Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, June 15, 2023.
READ: 2 terror leaders slain in Marawi
Security forces killed the leader of a pro-Islamic State group and his lieutenant in separate operations that started before dawn on Wednesday in Marawi City in the southern Philippines, officials said. Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said Fajarudin Benito and Joharie Sandab were slain following clashes with troops. One soldier was wounded. Benito was the emir of Daulah Islamiyah-Philippines and the overall emir of I.S.-East Asia. He said Benito, alias Abu Zacharia, was killed in his safe house, where soldiers and policemen were trying to arrest him. The elusive leader, Galido said, opened fire on security forces, sparking a gunfight that eventually killed him.
READ: BIR cracks whip on erring officials
THE Bureau of Internal Revenue said it has dismissed 26 and suspended two of its personnel since last year for dereliction of duty. Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said that the dismissals signify the bureau's commitment to clean up its ranks. He said the bureau will conduct regular performance and integrity checks on its officials.
READ: 10K families affected by Mayon
SOCIAL Welfare and Development Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez said on Wednesday that Mayon Volcano's unrest has forced more than 15,000 people to live in evacuation centers in Albay. Lopez said that 37,927 people or 9,688 families were displaced and their livelihoods disrupted due to Mayon's restive state. The 22 evacuation centers have 15,493 individuals or 4,415 families. For the time being, 659 people, or 185 families, are staying with friends or relatives based on the 6 p.m. June 13 data of the D.S.W.D.-Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center.
READ: 'Include DA in anti-smuggling task force'
The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries, the policymaking arm of the Department of Agriculture, pressed for the latter's inclusion in the anti-smuggling task force to help curb agricultural smuggling. D.A.-P.C.A.F. Executive Director Nestor Domenden on Wednesday told The Manila Times that deputizing the department as part of the task force headed by the Bureau of Customs will counter-check the activities being carried out by the bureau.
READ: Duterte on narco policemen: Kill them
FORMER president Rodrigo Duterte wants all police officers involved in the illegal drug trade shot dead instead of being put behind bars. In his weekly program aired at S.M.N.I., Duterte acknowledged that the police helped him restore public order and safety in Davao City, but there are several "hoodlums" and corrupt members within their organization.
BUSINESS: World Bank OKs $750-M sustainable recovery loan
Over to business, the World Bank board has approved new financing for the Philippines in support of policy reforms aimed at improving climate protection and climate resilience. In a statement on Wednesday, the World Bank said the $750-million Philippines First Sustainable Recovery Development Policy Loan would reinforce reforms to encourage private investment in renewable energy, improve plastic waste management, promote green transportation and reduce climate-related financial risks in agriculture.
SPORTS: Briones shines for UP in Collegiate Cup
In sports rookie Chicco Briones, one of the vital cogs in the University of the Philippines' unbeaten run at the Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup, is making a name of his own in the local basketball scene. A second-generation player who turned 21 last Sunday, Briones powered the Fighting Maroons to their seventh straight win following a 94-72 rout of Emilio Aguinaldo College at the Enderun Colleges Gym. U.P. has completed a sweep of all of its Group Edge games of the tournament backed by Pinoyliga, Kick-Start Coffee, Slicktight Pomade, Antbox, Smart, Ducksports, Exile Lights, and Sound and Excellent Print. Led by the rookie sensation, the Fighting Maroons are looking good as they clinched an outright quarterfinals berth for topping the group.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras discusses the latest developments on the Masungi Georeserve, Makabenta laments on independence without nationalism, while Remoto talks about a character sketch.
Today's editorial talks about the cynicism of climate finance. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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