Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, October 24, 2024.
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READ: 7 dead as Kristine pummels Luzon
RESCUERS waded through chest-deep floodwaters Wednesday to reach residents trapped by Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami), which has killed seven people and forced thousands to evacuate as it barreled toward the east coast. Torrential rain driven by the storm has turned streets into rivers, submerged entire villages, and buried some vehicles in volcanic sediment set loose by the downpour. At least 32,000 people have fled their homes in the northern Philippines, police said, as the storm edged closer to Luzon. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said some 382,302 people, or 77,910 families, from 436 villages across the country were affected by the tropical storm. In the Bicol Region, unexpectedly high flooding was complicating rescue efforts, police said.
READ: Marcos orders EDCA use for relief efforts
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday ordered the activation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites across the country for the relief and rescue operations in areas affected by Tropical Storm Kristine. Speaking to reporters after the situation briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the President said that EDCA sites must be used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to airlift relief goods, personnel and equipment, especially in areas with impassable road networks.
READ: Quiboloy ordered death of the 'sinful'
A CONFESSED member of the Angels of Death, a private army working for the televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, told the Senate Wednesday that the Davao-based religious leader ordered the killing of "apostate and sinful" members of his Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC). Quiboloy dismissed the testimony as "a fabrication." During a hearing by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Wednesday, Eduard Ablaza Masayon admitted he was part of the 2nd Metro Davao Signal Battalion, which was under Sonshine Media Network Inc., the KoJC communications arm. Its members are from the Philippine Army Affiliated Reserve Unit (PAARU) and the 11th Regional Community Defense Group, the Philippine Army's reserve command, he said. Masayon said this private army was formed to pursue members who opposed Quiboloy. Once you prove your loyalty to the kingdom, you will become a squad member, he said. In one instance, Masayon said, he was with a member of the Angels of Death, Simon Tagnipis, in the KOJC security compound, who was ordered to kill one Domeng Jaruk, the datu of Sitio Kahusayan in Davao City because he refused to sell his land to Quiboloy. Masayon said members of the Angels of Death would not kill without an order from above or from Quiboloy. Quiboloy denied the allegation that he had a private army known as the Angels of Death, saying that Masayon's statement was merely a fabrication.
READ: Davao congress bets heed VP call for drug testing
DAVAO City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte and Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Rep. Margarita Ignacia Nograles have undergone hair follicle drug tests in separate testing centers in response to the challenge made by Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday. Duterte took his drug test at a laboratory in Mandaluyong City, while Nograles went to a branch of the same laboratory in Bajada, Davao City, both of which were surrounded by members of the media. In an interview with reporters after his sample was collected, Duterte said that it was his third time to take a drug test in the same laboratory.
READ: Broadcaster shot dead in Zamboanga City
MALACAÑANG on Wednesday condemned the killing of a broadcast journalist in Zamboanga City and called for a thorough investigation and swift resolution of the case. In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) blasted Tuesday's "barbaric attack" on Ma. Vilma Rodriguez, a broadcaster of EMedia Productions Network Inc. and a barangay official. Rodriguez was shot three times by a lone gunman near her house in front of her family members at 8:45 p.m. on Comet Street, Barangay Tumaga. She was taken to the Zamboanga City Medical Center, where she was declared dead on arrival.
BUSINESS: Govt urged to adopt 'vital' reforms
Over to business, businessmen on Wednesday presented a list of recommended government actions aimed at supporting economic growth and ensuring the well-being of Filipinos. An 11-page resolution released at the conclusion of the 50th Philippine Business Conference (PBC) focused on achieving food security, developing human resources, increasing investments and creating jobs. It was supposed to be presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who had been scheduled to speak during the conference. Malacañang, however, earlier in the day announced that he had canceled all official engagements to focus on overseeing government efforts to alleviate the impact of an approaching storm.
SPORTS: Mojdeh plunges into action in World Cup
In sports, Philippine junior record holder Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh dives into action today in the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup second leg at the Munhak Park Tae-Hwan Swimming Pool in Incheon, South Korea. Dubbed as "water beast," the Behrouz Elite Swimming Team standout Mojdeh will compete in six events — 200-meter breaststroke, 200-m butterfly, 100- m breaststroke, 50-m butterfly, 400-m individual medley (IM) and 100-m butterfly. First up is the women's 200-m butterfly (Heat 2) against world-class swimmers, including American Regan Smith and Australian Britanny Castelluzzo.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras says there's still some decency left in the country's politics, Makabenta looks into previous Philippine presidents' handling on matters on the West Philippine Sea, while Remoto looks into National Artist Resil Mojares as a cultural icon.
Today's editorial urges the Philippines to look inward for climate and development funding. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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