VOL. XXX NO. 128 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 MONDAY : JUNE 20, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph
Comelec hit after accused flies out
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US SHOWS POWER Two aircraft carriers in West Philippine Sea
This US Navy photo shows a flight formation of Boeing F/A-18E and F Super Hornets from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and 9 above the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the West Philippine Sea. Two US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the West Philippine Sea, defense officials say, as Manila faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. AFP
TWO US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the West Philippine Sea, defense officials said Sunday, as Manila, Washington’s close ally, faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. The US Pacific Command said the USS John C. Stennis and USS Ronald Reagan, among the world’s largest warships, began conducting air defense drills, sea surveil-
lance, and long range strikes on Saturday. The command said the operations marked America’s continued presence in the Asia-Pacific
as China expands its maritime strength and engages in massive island building activities in disputed waters. “No other Navy can concentrate this much combat power on one sea...It was truly impressive,” said US Rear Admiral Marcus Hitchcock, carrier strike group commander. US Defense Secretary Ashton
Prayer warns vs ‘culture of death’ A MANDATORY prayer will be offered during masses in Manila before new government officials take office on June 30, calling on them to shun the “culture of death” and to lead with a “spirit of heroic sacrifice.” Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila has issued an “oratio imperata” for government officials, which will be recited nine days before the assumption into office of the country’s newly elected leaders, including President-elect
Rodrigo Duterte, who has vowed to wipe out crime by killing more suspected criminals and to reinstate the death penalty. “Bless our leaders with true reverence for human life and unyielding opposition to the culture of death,” reads the oratio imperata for government officials. Reginald Malicdem, chancellor of the Manila archdiocese, said the call to prayer is also in accordance to the proposal of the Catholic Bishops’ Confer-
ence of the Philippines. In a circular to the archdiocese’s priests, chaplains, superiors of religious communities and Catholic schools, he said the oratio imperata “is to be prayed at the prayer of the faithful of all masses” from June 21 to 29. A church ally, Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, said Sunday he would push for a new law that would impose a minimum jail term of 40 years for heinous crimes, instead of death. Next page
Carter visited the Stennis in April as it sailed off the Philippines near the disputed area where China has expanded islets and reefs into islands capable of supporting airfields and other installations. The Philippines has been improving its defense ties with the US, its longtime treaty ally and former colonial ruler, to help
boost the ability of one of Asia’s weakest armed forces. The US exercises synchronized the activities of over 12,000 sailors, 140 aircraft, six combatants and the two carriers, said Hitchcock. The command said the drills were meant to promote freedom of navigation and overflight in the region’s Next page airspace and waters.
PNoy veto to worsen job scam vs nurses
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