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File photoon datedA4) July 27, 2016 shows President Duterte during a National Security Council meeting attended by four former presidents (Story including (from left) Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Fidel V. Ramos and Benigno Aquino III. Presidential Spokesman Harry
‘ATIN ITO’ SLIPS THRU CHINA BLOCKADE, DROPS OFF SUPPLIES NEAR PANATAG
Roque says Malacanang is inclined to ask the four ex-presidents to attend a meeting on issues besetting the West Philippine Sea. NSC file
HOUSE TO PROBE RODY’S DRUG WAR NEWS / A4
MAUTE MATRIARCH GETS 40 YEARS NEWS / A3
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 91• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024 •
Marcos junks stricter visa rules for Chinese nationals
THE “Atin Ito” coalition breached China’s imposing blockade around Scarborough Shoal on Thursday, successfully delivering crucial provisions such as food and fuel to Filipino fishers in the area. The civilian mission's 10-member advance team arrived within 25 to 30 nautical miles of the general vicinity of Scarborough Shoal, also called Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc. The group was able to distribute 1,000 liters of diesel and 200 food packs, despite a Chinese Navy ship with body number 175 constantly shadowing the Filipino vessels. "Despite China's massive blockade, we managed to breach their illegal blockade, reaching Bajo de Masinloc to support our fishers with essential supplies. Mission accomplished!" said Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David. “China may possess larger and more vessels, and wield strong water cannons, but we possess a secret weapon: Our 'diskarteng Pinoy,' which, when coupled with determination and love for fellow citizens and country, can surmount even the most daunting adversity,” she added. Next page
By Charles Dantes, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz
P
RESIDENT Marcos on Thursday said there will be no stricter visa rules and regulations for Chinese nationals wanting to enter the country, only stricter scrutiny of visa requirements. "There are no stricter rules for anyone. The rules are the same for all our friends who come," the President said in a media interview. The government, however, will intensify efforts to scrutinize visa applications and documents submitted amid reports of abuses, Mr. Marcos said. "The problem is very clear: It's coming out in the reports that there are people abusing it, so we'll keep an eye on it. What we're gonna do now is to be more strict about it. Before, we didn't really pay much attention to it, but we've seen a lot of problems arise because of that, like getting fake documents and doing all Next page sorts of things," he said.
FLAG BEARERS. The crew of the F/B John fishing
vessel wave a Philippine flag as they acknowledge the presence of a Philippine Coast Guard vessel escorting the Atin Ito second civilian mission which dropped buoys and provided supplies to fishermen off Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea. Danny Pata
Mayor Guo’s probe necessary, says President By Charles Dantes and Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENt Ferdinand Marcos is in favor of the ongoing investigation
on the citizenship of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, citing the questionable background of the latter. “We've been monitoring that for a long time. Because we conducted
a raid in Bamban and we saw the documents. We are now questioning if these are really true, and how did she run for mayor?” the official said. Next page
House passes divorce bill on second hearing By Maricel Cruz, Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta OUTREACH. President Marcos Jr. joins a groupie photo with 53 House solons led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G.Romualdez and beneficiaries of the Presidential Assistance for Farmers Fisherfolks & Families (PAFFF) at the Pimentel Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro City. Inset photo shows the Speaker assisting the President hand out financial aid to a beneficiary. Ver Noveno
THE House of Representatives approved on second reading a bill reinstituting absolute divorce in the country. Through a voice voting, House Bill (HB) 9349, or the proposed Absolute Divorce Act, moved a step closer to plenary passage. The bill stipulates the grounds for absolute divorce, which include psychological incapacity, irreconcilable differences, Next page
Zubiri, 2 other senators get ‘ in your face’ China challenge LAWMAKERS aboard a private plane bound for Pag-asa Island said China issued a radio challenge on Thursday before the plane landed. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito were on a visit to the largest island in the Kalayaan Island Group for the groundbreaking of a new barracks inside the Emilio Liwanag Naval Station and a Super Rural Health
Unit in this municipality. Zubiri, quoted by GMA News, said “verbal challenges were issued as we were landing earlier. It's so sad that we are here in our country, within Philippine territory, and then we are told to leave because it's a territory of China. It's both alarming and infuriating.” The same radio challenge was also received by a Philippine Air Force plane carrying a group of journalists who covNext page ered the senators' visit.
‘No destab under PBBM’s watch’ By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos on Thursday said he would not allow any destabilization plots against his administration. “We will also not allow agents within the country to destabilize our government and create division within our nation,” President Marcos said in his Talk to Troops at Camp Edilberto Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City. While speaking to troops from the Ar-
my's 4th Infantry Division (4ID), President Marcos called on soldiers to uphold their loyalty and adjust to emerging security challenges, such as digital warfare. He stressed the importance of developing skills and knowledge to combat new forms of warfare, including digital threats. “We must be prepared to fight false narratives, disinformation, and digital operations that seek to sow conflict against us and among us,” Marcos warned. Next page