Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times this Labor Day, May 1, 2022.
'Covid positives' may vote – Comelec
AS far as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is concerned, it is duty bound to ensure that all registered voters can exercise their right of suffrage, including those possibly infected with the Covid-19. Commissioner George Erwin Garcia reiterated on Saturday that the only exception are those voters and members of their families who are being monitored by their respective barangay (village) and are in isolation in their homes in compliance with the health protocols of the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and as prescribed by Republic Act (RA) 11332.
Labor Day demands: Wage hike, end 'endo'
THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines l(TUCP) has reiterated its demand to the government to approve a realistic minimum wage and terminate contractualization or "endo," in time for the celebration of Labor Day today, May 1. The TUCP, the country's biggest group of workers, added that it has found empirically that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is not just perpetuating a policy of cheap labor, but also aiding and abetting the continuing injustice of minimum wages which cannot meet the needs of a family of five to live a decent life. The TUCP said it has already filed wage petitions in 10 regions, including the National Capital Region, and Regions 4A, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. It will next file petitions in Region 1 and the Cordillera Autonomous Region. Labor Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez, however, denied TUCP's accusation, saying that all RTWBs around the country were now deliberating on the proposed wage increases in their respective regions and would soon come up with recommendations.
DoJ belittles Espinosa retraction
THE retraction of self-confessed drug lord Rolan "Kerwin" Espinosa's statement about his alleged transactions with Sen. Leila de Lima will not affect, in any way, the pending drug cases against her before the courts, according to the Department of Justice (DoJ). The DoJ said that statements of Espinosa "were never utilized" and "will not be used" by the prosecution as evidence in the two pending drug cases against de Lima filed before the branches of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Muntinlupa City. The DoJ's Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG) also pointed out that counter-affidavit with retraction of statements by Espinosa was executed only on April 28, 2022, or more than five years after his testimony was given before the Senate in 2016 and other subsequent affidavits executed in 2017. In Criminal Case 17-165, de Lima's co-accused was her former driver and alleged lover Ronnie Dayan. It is pending before RTC Branch 204. In this case, the OPG said that the prosecution has finished presenting its evidence without utilizing Espinosa as a witness because his statements/affidavit, which he recanted, were not material to the case.
'Russia won't launch nuclear weapons on first strike'
THE Russian Federation will not initiate the use of nuclear weapons in its war against any nation, including the United States of America, and its allies in the west, an official said. Andrey Klimov, deputy chairman of the Federation Council Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on International Affairs, told Asean journalists, including The Manila Times, in a virtual briefing on international cooperation and support of compatriots on April 29, 2022 (Manila time) that his country will not start a nuclear war unless provoked. Klimov said, however, that the Russian Federation has "the same missile, nuclear power as the United States" and that its nuclear weapons "are better than America's" as "they are faster and more powerful." At the same time, Klimov warned the US and its allies "not to try to use nuclear weapons against Russia as this will not end well for them."
Return of quarantine mulled for PH arrivals
THE government will consider the possibility of reimplementing the mandatory seven-day quarantine for arriving international travelers as a safeguard against Covid-19 variants, a senior health official said. In a media briefing on Saturday, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will look into it further, as many have been vaccinated and have a good wall of immunity, with 75 percent of the population fully vaccinated, but visitors must continue to observe minimum health protocols upon arrival in the country. Cabotaje issued the statement after Philippine College of Physicians President Dr. Maria Encarnita Limpin called on the government to reintroduce the measure following the detection the Philippines' first case of the BA2.12 subvariant of Covid-19 in a 52-year-old Finnish woman who conducted seminars in Quezon City and Baguio. Cabotaje said that individuals who have had close contact with the Finnish woman have been traced and tested. Her fellow 30 passengers in a plane, including two partially-vaccinated individuals and an unvaccinated 7-year-old child, remain asymptomatic. The two other contacts from Quezon City and Baguio have also been tested and remain asymptomatic. Cabotaje said that the standing regulation is that only fully-vaccinated visitors are allowed to enter the country on the condition that they tested negative in a RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test 48 hours prior. She lauded the efficiency of the country's border control and case surveillance, citing the speedy detection of the country's first subvariant case but added that local government units (LGUs) should add another layer of protection.
Economy will remain in catch-up mode
In business, despite the improving Covid-19 pandemic scenario in the country, the Philippine economy would continue in catch-up mode, Capital Economics said. Despite a big Omicron wave in January, the country's gross domestic product (GDP) likely increased in the first quarter of this year, the research consultancy company added. It said with virus infections at an all-time low and all activity restrictions lifted, the economy is expected to revive strongly this quarter, returning to pre-crisis levels of output by the middle of the year.
Blue Eagles eye sweep, finals berth
Topping sports, defending champ Ateneo de Manila University looks to sweep the elimination round and clinch a Final Four berth as it faces the University of the Philippines (UP) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 84 men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena today, Sunday. Riding on a 39-game winning streak dating back to 2018, the four-peat seeking Blue Eagles take on the Fighting Maroons at 7 p.m. Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin said that while his team is happy with scoring a 70-53 win over Far Eastern University (FEU), which enabled the Blue Eagles to clinch the top spot with their 13th win and at least a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four, they still want to win over the Fighting Maroons and go to the Finals outright.
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he tackles the rise of so-called political heretics.
Today's editorial discusses vice president Ma. Leonor "Leni" Robredo's decision to call for a debate against her rival, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
TMT names new VP for Innovation, Business Devt
THE Manila Times is pleased to announce the appointment of Edumar "Dumy" Madlangbayan as vice president (VP) for Innovation and Business Development effective on May 1, 2022. Madlangbayan, who has been with the paper for three years as a consultant for Business Development, has assisted in growing and transforming The Times from a legacy publication, having been in circulation since 1898, to a multimedia company and "news source of choice" that now has a foothold not only on print but online, with its digital edition and website that offers content on its various social media and video platforms. Throughout the pandemic, Madlangbayan, in coordination with the editorial team, helped train Times staff to become a hybrid workforce that has allowed the paper to operate 24/7 and ensure uninterrupted news service to its readers despite the lockdowns. Madlangbayan brings to the fore nearly two decades' worth of expertise, skill sets, and technical know-how in website development and design. The 39-year-old executive and entrepreneur from Oriental Mindoro also draws from his experience as the former managing editor of The Varsitarian, the official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry.
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On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe Labor Day weekend.