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VOL. XXXIX • NO. 54 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES APRIL 6, 2025
PRAYERS AND PETITIONS.
Devotees troop to the ‘Kamay Ni Hesus’ shrine in Lucban, Quezon ahead of Holy Week. Many believe their prayers and petitions come true after they visit and pray at the shrine. Manny Palmero
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SEISMIC TRADE SHIFT: TRUMP’S GLOBAL TARIFF TAKES EFFECT By Othel Campos
NSC DOUBTS CHINA RAPS VS. 3 PH ‘SPIES’ SAYS CONFESSION RELEASED BY STATE MEDIA ‘SCRIPTED’
By Charles Dantes and Rex Espiritu
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HE National Security Council has expressed alarm over the arrest of three Filipino nationals for suspected espionage in China, saying the action “can be seen as a retaliation” after at least seven Chinese suspected spies were nabbed in the Philippines. “They are law-abiding citizens with no criminal records and were vetted and screened by the Chinese government prior to their arrival there,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said in a statement on Saturday. “Given the limited information released by Chinese media, the arrests can be seen as a retaliation for the series of legitimate arrests of Chinese agents and accomplices by Philippine law enforcement and counterintelligence agencies in recent months,” he added. The announcement of the arrest of the three Filipinos – two male and one female – followed a travel warning issued by the Chinese embassy in Manila to its citizens about frequent “harassment” from Philippine law enforcement agencies. It also came in the wake of arrests made by Philippine authorities of at least five Chinese nationals on suspicion of espionage in January and another two in February. Malaya also questioned the edited video released by
Chinese media showing alleged “confessions” by the Filipinos, who were reportedly arrested in October last year. He said the clip “raises more questions than answers” as a portion of one of the Filipinos’ statements, while expressing regret, “also notably portrayed China in a positive light.” “There was also mention of a ‘Philippine Intelligence Agency’ or ‘Philippine Spy Intelligence Services,’ which is a non-existing government agency. The ‘confessions’ appear to be scripted, strongly suggesting that they were not made freely.” “We urge the Chinese government to respect their rights and afford them every opportunity to clear their names in the same way that the rights of Chinese nationals are respected here in the Philippines,” Malaya added. The arrested Filipinos are former recipients of the Hainan Government Scholarship Program established under a sisterhood agreement between the provinces of Hainan and Palawan, which provided scholarships to 50 scholars from Palawan at the Hainan National University. At that time, Malaya said, they only went to China at the invitation of the Chinese government to study. Palawan provincial board member Ryan Maminta added: “Their intention was really just to study and most of all to help their families. Before they were sent there for work, they told the provincial board about their experiences there and that they were happy they were able to study because of this program.” In a separate interview with ABS-CBN News, DLSU international relations expert Professor Renato de Castro said the three Filipinos were being held “hostage” and would likely be used for a possible swap for the arrested Chinese nationals in the Philippines.
AI TO IMPACT 40% OF JOBS GLOBALLY
CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presents the ‘Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas’ senatorial candidates during a rally held at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City Friday evening. Joseph Muego
THE global artificial intelligence market is projected to reach $4.8 trillion – roughly the size of Germany’s economy – by 2033, the UN said, warning nearly half of jobs worldwide could be affected. While AI is transforming economies and creating vast opportuopportu nities, the technology also risks deepening existing inequalities, the UN trade and development agency UNCTAD warned in its report. In particular, the report cautioned that “AI could impact 40 percent of jobs worldwide, offering productivity gains but also raising concerns about automation and job disdis placement.” While previous waves of technology mainly impacted blue-collar jobs, UNCTAD highlighted that knowledge-intensive sectors would be left most exposed by AI. This means advanced economies will surely be hardesthit, it said, adding though that these economies were bet better positioned to harness the benefits of AI than developing economies. “The benefits of AI-driven automation often favor capital over labor, which could widen inequality and reduce the comcom petitive advantage of low-cost labor in developing economies,” UNCTAD said. UNCTAD chief Rebeca Grynspan underlined the importance of ensuring people are at the center of AI development, urging stronger international cooperation to “shift the focus from technology to people, enabling councoun tries to co-create a global artificial intelligence framework.” Turn to Page 4
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US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s widest-ranging tariffs to date took effect Saturday, in a move which could trigger retaliation and escalating trade tensions that could upset the global economy. A 10 percent “baseline” tariff came into place past midnight, hitting most US imports except goods from Mexico and Canada as Trump invoked emergency economic powers to address perceived problems with the country’s trade deficits. The trade gaps, said the White House, were driven by an “absence of reciprocity” in relationships and other policies like “exorbitant value-added taxes.” Come April 9, around 60 trading partners — including the European Union, Japan and China — are set to face even higher rates tailored to each economy. Already, Trump’s sharp 34-percent tariff on Chinese goods, set to kick in next week, triggered Beijing’s announcement of its own 34-percent tariff on US products from April 10. Beijing also said it would sue the United States at the World
Trade Organization and restrict export of rare earth elements used in high-end medical and electronics technology. But other major trading partners held back as they digested the unfolding international standoff and fears of a recession. In Manila, the Federation of Free Farmers cautioned the government against complacency and warned the 17 percent tariff imposed by the US on Philippine exports could harm the country’s agricultural sector despite being the second lowest in Southeast Asia, next to Singapore’s 10 percent. FFF chairman Leonardo Montemayor said even if competing products from other countries become more expensive, Philippine products will still be 17 percent more expensive to American consumers, “who may then opt to stop purchasing our goods and switch to cheaper alternatives.” He said competing countries might also provide additional support to their producers and exporters to counter the US tariff increase and maintain their competitive edge. Turn to Page 4
RODY: DON’T DELAY ICC CASE; DEFENSE TEAM NOW COMPLETE By Rachelle Tonelada FORMER president Rodrigo Duterte wants proceedings on his crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court to move swiftly and without delay, his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte said Saturday (Manila time). The 80-year-old Duterte expressed his desire to return home, fearing he could die in detention at The Hague, the Vice President said. “He wants to go back to the Philippines. He said, ‘I am an old man. I can die anytime. But I want to die in my country,’” Sara said, relaying her father’s message following a recent visit. “He said, ‘Everything I did, I did for my country. (I don’t know) whether that statement is acceptable or not, but I want it out to the world,’” she added. Rodrigo’s lead defense counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, said the defense team is now complete and they are preparing to file motions to dismiss the case as well as exploring the possibility of seeking
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an interim release. “The core team is now fully completed... [The names] should be released in a public filing,” Kaufman said. “Harry is seeking political asylum in The Netherlands and that would be wholly incompatible with employment at the Court. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” he added. The Vice President, for her part, said she will soon fly back to the Philippines as the defense team of her father has already been finalized. “My job here is done,” she said. “Everything is organized with the lawyers. And there is already a system for the family with regard to visiting here in the detention unit. And the last document that was needed of me, I delivered it this morning to the person inside who asked for it,” the Vice President said. She said the family has already arranged a visitation schedule for the next two months and that her youngest sister, Veronica, will be staying in the Netherlands. Turn to Page 4
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