Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Sunday, September 1, 2024.
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READ: Chinese ships ram PCG lead vessel
A CHINA Coast Guard (CCG) vessel and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship collided on Saturday off Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. In separate statements, China and the Philippines blamed each other for the collision. In a media briefing, PCG spokesman Commo. Jay Tarriela said a CCG vessel "deliberately rammed and collided" with BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) three times, even though there was no provocation from the PCG ship. Tarriela said at about 8:50 a.m., the BRP Teresa Magbanua heaved in its anchor with the intention of loitering around Escoda Shoal, where it has been deployed since April 15. He said that upon noticing the movement of the PCG ship, more CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels started to surround the Philippine vessel. In a video presentation, Tarriela said that based on a drone shot, People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Tugboats 175 and 185 and two CCG vessels, 4303 and 3104, were initially sighted in the area.
READ: eTravel System widely adopted
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has institutionalized the use of the Electronic Travel Information (eTravel) System for all inbound and outbound international passengers and crew members to ensure efficient travel procedures in the Philippines. The President, through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, signed Administrative Order (AO) 24 on Aug. 27, 2024, as part of the government's goal to promote transparency by adopting simplified measures to reduce red tape.
READ: Magsaysay Awards honor animator, doctors, ex-monk
A JAPANESE animator, a doctor from Vietnam, an environmentalist from Indonesia, an educator from Bhutan and a group of doctors from Thailand are this year's recipients of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Awards, Asia's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. The recipients of the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Awards were announced on Saturday, August 31, during the commemoration of the 117th birth anniversary of the seventh Philippine President. First given in 1958, the annual awards are named after Magsaysay, who died in a 1957 plane crash.
READ: Quiboloy mess worries Davao business group
DAVAO businessmen expressed concern over the weekend that the prolonged confrontation between more than 2,000 policemen and followers of fugitive evangelist Apollo Quiboloy could hurt the city's economic development and growth. The police remained inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) compound in Davao City for the seventh day as they continued to search for Quiboloy, who is wanted for sexual abuse of children and human trafficking. The DCCCII said they "uphold the rule of law and the principles of fair justice" and look for a peaceful resolution of the matter.
READ: Lao scam center recruits sent back to Philippines
THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it had repatriated 125 Filipinos recruited to work for cyber scam centers in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos. The operation that started on August 24 lasted for a week. The DFA Rapid Response Team, in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, worked alongside Lao authorities to ensure the safe repatriation of the Filipino workers. They were provided temporary accommodation and medical care in Bokeo and Vientiane.
READ: QC gets its 1st case of mpox
QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Saturday that a 37-year-old male resident had been admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila after he exhibited mpox symptoms. In a statement, Belmonte also said the local government had already identified at least 15 people who had close contacts with him, "and they are currently under close monitoring." This is the first mpox disease (caused by the Monkeypox virus) in the city, detected more than a week after the Department of Health (DoH) reported the country's first case this year.
SPORTS: Mangliwan misses podium in Paralympics
WHEELCHAIR racer Jerrold Mangliwan of the Philippines missed the podium of the Paris Paralympics men's 400-meter T52 event at the Stade de France early Saturday (Manila time). Mangliwan registered 1:04.55 to finish eighth and last in the final round ruled by Maxime Carabin of Belgium, who claimed the gold medal with a time of 55.10 seconds. Carabin, who owns the world record of 52.0 seconds, set a Paralympic record of 54.48 in the heats, where Mangliwan finished seventh with his 1:05.79. Japanese Tomoki Sato clocked 56.26 seconds to clinch the silver medal as compatriot Tomoya Ito timed 1:01.08 to gain bronze. Mangliwan, 44, has one final chance to medal in the Games on September 6 when he competes at the 100-m T52 event. At the same event in the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou last year, Mangliwan bagged a silver medal while he snared a gold in the 400-m race.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, thinking that there are no more lawyers like Clarence Darrow or Rene Saguisag. Today's editorial weighs in on the right to disconnect. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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