Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
READ: Frat officers let Salilig die
OFFICERS of the Tau Gamma Phi (TGP) chapter at Adamson University in Manila had refused to bring hazing victim John Matthew "Mat-mat" Salilig to the hospital when he collapsed because such a move is "prohibited," one of the hazing survivors testified on Tuesday. Roi de la Cruz, who survived the February 18 TGP initiation rites in Laguna province south of Manila, revealed this during the first Senate inquiry on the circumstances behind Salilig's death in the hands of his fraternity brothers. De la Cruz said that was the first time that he met the victim. He also said Salilig had an upset stomach at the time and needed to go to the toilet from time to time. After the initiation rites in Laguna, the TGP officers decided to transfer to a bigger house in Parañaque City owned by one of them. Salilig was no longer feeling well during the entire travel, he said in Filipino. Moments after they reached the house, de la Cruz said he saw Salilig having seizures until he eventually collapsed.
READ: 4 suspects in Degamo slay moved to Manila
THE four arrested suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others on March 4 have been transferred to Camp Crame Custodial Center in Manila. The Department of Justice (DoJ) said the suspects were safely transported from Dumaguete City to Manila early Tuesday morning. Two of the suspects who previously expressed their intention to cooperate were immediately turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation for protective custody and further investigation. The other two were left in the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP). The DoJ said the two suspects who are under the custody of the PNP also expressed their willingness to cooperate. The statements by the respondents are now in the verification process. PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo said in a media briefing on Tuesday the possibility of the four suspects turning into state witnesses is still being determined. But investigators hope material information coming from them will help uncover the mastermind of the crime, Fajardo added.
READ: Marcos forms committee vs inflation
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has created an inter-agency committee that will focus on monitoring inflation and market outlook, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Tuesday. The Inter-agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook will report to the President on a monthly basis on whether or not the country needs to import certain commodities. The committee will help ensure that the timing of the importation is right, Diokno said at a news briefing. The inter-agency committee will be co-chaired by Diokno and National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman will be the vice chairman while the members will include the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Department of Science and Technology. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Statistics Authority were tapped to be the committee's "resource institutions."
READ: AFP acquires new aircraft
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday assured his administration's full support to the modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly in the upgrading and acquisition of assets of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). Marcos issued the statement after leading the acceptance, turnover and blessing of a C-295 aircraft procured from Spain at the Clark Air Base in Pampanga. He also witnessed the demonstration of the flight capability of the FA-50PH fighter jets.
BUSINESS: Inflation eases to 8.6%
Topping business, inflation finally slowed in February, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday, easing to 8.6 percent from January's 14-year high of 8.7 percent, and providing some breathing room in the fight against rising prices. Still, monetary policy adjustments and other measures remain on the table as core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy items, rose to 7.8 percent from 7.4 percent a month earlier. A year earlier, inflation was just 3.0 percent and began accelerating in March due to the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Core inflation was also much lower at 1.9 percent. With energy and food prices still high, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said there was a need to "recalibrate" government strategies.
SPORTS: Ginebra aims to stretch win streak to 5
Over to sports, Barangay Ginebra guns for its fifth straight win and, more importantly, secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals when the Gin Kings take on also-ran Terrafirma in the main game of the 2022-23 PBA Governors' Cup today, March 8, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. The Gin Kings are currently tied for second spot with the San Miguel Beer with similar 7-2 records, and will enter their 5:45 p.m. match versus the hapless Dyip as the heavy favorites. Still, Ginebra coach Tim Cone knows it's far more dangerous to face a team that has nothing to lose at this point. The Dyip blew their playoff hopes last Saturday after wasting a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter and allowing the Magnolia Hotshots to pull off a come-from-behind 121-115 overtime win.
Rigoberto Tiglao and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao talks about a potential evolution of the Philippine jeepney, while Tatad asks how long can President Marcos defend his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.
Today's editorial discusses a rethinking of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. 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.