VOL. XXXII • NO. 109 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net
LOVE FOR OFWS. President Rodrigo Duterte kisses a member of the Filipino community in Seoul on the lips after giving her a copy of the book ‘Altar of Secrets,’ drawing loud cheers from the audience. ‘You have to pay for this. Are you ready for some liplocking?’ the President said while calling the woman to the stage. Screen grab from PTV-4
‘War resumes if peace talks with Reds fail’ By Joyce Pangco Pañares WEEKS before the expected resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front, President Rodrigo Duterte said he is ready to “resume the violent war” if the talks in Oslo fail. Duterte, who has invited his former professor and CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison to return to the Philippines, again ruled out a coalition government with the communist leaders as an option. Next page
TRAIN goes back to Congress—Rody By Joyce Pangco Pañares and Rio N. Araja
U
NDER fire for a tax reform program that labor groups blame for rising prices, President Rodrigo Duterte said Congress can always amend or suspend the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusivity Law.
“The law was enacted by Congress. I’ll leave it to Congress to decide whether or not to amend or suspend or modify the law,” Duterte said in a press conference Saturday night before leaving for South Korea. “There is no value in giving … what I want because even if I say that we need it for our Build, Build, Build program, there is not much that I can do. And if Congress says we’ll just have to bite the bullet and
Bangsamoro ‘police, armed forces’ plan thumbed down PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he will not approve a Bangsamoro Basic Law that would create a fissure in government as he rejected again proposals to create a Bangsamoro police and military force. The President made the statement days after he certified as urgent the versions of the BBL before the House of Representatives and the Senate. “On the BBL, I might as well be
frank. I will accommodate, I will move the extra mile but never would I agree that there will be a fissure somewhere,” he said in a press briefing late Saturday night. “The Philippine National Police will remain one line to the last barangay tanod. The Armed Forces of the Philippines will only have one command from the Chief of Staff down,” Duterte said. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte’s decision to reject propos-
als for a separate police and military for the proposed new autonomous region has already been conveyed to members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission. “The contentious issue that the President decided on is there can be no separate Bangsamoro police and separate Bangsamoro armed forces, which the BTC wants,” Roque said. The House version of the substitute BBL already had marked differences from the one proposed by the BTC. Next page
LeBron vows to fight back after Game 1 loss
go on, I also cannot do anything, if that is their decision,” the President said. The Department of Finance earlier said TRAIN would generate funding for the administration’s P8.4-trillion Build, Build, Build infrastructure program, which aims to build more roads, bridges, airports, seaports, railways and irrigation projects to spur economic activities and create more jobs. Next page
Aquino, Garin face criminal raps on Dengvaxia By Rey E. Requejo, Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta FORMER President Benigno Aquino III and two former Cabinet officials are expected to appear before the Justice department for a preliminary investigation on a criminal complaint over alleged anomalies in the P3.5-billion anti-dengue program. Aquino, along with former Health secretary Janette Garin, former Budget secretary Florencio Abad and 44 other Next page
SPORTS A8
UN worker told: Go to hell By Joyce Pangco Pañares PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has told a United Nations special rapporteur who expressed concern over the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to “go to hell” and to stop interfering in the Philippines’ internal affairs. UN special rapporteur Diego Garcia-Sayan on Friday said Duterte’s statements against Sereno seemed “directly related” to the unprecedented decision of the Supreme Court to remove her through a government-backed quo warranto Next page petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.
Pinoy wins Mr. Universe Tourism tilt
PH seeks stronger SoKor ties
ENTERTAINMENT C4
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte says he will seek a stronger defense cooperation with South Korea against conventional and emerging security threats in the region during his official visit to that country.
BACK TO SCHOOL.
Rico’s lechon coming to Manila LIFE C2
Teachers and students alike are in various stages of preparations for the new school year opening today in most public schools across the country. Lino Santos, Norman Cruz and Ey Acasio.
“In my talks with President Moon [Jae-in], I will explore ways to bring cooperation to a whole new level,” Duterte said in a speech before leaving for Seoul late Saturday night. Next page President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is welcomed by a hotel management executive upon the President’s arrival in Seoul on June 3, 2018. Presidential Photo