Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Maundy Thursday, April 6, 2023.
Police officials linked to 990-kilo drug haul
INTERIOR Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. said on Wednesday that high-ranking police officials were involved in the transport of 990 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine or "shabu" worth P6.7 billion which was confiscated by the Philippine National Police (PNP) during a series of operations in October 2022. Implicated in the country's biggest drug haul to date was MSg. Rodolfo Mayo. The narcotics were seized in a lending company in Sta. Cruz, Manila, owned by Mayo. Mayo was dismissed from service because of his involvement in the crime. But Abalos is not convinced that Mayo operated alone.
'EDCA can help modernize PH military'
DEFENSE Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the country's Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States can serve as a springboard to modernize the Philippine military. EDCA is supplemental to the previous Visiting Forces Agreement signed by the Philippines and the US on April 28, 2014. The pact permits American troops in the Philippines for extended stays and allows US forces to operate out of "agreed locations in the country" The new EDCA sites are the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; Balabac Island in Palawan; and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan.
FILIPINOS will start the observance of the Easter Triduum, a three-day period leading to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, today, Maundy Thursday. The Easter Triduum memorializes the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Filipino Catholics start the practice of "Visita Iglesia" or church visitation on Maundy Thursday.
THE Department of Justice (DoJ) said on Wednesday that nine counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder and four counts of attempted murder will be filed against Marvin Miranda, one of the alleged masterminds in the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo. Miranda underwent inquest proceedings at the DoJ on Monday. The indictment resulted from the confessions of a certain Antipolo and other suspects who are now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detailing the deep involvement of Miranda in the planning and execution of the brazen attack on Degamo's residence that also killed nine of the former governor's constituents and injured several others.
FORMER senator and real estate mogul Manuel "Manny" Villar is still the Philippines' richest man. Forbes Magazine on Tuesday listed Villar, chairman of Vista Land with a net worth of $8.6 billion, as the 232nd richest in the world. Villar has a real-time net worth of $9 billion as of Wednesday. Villar's net worth last year was $8.3 billion.
Inflation slows to 7.6% in March
Topping business, inflation decelerated to 7.6 percent in March as food and transport prices fell, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday. The result — the lowest since September last year — followed an easing in February to 8.6 percent from January's 14-year high of 8.7 percent. It fell within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) forecast range of 7.4 to 8.2 percent for the month but was lower than the median of 8.0 percent in a Manila Times poll of economists. At 8.3 percent year to date, headline inflation remained well over the BSP's 2.0- to 4.0-percent target and the 6.0-percent estimate for 2023. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy items, rose even further to 8.0 percent from 7.8 percent a month earlier.
Laure makes strong case for UAAP MVP
In sports, after the UAAP Season 85 women's volleyball tournament first round, De La Salle ace Angel Canino seemed to be on her way of replicating what NU star Bella Belen did in Season 84 — to win both the Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards. Canino proved to be unstoppable, especially in the scoring department, being that major driving force of the Lady Spikers sweep of the first round. But after a few more games in the second round, a new candidate has emerged in the discussion, the Eya Laure for MVP is gaining traction, too. The third year outside spiker of the UST Golden Tigresses is making a case for it, having the stats to back that discussion up. Heading into the Holy Week break, Laure became the leading scorer of the league with a total of 168 points on 141 spikes, 17 blocks and 10 service aces.
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras believes that Donald Trump-loving Republicans are not just an American problem, Makabenta wants to know what is the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative and Remoto discusses rewriting classic novels.
Today's editorial believes a new global plastic treaty may not be enough. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
For more news and information, read The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok and LinkedIn; and be part of our communities on Viber, Telegram, and Mastodon.
For The Manila Times, this is Kim Luden Salinas reporting.