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WATCH FOR MANILA STANDARD’S SPECIAL REPORT ON THE ECONOMY September 16, 2019
‘Stimulating the PH Economy‘
Dreaded virus zaps pigs By Othel V. Campos, Macon Ramos-Araneta and MJ Blancaflor
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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 208 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Vietnam
China
Myanmar First confirmed case on 1 August 2019
Laos
Outbreaks in 63 provinces
156 ASF outbreaks in 32 provinces
9 September 2019
94 outbreaks in 15 provinces
First confirmed ASF case on 3 August 2018
First confirmed ASF case on 19 February 2019
First confirmed ASF case on 20 June 2019
1.17 million pigs culled
4.5 million pigs culled
25,000 pigs culled
Sources: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, AFP
African swine fever (ASF) is a fatal animal disease affecting pigs and wild boars with up to 100% case fatality rate.
The Philippines confirms first cases of African swine fever in Bulacan and Rizal provinces. 7,000 pigs culled
HE Philippines on Monday confirmed its first cases of African swine fever, becoming the latest country hit by the disease that has killed pigs from Slovakia to China, pushing up pork prices worldwide. Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the infected pigs were found in Bu Bulacan and Rizal, and authorities have culled more than 7,000 pigs within a one-kilometer radius. Dar said 14 of 20 samples sent to a UK laboratory tested positive for African swine fever, but it will take another week to confirm how Next page
Cambodia Outbreaks in five provinces First confirmed ASF case on 2 April 2019
2 more Chiong killers promise to surrender By Rey E. Requejo and MJ Blancaflor
Patients die as ambulances get stuck in traffic jam 27 BuCor execs sacked over GCTA racket GRIDLOCK in Manila is costing lives as ambulances stuck in traffic face severe delays in the race against the clock to reach the city’s hospitals, medics warn. Special lanes for emergency vehicles are not enforced, the infrastructure is outdated, and local drivers are often unwilling or unable to make way—a
situation experts say is causing patients to die en route. “You feel empty. It is as if you were not given a chance to do everything in your capacity to help,” ambulance driver and paramedic Joseph Laylo told AFP. “If the traffic was not that bad it could have saved the patient,” he added,
recalling how he lost a patient when congestion tripled the time to hospital. Even with an encyclopedic knowledge of short cuts or aggressive driving such as blasting their horns or bumping unyielding vehicles, it is not always enough to arrive in time.
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THE Department of Justice on Monday said that two more convicts in the Chiong sisters rape-murder case who were erroneously released from prison on good behavior will surrender. Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said Josman Aznar and James Anthony Uy will turn themselves in, Next page
By Joyce Pangco Pañares, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo OMBUDSMAN Samuel Martires has placed 27 Bureau of Corrections officials under preventive suspension without pay for a period of six months over the questionable release of convicts who were doing time for heinous crimes on good behavior. In his order, a copy of which was furnished Manila Standard, Martires said the release of the heinous crime convicts violated the Good Conduct Time Allowance law. “Respondents’ continued stay in office may prejudice the cases filed against them. Noteworthy, respondents... have custody and control over Next page
Bureau of Corrections minimum security compound inmate Godfrey Gamboa testifies Monday at the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the alleged Good Conduct Time Allowance for sale inside the agency in Muntinlupa City. Ey Acasio
‘Bato sought power to free convicts’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta
HANG IN THERE. The photo, taken on Aug. 5, shows an ambulance negotiating through rush hour-traffic along EDSA in Metro Manila
where traffic logjams have been a daily nightmare. No official figures are immediately available but the delays, causing an unnecessary limp in the race to the hospitals, has cost, according to paramedics, the loss of some lives. Inset shows, in the photo taken on July 18, shows first responders loading a patient into their waiting ambulance at a bus station near Manila. AFP
House revs up work on budget By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives will work overtime to pass the proposed P1.4-trillion national budget for 2020, Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said on Monday.
He made the statement even as the House begins today, Tuesday, the plenary debates on House Bill 4228 or the Fiscal Year 2020 General Appropriations Bill. “Our national budget for next year will give a very strong foundation to Turn to A3
Suicide bomber triggers alert A SUICIDE bomber dressed in a traditional Muslim woman’s gown died after detonating a bomb outside a military camp in the restive southern Philippines, but no other casualties were reported, authorities said.
Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, said the suicide bomber, described as a Caucasian, detonated a pipe-type bomb outside the main entrance to the KM3 Turn to A3
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS.
Henry Lim Bon Liong, president of the Federation of Filipino Chambers of Commerce and Industry, during a forum Monday moderated by Jullie Yap Daza of the Samahang Plaridel held at the Kapihan sa Manila where he talked about the recent visit of President Rodrigo Duterte’s to China and future of bilateral ties, impact on economy and cooperation. Norman Cruz
TESTIFYING at Monday’s resumption of hearings on the Good Conduct Time Allowance, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra revealed Senator Ronald dela Rosa, then Bureau of Corrections, had requested that the authority to grant early release of inmates be delegated to the prisons chief.
Guevarra told the Senate Blue Ribbon committee and the justice committee, both chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, that he received a letter in 2018 from Dela Rosa asking that the authority to release prisoners on account of expired sentences be delegated to the Bucor chief. Asked to comment on his request, Dela Rosa said he wanted to avoid being Next page