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SC backs pullout from ICC
But obligates PH to cooperate with prosecutors of ‘government actors’ By Rey E. Requejo
T
HE President of the Philippines can unilaterally withdraw from international agreements that he or she determines to be contrary to the 1987 Constitution or laws, according to the Supreme Court.
However, the Philippines has the obligation to cooperate with the International Criminal Court despite its withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the high court also said Wednesday. The country’s top judges ruled the
ICC can prosecute “government actors” for alleged crimes committed before the country withdrew from the tribunal -- contradicting President Rodrigo Duterte’s assertion it has no jurisdiction. Next page
VOL. XXXV • NO. 157 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, JULY 22, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
BASTE DUTERTE CATCHES COVID
WEATHER ‘Fabian’ dumps rain; flood, traffic in MM
NEWS / A3
By Rio N. Araja and Joel E. Zurbano
WHO message to Olympics: World’s failing
TYPHOON “Fabian” maintained its strength while continuously moving westward on Wednesday afternoon. Its center was located at 655 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kms per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. Next page
FLOODED VAX LINE. Residents carrying umbrellas stand in floodwaters as they wait in line outside a government vaccination site at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila, on Wednesday. Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said the city government will not stop vaccinations despite the rainy weather. Norman Cruz
OCTA warns infection rate still rising; restrictions amid Delta loom By Willie Casas and Vito Barcelo ant, independent researchers tracking aged 744 new cases daily from July 14 (ICU) usage was at 42 percent. THE COVID-19 reproduction number in Metro Manila has risen to 1.08, signaling the sustained transmission of the coronavirus as the country braces for its more contagious Delta vari-
the pandemic said Wednesday. In its latest monitoring report, the OCTA Research Group said the National Capital Region (NCR) aver-
to 20, up from 629 daily new infections from July 7 to 13. Metro Manila also logged an average daily attack rate (ADAR) of 5.39 cases per 100,000 population and a positivity rate of 6 percent. Intensive care unit
OCTA said while the increase in infections in Metro Manila was a cause for concern, it was not yet alarming. “As it is still too early to determine if this will continue to [be] an increasing trend,” OCTA said. Next page
Bucks star completes NBA dream journey
GREEK HOOP GOD. Giannis
Antetokounmpo sits with the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award and Larry O’Brien Trophy as he talks to the media after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game Six to win the 2021 NBA Finals on July 20 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. AFP
MILWAUKEE—As the last seconds ticked away before Milwaukee won the NBA Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo thought not about his amazing performance but instead pondered his incredible journey from poverty to champion. “When I came to the league, I didn’t know where my next meal will come from. My mom was selling stuff in the street,” Antetokounmpo recalled. “Now I’m here sitting at the top of the top. I’m extremely blessed. I hope this can give everybody around the world, from Africa, from Europe, hope it can be done. I want them to believe in their dreams.” The 26-year-old Greek forward of Nigerian heritage Next page
VFA extension, side deal in the works—Lorenzana By Francisco Tuyay
APART from extending the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, the Philippines will sign a “side agreement” or addendum to apply the provisions of the treaty, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Wednesday. “The VFA will not be changed. There will be a side agreement to implement the provisions of the VFA. Once it is signed by the President, that will Next page
Probe ‘flash crash’ of dollar to peso on holiday—solon By Maricel V. Cruz
A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Wednesday called on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to look into a possible “flash crash” that took place in the afternoon of July 20, when some foreign exchange platforms showed a sudden dip in the US dollar to Philippine peso rates Next page
OLYMPIAD ON.
Torchbearer Sana Tamaki (left) transfers the Olympic flame to Shiori Masuda (right) at the torch kiss during the lighting ceremony at Shinagawa Central Park in Tokyo on July 21 ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. See stories on C1. AFP
THE head of the World Health Organization (WHO) told Olympic chiefs “the world is failing” to stop COVID-19 as the pandemic-delayed Tokyo 2020 sports program got underway on Wednesday. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said an uneven vaccine rollout risked worsening the crisis but hoped the Olympics could be a “message of hope” to a pandemic-weary world. “The pandemic is a test the world is failing. More than 4 million people have died and more continue to die. Already this year the number of deaths is more than double last year’s total,” Tedros said. “The threat is not over anywhere until it’s over everywhere. Anyone who thinks the pandemic is over is living in a fool’s paradise,” he added. Tedros spoke without wearing a mask at the International Olympic Committee session, held at a luxury hotel in Tokyo with masked delegates sitting at socially distanced desks. Separately, the sports program of the delayed 2020 Games started with a softball game in Fukushima, which was ravaged by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. Next page
COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE
(AS OF 4 PM JULY 21)
1,524,449 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
6,560 47,996 NEW
ACTIVE
26,874
32
1,449,579
5,364
DEATHS
RECOVERIES
NEW
NEW