Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Friday, February 25, 2022. This is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, the country's leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer. Visit the 24/7 Wilcon online store, by going to shop.wilcon.com.ph.
READ: Russia invades Ukraine
Russia's ground forces invaded Ukraine from several directions on Thursday, encircling the country within hours of President Vladimir Putin announcing his decision to launch an assault. Heavy Russian tanks and other equipment crossed the frontier in a string of northern regions as well as from the Kremlin-annexed peninsula of Crimea in the south. They were also advancing into the Western-backed government's territory along the eastern front, where a separatist insurgency has claimed more than 14,000 lives since 2014. Ukraine's confirmed military death toll reached five a few hours after Putin launched the invasion. But there were reports of major clashes across large parts of the vast eastern European country and the death toll seemed likely to climb throughout the day. Ukraine claimed to have killed around 50 "Russian occupiers" while taking back control of the eastern frontline town of Shchastya.
READ: Palace assures Pinoys in Ukraine safe
Back here, the government ensured the safety of Filipinos in Ukraine following reports that Russia on Thursday launched attacks on several Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv. Acting Palace spokesman Karlo Alexei Nograles said in a statement the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is repatriating Filipinos living in Ukraine. As of February 18, the DFA has repatriated six of the more than 300 Filipinos in Ukraine. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the Philippine embassy in Warsaw, Poland, anticipates the influx of Filipinos crossing over from Ukraine to avoid getting caught in the conflict. Locsin said Poland has agreed to the Philippine government's appeal to allow Filipinos fleeing from Ukraine to cross its border even without European Union visas.
READ: Former Aquino Health chief backs BBM, Sara
In other news, the former Health secretary of the late president Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino 3rd has endorsed the candidacy of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, who was appointed Health chief in 2015, made the endorsement during an interview after the rally of the UniTeam at the Guimbal Stadium in Iloilo was postponed following a row over its choice as a venue. Garin said she is supporting Marcos and Duterte-Carpio because she believes in their call for unity. She said she senses Marcos' "very great motivation to deliver to the people because he wants to disprove the allegations against him." Other members of Aquino's cabinet have voiced support to Marcos' rival, vice president Ma. Leonor "Leni" Robredo.
READ: BoC fully computerized by June 30
BUREAU of Customs (BoC) Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero will turn over to his successor a "fully computerized" bureau after a new president of the country assumed office on June 30, BoC Assistant Commissioner and spokesman Philip Vincent Maronnilla said. The full computerization of the bureau will result in paperless transactions, which would mean lesser corruption due to the elimination of person-to-person interaction between customs employees, brokers and importers.
READ: Govt, private sector probe safe exit strategies
THE private sector is working with the government in exploring "safe exit strategies" from the Covid-19 pandemic. During the recent virtual town hall meeting with medical and data experts, public officials and representatives from the private sector, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria "Joey" Concepcion 3rd said reopening the economy has become more urgent now that the country faces a serious debt problem. He said the war in Ukraine has also driven up commodity prices worldwide and is expected to have an immediate impact on the local economy.
BUSINESS: NEDA sees bright prospects for Davao
Over to business, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) expressed optimism that Davao Region's economy will have bright prospects this year, particularly growth in employment, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and tourism. During the "Panelist for Global Surge: The Future Plans and Programs for the Continuous Economic Development and Progress of Davao Region" online event organized by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII), Maria Lourdes Lim, regional director of NEDA Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), shared the agency's growth and development prospects for Davao Region amid the lingering impacts of the pandemic.
SPORTS: Gilas Pilipinas takes on India
Topping sports, an extra time to practice for the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers is considered a luxury for the Gilas Pilipinas team which is scrambling to prepare for the competition. Following South Korea's decision to pull out in the tournament due to the Covid-19 surge in its country, Gilas head coach Chot Reyes used the extra day on Thursday to sharpen up the national team composed of the experienced and young players. Any of these players included in the 15-man pool — Dwight Ramos, Angelo Kouame, Thirdy Ravena, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Jaydee Tungcab, Tzaddy Rangel, William Navarro, LeBron Lopez, Kelly Williams, Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy, Kib Montalbo, Gab Banal, Robert Bolick and Poy Erram — can see action against India in the 6 p.m. encounter.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Ruben Torres are today's front page columnists. Tiglao presents six "facts" of the 1986 People Power Revolution that people did not know of, while Torres discusses the labor agenda of presidential candidate and Manila mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso.
Today's editorial discusses the fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 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 Friday ahead.