manilastandard.net
@ManilaStandardPH
@mnlstandardph
@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
TAGUIG CHIEF, 10 OTHER COPS FACE PROBE
PCG BLOCKS CHINA SHIP FROM EEZ
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A4 VOL. XXXIX • NO. 2 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025
Charge VP Sara, says NBI Sends grave threats, sedition raps for review to DOJ
By Pot Chavez
Agri chief eyes lower pork prices
T
HE National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) yesterday recommended to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the filing of grave threat and inciting to sedition charges against Vice President Sara Duterte. The recommendation accompanied a complaint filed by the NBI with the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service (NPS) after reviewing verbal threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza AranetaMarcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez that Duterte allegedly made during an online tirade. NBI Director Jaime Santiago pointed out that sufficient evidence was found for the charges, which was a unanimous recommendation from the team that worked on the case including himself. “We have already filed it with the DOJ...They will determine whether to conduct a preliminary investigation and whether to file the case in court,” he said in a press briefing. When asked to comment on the possibility of charges being filed
By Othel Ramos and Maricel V. Cruz AFTER bringing down the price of rice, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is aiming to arrest the price of pork. A market monitoring effort led by DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Trade and Industry Secretary Maria Cristina AldeguerRoque and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte found that pork prices remain high. Next page
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN. Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte (left to right) hold price tags for commercial rice being sold yesterday at the Commonwealth Market during their market inspection activity. Manny Palmero
Next page
Marcos to LGU execs: Rise above politics, prioritize people By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reminded local officials to stay focused on their duty to serve, urging them to rise above political divisions and prioritize the welfare of the people as the
campaign season began for the 2025 midterm elections. “No matter how intense the campaign gets, let’s not forget that we entered public service to help our fellow Filipinos,” Mr. Marcos told members of the League of Municipalities of the Philip-
pines on Wednesday. “At the end of our term, only one question matters: Did we make life better for the people?” he asked local government leaders during their meeting at the Manila Hotel. The chief executive called on offi-
cials to reflect on their contributions and ensure that governance remains centered on improving lives rather than political rivalries. He encouraged local leaders to sustain reforms, embrace innovation, and Next page
SERVE THE PEOPLE.
Over 50% of party-list groups not marginalized MORE than half or some 55.13 percent of party-list organizations seeking House of Representatives seats in the midterm elections in May do not represent marginalized segments of society, according to election watchdog Kontra Daya. A study released on Wednesday showed that 86 out of the 156 accredited party-list groups represent neither poverty-stricken nor underrepresented sectors. According to the think tank, forty party-list groups have links to political clans, 25 have links to big businesses, 18 have police or military connections, seven have corruption cases, and 11 have dubious advocacies.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets with local officials yesterday at the End-Term General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines in Manila. PCO
Next page
US, PH military chiefs aim for bigger war games THE chiefs-of-staff of the Philippines and the US are looking to expand military exercises being conducted by the two nations. This, after Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. spoke with US Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) chair Gen. CQ Brown via phone on Feb. 10 (US time). “Gen. Brown and Gen. Brawner discussed military modernization initiatives, Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites and increasing the scope and capacity of
joint exercises in the Philippines,” a JCS statement posted Tuesday (US time) said. During their talk, Brown emphasized to the Philippine side the importance of domain awareness capability in securing the country’s exclusive economic zone. “The US continues to closely partner with the Philippines and remains committed to maintaining a strong alliance founded upon shared strategic interests and democratic values,” the JCS added. Next page
Pinoys ‘very happy’ with love life hit 20-year low
PERFECT MATCH. PHLPost’s Postmaster and CEO Luis D. Carlos holds a special stamp for this year’s Valentine’s Day celebration. The special stamps were unveiled at the Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo, Manila with the theme “Perfect Match.” Norman Cruz
A R ECENT survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed that Filipinos who are ‘happy’ with their romantic relationships hit a 20-year low. Only 46% reported being ‘very happy,’ down 12 points from 58% in December 2023. Meanwhile, 36% said they ‘could be happier,’ and 18% admitted to having ‘no love life.’ The decline in love life satisfaction was observed among both men and women across different civil statuses, with the sharpest drop among men in live-in relationships.that almost seven in 10 Filipinos or 67% prefer to express their love through ‘acts of service,’ making it the most common of the socalled ‘love languages.’ The nationwide survey, conducted Next page