Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, September 15, 2022.
READ: Enrile has no reasonto betray me – BBM
PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed confidence that his chief legal counsel, Juan Ponce Enrile, will not betray him despite the fact that the latter helped oust his father during the 1986 People Power Revolution. In a television interview with host Toni Gonzaga aired over AllTV Channel on Tuesday, Marcos said that he has no animosity toward Enrile, whom he calls "Tito Johnny." Enrile, known for being the Martial Law administrator, helped topple the Marcos dictatorship in 1986.
READ: Marcos will not block grant of new ABS-CBN franchise
In the same interview, the President promised not to block any efforts to give ABS-CBN Corp. a new legislative franchise. In an interview with TV host Toni Gonzaga aired on AllTV Channel on Tuesday, Marcos said ABS-CBN's bid for a new franchise was denied because of "technical reasons" that surfaced during hearings at the House of Representatives. He denied that ABS-CBN had failed to get a franchise because of its "political position" against his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
READ: Imported sugar to arrive in November
THE Philippines will have 150,000 metric tons of imported sugar in November after the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) issued Sugar Order (SO) 2 allowing the importation of the sweetener. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordered the arrival of all imported sugar on or before Nov. 15, 2022. The order was signed by Marcos and four other members of the SRA Board— Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, Acting SRA Administrator David Alba, Acting Board Member-Millers' Representative Ma.Mitzi Mangwang and Acting Board Member-Planters Representative Pablo Luis Azcona.
READ: VP not using chopper daily – spokesman
THE spokesman for Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio clarified on Wednesday that the vice president only uses the helicopter from the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW) for "official work and functions," and based on the location and urgency of her schedule. Reynold Munsayac issued the clarification after the birthday greeting of Duterte-Carpio to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, posted on her social media pages, was criticized, with some frowning on her alleged "daily use" of the chopper to fly home to her family in Davao.
READ: MMDA to public: Wear face masks
AMID the issuance of an executive order relaxing the mandatory wearing of face masks outdoors, the Metropolitan Manila DevelopmentAuthority (MMDA) on Wednesday encouraged the public to continue wearing face masks outdoors. Acting MMDA Chairman Carlo Dimayuga 3rd said in a statement that the wearing of face masks protects the public not only against Covid-19 but also from pollution. He strongly enjoined especially those who are not fully vaccinated, the immunocompromised and the senior citizens.
BUSINESS: Peso inches down at 57.11 vs US dollar
Over to business, the Philippine peso on Wednesday slightly depreciated against the United States dollar at P57.11 in the Philippine Dealing System, but recorded an intraday low of P57.27. According to the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP), the peso trading opened at P57.1against the dollar.BAP data showed the peso traded from P57.1 to P56.27, averaging P57.202. The peso exchange was weaker against the US dollar by 34 centavos, or 0.6 percent, to close at 57.11, the highest since Sept. 8,2022, when it closed at P57.18.
SPORTS: Letran opens season with OT win vs JRU
Topping sports, Letran slipped past Jose Rizal University in overtime, 101-97, to open its three-peat bidon a high note in the NCAA men's basketball tournament on Wednesday, September 14, at the Filoil EcoOil Center. Kurt Reyson fired a career-high 31 points, including a key three-pointer in the final five seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime. Rookie Kobe Monje also played big for the Knights, pulling downa crucial rebound after a William Sy missed second free throw and converted a lay-up with 28.1 sec-onds left that gave the defending two-time champions the lead. Fran Yu calmly nailed three out of four free throws in the final 13.5 seconds to secure the win for Letran.
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras discusses when congressional hearings get abusive, Makabenta tackles on the New Society, and Remoto discusses author Kauzo Ishiguro.
Today's editorial calls on the government to act swiftly to avert a rice crisis. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
For more news and information, get a copy of The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and Keep Up With The Times.
This is Pete Steven Llevares reporting.