‘Egay’ to become tropical storm, stay offshore

By Rio N. Araja

TROPICAL depression “Egay” maintained its strength while accelerating west-northwestward over the Philippine Sea on Friday and is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said “Egay” is forecast to track in that direction until late Sunday before turning northwestward over the Philippine Sea east of Luzon for the remainder of its forecast period.

As of yesterday, the center of “Egay” was estimated at 835 kilometers east of Southeastern Luzon.

sible tightening of U.S. crude supplies," Department of Energy director for the oil industry management bureau Rodela Romero said.

She said this forecast may still change as it is based on the four-day trading period and foreign exchange movement.

This will be the third consecutive week of oil price hikes for diesel and kerosene and the second consecutive week a] compilation of other documents that would be related to the war on drugs,” she said.

“That would be an easy source of information because all the data is there. All you have to do is process [it],” she said.

Conti also said 7,000 cases are now with the Supreme Court.

“We have many stories of families being raided inside their homes and the women and children being asked to leave the room and the father or the son or a male member of the family who was asked to stay inside. That’s where they will be killed,” she said.

“So, these children, these mothers, these women would likely be taken as eyewitnesses themselves,” she said.

However, Conti said it “would be painstaking work to put them all together.”

“I myself have been through only data from 200 families,” she said.

Guevarra said the Philippines will focus on its investigation and prosecution of crimes from the war on drugs.

He said the country “has no legal duty to cooperate with the ICC investigation.”

Guevarra said that he had personally discussed the matter with the President and agreed that the appeal is the end of the country’s engagement with the court.

“The ICC is free to proceed with its investigation but it cannot expect any cooperation from the Philippine government, as we continue to dispute its

Land Bank...

From A1 the implementing rules and regulations,” he said in a briefing.

Section 54 of Republic Act No. 11954 allows the Treasurer 90 days from the effectivity of the Act to promulgate the IRR. But Diokno confirmed that “we do not intend to use up the 90 days. We expect the promulgation of the IRR to be done before the end of August.” Diokno also said that the policy-meeting Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas declared on Thursday a dividend of P31.859 billion in favor of the national government. This is based on 50 percent of BSP’s net income, after income tax, in 2022 of P63.731 billion.

“It is reasonable to expect that the Maharlika Investment Fund will be up and running before the end of 2023,” Diokno said.

Last July 18, the Maharlika Investment Fund Act was finally signed into law by the President, a monumental milestone for the present administration.

“As the economic team has under-

Marcos...

From A1 the security of Filipinos and the national sovereignty of the country amid the challenges ahead,” he added.

Brawner replaced General Andres Centino, who will now serve as Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea. Brawner said he would work on unifying a solid and professional AFP that follows the chain of command as well as integrating former rebels with the mainstream community.

“We have to give special attention

Speaker...

From A1 of Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual who said that "the Philippines is poised to become Asia's premier investment destination." However, Romualdez said it is incumbent upon the government to capitalize on this positive momentum to ensure that these pledges translate to ac- for gasoline. jurisdiction,” he said. scored over the last few months, the creation of the Fund will provide a credible and attractive platform for local and foreign capital, large global funds, global financial institutions, multilateral partners, and other sovereign wealth funds to directly invest in Philippine ventures and projects,” Diokno said.

On July 18, the oil companies implemented an increase of P1.90 per liter for gasoline, P2.10 per liter for diesel, and P1.80 per liter for kerosene.

These price adjustments resulted in a year-to-date net decrease of P0.85 per liter for diesel and P3.70 per liter for kerosene.

Gasoline, on the other hand, has a net increase of P7.55 per liter.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla advised Duterte and Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who led the war on drugs when he was Duterte’s police chief, to avoid visiting countries where the ICC has influence—mostly in Europe.

Both men were mentioned in the ICC prosecutor’s report on the drug war killings.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier said the Senate will not give up Dela Rosa unless there’s a local warrant for his arrest. Dela Rosa said he would also protect himself from arrest.

Dela Rosa added that Duterte has just laughed off the prospect of the ICC continuing its investigation.

