Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
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READ: DOJ: Teves a step closer to extradition
DEPARTMENT of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the decision of the Court of Appeals in Timor-Leste to reaffirm the approval of the Philippine government's request to extradite expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. will hasten the process for his return to the Philippines. Teves, who faces multiple murder charges, will be tried in Manila for alleged involvement in the killing of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and several of his supporters in March 2023. Remulla on Friday welcomed the decision of the Timorese court, calling it a crucial step toward accountability and justice for the victims.The court ruled last Dec. 2 in favor of extraditing Teves, ending months of legal debates surrounding the validity and implications of the request. Teves faces 13 counts of murder, including the assassination of Degamo, 13 counts of frustrated murder and four counts of attempted murder. Teves fled to East Timor in 2023, claiming political persecution for his opposition to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration and his support for an opposition candidate in the 2022 presidential election. He has vehemently denied the charges, calling them politically motivated.
READ: Laws on permanent shelters, student loan freeze signed
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday signed two laws that would pave the way for stronger disaster resilience and inclusive educational support. During a ceremony in Malacañang attended by legislators, Cabinet members, and other government officials, the President signed Republic Act (RA) 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, and RA 12077, or the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act. RA 12076 mandates the establishment of fully equipped evacuation centers to provide secure, temporary accommodation to disaster-stricken residents. The centers will have sleeping areas, health care stations, sanitation facilities, and provisions for livestock and will prioritize high-risk and disaster-prone areas. RA 12077 aims to provide financial relief to students in calamity-declared areas, allowing the deferment of loan payments for higher education and technical-vocational training programs during and after emergencies. Marcos said the law gives disaster-affected students and their families the "breathing space as they recuperate and rebuild their lives." He said he hopes the law "will help lessen the financial burden off our students' shoulders as they continue their schooling." The president called on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to extend all forms of assistance to students.
READ: US, Japan, PH jointly patrol South China Sea
THE United States deployed a reconnaissance aircraft while Japan and the Philippines sent navy ships in a joint patrol in the disputed South China Sea on Friday, two days after the allied forces condemned actions by Chinese coast guard vessels against Philippine patrol ships. The US Indo-Pacific Command said the joint patrol was conducted in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone by allies and partners to "uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight" and "other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace." Those phrases are used by the three nations to oppose China's increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed waters. Two Philippine security officials said the patrol was staged about 40 nautical miles (74 kilometers) from Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, a fishing area hotly disputed by Beijing and Manila off the northwestern Philippines. The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they didn't have authority to discuss such details publicly. China claims the South China Sea virtually in its entirety and has guarded it assertively with its coast guard, navy and suspected militia fleets. The joint naval patrol, the latest in recent months by the Philippines, the US and their security partners, was delayed by several typhoons that battered the region and was not in reaction to a confrontation on Wednesday that involved Chinese and Philippine ships off Bajo de Masinloc, the two Philippine officials said.
READ: Peace agreement with NPA faction a 'milestone' – Galvez
AS the government commemorates the 23rd anniversary of the 2000 peace agreement with the communist Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA/ABB), officials renewed their commitment to reaching a long-lasting reconciliation. In a statement issued on Friday, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the agreement with RPM-P/RPA/ABB "stands as a milestone in the country's peace-building efforts." The RPM-P was founded in 1996 after the Negros Regional Party Committee of the New People's Army (NPA) split from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) because of ideological differences. It established its military arm, the RPA, two months later. In 1997, the ABB, another faction that broke away from the NPA, allied with the RPA to form the RPA-ABB. The RPA-ABB entered into peace talks with the government in 1999, leading to a truce in December 2000. In 2007, the RPA-ABB split into factions led by Nilo dela Cruz and Stephen Paduano. Both claimed the group's name. By April 2013, the RPA-ABB rebranded as Kapatiran para sa Progresong Panlipunan and renounced violence. Galvez highlighted the strides made in reintegrating former combatants into society. He said the Kapatiran serves as a testament to the power of reconciliation.
In Business
READ: Jobless rate rises to 3.9%
BAD weather led to a worsening of the labor market situation in October, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Friday, with unemployment picking up from a month earlier. The country's jobless rate rose to 3.9 percent from 3.7 percent in September, but remained lower than the 4.2 percent recorded a year earlier. This was equivalent to 1.97 million unemployed Filipinos, 80,000 more than the 1.89 million in September. The Labor Force Participation Rate in October was 63.3 percent, lower than the 65.7 percent recorded a month earlier and October 2023's 63.9 percent. Underemployment — which counts those looking for more work or an extra job — rose to 12.6 percent, up from 11.9 percent a month earlier and 11.7 percent a year earlier. The underemployed was said to be equivalent to 6.08 million, higher than the previous month's 5.94 million. The employment rate, which edged down to 96.1 percent from 96.3 percent, meant that 48.16 million had jobs, also lower than September's 49.87 million. The services sector continued to account for the bulk of jobs with a share of 61.0 percent in October. Agriculture and industry took 21.2 percent and 17.9 percent, respectively. Most of the employed were wage and salary workers (63.8 percent), followed by the self-employed without any paid employees (27.7 percent), unpaid family workers (5.9 percent) and employers in family-operated farms or businesses (2.6 percent).
Topping Sports
READ: Pacquiao elected to Boxing Hall of Fame
MANNY Pacquiao, who won titles in a record eight weight classes from flyweight to super welterweight while becoming one of boxing's biggest draws, was elected Thursday to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Pacquiao, who fought in some of the blockbuster bouts of the 2000s before returning home to the Philippines to serve in its government, will be enshrined June 8 as the headline name in the 2025 class. Vinny Paz, who overcame a broken neck sustained in a car crash to resume his career, and two-division champion Michael Nunn were the other fighters elected from the men's modern category. A 106-pounder when he debuted, Pacquiao rose all the way to win a title at the 154-pound limit, yet never lost his speed as he put on more pounds and overwhelmed naturally bigger fighters with a dizzying flurry of power punches. In all, 14 people were selected for the museum in Canastota, New York, through voting by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a panel of international boxing historians. Pacquiao was an easy choice in his first year of eligibility after compiling a 62-8-2 record with 39 knockouts during a pro career that began in 1995 and lasted until 2021.
READ: Pelicans edge Suns to snap 9-game skid
NEW ORLEANS — Brandon Ingram scored 29 points in his return from a five-game absence, Herb Jones capped off his first game back from a shoulder injury by blocking Devin Booker's last-second shot, and the New Orleans Pelicans snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 126-124 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday (Friday in Manila).Trey Murphy scored 19 points, Dejounte Murray scored 17 and rookie center Yves Missi had 12 rebounds for the Pelicans, Bradley Beal scored 24 points for Phoenix.
READ: Opinion
In its editorial, the Times says that the president is right about the Duterte impeachment. Read the full version on print or digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Featured columnists on the front page are Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, Danton Remoto and Francisco Tatad. Contreras writes about users; Makabenta on BBM's 'no' to VP Sara's impeachment, which he calls a shrewd policy of detente; Remoto on why would international students want to return to the USA and Tatad on whether the Senate is fit to try the vice president.
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