Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
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READ: 'Pharmally investigation should include Duterte'
FORMER president Rodrigo Duterte should be included in the Pharmally investigation amid reports that he ordered the transfer of P47.6 billion from the Department of Health (DoH) to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM). Sen. Risa Hontiveros made the remark after former health secretary Francisco Duque III told the House Committee on Appropriations on Monday that Duterte ordered the transfer of the funds for the procurement of medical supplies and equipment at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. She said on Tuesday that since Duque made this statement under oath, Duterte should be included in the investigation, especially since it can be proven that he was introduced to Pharmally officials by Michael Yang, his special adviser, in 2017. Former senator Richard Gordon, who led the Senate investigation on the Pharmally scandal when he was chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC), said, "If you look at our Blue Ribbon Committee report, it's fairly complete, including the people who should be charged." The BRC, in September 2022, probed the alleged overpriced pandemic supply contract of the PS-DBM with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. In a TV interview, Gordon said he was reluctant to recommend Duque for charges because, as a Cabinet member, "he was a prisoner of the President." He said the DoH is the primary government agency charged with the health of the nation. In May, the Office of the Ombudsman recommended charges against Duque and Lloyd Christopher Lao, the former undersecretary of the PS-DBM, saying there was probable cause to prosecute them for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
READ: 6 recognized for promoting friendly ties with China
SIX people who have promoted friendly ties and mutual understanding between the Philippines and China will be honored at a ceremony at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel on June 7. A joint undertaking of the Association for Philippines-China Understanding (APCU) and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Philippines, the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) is a recognition of the efforts of Filipino citizens dedicated to fostering amity, friendship and mutual understanding between the Philippines and China. APPCU was launched on Jan. 16, 2021, when State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo attended the inauguration of the Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations. Among the APPCU laureates this year are Ching Tam Cua and Lily Tan Lim for Major Contributions and Benito Techico and Manuel Mamba for Outstanding Contributions. Larry Tan and Ma. Gabriel Lopez will join the Hall of Fame, a category that acknowledges the prestige and stature of the individual and the immense effort the individual has exerted over time, as evidenced by the reach, impact, and reception of the work by communities and societies. The Outstanding Contributions category recognizes individuals of lesser prominence who nonetheless made notable contributions to strengthening Philippine-China bilateral relations, friendship, cooperation and understanding. The Major Contributions category acknowledges the works of individuals whose works have a growing reach and impact on the lives of specific groups or communities of people at the grassroots level.
READ: Speaker says China's behavior won't improve ties
HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday said China's "aggressive behavior" will not improve its relations with the Philippines, after reports surfaced that the China Coast Guard (CCG) seized and dumped food and supplies meant for Filipino soldiers on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. The speaker's remarks came as protesters held a lightning rally and a "die-in" in front of the Chinese embassy in Manila to protest China's new regulation authorizing its coast guard to detain "trespassers" in the South China Sea. Members of various sectors under the newly established Alyansa Bantay Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD) took part in the protest to condemn China's new regulations. According to the new regulations, the CCG can detain foreigners for up to 30 days if they violate China's exit-entry rules, but this can be extended to 60 days for more complex cases, with approval from the police. Rodolfo Villena Jr., ABKD spokesman, said this new aggressive action by China can be considered a threat to Filipino fishermen and will not help to resolve the dispute but will only increase tension in the contested territories in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Villena said China should respect the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (Unclos) and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling and not implement its new order on June 15.
READ: Hundreds seek shelter after eruption
HUNDREDS of people sheltered in evacuation centers on Tuesday after Mount Kanlaon erupted for six minutes on Monday night, sending a plume of ash, rocks and gases 5 kilometers into the sky. The state volcanology agency raised the alert level for the volcano from one to two on a scale of zero to five, warning more explosive eruptions were possible. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) could raise the alert status to Level 3 if seismic activity over Mount Kanlaon in Negros Island worsens, its chief, Teresita Bacolcol, said on Tuesday. While there is still no need for mass evacuation, Bacolcol said the concerned local government units must make sure that the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone around the volcano is strictly off-limits to the public. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured residents affected by the eruption that the government was on top of the situation and directed all frontline government agencies to ensure their safety and the provision of needed aid. In a video message, the Chief Executive noted that Phivolcs, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are closely monitoring the situation in Negros Island. Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian went to Negros Oriental on Tuesday to monitor disaster response operations for families affected by Mount Kanlaon's eruption.
