Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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READ: Foreign hackers threaten PH polls
THE Philippines will face a greater risk of cyberattacks from foreign groups, especially in the coming elections, a threat assessment presentation said. The threat assessment also warned that the "misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) could become a destructive tool in (the) cognitive domain (and) have a divisive effect in the public and social order during (the) Philippine election period." Without directly identifying the source of the cyberthreats, the threat assessment noted that the challenge to the country's "cybersecurity defense domain" will come from "foreign adversaries."
READ: Joint panel to investigate 'unethical' pharma scheme
THREE government agencies will form a joint committee to investigate the alleged unethical marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies. The panel will be made up of the Department of Health (DoH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Board of Medicine of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC). The joint committee was formed after a Senate investigation found out that a pharmaceutical distributor, Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc., was using a "multi-level marketing" setup in prescribing medicine to their patients in exchange for commissions.
READ: Threats on journalists mount as regional tensions escalate
THE Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) said on Friday that journalists in the country face ever-growing threats as geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific Region continue to rise. In a statement it issued in time for Press Freedom Day, Focap revealed it has recorded "a case of impersonation or spoofing and an uptick in messages to journalists from fake or suspicious email addresses, attempting to either extract information or skew the news agenda regarding coverage of the South China Sea," the group said.
READ: Anti-violence law also applies to lesbian relationships – SC
THE Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (Republic Act 9262) grants protection to women victims not only from men but also from women, with whom they are in an intimate relationship. The ruling was issued after the Supreme Court en banc denied the challenge of petitioner Roselyn Agacid, a woman accused of physical violence against her partner of four years, who is also a woman.
READ: Cedric Lee surrenders to NBI
BUSINESSMAN Cedric Lee voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Thursday night, hours after a Taguig court found him, Deniece Cornejo, and two others guilty of serious illegal detention. NBI director Medardo de Lemos said that his agents took custody of Lee in Mandaluyong City at 7:30 p.m. after he communicated his intention to surrender. He was subsequently brought to the NBI headquarters in Quezon City at 8 p.m. where his mug shot and fingerprints were taken. Lee said he decided to surrender while his lawyers prepared his appeal before the appellate court. He said they would "appeal and exhaust all legal remedies" as he maintained that no illegal detention of television host and movie actor Ferdinand "Vhong" Navarro took place because no single element of the said crime was present. Lee claimed they never detained Navarro for more than a day and they never inflicted serious injuries.
BUSINESS: APAC central banks likely to delay rate cuts
Headlining business, most Asian central banks are anticipated to delay reducing policy rates due to the region's sensitivity to capital flows and exchange rates relative to interest rates in the United States. S&P Global Ratings expects the Philippines to start cutting rates in December by only 25 basis points to 6.25 percent from the previous projection of 75 basis points in June. It noted that the interest rate differential between these central banks and the US Federal Reserve is the main determinant of capital flows, influencing external accounts and exchange rates.
SPORTS: Galanza rises above pressure
In sports, after being surrounded by 5,921 spectators, majority of whom are rooting for the team to win, the heavily favored Creamline put on a show and kept their finals bid alive by turning back the gutsy Petro Gazz in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) 2024 All-Filipino Conference semifinals at the PhilSports Arena on Thursday, May 2. Escaping with a tightly-fought 27- 25, 23-25, 27-25, 26-24 victory against the Angels, Creamline's Jema Galanza shared how she and her squad managed to handle the pressure amid the deafening cheers of the crowd. Galanza flaunted her attacking prowess and was named Player of the Game on Thursday with 23 points on 20 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. The pressure for the Cool Smashers to win heightened after the defending champion opened their semifinals campaign with a loss to sister team Choco Mucho.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, Danton Remoto, and Leonor Briones are today's front page columnists. Contreras talks about peace amid the rising tensions in the South China Sea, Makabenta thinks it's time for the Philippines to heed the advice of a fictional character over its maritime issues, Remoto translates Jose Rizal's biography, and Briones asks what wave is it right now.
Today's editorial believes that the Philippines' "demographic sweet spot" could turn sour. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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