Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Sunday, July 14, 2024.
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READ: Guo eludes arrest, accountant held
SUSPENDED Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo eluded arrest, but her accountant was now in Senate custody, according to Senate President Francis Escudero, citing a report by the Office of the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms (OSAA). Escudero said Guo had left her residence at Bamban, QJJ Farm, before the team that was to enforce the arrest order arrived. The OSAA team was accompanied by contingents from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) in searching for Guo. Meanwhile, Nancy Gamo, the alleged accountant of the mayor, was arrested by the OSAA Team Marilao and Team Valenzuela at the Garment Factory in Marilao, Bulacan. Members of Guo's family and another alleged accomplice also eluded arrest. The OSAA informed Escudero that its teams were not allowed entry into the garments factory identified with the Guos in Valenzuela City. Gamo underwent medical checkup, part of the standard operating procedure (SOP) when someone is detained at the Senate. Gamo is one of eight individuals cited for contempt due to her failure to attend Senate hearings despite receiving subpoenas. Aside from Guo and Gamo, also ordered arrested were Dennis Cunanan, Sheila Guo, Wesley Guo, Jian Zhong Go, Seimen Guo and Wenyi Lin. The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality issued the arrest orders after Guo and the others ignored summons to the hearings into their alleged involvement in human trafficking, among others, that surfaced during a raid on an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Bamban. Retired Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan, the Senate sergeant-at- arms, said that once arrested, Guo would be detained at the detention facility of the OSAA until she appears and testifies before the committee.
READ: 'Highly possible new arbitration cases vs China will prosper'
IT is "highly possible" that the new arbitration cases against China over its aggressive and illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea would prosper, a political analyst said Saturday. Dr. Froilan Calilung, who teaches political science at the University of Santo Tomas, issued the statement after former Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio again pressed the government to "file several arbitration cases" against China for its violations of international law. Carpio was part of the Philippine delegation in the 2013 arbitration case against Beijing, which Manila won in 2016.
READ: 'PH cannot grow with big businesses alone'
GO Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion on Saturday said the Philippines could not grow with big businesses alone, emphasizing the role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as major drivers of the country's economic growth. Concepcion, vice chairman of the MSME Development Council, reiterated the need to help small businesses during the 2024 National MSME Summit in Pasay City.
READ: SC rules on unjust prison claims
THE Supreme Court has ruled that prior conviction is required in compensation claims for unjust imprisonment. In a decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, the Supreme Court en banc upheld the Department of Justice (DoJ) Board of Claims' (Board) denial of the compensation claim of a certain Main Mohammad, who in 2017 was arrested, detained, and charged with piracy and two counts of murder after being identified as a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group. However, the charges were dismissed in 2019 after the prosecution failed to produce a witness who could identify Mohammad as the same person charged in the information.
BUSINESS: PSA data shows PH tourism growth – DoT
In business, the Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed the achievements of the tourism sector in numbers, which underscores its capacity to create meaningful livelihood opportunities and inclusive growth. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco cited the favorable statistics the PSA provided to the country's tourism industry.
SPORTS: Eliza Yulo claims two golds in Palaro
Further solidifying the status of the Yulos as gymnastics powerhouse, Eliza Andriel Yulo claimed two gold medals at the 64th Palarong Pambansa girls secondary artistic gymnastics. The younger sister of world champion and Paris Olympics-bound Carlos, as well as former Palaro ang Batang Pinoy ace Karl Edrew, dazzled before the crowd at the Cebu Institute of Technology-University on Friday. When the results were finally made available on Saturday, Yulo of the National Capital Region (NCR) emerged with the highest score of 42.25, good for the gold medal. Yulo bested fellow Big City bets Cielo Esliza and Amara Lagdameo, who settled for the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Esliza notched 41.20 points while Lagdameo tallied 38.05. The 14-year-old Yulo also bagged the gold medal in the team event as she joined hands with Esliza and Lagdameo for the championship.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he weighs in on the Alice Guo saga.
Today's editorial opposes half measures on Philippine offshore gaming operations. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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