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Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Wednesday, February 16, 2022 brought to you by Wilcon Depot, the country's leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer. Shop conveniently 24/7 with Wilcon online store. Just go to shop.wilcon.com.ph.

READ: BBM to push sea code of conduct

If he becomes president, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said he would push for the crafting of a code of conduct between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China to resolve the territorial dispute in the South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine Sea.

READ: Ex-congressman: No law mandates jabbing minors

A former member of the House of Representatives claimed that the Department of Health or DoH and the Department of Education violated the Constitution for conducting mass Covid-19 vaccination for children in the absence of a law that is supposed to mandate it.

READ: Safeguards assured as PH transitions to 'new normal'

As the Philippines goes back into a low-risk category of Covid-19, the DoH has assured that there will be safeguards against possible surges once certain areas of the country go into Alert Level 1 or the new normal.

READ: Plastic, chemical pollution beyond planet's safe limit

The torrent of manmade chemical and plastic waste worldwide has massively exceeded limits safe for humanity or the planet, and production caps are urgently needed, scientists have concluded for the first time.

READ: FDA ordered to crack down on sellers of fake drugs

President Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated his order to the Food and Drug Administration or FDA to hold accountable establishments or individuals caught in trading fake medicines or selling medicines without proper documents.

READ: US for 'free, open' Indo-Pacific

The United States' recently released Indo-Pacific Strategy raised the importance of a "free and open" Indo-Pacific in maintaining economic stability and a peaceful atmosphere in the region.

READ: PNP 'foils' terror proxy war

Philippine National Police or PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Bernardo Carlos said on Tuesday the police foiled attempts by a foreign terrorist organization to wage a "proxy war" in the country by recruiting Filipino affiliates, who will carry out terrorist activities against Western and Middle Eastern nationals in the Philippines.

In regional news,

READ: Foreign investors boost economy ‒ Sara

Vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has vowed to work for policies to acquire additional foreign investments that can help boost the country's economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.

In world news,

READ: Sri Lanka HR abuses worsening ‒ cardinal

The leader of Sri Lanka's Roman Catholic Church launched a scathing attack on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's government on Tuesday over what he called increasing threats to human rights on the troubled island.

READ: Russia ready for major offensive ‒ France's Foreign Minister

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) that "all the elements" were in place for Russia to wage a "major offensive" against the Ukraine after Moscow massed thousands of troops on its borders.

In business,

READ: Approved foreign investments grow

Approved foreign investment pledges increased by double digits in 2021, but only four investment promotion agencies saw full-year growth, according to the data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Tuesday.

And in sports,

READ: Magnolia guns for 5th straight win

Undefeated Magnolia tries to extend its winning streak to five and claim that solo lead when it takes on a decimated and slumping NLEX squad in the PGA Governor's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City today, February 16.

Rigoberto Tiglao and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino are the featured columnists on the front page of The Times.

Tiglao intimates that

READ: Gatchalian's torpedoing of Malampaya sale to a Filipino will benefit an Indonesian oligarch

Fr. Aquino wonders if it is a

READ: War of the classes?

In The Times editorial, it recounts

READ: An admirable record of service

Read all about it.

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With Aric John Sy Cua, Paolo Dimaapi and Christian Maghanoy, this is Dafort Villaseran reporting. Have a great week!