At least 6,200 suspects were killed in police operations during the war on drugs, according to the government. But human rights groups claimed the actual death toll could be from 12,000 to 30,000.

Also on Friday, Senator Francis Tolentino urged the government to continue monitoring the proceedings before the ICC, despite Malacanang’s recent pronouncement that the administration will fully disengage with the tribunal.

Tolentino has been hired by Dela Rosa to be his lawyer if the ICC will seek his arrest.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Tolentino said it would be wise for the Office of the Solicitor General to continue monitoring what is happening before the tribunal.

In the President’s message during the signing ceremony, he stressed the importance of insulating the Fund from political influence. Thesuccess of the Fund depends on proper governance, prudent risk management, and smart investment strategies by competent and independent financial managers.

Following international best practices, the Secretary of Finance serves as chairman of the board of directors in an exofficio capacity. This is to provide representation for the government given that the Fund manages government assets.

“Let me make it crystal clear, the Finance Secretary will not manage the Fund. That role is entrusted to the president and CEO of the Maharlika Investment Corporation and its directors,” Diokno said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net) to the normalization process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, particularly in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as stipulated in the Bangsamoro Organic Law,” Brawner said in his speech.

The new AFP chief also noted that modernization will make the AFP a “lethal and competent fighting force capable of defending our territory from external aggression.” He said these efforts would also include cyber warfare. (See full story online at manilastandard.net) tual investments and ultimately provide tangible benefits to the Filipino people.

“We must continue to work hand in hand with the private sector to create an enabling environment that fosters job creation, economic diversification, and innovation,” he said.

Romualdez reiterated the commitment of the House to prioritize legislation geared toward the realization of the President’s vision to greatly improve the

It was moving west-northwestward at 20 km/h, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

“While the current track forecast shows that Egay will remain offshore over the waters east of Luzon, the forecast confidence cone shows that a landfall scenario over the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan and Batanes is not ruled out,” its bulletin read.

“Throughout its duration in the Philippine area of responsibility region, it may continue to steadily intensify and reach super typhoon category by late Monday or early Tuesday as it moves over the Philippine Sea east of Luzon,” it added.

Drilon to Duterte: Make details of Xi meeting public

FORMER Senator Franklin Drilon on Friday urged former President Rodrigo Duterte to make a public disclosure about his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He noted that Duterte and Xi's meeting coincided with an impending Senate resolution urging the government to bring before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) China's incursions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Sen. Risa Hontiveros filed a Senate resolution urging the Philippine government to bring Chinese harassment to UNGA through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“I think it is important that former President Duterte make public the discussion and the issues that they discussed during the meeting," Drilon said.

"Out of respect and courtesy to the sitting president, I call on former President Duterte to either disclose or, at the very least, provide a briefing to President Marcos or Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo," he stressed. Macon Ramos-Araneta (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Soprano...

From A1 soprano, has made waves online with her vocal prowess. Her version of the classic Mozart piece "Queen of the Night" garnered 21 million views on Instagram.

Maigue was also among the performers for “To Broadway with Love,” a two-night sold-out concert at the Esplanade concert hall with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga.

Meanwhile, Senator Bong Revilla Jr. said the high prices of goods and services and possible wage hikes should be the focus of the President’s SONA.

Revilla said he is hopeful the President will address urgent national concerns that need immediate action.

Also among these concerns are efforts to increase the number of decent jobs, solutions to poverty, and the improvement of the education system.

"I'm sure, the President will have solutions to these problems besetting the country," Revilla said.

"I am fully confident that PBBM will lay down measures to lower prices of goods."

In fact, he noted that inflation has been slowing down for the past five months. It was pegged at 5.4 percent in June, the lowest in the last 13 months.

He said this should be coupled with the response to poverty and hunger. "So we have to wait for his policies on this," he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Philippine economy, reduce the prices of everyday commodities, and increase the purchasing power of every Filipino citizen

He earlier vowed swift action from the House of Representatives by the start of the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress, to pass the new set of priority bills agreed upon by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) before the year ends. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)