Duterte, Xi call for restraint As China warns vs. ‘military alliances’ that threaten regional peace n By VITO BARCELO
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Vol. 36
FTER a recent intrusion of a Chinese navy ship in Philippine waters, President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jingping pledged to exert all efforts to maintain peace, security and stability by exercising restraint, dissipating tensions and working on a mutually agreeable framework for functional cooperation.
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Agaton was last located 130 km east southeast Guiuan town, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 50 kph. Signal No. 1 has been raised over the following areas: Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands. The slow-moving Agaton, PAGASA
THE eastern part of the country is expected to have rains and gusty winds this Holy Week with Tropical Depression Agaton intensifying slightly yesterday as it hovered over Eastern Visayas. In its 5 p.m. update, the Philippine
said, was slowly moving in a north northwest direction. It warned of possible flash floods or landslides during moderate to at times heavy rains. It added that Agaton and an Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in the Bicol region and the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao. CONTINUED ON 3A
Veterans, modern-day heroes feted Oil firms poised the country’s soldiers who fought in Bataan during World War II. “We join the entire Filipino nation in commemorating Araw ng Kagitingan or Valor Day,” Andanar said in a statement. “Let us be inspired by the valor, heroism, and patriotism of our soldiers who fought CONTINUED ON 3A
REMEMBERING THE PATRIOTS.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra leads the commemoration of ‘Araw ng Kagitingan’ at the Mount Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan. He was joined by Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko of Japan, Charge d’Affaires Heather Variava of the United States of America, NHCP Chairman Dr. Rene Escalante and Bataan Governor Albert Garcia. NHCP Facebook Page
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to slash prices by P1/l next wk
OIL firms are expected to implement another round of price rollback next week, according to the projection of Unioil Petroleum Philippines. In its fuel price forecast for the April 12 to 18 trading week, Unioil said gasoline prices may go down by P0.90 to P1.00 per liter while diesel may decrease by P0.20 to P0.30. On April 5, oil companies reduced the domestic price of gasoline by P2.30 to P2.50 per liter, diesel by P1.85 to P2 per liter, and kerosene by P1.65 per liter. Oil prices declined after the announcement of the International Energy Agency (IEA) to join the stockpile release following the US decision to let go of one million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil until May. Year-to-date adjustments stand at a net increase of P16 per liter for gasoline, P26 per liter for diesel, and P24.10 per liter for kerosene.
Japan-PH air ‘serious concern’ over South China Sea conflict JAPAN and the Philippines agreed to boost security ties in their first foreign and defense ministerial meeting on Saturday, amid worries over China's increasingly assertive maritime activities. It was the first so-called two-plus-two talks between the two US allies, both of which have overlapping territorial
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Zelensky urges ‘firm global response’ to train bombing WORLD | 3A
claims with Beijing. "Our two countries share serious concern about the situation in the East and South China Sea and we agreed to ensure observing international laws including the 2016 arbitral award to the Philippines" in disputes with China, as well as the UN Convention of the CONTINUED ON 3A
ELBOWTO-ELBOW.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (right) and Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin pose before a meeting at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on April 9, 2022. AFP
Taal Volcano alert lowered to Level 2 DUE to the decline in volcanic activity, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Saturday lowered Taal Volcano’s alert status from Level 3 (magmatic unrest) to Level 2 (decreased unrest). In an advisory, Phivolcs said 86 small-magnitude and imperceptible volcanic earthquakes have been recorded since the volcano’s eruption last March 26.
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palm fronds in front of Quiapo Church in Manila on the eve of Palm Sunday. Norman Cruz
n By MARICEL V. CRUZ, JOEL ZURBANO AND VITO BARCELO
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FOR THE FIRST DAY OF HOLY WEEK. Vendors sell
Rainy Holy Week looms as ‘Agaton’ intensifies
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No. 56
IN MET R MANILAO
Xi, however, cautioned the Philippines against “military alliances” that could undermine regional efforts to ensure peace and stability despite maritime disputes. “International developments prove once again that regional security cannot be achieved by strengthening military alliances and China is willing to work with the Philippines and countries in the region,” Xi said, as quoted in a report by the South China Morning Post. CONTINUED ON 3A
Malacañang hailed Filipino war veterans for their patriotism and gallantry in defend the country’s freedom as Filipinos marked “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor) yesterday. Acting Presidential Spokesperson Martin Andanar expressed hope that Filipinos would emulate the heroism and bravery of
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April 10, 2022
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Most of the recorded earthquakes were generated by volcanic degassing from the shallow magma and hydrothermal region beneath the Taal Volcano Island edifice. Volcanic earthquakes are caused by movement or eruptions of magma from the volcano, compared to tectonic quakes which are caused by fault movements. CONTINUED ON 3A
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