Manila Standard - 2017 May 07 - Sunday

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VOL. XXXI • NO. 82 • 5 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PH ENVOY TO UN TWITS RAPPORTEUR U By John Paolo Bencito and Maricel V. Cruz

NITED Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial and Summary Killings Agnes Callamard on Saturday challenged the Duterte administration to lift the conditions it imposed on her before she can make an official visit to investigate allegations of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations under the government’s bloody war on drugs.

Callamard made the statement as the country’s ambassador to the UN, Teodoro Locsin Jr., criticized the rapporteur in a series of stinging tweets where he also poked fun at her physical appearance. “I was right after all and people thought I was flippant: Never argue with people who don’t shower at least twice a day,” he said, calling Callamard a “standalone conceited fool...totally ignorant of the drug problem.” “Thank you Agnes, you just solidified the country behind Duterte and his drug war, and thoroughly discredited any criticism of him and it...Agnes Callamard did in one day what Jose Rizal used his whole life including his death to pull off:

give Filipinos a sense of their country,” the Philippine ambassador added. Callamard, for her part, said she remains committed to undertaking an official visit to the country, but it can only happen if President Rodrigo Duterte takes back the conditions he imposed on the planned probe. “I’m waiting for the government to lift the three conditions that they’ve imposed on my visit,” she said. Duterte has set three conditions for the official visit: a public debate for the two of them; that the President be allowed to ask the special rapporteur questions; and for Callamard to be questioned under oath. Turn to A2

BUSINESS/ C1

FORMER TRAINEE NAMED UNILEVER PH CHAIRMAN

YOUNG LIFE / E1

BEST CARE FOR BEST BUDDIES MADE EASY

TWIN BLASTS KILL 2, HURT 5 IN QUIAPO

By Francisco Tuyay

SATURDAY IN THE PARK. Bright red-orange blooms amid a blanket of green, fire trees provide a shelter for promenaders at Manila's Rizal Park and bring to mind the song made popular by the musical band Chicago. Ey Acasio

'DRUG MENACE ALSO NAT'L SECURITY THREAT' By Joel E. Zurbano THE narcotics problem in the Philippines will worsen even more, becoming a threat to national security, unless the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte gets rid of public officials and law enforcers who are protecting drug syndicates.

This was the warning expressed by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Isidro Lapeña at a forum in Quezon City, stressing that international drug syndicates are operating in the country in cahoots with government officials, making it easy for them to smuggle illegal substanc-

es in various seaports and airports. Lapeña said that methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, marijuana and party drug Ecstasy are the top three narcotics distributed in the streets and these prohibited substances are manufactured by Chinese, Taiwanese and Mexican drug syndicates.

Earlier last week at the Asean summit, President Rodrigo Duterte warned Southeast Asian leaders not to take the drug menace lightly. President Duterte recently revealed that 40 percent of barangay officials were linked to illegal drugs, emphasizing the extent of the problem. Turn to A2

GINA’S ILLEGAL ACTIONS COST HER JOB—SENATOR By Joel Zurbano SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano on Saturday joined other legislators in saying that Regina Lopez had no one to blame but herself for her failure to obtain confirmation from the Commission on Appointments. Cayetano said that her illegal actions on mining companies cost her job. “I will always decide on what is right and not what is popular. I’m not surprised to see so much support and so much opposition to the voting of the CA regarding DENR Secretary Nominee Gina Lopez. I thank those who are open-minded and asking why? I’m not surprised that Gina and her group will go so low as to cast aspersions on why I voted the way I did and even accuse me of being in the pockets

of the mining industry,” said Cayetano in his official Facebook account. Cayetano went with other CA members in taking offense with criticisms that business interest swayed the bicameral panel in its decision to reject Lopez for the DENR post. CA members such as Senator Panfilo Lacson, congressmen Julieta Cortuna of A Teacher, Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte, Gus Tambunting of Parañaque and Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela took turns denouncing the defenders of the ousted secretary. In the words of Lacson, the insinuation about “lobby money” influencing the rejection of Lopez was a “sweeping assault on the integrity of the members of the Commission on Appointments but the CA itself being an independent constitutional body.” Turn to A2

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SELF-SERVICE. A male teener helps himself to a slice of watermelon being sold by an ambulant vendor in Manila's University Belt on a sunny Saturday. Ey Acasio

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TWO persons were killed and five others were wounded during twin explosions at a Muslim community in Quiapo, Manila on Saturday. Police said the first explosion took place at the vicinity of the Shia group office at Norzagaray Street corner Elizondo Street in Quiapo near the Golden Mosque at about 5:30 p.m. The second blast occurred some 50 meters away from the site of the first explosion at the Golden Mosque at about 8:30 p.m. while National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde was providing briefing among policemen. The identities of the fatalities and the wounded victims along with their affiliation were not immediately known. One of those killed was the supposed bomber. As to the type of explosive device used, Albayalde said elements of the Explosive Ordnance are trying to determine the presence of other explosive devices. Minutes before the explosion, an unidentified motorcycle delivered a box intended for a certain Atty. Abinar at the vicinity of Golden Mosque. While the box was being handed by the courier to the unidentified nephew of Atty. Abinar, the package exploded. The unidentified nephew and a companion were wounded while the courier of the package containing the supposed explosive device died on the spot. The wounded victims were brought to the Mary Chiles Hospital in Sampaloc, Manila. Police investigators are still clueless on the motive but reports said the incident could be attributed to the Sunni and Shia sectarian conflict since the site of the blast is a Shia group office. Last week, at least 14 people were hurt in an explosion in the Quiapo district as the Philippines hosted the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit. Authorities blamed to gang war between Muslim groups although an alleged ISIS website claimed responsibility for the bombing. Authorities belied the IS claim.

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