Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, September 5, 2024.
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BANNER: Swap request may delay Guo's return
THE return to the Philippines of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo could be delayed by a request from the Indonesian government for a prisoner swap, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said, following confirmed reports that Guo was arrested in Jakarta. Remulla said the Indonesian authorities wanted to exchange Guo for a high-profile drug suspect, Gregor Johan Haas, who was arrested on May 15 in Bogo, Cebu, after the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issued a red notice based on a criminal complaint filed against him by Indonesian authorities. Remulla said the prisoner exchange could make the process of bringing Guo back to the Philippines harder. Haas has been described as a "high-profile fugitive" for being an alleged member of the Sinaloa cartel, an international organized crime syndicate based in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, involved in drug trafficking and money laundering activities. Indonesian authorities have implicated him in an attempt to smuggle into Indonesia in December a shipment of floor ceramics filled with more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as shabu. Earlier on Wednesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to hold accountable those who helped Guo flee the country.
Marcos: Quiboloy's conditions 'immaterial'
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said fugitive evangelist Apollo Quiboloy's conditions for surrendering were "immaterial," saying the matter was no longer in the hands of the executive department. Marcos issued the statement after Quiboloy's camp reiterated the embattled pastor's condition for the President to issue a written guarantee hat he would not be extradited to the United States, where he was indicted for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children. In a chance interview, the President said the ball was now with the courts following the issuance of the arrest warrants against Quiboloy.
Marcos says he has not talked with Sara since she resigned
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday shrugged off Vice President Sara Duterte's recently apologizing to Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) members for urging them to support him, saying "that's her prerogative." Although still baffled by Duterte's remarks, Marcos said there was nothing else he could do about it. The vice president's apology came during the anniversary celebration of KoJC in Davao City last weekend. Duterte condemned the earlier police operation at the KoJC compound to arrest its leader, fugitive evangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted for sexual abuse of minors and human trafficking. Quiboloy is a close ally and spiritual adviser of the vice president's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte. Sara Duterte then apologized to KoJC members for enticing them to vote for Marcos as president when she ran as his vice president.
THE Philippines received eight awards at the 31st World Travel Awards (WTA) during the Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony 2024 at the City of Dreams on Tuesday. This is also the first time the country has hosted the renowned travel and tourism awards gala celebration because of the partnership between the Department of Tourism (DoT) and its affiliated agency, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines. The Philippines was named Asia's Leading Dive Destination for the sixth consecutive year from 2019, in addition to Asia's Leading Beach Destination and Asia's Leading Island Destination. This year's WTA also recognized some of the country's finest locations, with the historic Walled City of Intramuros named Asia's Leading Tourist Attraction, Boracay as Asia's Leading Luxury Island Destination, and Cebu as Asia's Leading Wedding Destination.
BUSINESS: Trump win poses risks for PH
A SECOND Donald Trump presidency could lead to slower economic growth and increased challenges for the Philippines as the country is particularly vulnerable to his proposed policies. The direct risk for the Philippines would be in terms of trade, the global financial services group noted, as Trump has proposed the imposition of a 10-percent tariff on all products imported into the US.
SPORTS: UAAP Season 87 all set for grand opening
Over to sports, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) is set to launch its 87th season with an expanded basketball tournament featuring three divisions: collegiate men's, collegiate women's and junior high school boys' basketball. The first semester of the basketball tournaments will see six games played each game day, starting with the junior high school basketball matchups, followed by women's games and concluding with men's action. UAAP Season 87 will commence on Saturday, September 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Season host University of the Philippines (UP) has planned an extraordinary opening ceremony featuring some of the university's brightest talents, headlined by the legendary OPM band Eraserheads. Meanwhile, a two-year deduction in playing years for transferring UAAP student-athletes is now effective, adding one more year from the usual one only. UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag revealed the development in the league's press conference at Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City, on Wednesday. The rule effective to UAAP member schools only starts this Season 87 or the 2024-2025 academic year.
Antonio Contreras and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras tackles the usage of the right against self-incrimination in congressional hearings, while Remoto looks into new Filipino-authored books.
Today's editorial calls to stop the politics of disaster aid. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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