Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Friday, March 15, 2024.
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READ: PH, US, Japan to formalize accord
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he expects the Philippines to formalize an accord for trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa head to Manila next week for talks. Speaking to the Philippine media delegation here, Marcos said the intention of the meeting was to continue to plan and to strengthen the cooperation among the three countries
READ: CHEd chief faces more raps
COMMISSION on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairman J. Prospero de Vera 3rd faces multiple charges before the Office of the Ombudsman. De Vera on Wednesday denied allegations of graft and corruption filed against him by suspended CHEd Commissioner Aldrin Darilag, saying he is not part of any bids and awards committee and that he is not able to manipulate procurement activities, as he was accused of doing. On the other hand, the administrator and chief executive officer of Marvelous College of Technology in Koronadal City, Agapito Lubaton, filed a complaint over the allegedly unaccounted 10.3-billion pesos higher education development fund for free tuition and living allowances for government scholars.
READ: Women leaders share their stories, lessons learned
BALANCING family life and career, discrimination, and gender-sensitivity issues are among the challenges faced by the ambassadors of France, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, and the United Kingdom to the Philippines in pursuing their job as diplomats. French Ambassador Marie Fontanel, Romanian Ambassador Raduta Dana Matache, Singaporean Ambassador Constance See, Swedish Ambassador Annika Thunborg and British Ambassador Laure Beaufils shared the challenges they experienced on Thursday at The Manila Times Women's Circle forum. The diplomats said they were grateful for women leaders before them who paved the way to make a niche in the world of diplomacy. The ambassadors said they now reap the benefits of their efforts.
READ: Quiboloy ready to face allegations vs him in court – lawyer
THE lawyer of Davao-based preacher Apollo Quiboloy said the latter is ready to face sexual abuse and human trafficking charges, but only before the courts, and not before the houses of Congress that are investigating him. In a recorded video interview with The Manila Times, Quiboloy's legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio said it is "too early to tell" if the preacher, who has been indicted by US federal prosecutors in Los Angeles, California of sex trafficking, would appear before the House of Representatives and the Senate. Both chambers of Congress have moved to issue arrest warrants for Quiboloy if he continues to defy their summonses to testify at their hearings.
BUSINESS: Corporate funding risks seen from uncertainties
Over to business, companies are expected to seek refinancing for a "significant amount" of debt due to mature this year, and the capital market should take up some of the burden from banks amid fresh uncertainties, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said. In a statement on Thursday, the central bank said the Financial Stability Coordination Council had met earlier this month to assess current developments, particularly the funding needs of the corporate sector.
SPORTS: Ginebra eyes 3-0 start; SMB plays first game
Meanwhile in sports, Barangay Ginebra tries to keep its winning streak alive to start the P.B.A. Philippine Cup as the Gin Kings take on the Meralco Bolts even as newly minted Commissioner's Cup champion San Miguel Beer makes its conference debut against Rain or Shine today, March 15. The Gin Kings shoot for their third win in as many games in their 7:30 p.m. match with the Bolts while the Beermen collide with the Elasto Painters at 4:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Ginebra squeaked past Rain or Shine 113-107 last week before subduing Phoenix 102-92 last Sunday. Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted the team is still trying to find a healthy balance at playing tough defense, while also shifting to an up-tempo style of play.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao looks into the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office opening applications for "jueteng" operators and Tatad asks whose war the country should prepare for.
Today's editorial discusses the Philippine bamboo industry. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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