Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Saturday, November 20, 2021.
READ: Duterte tags Marcos as a 'weak leader'
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday called presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as "spoiled" and a "weak leader" as he spurned a coalition with the Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) headed by his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. The President fired his broadside at Marcos during a meeting with local leaders in Mindoro on Thursday. During a joint conference of the National-Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (Elcac) earlier, Duterte also called a presidential bet, which he did not name, as a weak leader and a user of cocaine. At the Mindoro meeting, he said Marcos is the reason he is against an alliance between the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) or the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) and the Lakas-CMD. Marcos, the son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, is Duterte-Carpio's running mate. His party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, has partnered with Lakas-CMD to support Duterte-Carpio's vice-presidential run.
READ: Bongbong, Sara top new survey
FORMER senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio led the November survey of Publicus Asia Inc. on presidential and vice presidential preferences for the 2022 elections. The results of the survey, which Publicus released Friday, showed Marcos having a 56.7 percent share among presidential candidates, with a 41.3 percent lead over the second placer, Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo.
READ: Automakers see sales rebound by 2023
TRUCKS and carmakers agree that the local automotive industry is recovering following a slump last year, but admit it will take two years for sales to return to pre-pandemic levels. During The Manila Times' "Turbocharging the Local Motoring Trade" forum on Friday, Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) President and Toyota Motors Philippines Inc. First Vice President Rommel Gutierrez said the auto industry is showing signs of recovery. In the first 10 months of this year, car sales hit 214,186 units, up by 23.8 percent from the 173,035 units sold in the same period last year. Passenger car sales went up by 29.3 percent to 145,578 units while commercial vehicle sales rose by 21.3 percent to 68,608 units. Despite the improved sales numbers, sales target of 295,400 units for this year will likely not be met, Gutierrez said.
READ: PH won't 'abandon' shoal despite Ayungin incident
THE Philippine government will not abandon its military outpost at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Malacañang said on Friday, after Chinese Coast Guard vessels "blocked and water-cannoned" Philippine supply boats from reaching the disputed area. In his virtual news briefing, acting Palace spokesman and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles said the government will continue to defend the Philippines' sovereignty and territory.
BUSINESS: PSEi drops anew on lack of catalysts
Topping business, the local bourse remained bloodied on Friday as investors continued to take profits amid the lack of catalysts. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slipped by 0.26 percent, or 18.77 points, to 7,280.57 while the wider All Shares dipped by 1.41 percent, or 55.59 points, to finish at 3,878.11.
SPORTS: Unbeaten Suarez, Pellio collide
In sports, undefeated Filipino boxers Charly "King's Warrior" Suarez of San Isidro, Davao del Norte and Delmar Pellio of Aklan clash in a 10-round bout on December 4 at The Flash Grand Ballroom of the Elorde Sports Complex in Parañaque City. Suarez is looking for his ninth win while Pellio is aiming for his 10th victory. Suarez, a three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, scored a fourth round knockout win over Lorence Rosas in his previous fight on September 4 at the Urdaneta Cultural Sports Complex in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta are today's front page columnists. Contreras hits out at Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso's populist tendencies, while Makabenta discusses President Rodrigo Duterte's snubbing of presidential candidate former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.
Today's editorial believes bicycle infrastructure should become a key election issue. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe weekend ahead.