READ: Marina hit on foreign dredgers
A GROUP of seafarers earlier this week blasted the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) for purportedly allowing foreign-owned vessels to operate in the country, particularly dredgers used in reclamation projects. The United Filipino Seafarers, through its chairman emeritus Nelson Ramirez, said that foreign-owned vessels may be allowed to operate locally for a maximum of two years through a special permit if no local ships are available; through a bareboat charter, where a local company rents the vessel, and sails it under the Philippine flag, and mans it with a Philippine crew; or through direct acquisition by a Filipino company. Ramirez, however, said these guidelines were violated, with some foreign vessels with special permits operating for more than two years, those under bareboat charter failing to comply with minimum safety manning requirements and foreign crew members who deprive Filipino mariners of job opportunities. Ramirez said in his complaint letter sent to the office of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin that former Marina officials, including the former administrator and his chief of staff, facilitated these transactions. Ramirez, on behalf of his group, has lodged a complaint against these executives and implicated "all other incumbent officials complicit in these actions, along with private individuals and companies perpetuating this regime." He also sought an investigation of the failure to observe the two-year maximum for special permits.
In Business
READ: Rice tariffs slashed to 15%
RICE tariffs have been slashed and reduced rates for other key commodities have been extended up to 2028 in a bid to lower prices and control inflation. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Tuesday said that its governing board had approved a new comprehensive tariff program "to ensure access and affordability ... while balancing the interests of consumers and local producers...". In-quota and out-quota rates for rice, already lowered to 35 percent from 40 percent since 2021, will further cut to 15 percent. Reduced tariffs on corn, pork, and mechanically deboned meat were also extended. The NEDA Board also lowered import duties for certain chemicals and coal briquettes to reduce energy prices.Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio B alisacan noted that high rice prices were behind a current rise in inflation and that the tariff cuts, along with direct subsidies, were expected to lead to local rice prices falling to P29 per kilo. Under the new comprehensive tariff program for 2024 to 2028, rates on over half of tariff lines covering agricultural and industrial goods with relatively low duties will be maintained.
Topping Sports
READ: Beermen, Bolts face off as PH Cup Finals begin
TITLE favorite San Miguel Beer begins its quest for the PBA Philippine Cup crown as the Beermen face the Meralco Bolts in Game 1 of their best-of-seven title series on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Game time is at 7:30 p.m. The Beermen reached the Finals first after scoring a four-game sweep of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. On the other hand, the Bolts had to scratch and claw their way through a seven-game semifinal series before triumphing over the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 4-3 last Friday.
READ: Injured Djokovic pulls escape act at French Open
PARIS — An injured Novak Djokovic sealed a 15th consecutive French Open quarterfinal with a thrilling comeback victory over Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), while Daniil Medvedev became the highest seed to crash out at Roland Garros so far. In the women's draw, both Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina comfortably powered into the last eight. A limping Djokovic looked to be heading for a shock defeat when 2-1 down in sets and 4-2 behind in the fourth set, but battled back from the brink to delight the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd by winning 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 after four hours and 39 minutes. Djokovic narrowly avoided his earliest exit from the tournament since 2009, teeing up a rematch of last year's final against Casper Ruud, who beat Taylor Fritz in four sets. However, he said he was not yet 100 percent sure he would be fit enough to play on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila). Djokovic had reached the last 16 by defeating Italy's Lorenzo Musetti in another bruising five-set encounter which concluded at 3:07 am Sunday.
READ: Opinion
In its editorial today, the Times tackles the miscarriage of justice in the Magna Carta of Seafarers. Read the full version on print or digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Featured columnists on the front page are Rigoberto Tiglao and Francisco Tatad. Tiglao writes about the meeting of two US puppets; Tatad on a tour de force.
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