Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
READ: US backs PH in new dispute with China
THE United States renewed a warning that it would defend its treaty ally if Filipino forces come under attack in the disputed South China Sea, after a Chinese coast guard ship allegedly hit a Philippine patrol vessel with a military-grade laser that briefly blinded some of its crew. The incident took place on February 6 when the Chinese coast guard ship beamed high-grade lasers to block the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Malapascua from approaching Second Thomas Shoal on a resupply mission to Filipino forces there, according to the Philippine officials. US State Department spokesman Ned Price said China's "dangerous operational behavior directly threatens regional peace and stability, infringes upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as guaranteed under international law and undermines the rules-based international order."
READ: Marcos summons Chinese envoy
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian over the latest aggressive acts of the Chinese Coast Guard at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Presidential Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the President expressed his serious concern over "the increasing frequency and intensity of actions" by China against the Philippine Coast Guard and the Filipino fishermen.
READ: Filipina found alive after 3 days under quake rubble
A TEAM from the Philippine Embassy in Turkey on Tuesday visited in the hospital a Filipina earthquake survivor who was rescued after three days under the rubble from a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria last week. The Philippine Embassy, on Facebook, said its Mersin-based team checked on the condition of Juliva Benlingan, 33, a native of Lagawe, Ifugao, who was previously reported missing. According to her sister Maribel, Benlingan sustained wounds on her face, head and feet, and was dehydrated when rescued.
READ: Broiler group warns vs further spread of bird flu
UNITED Broiler Raisers Association and Philippine Egg Board Chairman Gregorio San Diego on Tuesday warned of the possible spread of bird flu amid the rampant smuggling of chicken and other poultry products. San Diego said that illegally sourced poultry products are mixed with other imported agricultural products to prevent detection. He made the warning amid a fresh outbreak of avian influenza in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, where at least 17,000 chickens were culled to prevent the spread of the virus.
READ: Marcos to Zelenskyy: We are with you in your search for peace
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday confirmed he talked with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and assured him that the Philippines is one with them in the effort to end the war with Russia. In a statement, Marcos expressed admiration for Ukrainians' "bravery and nationalism" during the crisis, promising that the Philippines will support them in their "search for peace."
READ: Despite case declines, Covid a 'continuing risk' – DoH
EVEN with cases continuing to decline and hospitalizations are on a plateau, the Department of Health (DoH) continues to see Covid-19 as a "continuing risk" because of rising multiple subvariants. This comes as the country detected multiple cases of the highly-infectious subvariants of Omicron variant, the XBB.1.5 and the CH.1.1 or the "Orthrus" subvariants. Both subvariants have increased transmissibility and have a high possibility of immune evasion, while the CH.1.1 has also been noted as having the same characteristics as the lethal Delta variant of Covid-19. In a media briefing in Pasig City on Tuesday, Health Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said she "cannot say" if the risk of Covid-19 has already decreased amid the declining number of cases in the country as a result of the emergence of newer variants.
REGIONS: Election officer's slay probed
THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to launch separate investigations to shed light into the ambush of a municipal election officer from Maguindanao del Sur. Haviv Maindan, election officer 2 of Maguindanao del Sur's Sultan sa Barongis town, was driving his car and heading home when gunmen attacked him on Monday in Pinguiaman, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat. The CHR's assurance came as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) expressed "strong condemnation" against the "brazen killing" of Maindan. In a statement late Monday, Comelec Chairman Edwin George Garcia said the shooting incident happened at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday along the national highway in Purok Libas, Barangay Pinguiaman. Initial investigation from the Lambayong Municipal Police Station, meanwhile, said they had yielded another victim along with Maindan identified as Rolly Dilangalen, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Buluan, Maguindanao. Maj. Jethro Dave Doligas, Lambayong Municipal Police Station chief, said the victims were traveling from Sultan sa Barongis to Lambayong aboard their vehicle when the assailants approached and fired at them several times, hitting Maindan on different parts of his body. Dilangalen, meanwhile, did not sustain any gunshot wound. He said the assailants fled away on motorcycles in an unknown direction after the incident.
BUSINESS: Japan deals 'ready to go'
Over to business, at least 21 investment pledges secured during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s visit to Tokyo last week are "ready to go," a Trade department official claimed on Tuesday. The government has said that a total of 35 agreements covering infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, health care, telecommunications, among others, were reached during Marcos' five-day official trip.
SPORTS: Chot: Kai, Japeth not playing in 6th window
In sports, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes confirmed that 7-foot-2 young big man Kai Sotto and 6-foot-9 veteran Japeth Aguilar will not be playing in the sixth window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Speaking to reporters after the national team's Monday evening training, Reyes said the 20-yearold Sotto has "opted out" of the sixth and final window, while Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra is still recovering from an MCL sprain on his knee, which he sustained last week. The 36-year-old Aguilar has missed the Gin Kings' last two games in the Governors' Cup, including last Sunday's "Manila Clasico" match that saw Ginebra suffer a 118-88 humiliation against Magnolia.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao weighs in on the latest incident at the Ayungin Shoal, Fr. Aquino talks about the "rock of faith", and Tatad discusses reforming the constitution.
Today's editorial calls for tough measures in preventing another epidemic. 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.
For The Manila Times, this is Kim Isabelle Dignadice.