VOL. XXXIII • NO. 159 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
OFF SCRIPT IS SCRIPT. President Rodrigo Duterte, arriving behind schedule Monday at the Batasang Pambansa complex because of bad weather, speaks on nationwide radio and television before a joint session of Congress after
‘More action, less talk gov’t’ Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano convene the two chambers (inset) for the President’s 4th State of the Nation Address. Ver Noveno
Du30’s SONA sets tone of 2nd-half plan: Simplify bureaucracy, fight corruption China’s missiles P ‘can hit Manila in 7 minutes’ By MJ Blancaflor
RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called on officials of the executive department and local government units to act more and talk less as he spoke twice as long as he was supposed to in his fourth State of the Nation Address.
The President likewise underscored “I reiterate my directive to all govthe need to simplify the bureaucracy ernment instrumentalities, including and cut red tape. the LGUs and government corpora-
tions: simplify and make your services responsive and client-friendly. I want results and I need them fast. Much has to be done in ensuring our responsiveness to the people’s needs. Based on complaints received by the Contact Center ng Bayan, the Land Transportation Office, Social Security Systems, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Land Registration Authority, and Pag-IBIG are the top five agen-
cies that need to drastically improve their services,” the President said. Underscoring the need to provide more efficient governance and to eradicate corruption, he called on officials and government employees to “let deeds and accomplishments do the talking.” “We, in government, talk too much, act too little, and too slow. I recall saying that before a congressional hearing Next page
By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday confirmed that China is capable of sending guided missiles from the artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea to Manila in just seven minutes. Continuing his promised “lecture” on the WPS, the President recalled his bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping in 2016. “In that meeting, I said, I want to go to my territory to dig oil because that is ours, President Xi said: ‘Well you know there’s a conflict there.’ [So] rather Next page
CONTRASTING FACES. Pro-administration supporters gather Monday at the IBP Road near the Batasang Pambansa complex (left) as President Rodrigo Duterte arrives for his fourth
State of the Nation Address while thousands of activists (right) brave heavy rains as they march towards Congress during a protest to coincide with the President’s SONA. Screen grab from ABS-CBN News Photo, Revoli Cortez
Post-SONA showtime: Rody, PNP chief regale crowds with songs MINUTES after he finished delivering his fourth State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte sang two songs: George Canseco’s “Ikaw” and Andy Williams’ “Moon River” with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra accompanying him. Duterte, who arrived at the Batasang Pambansa almost an hour late for his
speech, appeared to be in high spirits― even as he challenged his critics to keep on trying to oust him and grab power. “If you think you can run the country better than the duly-elected one, go ahead. That’s the problem of the Filipino people. Kapag abutan ako ng topak, bahala na kayo diyan. I’m going home,”
VP Leni not immune from lawsuits—DOJ
By Rey E. Requejo
VICE President Leni Robredo is not immune from lawsuits, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Monday. Guevarra made the statement after sedition and other criminal charges were filed against Robredo and several prominent personalities last week, and in connection with the controversial “Ang Totoong Narco-list” viral videos linking President Rodrigo Duterte to the illegal drug trade in the country. Peter Joemel Advincula, who confessed that he was the hooded figure “Bikoy” in the videos entitled “Ang Totoong Narco-list”, submitted his affidavit implicating Robredo, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and other opposition leaders Next page
the President said in his SONA that lasted for one hour and 33 minutes. Duterte began his speech with a fearless forecast, saying “Believe me, I will end my term fighting,” and ended with a promise to all Filipinos that he “will not stop until I reach the finish line.” Outside the Batasang Pambansa,
Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde likewise broke into a song in a bid to cheer his policemen maintaining security for the SONA. “Let’s sing first before we go to rally,” he said as he belted out Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight.”
Most Filipinos back external probe of slays By MJ Blancaflor SIX out of every 10 Filipinos agree that the government should not block the investigation of international groups on the drug-related killings in the Philippines, according to a Social Weather Stations survey released Monday. SWS found that 60 percent of all those polled agreed to allow international groups to investigate the Next page
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Cayetano voted as Speaker; Romualdez, majority leader By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE threatened fireworks turned out to be a dud Monday after lawmakers voted for President Rodrigo Duterte’s pick to lead the House of Representatives, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano Next page
SO HELP ME GOD. House Majority
Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez takes his oath of office Monday before Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano at the plenary of the House of Representatives. The oath taking is witnessed by Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and their children. Ver Noveno