Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Monday, December 23, 2024.
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READ: Comelec control of Sulu weighed
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is studying the possibility of placing the province of Sulu under its control following the ambush of Comelec provincial supervisor Vidzfar Julie Amil in Zamboanga City on Saturday. Gunshots fired by men on a motorcycle at Amil's car missed him but killed his older brother, Naser. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Sunday the incident would be studied thoroughly to determine if it was election-related. He said the commission must be very careful in deciding to place an area under its control or even consider it an area of concern because it could seriously affect its reputation. Comelec also needs to consult with the Philippine National Police (PNP) before making a decision, Garcia said. Comelec can assume control of an area if it has a history of intense political rivalry. It can also take over if there is violence instigated by private armed groups (PAGs) or if there are serious armed threats posed by communist insurgents and terrorist groups like the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the Abu Sayyaf or the Maute Group.
READ: Imee blasts bid to rush 'bad' budget's passage
SEN. Imee Marcos said she was strongly against the passage of the proposed 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which she described as a "very bad" budget. Speaking during a Senate media forum, Marcos argued that improving the budget's contents was better than rushing its passage.
READ: US judge accepts guilty pleas of 2 Quiboloy execs
A UNITED STATES judge has accepted the guilty plea of two administrators of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) on the charge of marriage fraud. Judge Terry Hatter Jr. of the US District Court in California accepted the pleas of Guia Cabactulan and Amanda Estopare, who were both out on bail according to a schedule from the court. The hearing, conducted last Dec. 16, was for a change of plea to Count 7 of the First Superseding Indictment.
READ: Health chief warns against holiday binge eating
HEALTH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has warned that binge eating and excessive drinking during the Christmas season could lead to the "holiday heart syndrome." Herbosa said in a briefing on Saturday the holiday heart syndrome is characterized by irregular heartbeat and palpitation, the early signs of a possible heart problem. He cited a 2021 study in Norway presented to him by officials of the Philippine Heart Center, which showed that the three days after Christmas Day would be the "deadliest time of the year" for cardiovascular-related diseases.
READ: SC: Suspension of pregnant, unmarried teacher illegal
THE Supreme Court has reaffirmed that premarital sexual relations leading to pregnancy are not immoral and cannot justify the suspension of an employee. The Court's First Division made the ruling in a case involving the suspension of a teacher by a school. The ruling, penned by Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario, deemed the suspension of grade school teacher Miraflor Mabao by the Bohol Wisdom School (BWS) as illegal. Mabao, who was two months pregnant, was verbally suspended by the school principal, Raul Deloso, on the grounds of immorality
BUSINESS: PH external debt still manageable – BSP
Headlining business, the country's external debt ratios stayed at manageable levels as of the third quarter despite additional borrowings, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported late Friday. External debt totaled $139.64 billion in the July-September period, up from $130.18 billion as of end-June. As a percentage of the economy, external debt rose to 30.6 percent from 28.9 percent in the second quarter. Gross domestic product (GDP) expanded to $330.84 billion as of end-September 2024 from $311.22 billion a year earlier. The country's debt service ratio (DSR), meanwhile, rose to 11.6 percent from 10.4 percent due to the higher recorded debt service payments from January to September 2024. Gross international reserves (GIR) stood at $112.71 billion, equivalent to 3.92 times short-term (ST) debt and up from 2023's $98.12 billion.
SPORTS: PH blanks Indonesia to reach Asean Cup semis
Over to sports, the Philippine men's national football team advanced to the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup semifinals after defeating home team Indonesia, 1-0, at the Manahan Stadium in Surakarta on Saturday night. With the win, the Philippines totaled six points in Group B to finish second behind Vietnam with 10 points and make the Final Four of the tourney for the first time since 2018. This is also the first time the Philippines beat Indonesia since its 4-0 triumph in the 2014 Asean Championship. Bjørn Kristensen delivered the lone goal of the contest in the 63rd minute when he calmly shot a penalty kick. The Philippines earned a penalty following a VAR review of a foul on Yrick Gallantes.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao cites 182 retired uniformed personnel in opposing the 2025 national budget, Fr. Aquino talks about the story of Christmas, and Tatad calls on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to uphold order, but avoid overkill.
Today's editorial calls on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to recalibrate its strategy to end the political crisis in Myanmar. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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