@mnlstandardph
@ManilaStandardPH
@manilastandard
@ManilaStandardYT
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net • 09173382170 / 85646229
‘NO DIVORCE FOR CHURCH MARRIAGES‘
Senate ‘artista bloc’ denies hand in Zubiri ouster
NEWS / A3
NO MORE SMOKING AT NAIA PARKING NEWS / A2
By Macon Ramos-Araneta VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 98• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2024 •
Escudero: Mending ties with House 1st priority Admits passing Cha-cha in Senate likely 'farfetched'
FOUR days after a change in leadership at the Senate took place, the finger-pointing continued with Senator Ronald dela Rosa attributing the shake-up to the so-called “artista” bloc in the Upper Chamber. Dela Rosa said the plot to have then Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri ousted was unleashed after the latter refused to allow Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., who was suffering from an Achilles tendon injury, to attend a plenary session virtually. A video surfaced on social media showing Zubiri and Revilla, who was wearing a walking boot for his injured foot, getting into an argument about his condition. Next page
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
S
ENATE President Francis Escudero said he will have a dialog with Speaker Martin Romualdez in the coming days to “mend what needs to be mended” amid the difference in position of two chambers of Congress on the push to amend the 1987 Constitution. Senate President Francis Escudero said his wife, actress Heart Evangelista, panicked and cried a bit when she realized she would automatically become the president of the Senate Spouses Foundation Inc. While she felt she was not capable of doing the job, “she is willing and ready,” Escudero said. Evangelista will meet next week with the wives of other senators to talk about their projects.
"I thank Speaker Romualdez for being gentle with his words as far as respecting
TAWI-TAWI SORTIE. President Marcos Jr. led yesterday the distribution of presidential assistance to farmers, fisherfolk and families at the DEPED Gymnasium in the municipality of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi province. He was joined by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and the largest ever contingent of solons to join the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair. KJ Rosales/PPA POOL
Next page
Guo’s 16 cars, helicopter raises Sen. Risa’s eyebrows
ERC halts WESM operations after NGCP issues red alerts By Alena Mae S. Flores
SENATOR Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, revealed during Wednesday’s hearing that 16 vehicles are registered under the name of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Gou. These said vehicles include pick-up trucks, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), a closed van and some dump trucks. Guo responded by saying that these vehicles are no longer part of her as-
sets, and that she’s an incorporator of Westcars. “Westcars is a buy-and-sell business which is why there are cars that are circulated. But the one I use now is GAC,” she said. The mayor also admitted that she owns a meat shop, a piggery, and embroidery business. On this note, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said that owning a chopper does not make Guo an “ordinary person”. Next page
THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) suspended the operations of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) starting at trading intervals 1:05 PM in the Luzon Grid and 2:05 PM in the Visayas Grid with the imposition of the red alert status by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).
By Maricel V. Cruz
The move effectively amended Committee Report 1103, submitted by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges chaired by COOPNATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon Espares, which recommended the penalty of 60-day suspension for Alvarez.
By Rey E. Requejo
No clemency for Gadon, rules Alvarez censured, escapes suspension Supreme Court
WITH 186 affirmative votes, five negative votes and seven abstentions, the House of Representatives has moved to censure Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez for violating the code of conduct of the House of Representatives.
Next page
Next page
EYE CANDY. Family members take in the breathtaking fireworks at the 11th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition at SM By the Bay. Australia and South Korea lit up the night sky with their amazing pyromusical show performance last Saturday.
THE Supreme Court (SC) has ordered Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Lorenzo “Larry” G. Gadon to pay a fine of P150,000 for gross misconduct with forfeiture of eligibility for judicial clemency. It ruled that since Gadon had already been disbarred, he can no longer be disbarred anew. However, being ineligible for judicial clemency means that although disbarred lawyers can seek reinstatement, Gadon can no longer do so in light of the SC decision. In an en banc decision, the High Court resolved the complaint filed against Gadon before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), which sought his disbarment for falsehoods Next page
This is pursuant to ERC Order on Case No. 2024-017 MC dated April 30, 2024 to mitigate the adverse impact of the red alerts to consumers. The operations of the WESM, the trading floor of electricity, shall remain suspended until issuance of the notice of market resumption by the ERC. "The conditions set out in our Order dated 30 Next page
Fil-American black beauty is Ms. Universe PH By Eton Concepcion FILIPINO-AMERICAN Chelsea Anne Manalo from Meycauayan, Bulacan, made history as the first black Filipina to be crowned Miss Universe Philippines. She bested 52 other contestants during the coronation night held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Wednesday. Manalo, a 25-year-old Tourism graduate and print ad model, previously held the titles of Global Asian Model Philippines 2018 and Top 15 in Miss World Philippines 2017. She excelled in the Jojo Bragais runway challenge and will represent the Philippines at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico. Next page
OUR MS. UNIVERSE.
Chelsea Anne Manalo of Bulacan was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2024 during the pageant's coronation night. She triumphed over 52 other contestants and succeeded Makati's Michelle Dee.