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P100-m Kapa assets frozen, more to follow—watchdog By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it has secured more than P100 million worth of assets linked to Kapa Community Ministry International, Inc. (KAPA) under a freeze order issued by the Court of Appeals. SEC in a statement said it will pursue more assets sourced from the investment scam perpetrated by KAPA. Through the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the SEC obtained the freeze order last June 4 in an effort to protect the interests of investors duped
VOL. XXXIII • NO. 123 • 5 SECTIONS 32 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
by KAPA. Several banks have initially frozen more than P100 million following the issuance of the freeze order, which also covers insurance policies, cryptocurrency holdings and other assets linked to KAPA. However SEC said public records show at least nine luxury cars and sports utility vehicles, along with a helicopter, are registered under the name of KAPA and its officers. KAPA also claims to have acquired a hospital, a school and other properties. Next page
Rody leaves Speaker bet hanging By Macon Ramos-Araneta
CAPTAIN’S TALE. Junel Insigne (third from left), the captain of the capsized F/B GemVer, narrates to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Director Eleazar Salilig his group’s harrowing experience prior to their turnover at the BRP Ramon Alcaraz on Friday (June 14, 2019). The fishermen were rescued by a Vietnamese vessel after their boat capsized when it was allegedly rammed by a Chinese fishing vessel off Recto Bank on June 9. PNA/JOEY RAZON
PH, China told: ‘Hold your fire’ US urges restraint in wake of ‘boat ramming’ By Rey E. Requejo
T
HE United States has called on the Philippines and China to exercise restraint following the shipramming incident near Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, the US advised countries to refrain from using coercion and intimidation to assert their maritime claims over the South China Sea. “We saw news reports of the collision at sea. We are thankful none of the Filipino fishermen lost their lives and glad that Vietnamese fishermen rescued them from the open sea,” the US embassy said,
in a statement. “Our position on the South China Sea is clear: We support lawful uses of the sea, respect for international law, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peace and stability. We urge all parties to refrain from using coercion and intimidation to assert their territorial and maritime claims,” the US embassy added.
A Chinese vessel rammed and sank the a Philippine fishing boat on the evening of June 9, 2019, and left 22 Filipino crewmen abandoned “to the mercy of the elements,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said. The Department of Foreign Affairs had filed a diplomatic protest over the shipramming incident. While it denied that it was a hit-andrun, the China said it would “continue to properly handle this issue with the Philippines in a serious and responsible manner.” On Saturday, the Philippines asked the international community to protect life at sea in cases of maritime distress.
AFTER President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday failed to name the Partido ng Demokartikong Pilipino-Laban ng Pilipino’s “main bet” for the House Speakership race in the 18th Congress, the ruling party said it will announce it anytime until Monday. Jake Joson, special aide of Senator Manny Pacquiao, said the President was supposed to come out with the name of the party’s would-be contender for the next Speaker had it not been for the arrival of a “visitor.” Meanwhile, House leaders believe the change in the House leadership last year would be a guiding factor in the lawmakers’ choice of the most acceptable House speaker who will carry out the reforms of President Rodrigo Duterte. Oriental Mindoro Rep. Paulino Salvador Leachon, Deputy Speaker and Sulu Rep. Munir Arbison, House Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., and Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo said acceptability was a major part in the lawmakers’ decisionmaking process on who would be the
next speaker. “Acceptability is very significant. After all, the candidate will be judged based on his personality and the motivation for his running. Lessons from the recent change of House leadership are material―that House members are inclined to support a leader who knows well his members and their needs and sentiments. Someone that they can always confide in without political barriers or considerations, Leachon said. Joson said Pacquiao and the President were about to talk about the speakership when they Next page
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Cabinet men at odds over special meet on sea row
FIL-AM MODEL GEENA ROCERO
By Nat Mariano
Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea
DOJ widens probe of medical clinics By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to expand its investigation into bogus claims for dialysis treatments for PhilHealth members who had already died. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
said the NBI will also expand the coverage of its fact-finding investigation on other medical establishments that benefited from such an anomalous scheme. The move came after the DOJ approved the indictment of executives of WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center led by physician-businessman Bryan Sy. Next page
Oil firms hit the brakes on price cuts By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL prices may go up by as much as P0.40 per liter this week, ending three consecutive weeks of price rollbacks amid the continuing concerns over the US-China trade war that could decrease the global oil supply.
“Expect fuel prices to go up next week. Diesel should go up by P0.20 per liter and gasoline should go up by P0.30 to P0.40 per liter,” Unioil Philippines said in its weekly forecast. On June 4, most of the oil companies implemented a price rollback of P1.70
A JOINT Cabinet cluster meeting will be held at the Palace today to tackle the latest tension in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) following the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel, Malacañang said on Sunday. “There is a joint Cabinet cluster meeting of the Economic Development cluster and the Security, Justice and Peace cluster,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said. Nograles made the statement after an initial confusion on whether President Rodrigo Duterte will call for the meeting after he delivers a speech at the 121st anniversary celebration of the Philippine Navy. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Sunday morning that Duterte will call for a special Cabinet meeting. This was promptly denied by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea. “No meeting,” Medialdea said in a text message, telling reporters that it was “canceled.” Lorenzana said he has not been informed about the changes in the meeting, and would proceed to it “unless told otherwise.” Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, for his part, said: “No info on that yet.” The mayor of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro told CNN Philippines that Duterte would also meet with the captain and cook of the Filipino fishing boat that was rammed and abandoned by the Chinese vessel. Mayor Romulo Festin said he received instructions to bring Capt. Junel Insigne and the boat’s cook, Richard Blaza, to Manila. Blaza was the Next page
Chatbots: Infinite information
Fil-Am makes Playboy history
PARIS—“Do you ever lie to your friends?,” Jam asks, popping up in a private message box at the bottom of your screen. If it seems like a personal question,
A FILIPINO-AMERICAN model has made history by becoming the first transgender Asian-Pacific Islander Playboy playmate. Geena Rocero took to Instagram on
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