Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Tuesday, June 18, 2024.
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BANNER: PH, Chinese ships collide in Ayungin
FILIPINO and Chinese vessels collided near Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the South China Sea on Monday, the China Coast Guard (CCG) said, but the Philippine military called the report "misleading and deceptive." Known in Chinese as the Ren'ai Reef, Ayungin Shoal has seen an escalating number of confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months. These have often taken place during Philippine attempts to supply a garrison of Philippine troops on a grounded navy vessel, the BRP Sierra Madre, aimed at asserting Manila's claims to the reef. The shoal lies about 200 kilometers from the western Philippine island of Palawan and within the country's exclusive economic zone. On the other hand, it is more than 1,000 kilometers from China's nearest major land mass, Hainan Island, but Beijing insists it is part of Chinese territory.
Parents of Spanish surfer seek justice
THE parents of a Spanish surfer killed in 2020 in an alleged police buy-bust in Siargao are certain they can obtain justice for him because they believe in the Philippine justice system. On Jan. 8, 2020 at 1:30 a.m., Diego Bello, 32, was shot dead during a drug buy-bust conducted by some members of the Philippine National Police (PNP). They were identified as police captain Wise Vicente Panuelos and staff sergeants Ronel Pazo and Nido Boy Cortes. They claimed that Diego was the top drug dealer in the area and that he resisted arrest, but the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) later concluded that he was unarmed.
Marina comes under cyberattack
THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) confirmed on Monday that four of its web-based systems were attacked and compromised on Sunday. Marina's Information Technology team is being assisted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology-Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (DICT-CICC) in investigating the data breach and restoring the systems' ability to receive and process applications by today, June 18.
21 rescued seamen get warm welcome at House
TINGOG Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, led other government officials on Monday in welcoming the 21 seafarers who were rescued from the MV Tutor, which was attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa also welcomed the seafarers. They arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Monday from Bahrain. "We are happy because to date, this is one of the fastest repatriations made," Acidre said. Last June 12, Houthi rebels attacked the Tutor, which had 22 Filipinos among its crew. Twenty-one were rescued on Friday, while the Philippine government was coordinating with international forces in locating one crew member, Acidre said in a statement.
Hearing on NCR wage hike bids set June 20
THE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region (NCR-RTWPB) will hold this week a public hearing on minimum wage adjustment for workers in the private sector to give due course to at least three wage hike petitions. On Monday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) announced that the RTWPB-NCR set the public hearing for June 20, Thursday, at the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said that after the public hearing, the RTWPB will decide on the propriety of adjusting the minimum wage for the region. Laguesma said other regional wage boards have also been directed to firm up their schedule of consultations and hearings, consistent with the President's directive and with the implementing rules and regulations issued by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
Petecio, Paalam to carry flag at Olympics
BOXERS Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam have been chosen as the Philippine flag bearers for the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on July 26. Silver medal finishers at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, Petecio and Paalam return to the Games with the hopes of getting a golden one this time. Petecio qualified for the Paris Olympics after making it to the finals of the 1st World Qualification Tournament women's 57 kg division in Busto Arsizio, Italy, in March. Denied an earlier Olympic entry through the same tournament due to a shoulder injury, Paalam bounced back and claimed his Olympic berth at the 2nd World Qualification Tournament last month in Bangkok, Thailand.
SPORTS: Knott pumps life to Olympic bid, bags gold in Canada
SOUTHEAST Asian Games champ Kristina Knott continued to live for her hopes to make it to the 2024 Paris Olympics after clinching the gold medal in the women's 100-meter dash at the 2024 Harry Jerome Track Classic in Burnaby, Canada on Monday. Knott blitzed and tallied 11.64 seconds to rule the race. Canadian Victoria McIntyre finished silver after clocking in 11.94s, while Zion Corrales Nelson took the bronze medal with 11.950s. In the 200m category, the Filipina American was slower as Knott settled for a third place finish with 23.42s.
BUSINESS: OFW remittances up 3.1% in April
Over to business, overseas Filipino worker (OFW) remittances hit $2.86 billion in April, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data showed on Monday, 3.1 percent higher compared to the year-earlier $2.77 billion. The April tally, however, was down from $3.05 billion in March and was also the lowest monthly level to date for the year. Money sent home via banks alone totaled $2.56 billion, also 3.1 percent up from $2.48 billion in April last year but again below March's $2.74 billion.
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, and Orlando Mercado are today's front page columnists. Contreras reads into academic contradictions, Makabenta discusses two lobbies, while Mercado asks if Philippine overseas gaming operations could lead to costs or benefits.
Today's editorial looks into Philippine universities and Sustainable Development Goals. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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