Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022.
READ: DoH braces for new Covid spike
THE Department of Health (DoH) on Monday gave assurances that the country's health facilities are ready for any spike in coronavirus disease infections that may be triggered by the entry of the highly transmissible Omicron BQ.1 subvariant. Fourteen cases of BQ1 have been recorded in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Central Visayas, and the National Capital Region (NCR). BQ1 is a sublineage of the BA-5 subvariant, is more transmissible than the other subvariants and is immune evasive. A triage system and step-down facilities are now in place should there be an increase in the health care utilization rate. The DoH said that sticking to health protocols and strengthening of the country's health surveillance on infectious diseases are still the best defense against the virus.
READ: Shabu labs on decline – PNP
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said the anti-drug campaign of the Marcos administration saw a decline in the number of drug laboratories being dismantled in the country. PNP Officer in Charge and Deputy Chief for Administration LtGen. Rhodel Sermonia told reporters in a media briefing that the anti-drug campaign has been effective as there are fewer drug laboratories.Sermonia made the remarks at the sidelines of the launch of the new anti-drug campaign "Buhay Ingatan, Droga'y Ayawan" (BIDA) at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame. He admitted, though, that there are casualties that cannot be avoided in their anti-drug campaign, even as the government continues to uphold the protection of human rights. Sermonia said that police have the right to defend themselves when in danger. The official added the BIDA program includes providing livelihood opportunities for drug surrenderers.
READ: BuCor eyes release of elderly inmates
THE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) is considering recommending the granting of executive clemency to persons who are deprived of liberty (PDLs) ages 70 and above as part of its move to decongest jails in the country. BuCor Officer in Charge Gregorio Catapang said elderly PDLs may be granted parole and Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) benefits if their evaluation shows that they behaved properly while in prison and were able to serve half of their sentence.He said the BuCor is looking into this possibility to decongest jails, particularly the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). Catapang said that in January 2023, at least 2,000 to 3,000 PDLs could be transferred to Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, a drug rehabilitation facility "that was not used much." Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has issued a directive to transfer elderly PDLs or those who are just waiting to be released to the said facility.
READ: 'Gaslighting' Merriam-Webster's word of 2022
"Gaslighting" — mind manipulating, grossly misleading, downright deceitful — is Merriam-Webster's word of the year. Lookups for the word on merriam-webster.com increased 1,740 percent in 2022 over the year before. But something else happened. There wasn't a single event that drove significant spikes in the curiosity, as it usually goes with the chosen word of the year. Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's editor at large, in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, ahead of Monday's unveiling., said gaslighting was pervasive. There were deepfakes and the dark web. There were deep states and fake news. And there was a whole lot of trolling. Merriam-Webster's top definition for gaslighting is the psychological manipulation of a person, usually over an extended period of time, that "causes the victim to question the validity of their own thoughts, perception of reality, or memories and typically leads to confusion, loss of confidence and self-esteem, uncertainty of one's emotional or mental stability, and a dependency on the perpetrator."
Topping Business
READ: MAP chief: Businesses satisfied with govt gains
BUSINESSES are generally satisfied with the Marcos administration's performance, said MAP or the Management Association of the Philippines President Rogelio Singson in a general membership meeting on Monday. In the same event, the business group also recognized Isidro Consunji as Managtement Man of the year. Singson, whose term ends on December 31, said progress had been made with regard to most of the MAP's recommendations. The business group in July released a wish list covering education, health care, agriculture and agribusiness, trade and industrial policy, infrastructure adequacy, labor market and employment policies, fiscal and financial policies, and justice and rule of law. Among others, it called for the return of face-to-face classes; the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement; enhancement of the country's attractiveness to foreign investments; the continuation of the "Build, Build, Build" program, policies in support of micro, small and medium enterprises; and government transparency and zero tolerance for corruption.
In Sports
READ: Letran, CSB try to seal title showdown
DEFENDING champion Letran and College of St. Benilde (CSB) seek to arrange a Finals showdown as the two teams clash against lower-ranked opponents in the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball Final Four today, November 29, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre. The three-peat seeking Knights — the second seed team — play third-ranked Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) at 3 p.m., while elimination round topnotcher Blazers gun for their first championship appearance in two decades as they go up against No. 4 San Beda at 12 noon. Victories by Letran and St. Benilde will seal their best-of-three title showdown starting Sunday. The Knights settled for the No. 2 ranking after losing their final elimination round game, allowing the Pirates to clinch the third spot.
READ: HD Spikers gun for finals berth
A FINALS berth is within reach for Cignal to take today, November 29, in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference at the PhilSports Arena, where the final day of the round-robin semifinals is to take place. And the HD Spikers, who are to face the defending champions Petro Gazz Angels at 2:30 p.m., don't even need to win to do just that at Ultra, where Petro Gazz's title-retention bid and Creamline's Grand Slam aspirations are all on the line as well. Sporting a 2-0 slate that comes with six points, the best by far in the round-robin semis where the top two teams advance to the Big Dance, Cignal just needs to win two sets to guarantee itself a seat in the finals, and eclipse its back-to-back bronze medal finishes in the Open and Invitational Conferences this season.
READ: Warriors power past Wolves; Celtics cruise
Stephen Curry scored 25 points and the Golden State Warriors parlayed a hot start into a comfortable 137-114 NBA win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday (Monday in Manila). Curry added 11 rebounds and eight assists while Draymond Green posted his first double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 assists as the reigning NBA champions put together three straight victories for the first time this season.It was just their second away victory of the campaign and moved them to 11-10, the first time in a month they have been above .500.
In its editorial today, the Times writes about the remarkable political journey of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwat Ibrahim. Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta are the featured columnists on the front page. Contreras talks about redeeming social media; Makabenta on the angry protests calling for China's Xi to step down.
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This is Kim Dignadice reporting.