Good day.
Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.
READ: Cut red tape to lure investors, govt urged
THE ambassador of Denmark said the Philippines should reduce red tape if it wants to attract more foreign investors.Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin said that cutting red tape will make the Philippines more appealing as a foreign investment destination. Mellbin said in an interview on Friday at the ambassador's residence that Denmark is interested in further developing cooperation with the Philippines in the areas of agriculture, energy, maritime sector, digitization, security and sustainability. Reducing corruption is another key factor, he said. The ambassador said the government should also address the energy crisis
READ: New Covid subvariant may have sneaked into PH
Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious disease expert, said it is possible that the new Covid-19 Omicron subvariant XBB may already be in the country but has escaped detection because not enough test samples have been sequenced by the Philippine Genome Center. The XBB, or the BA.2.10 strain, is a recombinant variant that contains the BJ.10.1 and the BA.2.75 sublineages. It is said to be more immune-evasive than the BA.5, the world's dominant Omicron subvariant. The Singapore Ministry of Health has reported an increase in Covid-19 cases, with 54 percent attributed to the XBB subvariant. In an interview on DZBB radio on Sunday, Solante said it was possible there were undetected cases of XBB in the country. Despite the high transmissibility and immune evasion, the XBB is expected to be less severe than other Omicron subvariants, although senior citizens and persons with comorbidities could be highly vulnerable to it.
READ: Police rescue 16 Thai POGO workers
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) rescued 16 Thais who were forced to work in a Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) company in Pampanga. The Southern Police District chief, BGen. Kirby John Kraft, said on Sunday a joint team from the District Special Operations Unit, Regional Special Operations Group of the Metro Manila police force, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and Mabalacat City Police Station rescued the Thais from the office of the POGO, identified as Shedaikeji Technology, on Saturday afternoon. Kraft said the PNP received a letter from Minister Counselor Kritreya Lepkao of the Thailand Embassy last October 13 that the Thais were being forced to work beyond regular hours without overtime pay. The Thais' passports were reportedly held by their employer, who was represented by a Ms. Pablo. The company's representative reportedly agreed to return the workers' passports to the Thai embassy on October 17. The embassy said the rescued Thais manifested their intent not to sue their employer. Kraft lauded the prompt police response that resulted in the rescue of Thai workers.
READ: Xi hails China's rise, demands unity
President Xi Jinping hailed China's rise as a global power and demanded unity around his leadership on Sunday, launching a Communist Party Congress that is set to rubber stamp his bid to rule for a historic third term. In an opening address to 2,300 delegates gathered at the Great Hall of the People, Xi promoted and defended a range of signature policies — including zero-Covid and his anti-corruption drive that has taken down rivals in the party.
In Business
READ: DBM chief: PH set for strong recovery
THE Philippines is on track to strong recovery, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman told international financial institutions in Washington. Pangandaman also presented the Marcos administration's budget priorities for 2023 to address continuing external challenges. Pangandaman noted that the 2023 national budget of P5.268 trillion, which is 4.9 percent more than this year's outlay, represents about 22.2 percent of gross domestic product. During the meeting, the Budget chief also expressed hope that more US companies and investors would invest in the Philippines.
Topping Sports
READ: Cardinals stop Pirates for 2nd straight win
MAPUA, finalist in last season's NCAA, had its first back-to-back wins in its campaign. The Cardinals downed the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates, 62-59, at the start of second round action in the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. Jeric Pido, Paolo Hernandez and Warren Bonifacio joined forces during a big fourth quarter as the three led Mapua's comeback from a 42-48 deficit going to the final frame. Pido led the Cardinals with 11 points, while Bonifacio contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds. Hernandez added seven points, five of which came in the fourth period as Mapua improved to 2-8. Joaqui Garcia and Adrian Nocum each scored 10 points off the bench for the Intramuros-based team. Mapua, however, is still way behind in the Final Four playoff race.
READ: Phillies oust defending champ Braves
WASHINGTON: Philadelphia's J.T. Realmuto hit an inside-the-park home run and the Phillies beat Atlanta, 8-3, on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), eliminating the defending champion Braves from the Major League Baseball playoffs. Brandon Marsh smacked a three-run homer and Bryce Harper added a solo homer for the Phillies, who defeated the Braves, 3-1, in their best-of-five National League division series. The Phillies advanced to the best-of-seven NL championship series, where they will play either the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres for a berth in the World Series. In the American League, the Houston Astros tried to complete a sweep at Seattle and the Yankees were at Cleveland with the series level 1-1.
In today's editorial, The Manila Times advises policymakers and the public to think before reacting to a Pulse Asia Survey on fake news. Read the full version on print or in the digital edition or listen to the Voice of the Times. Rigoberto Tiglao and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino are the featured columnists on the front page. Tiglao bares that the husband of the judge in the terrorist case is a member of the CPP front torganization; Aquino writes about Pope Francis' apostolic letter on liturgical formation.
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This is Pete Llevares reporting.