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Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Thursday, April 21, 2022.
READ: Comelec junks last case filed vs BBM
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) dismissed the last petition that seeks to disqualify presidential frontrunner Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for lack of merit.The poll body's First Division chaired by Commissioner Socorro Inting issued the ruling in response to the urgent motion filed last month by the Pudno Nga Ilokano (The real Ilocano) seeking for the immediate resolution of the case it filed against Marcos. The petition cited as basis the former senator's conviction of tax-related cases in 1995 while serving as vice governor of Ilocos Norte.The two members of the division — Commissioners Aimee Ferolino and Aimme Torrefranca-Neri — concurred with the decision. The First Division said it was not convinced that Marcos committed a crime involving moral turpitude, which the petitioners stressed is a ground for disqualification. The division cited a 2009 ruling which said that "failure to file an income tax return is not a crime involving moral turpitude."
READ: Get boosted before jabs expire – Concepcion
MORE than the possible surge in Covid-19 cases, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. "Joey" Concepcion 3rd is worried about the low number of booster shots administered to eligible recipients. He warned that the country is racing against time as there are millions of doses of Covid-19 vaccines nearing expiration. He is worried that by the time Filipinos decide to get the additional shots, the vaccines will have expired. Lowered immunity, he warned, will mean higher risk in contracting the virus which will translate to more infections and potentially affect the economy anew and halt the momentum gained by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to recoup their losses in the past two years.
READ: Abalos aims to make constituents self-reliant
FORMER Commission on Elections chairman and Mandaluyong mayoral candidate Benjamin Abalos Sr. on Wednesday said that he was keen on making his constituents self-reliant and not dependent on ayuda or help. Abalos is no stranger to self-reliance, having paid for his college education by working as a caddy in the golf course. In an interview with the Manila Times, Abalos said he will urge Congress and the national government to build public schools to make free education more accessible. Abalos also emphasized the need to provide quality technical education to Filipinos. Abalos, who also once served as chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, was the mayor of Mandaluyong from 1986 to 1994.
READ: PH, US to fortify economic alliance
THE Philippines and the United States have agreed to strengthen their economic partnership and cooperation in a meeting of the two nations' representatives in Washington, D.C. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo discussed trade issues at the sidelines of the High-Level Diplomatic Reception for Government Officials and Business Leaders on April 19, 2022. Lopez was joined by Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, Commercial Counselor Kenneth Yap and Consul Commercial Benedict Uy. He expressed the Philippines' intent to join the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), an American initiative seen by many as an effort by the US to preserve its leadership and presence in the region.
READ: TMT Coffee Break discusses NFTs
ORIGYN Foundation Chief Executive Officer Daniel Haudenschild gave a primer on non-fungible token (NFT), a unique digital asset, in Wednesday's episode of "The Manila Times' Coffee Break." NFTs can be anything like music or artwork stored in a blockchain. They can be bought and sold because they hold a value primarily set by the market and demand. Haudenschild stressed the importance of having an NFT certificate of authenticity guaranteed by their company. Haudenschild said Origyn Foundation strives to fulfill its mission to be a trusted NFT authority globally. He noted that their organization has four different divisions, namely Origyn Luxury, Origyn Art, Origyn Digital Media and Origyn Collectibles.
Topping Business
READ: Next admin likely to continue Duterte programs
SINGAPORE-based bank DBS said the next administration will likely continue the policy reforms started by the Duterte administration. DBS economist Chua Han Teng in a report released on Wednesday said that presidential and vice presidential frontrunners Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio, for instance, committed to continue the implementation of the current administration's Build, Build, Build program that seeks to improve the country's infrastructure. He said that Marcos and Duterte-Carpio also vowed to continue implementing programs that will combat corruption and rooting out illegal drugs, but the pair's "stance on public finances is unclear." Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo, meanwhile, who trails Marcos in the pre-poll surveys, is perceived to be "market friendly." In terms of public finances, DBS' report highlighted that Robredo acknowledged the country's high borrowings, which was driven by the pandemic, but vowed to ensure debt sustainability.
In Sports
READ: Grizzlies, Pelicans get even in Game 2
Ja Morant scored 23 points and handed out 10 assists as the Memphis Grizzlies looked much more like the team that posted the NBA's second-best record, routing the Minnesota Timberwolves, 124-96, on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) to even up their first-round Western Conference series at one apiece. Morant went to the bench with 4:40 left to a huge ovation. He finished a rebound shy of a triple-double. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. each added 16 with Jackson hitting 4 of 7 from 3-point range as the Grizzlies finished with seven in double figures. Brandon Clarke, Xavier Tillman Sr. and Ziaire Williams each had 13. Tyus Jones added 10. Game 3 is Thursday (Friday) in Minneapolis.
READ: Big Dome fire forced PBA to call off games
A FIRE in the upper section of the Smart Araneta Coliseum near the Red Gate forced the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to cancel the scheduled 3x3 games and Game Six of the PBA Governors' Cup Finals on Wednesday. League Commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed to The Manila Times that they had to cancel the games for the safety of the players. Marcial also said that the sixth game between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco will be played on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. At around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, the fire was declared under control, but the smoke which entered the playing venue of the Big Dome has yet to be cleared.The fire volunteers said they expect that the smoke and the steam will be cleared within 24 hours.
READ: Maria Sharapova announces pregnancy
MARIA Sharapova says she is pregnant. The five-time Grand Slam tennis champion, who retired from the sport in February 2020, delivered the news via a social media post on Tuesday — her 35th birthday. She announced her engagement to Alexander Gilkes in December 2020.
READ: Opinion/Editorial
The Times criticizes the government for its sloppy handling of the West Philippine Sea exploration and says this sends a wrong message to potential investors. Read the full version in the Opinion Section of its print and digital editions or listen to the Voice Of The Times. The featured columnists on the front page are Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta. Contreras writes about education and Majoha; Makabenta on opposition candidates flunking the test of statecraft and negotiation.
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This is Chritsian Crow Maghanoy reporting.