Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, March 23, 2023.
READ: Marcos to Teves: Face the charges
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnulfo Teves to return to the country to face charges against him concerning the murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo. He gave assurances that Teves will be provided adequate security. Marcos belied Teves' allegations that the Palace is behind the threats to his life due to their differences on the issue of online cockfighting or "e-sabong." Teves is a person of interest in the killing of Degamo inside the compound of his residence in Pamplona town on March 4.
READ: Cagayan, Palawan to host new EDCA sites
The President on Wednesday confirmed the designation of four more locations in the country that will serve as installations of the United States military in pursuant of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the US and the Philippines, particularly Cagayan and Palawan. He defended his decision to allow a larger United States military presence in the country as vital to the territorial defense despite China's fierce opposition and warning that it would "drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife."
READ: 7 charged in hazing death of Cebu student
THE Public Attorney's Office (PAO) said on Wednesday that criminal charges have been filed before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office against seven suspects in the death of a student of the University of Cebu last year. The victim, 20-year-old marine engineering student Ronnel Baguio, died allegedly in a fraternity hazing. PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta told The Manila Times that the suspects, including a university instructor and three students, are all members of Tau Gamma Phi. Police records showed that the alleged initiation rites took place on Dec. 10, 2022, at a house on the corner of Cabreros and L. Gabuya Streets, Barangay Basak San Nicolas in Cebu City.
READ: Enrile backs Cha-cha but rejects con-con
FORMER Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile admitted that the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution should be amended but not via a constitutional convention (con-con). Enrile told senators during the hearing held by the Committee on Constitutional Amendments Wednesday that he supports Charter change (Cha-cha) through constituent assembly (con-ass). The chief presidential legal counsel was invited by the Senate to share his insights on Charter change, particularly on the two measures of the House of Representatives seeking Cha-cha through constitutional convention.
BUSINESS: Quality jobs urged for young Filipinos
Topping business, targeted interventions are needed as young Filipinos were particularly hit in job terms by the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Bank said on Wednesday. Even before the pandemic, over 60 percent of the youth population between 15 and 24 was out of the labor force and many remain jobless, the World Bank said in the report. While employment overall may have returned to pre-pandemic levels, youth employment remained low as of last year, the World Bank pointed out. Latest Philippine Statistics Authority data put the country's unemployment rate at 4.8 percent in January this year, up from December 2022's 4.3 percent and the 6.4 percent seen a year earlier.
SPORTS: Petro Gazz, PLDT dispute finals berth
Over to sports, PLDT has the proverbial momentum but Petro Gazz has the experience. With these things in play, the long-drawn battle for the last championship berth of Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference is guaranteed to be furious and fierce. The High Speed Hitters and the Angles collide in a sudden death at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The odds are just about even between the two teams seeking a stab at the championship against the winningest club in the league.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras profiles internet trolls, Contreras says the country is not buying any proposal on charter change, while Remoto tells the story of three Southeast Asian travelers.
Today's editorial discusses water issues in the country, as it enters the El Niño season. 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 Luden Salinas reporting.