Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, May 18, 2023.
READ: Teves charged with murder
CRIMINAL complaints were filed on Wednesday against Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. for the murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others on March 4. Teves has been tagged as one of the masterminds in the killing of Degamo. Teves and his brother, former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves, have denied involvement in the killing. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that Teves was charged with multiple counts of murder, multiple counts of frustrated murder and multiple counts of attempted murder. Murder is a non-bailable offense.
READ: Gov't ready to take control of NGCP
MALACAÑANG on Wednesday said that the government is ready to take control of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (N.G.C.P.) if it becomes vulnerable to a takeover by a foreign entity. Sen. Raffy Tulfo, head of the Senate Committee on Energy, filed Senate Resolution 609 to investigate the N.G.C.P., citing a possible security threat in connection with the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea. N.G.C.P. is 40 percent owned by the State Grid Corp. of China while the remaining 60 percent belongs to a group of Filipino businessmen led by Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr. Tulfo said it is possible for China to remotely access the country's national grid to sabotage it.
READ: Covid admissions up but manageable – group
PRIVATE Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (Phapi) President Jose Rene de Grano said on Wednesday that Covid-19 admissions in private hospitals remain manageable despite the increase in the number of cases of the disease in the country. De Grano said admissions in the National Capital Region private hospitals have reached 20 to 50 percent. Increases in admissions were also recorded in Phapi hospitals in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Western Visayas and Davao. De Grano said most of the admitted Covid cases were mild.
READ: Games over: PH ranks 5th in SEAG
The 32nd Southeast Asian Games came to a close on Wednesday with the Philippines placing fifth in the biennial event with 58 golds, 86 silvers and 116 bronzes. Arnis, the country's national sport, turned out to be a mine, producing six golds, two silvers and four bronzes in 12 events.
SPORTS: No more SEA Games for Chot Reyes
Meanwhile, Chot Reyes is just glad to close his coaching career in the Southeast Asian Games men's basketball with a gold medal. Moments after steering the Philippines to a gold medal finish in the regional basketball tournament, the outspoken Gilas Pilipinas coach vowed "never to coach in the SEA Games anymore." Reyes said the regional basketball games are supposed to be reserved for the developmental team, pointing to younger players from collegiate leagues, a practice the Philippines used to do in the past.
BUSINESS: Crypto, NBFI concerns highlighted
Over to business, concerns over non-bank financial intermediation (N.B.F.I.) and crypto assets were highlighted on Wednesday during a meeting of regional financial officials in Cebu. Events have also highlighted the need to address vulnerabilities in the N.B.F.I. sector, which includes insurers, pension funds and mutual funds.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras wants the Filipino first before the world, Makabenta thinks there is no way to promote the country, while Remoto honors his late mother.
Today's editorial focuses on the opportunities with biofuels. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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