@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
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 123 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2024
8 Navy soldiers hurt in clash with Chinese Guns seized, rubber boats punctured
C
HINESE maritime forces injured eight Philippine Navy soldiers, one seriously, and seized their guns in a violent encounter in the waters surrounding Ayungin Shoal. The Filipino soldiers were part of a group delivering much-needed supplies to the crew of the marooned BRP Sierra Madre when their rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) was rammed by a larger Chinese vessel. The military confirmed the incident hours after the media broke the story. It was unclear however whether the incident was the same one wherein the
Chinese rammed a resupply boat headed for BRP Sierra Madre. "A Philippine Navy personnel sustained severe injury after the CCG's (China Coast Guard's) intentional high-speed ramming during the rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre (LS57) on June 17," it said in a statement. It also said that the injured navy personnel "has been safely evacuated and received prompt medical treatment." The statement however did not give further details about the encounter – the first time that Philippine soldiers were involved in a clash with Chinese forces surrounding the contested shoal. According to a report by China Daily, the incident happened on Monday, June 17.
Newport City Megaworld’s Newport City township in Pasay across NAIA Terminal 3, has the shortest stretch of road in the country that features the most number of hotel properties. Currently, seven (7) hotel properties are located along a less than a kilometer stretch of road, which include five international hotel brands and two homegrown Filipino hotels. These are Marriott Hotel Manila, Sheraton Manila, Holiday Inn Express, Hilton Manila, Hotel Okura, Savoy Hotel Manila, and Belmont Hotel Manila.
Next page
MegaStan
US blasts China, affirms MDT commitment By Rachelle Tonelada THE State Department has reaffirmed the United States' commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines following China's latest actions in the West Philippine Sea that involved a Chinese Coast Guard “ramming and towing” a Filipino vessel. The international community, including the G7 countries, also strongly condemned the latest unruly behavior displayed by China. During a call about the June 17 incident, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro and Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell “shared Next page
GUILTY. Four cops accused in the killing of Luis and Gabriel Bonifacio in a buy-bust operation wait for the judge’s verdict at the Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 212 on Tuesday. Inset photo shows the mother in a tight embrace with a relative after the guilty verdict was announced by the court. Danny Pata
Court finds four cops guilty in drug war killings FOUR Philippine policemen were found guilty Tuesday of killing a father and son, court officials said, in a rare case of law enforcement officers being prosecuted for taking part in former president Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war. The four low-ranking officers were all sentenced to up to 10 years
in prison for the shooting deaths of the two victims at a Manila slum during an anti-drug police operation in 2016, Manila regional trial court judge Rowena Alejandria said in her written verdict that was read in court Tuesday. "It must be worthy to note that Next page
AT THE JAPANESE DIET. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez sits on
the Speaker’s chair at the National Diet of Japan after meeting his counterpart, Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga, at the Tokyo parliamentary building Tuesday to discuss various issues beneficial to the Philippines and the Filipino people. Those who attended the meeting include Japan Vice Speaker Banri Kaieda, Japan House of Representatives International Affairs Department Director General Yamamoto Hironori, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose M. Dalipe, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David Suarez, House Committee on Appropriations chairman Zaldy Co, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, House Secretary General Reginald S. Velasco, House Sergeant-at-Arms retired police Maj. Gen. Napoleon C. Taas and other House officials. Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano facilitated the meeting. (Story on A2)
CBCP backs total POGO ban, cites its ‘evil extent’ By Vito Barcelo THE Catholic Church joined the calls to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) in the country because it brings serious threats and harm to Filipinos. Former Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan said in a pastoral letter that it’s time to end the POGO industry. He said the serious threats and harm POGOs bring far outweigh any promised benefits of allowing them to operate in the country.
“The recent raids that revealed the extent of the evil at these POGO hubs including incidences of human trafficking and torture and money laundering make it a moral imperative that no longer should they be granted the protection of the law and that they, in fact, should be outlawed,” Villegas said. POGOs are Chinese-run online gaming companies serving customers abroad, which grew in the Philippines during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s term. Calls to ban POGOs have come up again due to increased reports Next page
Guo explains side to Palace By Charles Dantes and Macon Ramos-Araneta SUSPENDED Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo said all accusations against her are baseless in a letter sent by her associates directly to the Office of Executive Secretary on Tuesday.
"I strongly deny any involvement in the alleged cases of kidnapping, illegal detention, or human trafficking. These accusations are completely baseless and devoid of any truth," Guo said in her letter addressed to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. Next page
CHAMPIONS AGAIN. Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. AFP
Celtics rout Mavs to win record 18th NBA championship LOS ANGELES—Jayson Tatum produced a dazzling 31-point display as the Boston Celtics dominated the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 to clinch a record-breaking 18th NBA championship crown on Monday. Humbled by Dallas in a 38-point game four drubbing on Friday, Boston slammed the door on any chance of a Mavericks fightback to seal a 4-1 series victory at an electric TD Garden. Next page