Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
Teves brother ordered guns buried – witness
FORMER Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves ordered the burying of firearms, ammunition and explosives in his property, a man claimed to have taken part in the concealment of the weapons told police investigators. Col. Thomas Valmonte, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) legal officer, said the witness, whose name was not revealed, said Teves expected that his properties will be searched following the murder of Gov. Roel Degamo last March 4, so he ordered the guns and explosives buried. Teves' brother, Rep. Arnolfo Teves, has been implicated in the killing of Degamo, a political rival. Last Sunday, the CIDG dug up six improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), and firearms of various caliber that were buried in a five-hectare property owned by Pryde Henry in Barangay Except for Teves, he did not name the other suspected masterminds, but said they were active on social media. Caranoche, Sta. Catalina town. A sugar mill on the property is owned by HDJ Bayawan Agri-Venture Corp. of which Pryde Henry is the president.
Multiple masterminds in Degamo slay – DoJ
NEGROS Oriental Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. may be just one of several masterminds in the murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday. Remulla told reporters the Department of Justice (DoJ) investigators believe there were more than just one person who ordered the killing of Degamo on March 4. Except for Teves, he did not name the other suspected masterminds, but said they were active on social media. He said a criminal organization could be behind the murder of Degamo, and that some of the suspected masterminds could be the "top people" in the organization. He said the group is involved in the numerous killings in Negros Oriental in the past and numerous criminal activities including illegal gambling. Remulla also said there were two previous attempts to kill Degamo. One involved the assassin using a rifle grenade and the other a sniper with orders to take out the governor. Teves, through his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, has denied any part in the Degamo murder.
The Times, AFP team up to honor outstanding soldiers
THE Manila Times and The Manila Times TV launched on Monday its "Tribute to Soldiers" at the Department of National Defense (DND) Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. A memorandum of agreement to hold the "Tribute to Soldiers: The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-The Manila Times Awards 2023" in August was signed by The Manila Times TV Chairman Emeritus Dr. Dante A. Ang and DND Officer in Charge Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr. Also present during the launching were Brig. Gen. Arvin Lagamon, commander of the AFP's Civil Relations Service (CRS); The Manila Times President and Chief Operating Officer Blanca C. Mercado; Dir. Arsenio R. Andolong, DND Spokesperson/Chief, Defense Communications Service-DND; Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray 3rd, Deputy Chief of Staff for CMO, J7; and Asec for Human Resource-DND Antonio L. Bautista. The event will honor 10 military personnel and one military unit for exemplary achievements during the previous year.
School execs ask Marcos help on non-payment of subsidies
The Manila Times runs the first of a three-part series on school execs asking Marcos help on non-payment of subsidies. Read the full version on print, digital and online.
Topping Business
NLEX Corp. on Monday inaugurated the first section of the P23-billion North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Connector, a five-kilometer elevated expressway that is expected to improve mobility in Metro Manila. The completed section, which runs from C3 Road in Caloocan to España Boulevard in Manila, is expected to provide easier access to areas including the University Belt by diverting vehicles from heavily congested roads. No details were released as to how much motorists would have to pay to use the tollway. The government had promised to open the first section before Holy Week. Meanwhile, construction of the second section from España to Sta. Mesa is ongoing and is at 42 percent. It is targeted to be completed by June 2023 provided that the right-of-way for the section is delivered by the end of this month. Once fully operational the NLEx Connector will stretch for eight kilometers from Caloocan up to the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila. It is expected to serve around 35,000 vehicles daily, providing better access to Manila's seaports and airports such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport.
In Sports
Gazz Angels eye sweep, first AFC title
PETRO Gazz looks to sweep Creamline and clinch its first championship in an all-local tourney in Game 2 of their best-of-three Finals series in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference today, March 28, at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Angels face the defending champs Cool Smashers, their Finals tormentors in the same conference last year, at 6:30 p.m.Petro Gazz turned back Creamline in four sets 25-22, 24-26, 25-23, 26-24 in Game 1 last Sunday to move on cusp of its first All-Filipino Conference title. The victory was sweeter for the Angels since it's their first over the Cool Smashers in more than three years or since Game 3 of the 2019 Reinforced Conference, stopping a 14-game skid against the latter in the process.
Lakers fall to Bulls in LeBron return
The Chicago Bulls spoiled superstar LeBron James' return from a 13-game injury absence on Sunday (Monday in Manila), beating the Los Angeles Lakers 118-108 to tighten their hold on the final Eastern Conference play-in spot. As the push to the postseason headed into its final two weeks, the Cleveland Cavaliers clinched their first playoff berth since 2018 with a 108-91 victory over the Houston Rockets. Jarret Allen tied his season high with 24 points, pulled down 14 rebounds and blocked three shots, while All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell added 22 points for the Cavs, who are assured of one of the top six places in the Eastern Conference to avoid the play-in tournament for the seventh- through 10th-placed teams. It's the first time since 1998 that the Cavaliers have reached the playoffs without James, whose 20-year NBA career has included two stints with his hometown team, where he won one of his four titles in 2016.
The Times, in its editorial, talks about tourism as an economic lodestar. Read the full version on print, digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. The featured columnists on the front page are Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Orlando Mercado. Contreras writes about another sugar importation fiasco; Makabenta on Mark Twain and Imelda Marcos; and Mercado on a crude awakening.
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This is Kim Salinas reporting.