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VOL. XXXIX • NO. 40 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES MARCH 23, 2025
HEAVYWEIGHT GREAT GEORGE FOREMAN, 76 WORLD | A4 www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
MEDIALDEA CHECKS OUT OF HOSPITAL—SEN. GO
LIGHTS OUT.
Lights at Luneta Park in Manila are turned off for 60 minutes as the country joined the rest of the world yesterday to mark Earth Hour, an annual environment awareness campaign. Danny Pata
NEWS | A2
US DEFENSE CHIEF’S VISIT TO ENHANCE PARTNERSHIP WITH PH
MARCOS CALLS ON SOLDIERS TO ADAPT TO EVOLVING THREATS GOV’T MUST LISTEN TO PEOPLE TO WIN OVER TODAY’S ADVERSITIES By Charles Dantes
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RESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. warned of the evolving nature of security threats, emphasizing the growing challenges in cyberspace and urging the Philippine Army to stay adaptable and disciplined. Speaking at the Army’s 128th founding anniversary celebration, Mr. Marcos highlighted the necessity of modernizing defense strategies to address both conventional and emerging threats. “Ours is a world that continues to evolve,” the President said. “Threats have grown increas-
ingly more complex, and the battleground is no longer contained in land—it now extends into cyberspace and beyond,” he added. In the same speech, Marcos said the government must listen and serve with integrity amid adversities happening in the society. He emphasized that when peace
Armed forces remains solid — DND chief NEWS / A2 and order are in place, the country can work towards prosperity. “To achieve this, the government must lead by example, we strive for a government that listens, that acts and serves with integrity. That is the only way to rise above adversities and move forward as a people,” he added. Beyond military defense, the President praised the Army’s dedication
to humanitarian efforts. He commended soldiers for serving as first responders during natural disasters, including the recent volcanic activities of Taal and Kanlaon. “They have proven themselves to be ready, reliable, and resolute in their sworn duty to our people,” he said. The president acknowledged the Army’s recent achievements, including a perfect score in the General Security of Military Information Agreement evaluation, which he called a testament to its readiness and adherence to international standards. Turn to A4
RODY SHOULD BE TRIED BY LOCAL COURT— INC
THE influential church group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) weighed in on the arrest and surrender of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity. “Any Filipino or citizen of our country who has committed a violation of our laws should be tried here in our country. Why? Because our justice system works,” INC spokesperson Bro. Edwin Zabala said in Filipino over NET25 late Friday “We are not saying that the former president should not be tried for the charges against him. As for us, the Iglesia ni Cristo
trusts in the integrity and competence of the judiciary to decide such matters and issues,” he added. He also recalled the INC’s nationwide Rally for Peace on January 13 where they reiterated their call for “peace, unity, and the need to first address the problems of our country and our countrymen, instead of moves that will only result in conflict and division.” “What’s sad is that the people in charge didn’t listen to the call of the Iglesia ni Cristo,” said Zabala, referring to the decision of the House of Representatives to proceed with the impeachment
of Vice President Sara Duterte. Meanwhile, detained former president Rodrigo Duterte has told Vice President Sara Duterte that he has surrendered his fate to God, choosing to accept whatever comes his way. “According to him, the governance in our country is clearly fractured and the people are disgruntled. So, that’s what he said,” Sara said in a mix of English and Filipino during an ambush interview with Philippine media at The Hague on Friday. “He said, ‘I will leave that all to God... I will leave it all to God all that will happen in my life. So be Turn to A4 it,’” she added.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
By Rachelle Tonelada PETE Hegseth will make his first trip to Asia as defense secretary next week, traveling to key US allies the Philippines and Japan, the Pentagon said Friday. The trip “comes as the United States builds on unprecedented cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen regional security,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro told reporters the meeting will focus on “enhancing our bilateral and multilateral partnerships further, greater interoperability.” But he declined to elaborate further. Hegseth’s trip will also take him to Hawaii and Guam where he will participate in a ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Parnell said. Toward the end of World War II in 1945, Japanese and US forces engaged in a brutal, five-week combat on the tiny island around 780 miles (1,250 kilometers) south of Turn to A4 Tokyo.
ARMY DAY.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. troops the line with Army Chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido during the celebration of the 128th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Army.
NO TALK ABOUT DROPPING IMEE, CAMILLE FROM ALYANSA SENATORIAL SLATE
NOT ONLY BEASTS OF BURDEN.
For the boys of Sitio Ibayo, in San Mateo, Rizal, carabaos are not only beasts of burden, they can also be used to ride on when swimming in rivers. Edd Castro
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@ManilaStandardPH
SENATOR Imee Marcos and Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar will remain with the administration’s senatorial slate, according to Navotas Representative and Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign manager Toby Tiangco. ‘’Wala, wala,’’ Tiangco said briefly during a press conference on Saturday when asked if Alyansa and the Nacionalista Party had discussed the “future” of the two senatorial candidates. Tiangco added that such ques-
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tions were best addressed by the candidates themselves. ‘’With regards to that question, I cannot answer that question for them so like for Imee siguro siya dapat ang makasagot ng tanong na ‘yun, hindi po kami,’’ he said. Marcos and Villar were both absent from Alyansa’s 10th campaign sortie in Cavite on Friday. Only Imee was left out of the endorsement speech delivered by her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
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Imee had already said she would be skipping the Alyansa sorties to be able to focus on the hearings of her Senate committee’s probe of the arrest and surrender of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court. Rep. Villar, on the other hand, has been absent from the Alyansa campaign after her parents and brother, Sen. Mark Villar, expressed their opposition to Duterte bring tried by a foreign court.
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