Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
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READ: French pedophile ordered online rape of Filipino girls
A FRENCH court sentenced a graphic artist who worked on beloved animated feature films for Pixar and Disney to 25 years in jail for ordering the livestreamed rape of hundreds of preteen girls in the Philippines, a case that has triggered a call for action here. The Paris court late Thursday found Bouhalem Bouchiba, 59, guilty of complicity in the rape of girls and in human trafficking and of viewing child pornography online. Bouchiba worked at the Pixar and Disney animation studios, contributing to blockbusters like the 2004 hit "The Incredibles" and "Ratatouille," released in 2007. He was convicted of paying women in the Philippines between 2012 and 2021 to rape and sexually assault girls ages between 5 and 10 in front of a camera while he watched via livestream and issued instructions. Bouchiba admitted during his testimony that the violence resembled "torture." Each show costs between 50 and 100 euros ($54-$108), with the total Bouchiba spent on the performances coming to just over 50,000 euros. As news of Bouchiba's conviction spread, the Department of Justice (DoJ) said it was studying closer partnerships with money services businesses and social media platforms, each of which will play a critical role in detecting and preventing the flow of funds toward illegal child exploitation content and access to harmful sites. The DoJ said it was in ongoing discussions with major social media companies, including Meta and TikTok, as well as financial services to limit the proliferation of exploitative materials online. This includes monitoring low-value transactions — a method favored by traffickers to remain below reporting thresholds set by the Anti-Money Laundering Act, which is aimed at larger transactions.
READ: More than 17K sex crimes vs children in 2023
POLICE received 18,756 allegations of child rights violations in 2023, 92 percent of which constituted violence against children or child abuse, rape and acts of lasciviousness, the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) said Saturday. The council, an attached agency of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said this month's National Children's Month will focus on pushing for an end to all forms of child violence. CWC Executive Director Angelo Tapales noted that in 2023, the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) received 18,756 allegations of child rights violations. Tapales called on the public to report child abuse and other offenses against children by calling the Makabata Helpline 1383. As an affiliated agency of the DSWD, the CWC develops policies and monitors and evaluates the execution of legislation, programs, or projects for children and youth under the age of 18. Tapales has called for a united strategy to combat online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, stating that the government, parents, families, communities and power holders must all collaborate to guarantee that children's rights are safeguarded and maintained at all times.
READ: Marcos declares local holidays, day of mourning
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a series of proclamations declaring special non-working holidays in several cities and municipalities nationwide for November and December 2024. At the same time, the President declared Nov. 4 this year a national day of mourning in honor of the lives lost and families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami). As provided by law, Marcos said that flags be at half-staff from sunrise to sunset as a tribute to those lost to one of the deadliest storms to hit the nation this year. The special non-working days are Nov. 8 – Tanay, Rizal (Proclamation 725); Nov. 12 – Valenzuela City (Proclamation 711); Nov. 15 – Oriental Mindoro (Proclamation 712); Nov. 15 – Borongan City, Eastern Samar (Proclamation 726); Nov. 22 – Palayan City, Nueva Ecija (Proclamation 713); Nov. 22 – Itogon,Benguet (Proclamation 715); Nov. 22 – Tublay, Benguet (Proclamation 716); Nov. 23 – Benguet Province (Proclamation 717); Nov. 25 – Marasugan, Davao de Oro (Proclamation 718); Nov. 26 – Dasmariñas City, Cavite (Proclamation 719); Nov. 28 – Sarangani Province (Proclamation 720); Nov. 28 – Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte (Proclamation 721); and Dec. 5 – Palayan City, Nueva Ecija (Proclamation 714).
READ: PH collects 9 golds in Dragon Boat Championships
WITH still one more competition day left at the 2024 ICF Dragon Boat World Championships in Puerto Princesa Baywalk, Palawan, the Philippines has already eclipsed its five-gold haul from the last time it joined the tourney in Gainesville, Georgia, back in 2018. The Filipino paddlers hiked their golden haul to nine in the current tournament edition after ruling the 40+ 10-seater mixed 200-meter category with a time of 1:52.17 on Saturday. The Pinoy paddlers added a quartet of silvers early Saturday morning in the 40+ 10-seater open standard boat 200-meter event (52.72 seconds) and 40+ 10-seater women's standard boat race (58.66) and junior 10-seater open (2:16.23) and junior women 500-meter runs (2:47.97). The Filipinos now have a total of 10 silvers and six bronzes in the meet, which ends on Sunday. But as early as Friday, the Philippines topped its 2018 five-gold haul laced with one silver and two bronzes after claiming four golds that bumped its total to eight.
In Business
READ: Foreign tech startups urged to invest in PH
THE Philippine consulate general in Hong Kong encouraged foreign-owned digital technology and electronic startups to establish themselves in the Philippines as part of the "Make It Happen" initiative. This invitation was made during the Hong Kong Electronics Fair 2024, which took place from Oct. 13 to 16 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. The Philippines boasts over 400 world-class economic zones (ecozones) capable of supporting these businesses. These ecozones are administered by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). The Consulate's Booth in the Startup zone offered an opportunity to draw special attention to what the Philippines can provide foreign startups, mainly through informational brochures and materials highlighting opportunities and incentives available to locators in Philippine ecozones and their respective administrators.
Topping Sports
READ: PH bets all set for Taiwan Tour
TOP players from the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) are fully prepared to compete in the 2024 Party Golfers Ladies Open, scheduled for Nov. 13 to 15, aiming to make a powerful impact and are determined to claim a prestigious victory on the LPGA of Taiwan Tour. The 54-hole championship will take place at the Lily Golf and Country Club in Hsinchu County, where the Filipina contingent is poised to face a formidable international field. With eyes on the prize and the hunger for a second victory, these LPGT standouts are ready to bring their best against elite opponents. Leading the contingent is Pauline del Rosario, whose experience and fierce competitiveness will be vital in tackling the challenging par-72 layout. The Epson Tour campaigner is no stranger to Taiwan courses, having marked her rookie pro campaign with a victory in the TLPGA and Royal Open at the Royal KuanHsi Golf Club in 2017, becoming the first Filipina to win on the lucrative circuit. Del Rosario is expected to be a force in the title hunt, but she is not alone in her quest. She'll be joined by seasoned competitors Princess Superal, Daniella Uy, Florence Bisera, Marvi Monsalve, Mafy Singson, Chanelle Avaricio, Chihiro Ikeda, Mikha Fortuna and Harmie Constantino, each driven by the shared goal of securing a historic win for the Philippines.
READ: Ginebra out to tie series vs TNT
FRESH off a confidence-building win on All Saints' Day, Barangay Ginebra now guns for another to send the series back to square one in Game 4 of their PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup Finals on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Game time is at 7:30 p.m. with Ginebra riding from its 85-73 triumph over TNT in Game 3 last Friday. Before the Game 4 tip-off, the PBA will be holding its awarding ceremonies for the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) and Best Import. San Miguel Beer star center June Mar Fajardo leads the BPC stats race, while TNT's do-it-all reinforcement Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is a cinch to capture his second Best Import plum. Meanwhile, at halftime break, the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters will showcase their acts as part of its iconic global tour that includes performing in other Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
READ: Opinion
In today's editorial, The Manila Times describes as a "timely intervention" the Supreme Court's decision to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the further transfer of funds from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the National Treasury, as it immediately stops the government from siphoning off P89.9 billion that should go to meeting the medical expenses of the fund's members. Read the full version on print or digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Marlen Ronquillo is the featured columnist on the front page. Ronquillo writes about the forthcoming US elections and its impact on the Philippines as far as opportunities for Filipinos in the US are concerned.
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