@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
VP, Hontiveros clash over P10-m budget for Duterte’s children’s book By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rachelle Tonelada VICE President Sara Duterte on Tuesday traded barbs with Senator Risa Hontiveros
over a P10-million budget allocation for the production and distribution of "Isang Kaibigan"—a children's book authored by Duterte. The argument ensued during the on-
going deliberation of the P2.037-billion budget of the Office of the Vice President budget for 2025. “Her problem is that my name is on the Next page
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 187• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2024 •
Vice President Sara Z. Duterte
‘Guo now in Indonesia, fled PH thru backdoor’ Palace orders cancellation of passports of Guo, siblings
Sen. Risa Hontiveros
PSEI AT 7K LEVEL; P57.55 TO $ BUSINESS / B2
PH-US INK AFGHAN DEAL NEWS / A2
By Vito Barcelo, Charles Dantes, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Pot Chavez
ISMISSED Bamban mayor Alice Guo is now in Indonesia after fleeing the country on July 21 —most likely travelling via boat or private plane to Malaysia first before proceeding to Singapore and making her way to her present location in Southeast Asia, the Bureau of Immigration said.
D
BI deputy spokesperson Melvin Mabulac said Guo, who was implicated in illegal POGO operations in Tarlac, probably used her Philippine passport to enter Malaysia since ASEAN countries need not to secure a visa to legally visit or enter any Southeast Asian state. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Tuesday ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice to cancel the passports of Guo, her siblings Wesley and Sheila, and Cassandra Ong, who reportedly has ties with Lucky South 99 POGO in Porac, Pampanga which was also raided by authorities. "Given the foregoing and in the interest of justice, this Office hereby directs that appropriate action be taken for the cancellation of the Philippine passports of Guo, her family, and Ong,” Bersamin said in his memo addressed to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. Mabulac, for his part, said it was unlikely that Guo, earlier identified as the same person as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, would travel to China since POGOs are banned in the mainland. However, Guo's lawyer Stephen David maintained his client has not left the country. "We just talked this morning and Next page
UNITED FRONT. Top political leaders from major parties led by Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) leader and House speaker Martin G.
Romualdezs gather Monday night at Malacañang's Aguado residence, to strategize for the 2025 midterm elections. The Speaker underscored the importance of unity and collaboration within the ‘Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas’ as they prepare for the upcoming polls. Attendees included Lakas-CMD’s Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio ‘Dong’ Gonzales Jr., House Majority Leader and Zamboanga 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose ‘Mannix’ M. Dalipe, Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Jose ‘Joboy’ Aquino II, and Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Rep. David ‘Jay-jay’ Suarez; Nacionalista Party's Sen. Mark Villar, Iloilo 4th District Rep. Ferjenel Biron, and Misamis Oriental 2nd District Rep. Yevgeny ‘Bambi’ Emano; NPC's former Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office head Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza; PFP's Special Assistant to the President (SAF) Antonio ‘Anton‘ Lagdameo, South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo S. Tamayo, retired Gen. Thompson P. Lantion, and Atty. George S. Briones; and NUP's Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund ‘L-Ray’ Villafuerte and Bataan 2nd District Rep. Albert Raymond Garcia. Ver Noveno
PH political moguls meet to end conflicts, forge common strategy By Maricel Cruz IN WHAT is seen as a rare display of unity and shared purpose, stalwarts of the Philippines’ leading political blocs sat down to draw up a common strategic plan for the May 2025 midterm elections. Speaker Martin Romualdez,
president of the tion's strategy ruling Lakasfor the fast-apCMD, told parproaching polls ticipants that ensures victory. they must focus The leaders' on fostering meeting took NEWS / A2 unity, preventplace Monday ing internal night at the conflicts, and ensuring that the coaliAguado residence in Malacañang.
Imee bares Alyansa slate for 2025 senatorial race
Maritime Zones bill awaits Marcos’ signature By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Charles Dantes THE rights of the Philippines over its maritime zones can soon be codified after the Senate on Monday night
ratified the Philippine Maritime Zones Act. Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, principal author and sponsor of the bill, said it is now awaiting the signature of President Ferdinand Mar-
cos Jr. in order to become a law. Tolentino said the measure sets the archipelagic boundaries, the country’s internal waters, and exclusive economic zones over which the Philippine Next page
Pollutants, not vog, in NCR—Phivolcs By Charles Dantes THE Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology said Tuesday that the haze in Metro Manila is
“likely due to local pollutants” and not vog. “For the past few days, the wind speed has been very low for the past three days or four days in Metro Ma-
nila. Now, the haze that we’re observing is likely due to local pollutants, hindi ito vog (this is not vog),” said Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol. Next page
“This is more than just a strategic planning session; it is a declaration of our shared commitment to the Filipino people,” Romualdez said. “Our unity is our strength, and today we solidify that bond to ensure that our vision for a better Philippines will continue to be realized. Next page
Solons tell VP, Bato to stop trash talk and ‘face the music’ By Maricel V. Cruz SEVERAL lawmakers urged Vice President Sara Duterte and her father’s acolyte, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, to stop imputing malice into the House of Representatives’ ongoing inquiry into alleged abuses of power during the previous administration, and instead, cooperate with the Quad-Committee probe. This was their reaction to Duterte’s accusation that the congressional
investigation was “politically motivated” and that House members were engaged in “political harassment” against her family. On Tuesday, Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun told the Vice President to encourage her brother, Davao City Rep. Pulong Duterte, and her husband, lawyer Mans Carpio, to appear before the consolidated panel to refute the accusations leveled by former Bureau of Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban. Next page