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China twits Locsin: Mind your manners
Chides ‘megaphone diplomacy’ even after DFA chief apologizes By Rey E. Requejo, Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta
T
HE Chinese foreign ministry rebuked Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday, telling him to mind his manners and act in a way that suited his status despite the simmering issues between the countries in the West Philippine Sea.
Du30 blasts Del Rosario, clears Noy in shoal row By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has asserted that the previous administration lost control of the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in a showdown with China when then-Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario ordered a retreat of local forces without the permission of then-President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. In his weekly televised public address Monday night, Duterte said that for him, the people who allowed China to enter the WPS were Del Rosario and his predecessor’s government and included in the blame now-retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio. “For me, the people who allowed China to enter the West Philippine Sea—that Next page
COVID-19 PH Wang Yi
Locsin
Carpio
Del Rosario
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(AS OF 4 PM MAY 4)
1,067,892
Chinese Ministry on Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin said “a certain individual in the Philippine government” should act more like the country’s top diplomat. "Facts have proven time and time again that megaphone diplomacy can only undermine mutual trust rather than change reality," Wenbin said in response to Locsin's "insulting remarks on his personal social media account."
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AFP ‘not intimidated’ by Chinese threats, vows not to back down THE Philippine military said Tuesday the country's security forces were not intimidated by Chinese incursions at the West Philippine Sea, adding they were ready for the challenges from the giant country. Armed Forces chief General Cirilito Sobejana told Super Radyo dzBB: “We are not intimidated by the challenges posed by Chinese vessels. They are challenging the Philippine Navy and we will not back down, we will continue resupplying our vessels. We will show them that the West Philippine Sea is ours.” Sobejana also reiterated that maritime patrols of Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Re-
sources at the West Philippine Sea and Kalayaan Island Group would increase confidence of Filipino fisherfolk in conducting activities at the disputed waters. Sobejana said: “We are patrolling the West Philippine Sea, the country's territory. We are patrolling where our fishermen are going as well as where the China ships are staying to make sure that our countrymen will not be threatened or intimidated. “Our presence gives protection to our fishermen and they gain confidence whenever they see vessels of Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and BFAR..” The AFP chief said they were mulling Next page
‘Rody’s jab to boost trust in vaccines’ By Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas and Othel V. Campos THE Palace on Tuesday defended President Duterte’s inoculation with an unregistered COVID-19 vaccine, saying his vaccination would boost public confidence in vaccines. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte was given the vaccine made
by China's Sinopharm--the same one secretly administered to members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) last year-- before it was given any regulatory approval. “As a senior citizen, he was among the priorities for vaccination," Roque said. He added that the use of the Sinopharm vaccine was covered by the compassionate use permit granted by the Next page
FOREST FIRE. As the world celebrates International Firefighters Day on May 4, Bureau of Fire Protection personnel on Tuesday try to put out a forest blaze that has already razed 10 hectares in Ambuclao, Bokod, Benguet. The fire's inaccessibility for firefighting equipment and personnel is aggravating the situation, the BFP said. Dave Leprozo
Duterte asks for patience, assures lifting of curbs By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte assured Filipinos the government was doing everything to improve their lives and vowed to lift the present quarantine restrictions once the situation stabilized.
“We are trying to do everything we can within the limited resources of government and, of course, the opening,” President Duterte said in his weekly public address. “But let me assure the people that once things begin to clear, we will lift the quarantine immediately without delay. I hope that you’d continue to listen
‘Pantries won’t be closed, just keep protocols‘ VEGGIE PANTRY. Residents get vegetables from the community pantry on University Valley Street, Barangay Old Balara in Quezon City to help residents cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Manny Palmero
23 DEAD IN MEXICO METRO MISHAP WORLD / B2
FDA: PSG STILL SILENT ON VAX PROBE NEWS / A4
Bill, Melinda to untie knot after 27 years WASHINGTON—Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife and fellow philanthropist Melinda announced on Monday they are divorcing after a 27-year marriage. Next page
By Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is not ordering the shutdown of community pantries amid COVID-19 pandemic, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday. Roque made the clarification after the Chief Executive on Monday night lashed out at people who donate food to others. “People were swarming. So we are again forced to enforce a quarantine to limit people from going around and Next page
to government” Duterte said. In his speech, Duterte said the Philippines was “doing good” in its fight against COVID-19 compared with other countries. “Compared with other countries— not really the time to make comparisons —we’re doing good in the fight against COVID,” he said. Next page
Danger from space: Sino rocket debris THE large Chinese rocket Long March 5B is set to make an uncontrolled reentry back into Earth's atmosphere, but it is not yet clear exactly where or when the debris will hit the planet. Next page