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AMERICA SALUTES, CHEERS BUSH ON HIS FINAL JOURNEY COLLEGE STATION―Former US President George H.W. Bush, remembered as much for his legacy of service as his impact on history, was buried Thursday, capping days of tribute from a nation that briefly set aside political divisions to honor him. After a state funeral Wednesday in Washington that was attended by the country’s five living presidents and foreign dignitaries, Bush’s flag-
draped casket was flown to Texas for a final farewell. A compassionate national spotlight had shone on Bush’s passing and the memorial proceedings throughout this week. But his burial at Bush’s presidential library center in College Station, Texas―alongside Barbara, his wife of 73 years, and their daughter Robin Next page
BUSH IS HOME. The flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, is carried by a joint services military honor guard for burial at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas on Dec. 6 (Friday in Manila). AFP/Pool VOL. XXXII • NO. 296 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net
BONG ACQUITTED, JANET CONVICTED Revilla walks over plunder rap for ‘insufficiency of evidence’
By Rio N. Araja, Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta
T
HE Sandiganbayan First Division on Friday ordered the release of former Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. after acquitting him of plunder charges in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
Napoles, Bong’s aide get life for ‘pork’ fund scam THE mastermind behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam, Janet Lim-Napoles, was convicted of plunder and sentenced to reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years in jail Friday. In a verdict that cleared former Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., the Sandiganbayan’s First Division convicted his co-accused and former Next page NAPOLES
CAMBE
FREE AGAIN. Former Senator Ramon Revilla, Jr. is being escorted back to Camp Crame for clearance after the Sandiganbayan 1st Division acquitted him of plunder in connection with the multi-billion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund scam. He was previously accused of benefitting kickbacks from the pork barrel scam, allegedly earning P224.5 million. Revilla also posted P480,000 bail for 16 counts of graft charges he is still facing. Manny Palmero
Reds declare truce, military won’t reciprocate By Nat Mariano and Francisco Tuyay THE government on Friday said military operations would continue against communist rebels despite a unilateral ceasefire declared by the New People’s Army. “No, what for?” said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana when asked if military operations would be suspended. “For them to… regroup… so that after [the holiday season] they can fight? For them to extravagantly celebrate their 50 years [that have]… oppressed the country? We are fooling ourselves about this ceasefire. A
Biopic on Pinoy rock star eyed By Nickie Wang ROCK singer and Journey frontman Arnel Pineda took to social media to express his excitement over a report that Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu is eyeing to direct a film based on his life. Next page
ceasefire is always in their favor.” Lonrenzana was reacting to a declaration of a unilateral ceasefire by the Communist Party of the Philippines in observance of the holidays and their 50th anniversary. The CPP said the holiday truce will take effect from 12:01 am on Dec. 24 to 11:59 pm on Dec. 26. They also expected another ceasefire at 12:01 am on Dec. 31 to 11:59 pm on Jan. 1, 2019. “During the days covered by this temporary ceasefire declaration, all units of the NPA and people’s militias shall cease and desist from carrying Next page
2 win Nobel Peace Prize A CONGOLESE gynaecologist and an Iraqi woman who was taken hostage by the Islamic State group when she was only 21 in 2014 have become co-winners for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for their “efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.” Next page
“For failure of the prosecution to establish beyond reasonable doubt that accused Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. received, directly or indirectly, the rebates, commission, and kickbacks from his PDAF, the court cannot hold him liable for the crime of plunder,” the resolution read, referring to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel. Justices Georgina Hidalgo, Edgardo Caldona and Geraldine Econg voted in favor of Revilla’s acquittal. On the other hand, Justices Efren dela Cruz and Maria Dolores Estoesta voted to convict him. “There was a split decision of five justices,” Revilla’s lawyer Ramon Esguerra said. “The court has no alternative but to have him acquitted.” The mastermind of the pork barrel scam, Janet Lim Napoles, and Revilla’s former chief of staff Richard Cambe, the former senator’s co-accused, were found guilty of plunder and sentenced to 20 to 40 years imprisonment. (See separate story) After the promulgation of the verdict, Revilla went to the First Division clerk to post P480,000 in bail for the 16 counts of Next page graft that he still faces.
Duterte asks Congress to extend ML in Mindanao By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to extend martial law in Mindanao, the Palace confirmed Friday. “The President has requested Con-
gress to approve the further extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao for another year starting next month,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement Friday. “While it is now up to Congress to decide on whether this initiative by the
President is justified or not, we are positive that it will share our views as ours are purely intended for the general welfare of our brothers and sisters in Mindanao,” he added. Panelo said Mindanao has “achieved substantial progress” because of the implementation of military rule in the Next page region.
Other solons got bigger budget than Arroyo—Andaya By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta HOUSE Majority Floor Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr.on Friday said Speaker Gloria Arroyo ranked 100th among 292 members
of Congress in terms of highest congressional allocations under the 2019 P3.757-trillion national budget. Andaya, committee on rules chairperson, said a maximum P8-billion fund was placed for the projects of a certain lawmaker.
He issued such statement to deny Senator Panfilo Lacson’s claim that Arroyo’s district cornered huge funds. He said he knew that he and Mrs. Arroyo were the two lawmakers being referred to by Lacson who supposedly Next page
Davao court orders Trillanes’ arrest for libel THE Davao City Regional Court Branch 54 on Friday ordered Senator Antonio Trillanes IV arrested for libel and fixed his bail at P24,000, with the city’s Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte as complainant in a libel case. Duterte filed libel complaints against Trillanes over the opposition senator’s allegations which linked him to the smuggling of billions worth of shabu and to extortion from ride-sharing firm Uber and other firms. Next page
DISTINGUISHED, HONORED. President Rodrigo Duterte poses Wednesday with recipients of the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas during the awards ceremony in Malacañang. The biennial award is conferred on distinguished Filipino individuals and organizations in recognition of their outstanding contributions to national development efforts, or their outstanding achievements in their field of profession. Malacañang Photo