WORKERS UNITE, FORGE NEW ALLIANCE; JOB FAIR IN QC By Sandy Araneta
LABOR DAY PROTEST. A militant group’s worker applies the finishing touches on a mural painting in preparation for a Labor Day protest today. Manny Palmero
Next page
‘Release druggies from secret detention’
Trump asks Du30 to visit Washington
By Rio N. Araja
VOL. XXXI • NO. 76 • 5 SECTIONS 24 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, MAY 1 , 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph
CHAIRMAN Chito Gascon of the Commission on Human Rights on Sunday slammed Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa for what he called his ignorance of the law. He attacked Dela Rosa’s questioning of the commission’s surprise inspection of the Manila Police District’s Station 1 where they found about a dozen people locked up in a crowded secret cell. “It is prudent that the matters that may involve malfeasance or misconduct by public officials, particularly when this affects fundamental human rights as in this case, that their superiors refrain from making statements that appear to be condoning the same,” CHR public information officer Joel Sarmenta told the Manila Standard in a text message quoting Gascon. “Otherwise, to do so further encourages the climate of impunity that perpetuates wrongful action because the wrongdoers are not held accountable or punished.” Sarmenta made his statement even as Human Rights Watch Next page
WORKERS belonging to the newly formed labor alliance Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa or PAGGAWA will commemorate Labor Day with traditional activities and use the occasion to air their demands on the issues affecting working-class families, the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino or BMP said Sunday. The groups will converge at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, today, Labor Day, at 8 a.m. before marching toward Mendiola Bridge where they will hold their program. In other developments: • President Rodrigo Duterte will lead Labor Day celebrations at the People’s Park in Davao City, where he is expected to speak at 4:30 p.m. Before that, Duterte will be visiting the Chinese guided missile destroyer Chang Chun (DDG 150) that is docked at the Davao City port. In Manila, there will be a job fair for workers at the Quezon City Circle that Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III is expected to attend. • Senator Loren Legarda on Sunday paid tribute and pledged support to the millions of Filipino workers all over the world on the eve of Labor Day. She cited their significant contribution to the Philippines’ economy and overall development. “The celebration of Labor Day is a recognition of the important role that our workers
Govt junks IS bombing tale By John Paolo Bencito
T
HE Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the bomb blast that wounded 14 people in Quiapo, Manila on Friday, but the authorities insisted that the explosion was not a terrorist attack.
On Saturday, the US-based SITE IntelThe bomb went off Friday night as the ligence Group said the ISIS-run Amaq country was preparing to host the 30th News Agency reported that the group Association of Southeast Asian Nations was responsible for a bombing in Manila Summit. Friday. “There is nothing to indicate or show
that the Quiapo explosion was connected with any terrorist or threat group,” said National Capital Region police regional director Oscar Albayalde. “We maintain that this incident is nothing but a local peace and order concern involving feuding gangs or persons in the Quiapo area,” he said. He added that ISIS was “grabbing the opportunity to promote their cause and interest.” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also dismissed claims made by jihadist group, saying that these were a result of a local gang conflict. Next page
WASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump on Saturday invited his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte to Washington in a “friendly” call in which the leaders discussed the threat of North Korea, the White House said. The announcement comes amid rising tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs following its latest test-fire, as well international criticism of Duterte’s drug crackdown that has claimed thousands of lives. “It was a very friendly conversation, in which the two leaders discussed the concerns of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations [Asean] regarding regional security, including the threat posed by North Korea,” the statement said. The leaders also “discussed the fact that the Philippine government is fighting very hard to rid its country of drugs, a scourge that affects many countries throughout the world.” The Philippine President has relentlessly railed against criticism of his drug war, which Amnesty International and other rights groups have warned may amount to a crime against humanity. Duterte last year branded then US President Barack Obama a “son of a whore” for criticizing the drug war, and more recently called European lawmakers “crazies” for issuing a statement condemning the killings. Next page
50 Reds attack cops; kill 1, abduct 3 By Abe Almirol MADDELA, Quirino—A policeman was killed when some 50 communist guerrillas onboard motorcycles, two vans and a truck stormed a police station in this remote town Saturday night. The firefight, which began at 10:30 p.m., lasted until midnight. The fatality was identified by witnesses as PO2 Jerome Cardenas, who was the court process-
ing officer of the station. “They wore camouflage uniforms, we thought the Army and the police were fighting,” said one of four inmates occupying the prison cell inside the station. Bullet holes could be seen all over the building’s façade. “It was like New Year’s Eve. Hours of loud automatic gunfire kept us awake the whole night,” said an internet shop owner in the nearby public market. Before the police could issue
an official statement, the communist New People’s Army handed its version of events to a Bombo Radyo reporter. “The tactical offensive is a response to the demands for justice be given to the terrorist Duterte regime,” the NPA said in Filipino. The NPA accused the 86th Infantry Battalion of camping in school buildings, which led to a cancellation of classes. Witnesses confirmed an earlier Next page
FRIENDLY CALL. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte assisted by Special Assistant to the President Christopher
Lawrence Go speaks to US President Donald Trump on the phone at the sidelines of the gala dinner hosted by the Philippine leader for the heads of states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the Hotel Sofitel in Pasay City on April 29. Malacañang Photo
Duterte holds punches on sea row PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte failed to condemn China’s push to control most of the disputed South China Sea on Sunday after hosting a regional summit, handing Beijing a political victory. A day after taking center stage as host of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders’ meeting, Duterte released a bland chairman’s statement that
ignored last year’s international ruling outlawing China’s sweeping claims to the key waterway. “We took note of concerns expressed by some leaders over recent developments in the area,” said the 25-page statement without any mention of what these issues were, which countries were thought to be responsible, and which heads of state raised them.
China has been turning reefs and shoals in areas of the sea claimed by the Philippines and other nations into artificial islands, and installing military facilities on them. Asean members Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also claim parts of the sea, but China insists it has sovereign rights over nearly all of it. Next page
‘Vice lords out to stop Rody’s war’ By Florante S. Solmerin
One of the trucks set on fire by communist guerrillas who also raided the Maddela PNP station. Abe Almirol
THE big-time gambling lords including Charlie “Atong” Ang are allegedly out to destroy President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal gambling by conniving with some lawmakers to declare the expanded Small Town Lottery illegal, according to an intelligence report
obtained Sunday by the Manila Standard. “Atong Ang has requested some lawmakers to declare STL illegal or he will reveal their names and identify them as recipients of payola,” the report said. “Last February 13 the House Committee on Games and Amusement threatened to pass a resolution
declaring PCSO’s STL illegal.” Ang could not be reached for comment. The STL is a charity game of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office which legality was earlier questioned by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. He even threatened to file charges before Next page