The first all-female national art competition in the Philippines Deadline extended: February 5, 2024 For more details, visit zontaclubme.com/sining-filipina or email siningfilipina.secretariat@gmail.com
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Angara: Charter change hearing won’t touch political provisions By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz THE Senate hearing on the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 on Monday will exclusively discuss the three proposed amendments to the economic
provisions of the 1987 Constitution. This was the assurance made on Thursday by Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, who will lead the subcommittee that will discuss the measure under the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and Next page revision of codes.
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 353 • 4 SECTIONS 34 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 •
Solon: Probe VP Sara’s link to Tokhang killings • Duterte slams ‘script’ • Bato: Prove claim • SolGen: ICC may issue arrest warrant By Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Joel E. Zurbano
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OUSE Deputy Minority leader France Castro called for a congressional inquiry into the allegations linking Vice President Sara Duterte to extrajudicial killings in the anti-drug war when she was still mayor of Davao City in 2012. Duterte denied the allegations and dared her accusers to file formal charges in connection to their allegations. “Based on the self-proclaimed witness [Arturo Lascañas], I was involved in Oplan Tokhang, the Davao Death Squad, and incidents of murders or extrajudicial killings in Davao. This is a new script,” Duterte said in a statement.
Rody’s secession call ‘foolish,’ plain arrogance–Carpio By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz FORMER Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday disparaged the call of former President Rodrigo Duterte for a separate Mindanao, describing it as “foolishness” and “sloganeering.” Carpio, who also hails from Davao, stressed that the idea of Mindanao seceding from the Philippines through a process based on gathering signatures, as Duterte suggested, is against the 1987 Constitution. "This is just a slogan. There is nothing to secede, it is against the Constitution. That is threatening the integrity of the national territory," Carpio said, in an interview with GMAnews. "That's just arrogance. They have been threatening to secede ever since... It's been a long time, that was 20 years ago. But nobody will join them, this is Next page foolishness," he added.
Amid stalled talks, China reaffirms commitment to joint oil exploration By Rey E. Requejo
DRAGON WARRIOR. A boy tries to reach for a smoke-breathing dragon on display at an SM mall in
Dasmariñas, Cavite on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. The Year of the Wood Dragon is said to be a lucky one, with the Chinese Zodiac symbolizing power, nobleness, honor, and success. Norman Cruz
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LPG prices up P10.45 per 11-kg tank By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL firms increased the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by as much as P0.95 per kilo or P10.45 per 11-kilo tank yesterday. "This reflects the international contract price of LPG for the month of February," Petron said. Rival Solane LPG said it increased its LPG brand by P0.91 per kilo (VAT inclusive).
The LPG contract price, commonly called the “Saudi CP,” drives pricing in the Far East, including the Philippines. The Department of Energy said LPG contract prices went up by $10 to $637 per metric ton in February from $627 per MT in January. DOE said the price of an 11-kilo tank will now range from P930.45 to P1,110.45 after the adjustment. Next page
THE Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Thursday said Beijingremains committed to pursuing joint development of oil and gas with the Philippines in the disputed waters in the South China Sea. "Our position on joint development of oil and gas with the Philippines remains," the embassy said. The embassy issued the statement following suggestions for the government to consider an independent oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea. Earlier, President Marcos said the Philippines will “find a way to move the process forward” for oil exploration projects despite ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
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POWERFUL STATEMENT. Muslim women participate in the 12th World Hijab Day at the Department of Agrarian Reform office in Diliman, Quezon City on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. The celebration aimed to highlight the significance of the hijab as a powerful statement and a reflection of beauty and inner strength. Manny Palmero
UP offers free distance learning courses By Rio N. Araja COURSES on business analytics concepts and frameworks, strategic planning in open distance learning, principles of graphic design, and introduction to technology for teaching and learning are listed among the 24 free
online courses at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) this 2024. Interested students can access these learning opportunities through the UPOU Massive Open Distance eLearning platform (MODeL). Next page
HISTORIC GRAND ANVIL WIN. Property giant Megaworld celebrates its latest milestone after winning a historic firstever Grand Anvil for its MEGreen sustainability program at the 59th Anvil Awards. The highly coveted recognition was one of 15 prestigious awards that the company took home for its outstanding roster of public relations tools and programs. Megaworld is led by Arnie Batac, head of Megaworld Sustainability Council (center, holding award). Also in photo are (center, from left) Rafael Antonio Perez, first vice president for Human Resources and Corporate Administration; Harold Geronimo, vice president for Public Relations and Media Affairs; and Cleofe Albiso, managing director, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts.