Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
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READ: Drug war restarts in Davao
Five drug suspects were shot dead in separate incidents in Davao City over a 24-hour period, two days after Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte declared a war on drugs. At dawn on Saturday, March 23, anti-drug officers from Buhangin Police Station launched a buy-bust against the No. 1 drug suspect in the city. Police said Sherwin Familiar, armed with a .38 revolver, was shot dead in an exchange of gunfire. Shortly after that, two other drug suspects — aliases Larry and Ngay — also died in shootouts with police. On Sunday dawn, March 24, Tugbok Police had an encounter with alias "Timoy," another drug suspect, shooting him dead. He was also armed with a .38 revolver. At 4:05 p.m. on the same day, intelligence personnel of the Sta. Ana Police Station and the City Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a joint buy-bust operation and killed Emmanuel Avila, alias "Ime," said to be a "high-value" target. Police said they found 53.79 grams of suspected shabu valued at 365,772 pesos and a .38 revolver.
READ: NBI: Court evaluating request for Teves custody
A TIMOR-LESTE court is still evaluating the request of the Philippines and the International Police (Interpol) for custody over expelled Negros Oriental congressman and murder suspect Arnolfo Teves Jr. National Bureau of Investigation Director Medardo de Lemos said in a media briefing Monday that they would have to wait for the decision of the court before they could bring Teves back to the Philippines.
READ: Church to faithful: Lend a hand, feed the hungry
THE Catholic Church on Monday reminded the faithful that lending a hand to those in need is the best sacrifice they can offer, not only during Holy Week but every day of their lives. The Bible says that on Holy Tuesday, Jesus was in Jerusalem, cleansing the temple of the moneychangers, cursing the fig tree and weeping over Jerusalem.
READ: 'Extend terms of mayors, governors'
PRESIDENTIAL Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Secretary Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon said on Monday that he would submit a proposal to the Senate to review the possible amendments in the Charter's political provisions to include term extensions for mayors, governors and congressmen. Gadon, in a Viber interview with The Manila Times, said it would be practical if the amendments would also include the political provisions, but it should only involve the term extension of local chief executives.
READ: OCD holds simultaneous quake drills
THE Office of Civil Defense on Monday led nationwide simultaneous earthquake drills to raise awareness and preparedness for a major tremor. The earthquake drill, the first of several for this year, took place at about 9 a.m. Government agencies across the country participated in the drill.
BUSINESS: Economy seen growing faster
Topping business, economic growth will likely pick up this year due to higher infrastructure spending by both the government and the private sector, economists from the University of Asia & the Pacific and the Pacific and First Metro Investment Corp. said. First quarter growth, in particular, was forecast to hit 6.1 percent — up from 5.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023 but slightly lower than the year-earlier 6.4 percent. Gross domestic product growth came in at 5.6 percent last year, slowing from 2022's 7.6 percent and missing the government's 6.0- to 7.0-percent target. This year's growth goal currently stands at 6.5-7.5 percent, although this could have been lowered last Friday following an economic managers' meeting. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto told reporters last week that a 6.0- to 6.5-percent could be adopted.
SPORTS: Brownlee off to winning debut in Indonesia
Over to sports, Justin Brownlee had an explosive debut as import in the Indonesian Basketball League after powering Pelita Jaya to an 85-67 triumph over RANS Simba Bogor. The Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player fired eight of his 14 points in the crucial second quarter run by the Jakarta-based ball club, which allowed his team to outscore RANS Samba, 24-13, in that stretch to grab a 45-36 halftime lead. Brownlee also got plenty of help from former P.B.A. imports Thomas Robinson and K.J. McDaniels, who banged in 14 and 13 markers, respectively. The 6-foot-4 Brownlee added 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals in a solid all-around effort. The 35-year-old Brownlee looks to bring his winning touch to Pelita Jaya, a three-time champion of the Indonesian league, since leading Gilas Pilipinas to the Asian Games men's basketball gold in Hangzhou, China last year.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Orlando Mercado are today's front page columnists. Contreras weighs in on the President's interview with the Australian Broadcasting Company, Makabenta recalls then-Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's government, while Mercado talks about fighting early-onset cancer.
Today's editorial said a "ghostbuster" is needed to solve the case of 19,000 "ghost" students. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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