Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Friday, February 17, 2023.

READ: Defend Duterte vs ICC probe – Arroyo

HOUSE Senior Deputy Speaker and former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday led other lawmakers in urging the House of Representatives to support former president Rodrigo Duterte, who may come under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity. Arroyo was joined by 15 other representatives and her fellow Pampanga lawmakers. In May 2021, the ICC prosecutor at that time, Fatou Bensouda, requested the court's authorization to launch a preliminary investigation into the extrajudicial killings conducted during Duterte's war on drugs. Under the Rome Statute, the ICC can investigate and prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights estimated in a 2020 report that at least 8,000 people were killed during the campaign on drugs implemented under Duterte.

READ: Strong quake jolts Masbate

A MAGNITUDE 6.0 earthquake jolted the island province of Masbate at 2:10 a.m. Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The epicenter of the quake was located 11 kilometers southwest of Batuan town. It had a depth of 10 km, Phivolcs chief Teresito "Toto" Bacolcol said. Work and classes were suspended in Masbate. The quake registered Intensity 7 in Masbate City and Intensity 5 in the towns of Dimasalang, San Fernando and Uson. In was Intensity 4 in Legazpi City, Albay; Aroroy, Cataingan, Esperanza, Milagros and Pio V. Corpuz, Masbate; Irosin and Sorsogon City, Sorsogon; and Intensity 3 in Daraga, Albay.

READ: Germany, UK denounce China harassment

GERMANY, Denmark, and the United Kingdom joined other countries in expressing serious concern over the harassment of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel by a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship in the South China Sea. Japan, Australia, and Canada earlier called out China after the CCG ship aimed a militarygrade laser at the BPS Malapascua which was on a resupply mission to Philippine soldiers stationed in Ayungin Shoal.

READ: Kalinga sets 2 Guinness world records

THE province of Kalinga has bagged two Guinness World Records for the largest pot and gong performances. The province officially claimed the titles for "largest gong ensemble" and "largest banga dance" after 3,440 gongs played by male performers and 4,681 female banga (clay pot) dancers took part in the "Awong Chi Gangsa, Agtu'n Chi Banga," meaning "The Call for a Thousand Gongs, The Dance of a Thousand Pots," last Wednesday at the Kalinga Sports Complex. Kazuyoshi Kirimura, the Guinness adjudicator, made the announcement after the two separate performances passed the stipulations set by the Guinness organization. The performances were executed with a high level of synchronization, precision and proficiency, and were completed within the designated 5-minute time limit.

READ: DA to unmask officials in cahoots with cartel

AN official of the Department of Agriculture on Thursday said that steps have been taken to unmask officials of the DA and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) who are allegedly in cahoots with the onion cartel. Agriculture Assistant Secretary and deputy spokesman Rex Estoperez was reacting to the testimony of Bonena Multipurpose Cooperative chairman Israel Reguyal that Lilia Leah Cruz, known as "Mrs. Sibuyas,"cornered the supply of onions with the connivance of certain BPI and DA officials.

READ: DBM releases P3.4B for tech-voc scholars

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved on Wednesday the release of P3.410 billion for technical-vocational scholars. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the funds were released to the Department of Labor and Employment – Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (DoLE-Tesda) to cover the cost of education of students enrolled in Tesda-registered technical-vocational institutions.

READ: Hearing on Manzano's case to start Monday

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced that the initial hearing for the fraud and estafa cases filed against actor and TV host Luis Manzano and officials of Flex Fuel Petroleum Corp. will begin on Monday, February 20. The 50 individuals who have filed separate complaints against Manzano and Flex Fuel Petroleum Corp. before the NBI said Manzano should be liable for the alleged scam despite his claim that he never took part in the management of the business. The complainants said the accused failed to fulfill the P70,000 monthly income they promised as a dividend of their P990,000 investment in Flex Fuel under a coownership deal. Last week, the NBI issued a subpoena for Manzano, but the actor's legal counsels sought a later date for legal proceedings. Besides Manzano, also named as respondent was Ildefonso Medel, the company's president.

BUSINESS: Rates hiked; more expected

Over to business, monetary authorities raised key interest rates by 50 basis points (bps) on Thursday after inflation surged to 8.7 percent last month. Analysts said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) overnight repurchase, deposit and lending rates — now at 6.0 percent, 5.5 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively — could go higher given heightened inflation risks. Consumer price growth, previously forecast to average 4.5 this year, is now expected to hit 6.1 percent — more than the 2022 result of 5.8 percent — before slowing to a within-target 3.1 percent in 2024.

SPORTS: Obiena places 10th in France tourney

In sports, Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena's streak of podium finishes has come to an end. For the first time in seven tournaments in the ongoing 2023 indoor season, the Filipino Olympian failed to crack the top three as he finished 10th and last at the Meeting International de Lievin in France on Thursday (Manila time). Obiena, who has so far won three gold medals, two silvers and one bronze this season, cleared a season-low 5.64 meters, even needing two attempts to ace it. The 27-year-old Obiena skipped the 5.73-meter height but failed to clear 5.82 meters in three attempts. He also finished 10th in the same tournament last year. World record holder and Olympic gold medalist Armand Duplantis of Sweden ruled the competition after clearing 6.01 meters for his third straight gold medal.

READ: Opinion and editorial

Rigoberto Tiglao and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao makes a bold assertion by claiming said that the Philippines could be an Asian Ukraine, while Tatad refuels the debate on political dynasties.

Today's editorial discusses the latest incident at the Ayungin Shoal. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

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For The Manila Times, this is Kim Isabelle Dignadice.