schools in Malabon City wear colorful costumes at the start of the parade from Malabon National High School in Barangay Hulong Duhat to the Malabon Sports Complex in celebration of the Tambobong Indakan Festival 2024 Street Dance Competition. Andrew Rabulan
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CHINESE ‘WIRETAPPING’ A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO MUDDLE WPS ISSUE, SAYS HOUSE LEADER By Maricel V. Cruz A HOUSE leader has condemned the reported wiretapping of the conversation between Chinese and Philippine officials regarding the “new model agreement” on the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea as a desperate attempt to muddle the issue. Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Rep. Jude Acidre empha-
sized the need for a thorough investigation into the origins and motives behind the alleged wiretapping incident earlier exposed by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. Why do they appear? This kind of misinformation or wiretapping? It goes to shows that this is an act of desperation, what, to muddle the entire issue,” Acidre pointed out. Deputy Majority Leader and
Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino Dy V called the alleged wiretapping incident as a breach of trust and a violation of Philippine laws. Dy echoed Teodoro’s sentiments, stressing that whoever is responsible for the wiretapping or recording of the conversation should face consequences for their actions. Those responsible for wiretapping or recording this conversa-
tion if it happened, they should be expelled or deported from our country or they should answer to our laws because what they did is illegal,” Dy said. Regarding the next steps, Dy deferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to handle the investigation. “Again, I will leave it to our DFA on how to proceed the investigation on this matter,” he said.
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CLASH OF KAWALI 2024 ELEVATES BUDGET MEALS CRAVINGS | C1
MOTHER’S DAY FOR LONG-LIFERS
TIMELY AID. Speaker Martin Romualdez, in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), turns over three ambulance units and two portable x-ray machines to Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe during the launching of Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) at Zamboanga City Coliseum in Zamboanga City Friday. Also in photo are Majority Leader and Zamboanga 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe and representatives from the DOH. Ver Noveno twitter.com/ @mnlstandardph
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WHAT could probably be the hardest thing for an only child, or rather, only son? To see his mother age. More so the likes of me who has spent a considerable amount of my growing up years with her—just the two of us. What once was an agile body zooming across the kitchen for a cola or a sandwich seemed to have now slowed down considerably, almost hitting the brakes—almost!—had it not been for Korean novellas to which she wakes up every day. And if you think that was enough, there ought to be softdrinks, junk food, peanuts, potato chips, French fries, three-in-one coffee, and a whole gamut of chichiria within arm’s reach. My 84-year-old Mama loves the pick-and-bite scenario when it comes to her gastronomic delights of choice—small, sweet/ salty, and in many ways dangerous. At 84, my mom has the right to get away with anything—with impunity. I make sure of that. Mothers are probably the superwomen on the
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world. Younger, they’re always quick on their feet, and quick to the draw, too. You make a wrong move and it’s either you’re out the door or out of luck because you’re about to be grounded. But now she chews her food much, much slower but never without finesse. I walk her to the dinner table, my arms gently wrapped ‘round her elbow as I whisk her away to her powder room, and up a restive flight of stairs, wondering if she can take that one more needed step. And she does take that extra step, boldly, and that extra huff of air into her old, tired lungs, that seemingly final rising of the feet—too brittle to even look at. But then the morning arrives with her little steps waking the old floorboards of the house, weaker now than two decades ago, but never too flavorless not to say, “Good morning, anak!” Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! From your 60-year-old son. Yes, we are long-lifers. -- JPS
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