Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, July 27, 2023.
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READ: Vietnam builds more facilities in Spratlys
VIETNAM is aggressively building permanent structures in the contested West Philippine Sea based on a document obtained by The Manila Times titled "Planning of Construction Projects on Pearson Reef and Pigeon Reef in Spratly Islands," signed by Rear Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, commander of the Vietnam People's Navy, and dated March 27, 2023.Hizon (Pearson) Reef and Pigeon (Tennent) Reef are among the atolls in the Spratly Islands. The Philippines, China, Taiwan and Vietnam are also claimants to the reefs. Vietnam claimed possession of Hizon Reef in 1978 and Pigeon Reef in 1988. The document obtained by The Times said the Vietnamese are now building military installations and civilian residential housing in the area. In the paper, Vietnam noted that the "complicated and volatile international and regional situations in recent years," particularly the competing claims of sovereignty by several countries over areas in the South China Sea, have affected its economy and national defense "in multiple ways."
READ: Super typhoon leaves thousands in misery
SUPER Typhoon "Egay" battered the northern Philippines on Wednesday, tearing roofs off houses, toppling trees and knocking out power as thousands sheltered with neighbors or in emergency evacuation centers. Around 12,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Cagayan province, including 431 in the Babuyan Islands, Cagayan provincial disaster official Ruelie Rapsing said. Floods were reported in the coastal municipalities of Lallo, Pamplona and Claveria.
READ: Facebook hacking in PH 'alarming'
THE number of Facebook hacking incidents in the country in the past three years has reached alarming levels, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group said. In 2021, it recorded 503 reported incidents of Facebook hacking, while in 2022, the number surged to 1,402. From January to June 2023, there have been 743 reported incidents of Facebook hacking.
READ: PAO chief amends 'questionable' order
THE Public Attorney's Office (PAO) has decided to amend an order it issued that the Supreme Court deemed amiss. The Supreme Court noted that PAO's Office Order 096, Series of 2023, gave public attorneys the "discretion and disposition" to comply with Canon 3, Section 22, of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability. The high court said that PAO's order urged state lawyers to adopt precautionary measures in handling conflict-of-interest cases "to protect their life and limb" and avoid criminal and administrative liability.
BUSINESS: Moody's: PH outlook 'fairly strong'
Topping business, the Philippines remains on a favorable growth path but this will have to be supported by infrastructure and other development initiatives, Moody's officials said on Wednesday. The financial intelligence firm last month raised its forecast for 2023 Philippine growth to 6.1 percent from 5.7 percent, saying it expected the country to gain from fiscal support and a government-led infrastructure push.
SPORTS: Filipinas ready for historic last-16 bid
Over to sports, Filipinas head coach Alen Stajcic said the Women's World Cup debutants faced a "monumental" task to beat Norway and squeeze into the tournament's knockout stages.Ranked 46th in the world, the Philippines blew Group A wide open with a shock 1-0 win over co-hosts New Zealand on Tuesday. Sarina Bolden scored the winning header in Wellington to claim her country's first goal at a Women's World Cup — which also sealed the Philippines' maiden victory at either a men's or women's finals. The side can reach the last 16 by beating Norway on Sunday, the same day New Zealand face Switzerland.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras weighs in on former president Rodrigo Duterte's visit to China, Makabenta talks about the Bagong Pilipinas branding of the government, while Remoto talks about the pomp and circumstance regarding the outfits before the State of the Nation Address.
Today's editorial has a wishlist of government issues that should be addressed during the SONA. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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