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DOJ SHUTS DOWN FB BABY SELLERS
TIMOR MINISTRY BACKS TEVES EXTRADITION
NEWS / A3
NEWS / A2 VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 105 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2024
PH new suit vs. China nearly done Case focuses on environmental damage in WPS
By Rey E. Requejo, Maricel Cruz and Ratziel San Juan
T
HE environmental case the Philippine government intends to file against China over the maritime destruction in the West Philippine Sea may be completed “in a few weeks,” the Department of Justice on Thursday said. “We are confident that in a few weeks, the complaint and the attached evidence will be completed. Hopefully with the help of the Solicitor General, we will be able to file an environmental case against China,” Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano IV said. The National Security Council earlier said the evidence includes images of how Chinese activities destroyed the already fragile marine environment in Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc. Next page
Marcos pushes for retraining of returning OFWs IN A bid to address the employment challenges faced by returning overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), President Marcos has announced plans to bolster the retraining programs aimed at reintegrating these workers into the local workforce. The initiative is a direct response to the difficulties that many OFWs encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic when they were forced to return home for health and safety reasons. President Marcos noted Next page
DEFIANT ONES. Members of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) yesterday set out from Masinloc, Zambales to fish at Scarborough Shoal despite the Chinese fishing ban but had to turn back because of bad weather. Danny Pata
PBBM to highlight challenges in WPS during Singapore meet By Charles Dantes and Rey Requejo PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos said he would discuss today the Philippines’ legal and geopolitical position on the West Philippine Sea at the International Institute for
Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. The President’s keynote address this evening, which the Palace described as “historic,”would tackle the escalating tension between the Philippines and China in WPS, which he described as crucial to global trade and
the economy. “The fact that they asked the Philippine President to come and speak on that very subject is significant in the sense that it is a recognition that there are challenges that are facing the Philippines, specifically,” Mr. Marcos said in an interview with the media in Bru-
nei before he left for Singapore. “And not only the Philippines – this affects the region and it affects the world. So, what I will present in the Shangri-la forum is going to essentially try to explain the position of the Philippines for both legally Next page
House holds divorce bill transmittal to Senate By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives has put on hold the transmittal of the approved divorce bill to the Senate. House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said he was unable to sign the measure for Senate transmittal because he is currently on official mission abroad.
“I may be able to sign the letter of transmittal to the Senate as soon as I return to Manila this weekend,” Velasco clarified. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, one of the authors of the bill, said on Wednesday that he was informed that the Office of the Secretary General deferred the transmittal of the bill to the Senate to correct the voting cast on the measure.
Similarly, Manila Rep. Benny Abante Jr., who voted against the bill, said that the House deferred its transmission to the Senate “to allow those like myself to raise our concerns regarding the vote taken on this measure.” But Velasco clarified “It was not deferred. I wasn’t able to sign the letter of transmittal because of my official Next page
Senate deep dives into Survey should prompt Guo’s alleged criminal ties Senate to pass econ By Macon Ramos-Araneta
WARM WELCOME. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez receives a warm welcome from Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivien Balakrishnan when they met Thursday morning at Singapore’s Foreign Ministry. The Speaker is in Singapore to accompany President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. who is set to deliver the keynote address at the opening of the 21st International Institute of Strategic Studies-Shangri-La Dialogue on May 31, 2024. President Marcos is the first Philippine President invited to address the IISS-Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defense forum.
THE Senate has scheduled a multi-executive session next week to get to the bottom of the issues hounding Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who is being investigated over money laundering charges with links to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO). Invitations to the meeting were extended to representatives from the national security agencies, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Bureau of Immigration, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. “This is a transnational crime with many facets... everything is possible. We saw everything that can possibly happen, especially when you talk about money laundering,” said Gatchalian on Thursday, emphasizing the serious nature of the allegations against Guo. Gatchalian elaborated on the sources of laundered money, indicating it could stem from state-sponsored activities, illegal drugs, or other unlawful enterprises. “It did not pass through our regular banking system to avoid being traced due to illegal or irregular sources,” he said. Next page
Cha-cha, solons say
By Maricel V. Cruz THREE top leaders of the House of Representatives have welcomed the result of a new nationwide survey showing 57 percent of Filipinos support proposed amendments to the Constitution. Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David Suarez, and Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said the survey “should prompt the new Senate leadership to pass the amendment proposals ASAP.” Gonzales said the poll taken by big data research firm Tangere from May 21 to 25 showed “more than majority support for economic Charter amendments.” Next page