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
THUNDERSTORM. A streak of
lightning during a thunderstorm is seen in the sky above an area in Quezon City, signalling perhaps the end of summer. Revoli Cortez
P20-KILO RICE NOT A STUNT NEWS / A3
MORE EXTENDED PH HOUSEHOLDS BUSINESS / B1
De Lima, Diokno joining VP impeach prosecution
Speaker hails their legal expertise, commitment to justice
SOTTO OKAY TO BE SENATE SP NEWS / A?
By Maricel Cruz and Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
HE first nominees of Akbayan and Mamayang Liberal party-lists – Chel Diokno and Leila de Lima -- are set to join the House prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
T
This as only eight out of the 11 members of the prosecution panel are likely to make it to the 20th Congress, after Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon conceded in the Albay 1st District congressional race and General Santos City Rep. Loreto Acharon lost in his reelection bid. “The House Speaker has invited me to serve on the prosecution panel for Chel Diokno
Next page
‘Legitimate’opposition welcome but not obstructionists—Palace By Charles Dantes THE Marcos administration welcomed “legitimate” opposition from other political parties who are leading the Senate race even as it warned “obstructionists” who would use their position for their personal interests, a
Palace official said Wednesday. “Now that our next leaders have been elected, the President is hopeful that each of them, all of them whom the people voted for, will respond to the needs of the people,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing. Next page
Lakas-CMD secures dominance in Congress, LGUs nationwide By Maricel V. Cruz THE leadership of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (LakasCMD) announced that their party has firmly cemented its position as
a dominant political force not only in the House of Representatives but across all elected positions in the country. Lakas-CMD Executive Director Next page
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 89 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2025
Metro Manila Congressional Districts
Leila de Lima
QUEZON CITY
MANILA
• First District - Arjo Atayde • Second District - Ralph Tulfo • Third District - Franz Pumaren • Fourth District - Bong Suntay • Fifth District - PM Vargas • Sixth District - Marivic Pilas
• First District - Ernix Dionisio • Second District - Rolan Valeriano • Third District - Joel Chua • Fourth District - Giselle Maceda • Fifth District - Irwin Tieng • Sixth District - Joey Uy
CALOOCAN
VALENZUELA
• First District - Oca Malapitan • Second District - Egay Erice • Third District - Dean Asistio
• First District - Kenneth Gatchalian • Second District - Gerald Galang
LAS PINAS
MAKATI
• Mark Anthony Santos
• First District - Monique Lagdameo • Second District - Alden Almario
MARIKINA • First District - Marcy Teodoro • Second District - Miro Quimbo
MALABON
Comelec touts fastest count despite bugs By Vito Barcelo THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared the midterm polls’ vote counting process a “remarkable success” for being the fastest in Philippine electoral history, even while the official election watchdog hailed the voting public for showing up in huge numbers. In a press briefing yesterday, Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said voters can expect the polls’ results just three to four days after the voting period concluded. “This significant advancement underscores the improvements made in Next page
• Lenlen Oreta
MANDALUYONG • Queenie Gonzales
MUNTINLUPA • Jaime Fresnedi
PARANAQUE • First District - Eric Olivarez • Second District - Brian Yamsuan
TAGUIG-PATEROS • First District - Jorge Bocobo • Taguig-Pateros - Ading Cruz
Akbayan, Duterte, Tingog party-lists to get 2-3 seats
NAVOTAS • Toby Tiangco
SAN JUAN • Bel Zamora
PASAY • Antonino Calixto
PASIG • Romulo Roman
PH mulls new arbitral suit over WPS vs. China at the Hague
SIX party-list groups are guaranteed at least 2 seats in the House of Representatives, according to the latest partial and unofficial tally. These results are based on partial, unofficial tallies as of 6:21 pm Wednesday based on a total of 56,093,665 votes processed, representing 97.37% of the election returns sourced from the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) Media Server. The party-list groups that have reached at least 2% of the total vote share, which automatically gives them one seat are the following . Next page
APAC STEVIE AWARDS WINNER. SM Supermalls takes home 13 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, including the coveted Grand Stevie Award for Most Honored Organization of the Year shared by the SM Group, and Gold for the groundbreaking SM Art Market – an initiative spotlighting Filipino creativity, turning mall spaces into dynamic art hubs. From left to right: SM Cares Marketing Assistant Vice President Richard A. Caluyo, SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing Joaquin L. San Agustin, and Senior Assistant Vice President for North Luzon Marketing Jefferson S. Suarez.
THE Philippine government is considering filing a new arbitration case against China due to its illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea. “In respect to the progress, it is still under study. Everything is still under study,” Department of Justice Senior State Counsel Atty. Fretti Ganchoon told reporters during a press briefing of the National Maritime Council (NMC) in Manila. “On the part of the Philippines, the decision is not just a DOJ decision; it is an inter-agency decision. We have
to wait and respect the decision-making process of the executive branch. It’s not just the decision of one department,” she added. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has said the Philippines is in the process of deciding on an international case against China for alleged damage to the marine environment in the West Philippine Sea. Undersecretary Alexander Lopez, NMC spokesperson, said the government wants to make sure that the secNext page