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
Warrant out on Roque, others for alleged human trafficking By Pot Chavez THE Angeles City, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 118 has ordered the arrest of former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong, and others in relation to the qualified human trafficking case involving
the Lucky South99 Scam Hub in Porac, Pampanga. In its 9-page Decision dated May 8, the court found probable cause to hold the accused for trial for the offenses charged against them. It also ordered the consolidation of Next page
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 89 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2025 •
CA voids De Lima’s acquittal in drug case Leila: Acquittal final, no double jeopardy allowed
SC JUNKS MINING BAN IN MINDORO
Chiz: Chatter on Senate presidency change premature
T
HE Court of Appeals voided the acquittal of Mamamayang Liberal party-list first nominee Leila de Lima in one of the drug cases filed against her, and remanded the case back to the regional trial court.
By Ram Superable SENATE President Francis Escudero yesterday said the upper chamber will not turn into a circus when it convenes into an impeachment court even as he shrugged off returning Senator Tito Sotto’s remarks about being open to being the Senate chief in the 20th Congress. "Whoever will preside, if i were the one, I will ensure that order will be maintained so that the process will flow in peaceful and orderly so that
In a 12-page decision dated April 30 but made public only yesterday, the CA said the Muntinlupa City regional trial court failed to “substantiate the perception of the alleged insufficiency” of evidence to prove De Lima’s guilt. The appellate court said Muntinlupa Branch 204 Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara acquitted De Lima following the recantation of Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos. “However, the public respondent failed to discuss the specific proven facts as well as the laws upon which his pronouncement of acquittal was based,” the CA said. “It is flagrant in the assailed decision and order that the public respondent failed to: (1) state the particular statements which witness Ragos specifically retracted; (2) state in particular the effects of the retracted statements to the facts proven by the prosecution; and (3) state which particular element of the crime charged was not proven.” “Without a concrete reference to the particular portions of the testimony that were recanted, we are left to speculate as to which facts were disregarded and the extent to which such retractions influenced the outcome of the case,” the CA added. In a statement, De Lima described the decision as “astonishing” and said her camp would appeal it up to the Supreme Court if necessary. “It seems the CA wants the regional trial court to rewrite its decision because it was unclear. But we also believe that all of the CA’s questions in its decision can be found in the records of the case,” De Lima said. “This does not mean my acquittal has been revoked. My acquittal is final and unappealable because of the principle of double jeopardy. The CA decision, on the other hand, is appealable up to the Supreme Court. My acquittal has more weight as it stands.”
Next page
IMPEACHMENT ROBE. This is one of the
official robes to be used by the senator-judges in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The Oxford crimson robes, modeled after those worn during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, were fitted by the senator-judges two weeks ago in preparation for the proceedings. This particular robe is for Senate President Francis Joseph 'Chiz' G. Escudero. Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
Next page
SC okays rules on free legal aid for indigents By Pot Chavez THE Supreme Court (SC) yesterday announced that it has approved the manual on the Rules on Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS). The approved manual will serve as a guide in the implementation of the ULAS Rules that took effect on February 3 this year. Next page
PENULTIMATE DAY. Commission on Election (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Garcia observes as watchers and lawyers inspects copies of Certificate of Canvass during the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) third day of canvassing held inside the Manila Hotel Tent City. Norman Cruz
Voter turnout highest ever for mid-term elections THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported that voter turnout reached a record high 81.65% for the midterm national and local elections. “We are happy because, despite it being a midterm election, the voters still cast their ballots – this is the highest in a midterm election,” said Comelec chair George Garcia. Comelec spokesperson Rex Lau-
BUSINESS / B1
NEWS / A4
By Pot Chavez
By Vito Barcelo
BINI POP GROUP IN FORBES LIST
SOLAR POWERED.
dinagco said the figure is subject to finalization based on the completion of canvassing by all Boards of Canvassers. Out of 68,431,965 registered voters nationwide, at least 55,874,700 individuals cast their votes at polling stations, he said. The current figure does not include the 1.24 million Filipinos registered abroad, and results for overseas absentee voting have not yet been released. Next page
House Speaker Martin Romualdez leads the inauguration and turnover of the Solar Powered Pump Irrigation Project with National Irrigation Administrator Eduardo Guillen at Brgy. Candating in Arayat, Pampanga on May 15, 2025. Also in the photo are Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio ‘Dong’ Gonzales Jr., Arayat Mayor Maria Lourdes Alejandrino, Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss and other local government officials. Ver Noveno
Marcos signs laws on early childhood, motorcycle ownership By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed two new laws aimed at improving early childhood development and promoting responsible motorcycle ownership. On May 8, President Marcos signed Republic Act No. 12199, or the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act, which replaces the Early Years Act of 2013. The law institutionalizes a comprehensive framework for supporting children from birth to age five and was a priority
of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2). RA 12199 promotes multi-sectoral collaboration to deliver inclusive and integrated services. The ECCD Council will oversee programs for children under five, while the Department of Education will handle those aged five to eight. Local governments will implement ECCD programs at the community level. On May 9, Mr. Marcos also signed amendments to the Motorcycle Crime Next page