Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Monday, March 10, 2025.
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READ: 7,000-strong force to arrest Duterte
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is on heightened alert and is preparing to deploy thousands of policemen to arrest former president Rodrigo Duterte following the issuance of a red notice by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), The Manila Times learned from an unimpeachable source. The source, who had knowledge of the security preparations, said at least 7,000 police personnel will be mobilized to hunt down and arrest the former leader, who has been investigated by the International Criminal Court for thousands of deaths linked to his anti-drug war. The source said that security forces will secure major entry points across the country, including seaports and airports, in preparation for Duterte's return from Hong Kong. However, efforts to capture Duterte will be concentrated in Metro Manila and in Davao, his home province. The number of officers to be deployed is said to be double that fielded in the manhunt last year for Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy. A high-ranking police official, who requested anonymity, confirmed the deployment.
READ: Labor senatorial bets to push for decent wages
THREE candidates for senator representing the labor sector have vowed to work for a decent living wage of at least 1,200 pesos a day and other amendments in labor laws that are used by big business to justify the continued exploitation of workers. The decade-old labor issues were brought out again by Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) senatorial candidate Luke Espiritu, president of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino; Makabayan Coalition candidate Jerome Adonis, president of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU); and Workers' and Peasants' Party (Philippines) candidate Sonny Matula, president of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and concurrent chairman of the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, during the recent Manila Times-DZRH Election Series. Espiritu said that if elected, he would focus on the minimum wage of the country's workers, which he described as the most aggrieved and abused in the world. Adonis said he would focus on comprehensive labor rights, particularly the realization of the workers' constitutional right to a living wage. Matula said he supports the same agenda espoused by Espiritu and Adonis, but, in addition, he would also push for the modernization of agriculture as a step forward to food sufficiency.
READ: Senate chief sounds alarm over 'surging' online gaming
SENATE President Francis Escudero warned that the surge in online gaming where bets can be placed through mobile phone apps means that there is now "a casino" in every Filipino's pocket. The senator said that his office has received reports from industry insiders that total online bets could reach between 600 billion and 1 trillion pesos a year.
READ: Escaped Korean fugitive rearrested
BUREAU of Immigration (BI) operatives rearrested South Korean fugitive Na Ikhyeon on Sunday or five days after his reported escape, which was facilitated by some immigration officers. Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado said the Korean fugitive was found hiding in a residential area in Barangay Pampang, Angeles City, Pampanga. Also arrested was his cohort, Kang Changbeom. Investigation revealed that Kang aided Na's escape, as caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and supported by other intelligence information gathered by authorities. Further verification with the Korean National Police Agency confirmed that Kang is also a wanted person in South Korea for fraud. Viado said that the Korean did not escape through a restroom as earlier reported.
BUSINESS: Continued pause with further RRR cuts seen
Topping business, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) could continue to keep interest rates on hold and instead pursue further reductions in bank reserve requirements to strengthen economic growth. Rate cuts tend to weaken currencies and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) senior economist Emilio Neri noted that the peso has remained stable following the BSP's Feb. 21 announcement of a 200 basis points (bps) cut in the reserve requirement ratio (RRR). It followed a Feb. 13 decision to pause from interest rate cuts after three straight 25-basis point reductions in 2024 that took the policy rate to 5.75 percent.
SPORTS: Break before Finals beneficial for injured Troy Rosario
Over to sports, the break before the start of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Finals could be a blessing after all for Barangay Ginebra. Veteran forward Troy Rosario, a vital addition to the league's most popular squad prior to the start of the conference, hurt his ankle during the second half of Ginebra's series-clinching 126-99 dumping of NorthPort last Friday. The 6-foot-6 Rosario left the game for good in the third canto, having contributed 11 points, two rebounds and two assists for Ginebra, which won its semis series against NorthPort, 4-1 to set up a Finals date with TNT. Game 1 of the best-of-seven title series starts this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao looks into the Trump-China policy, Fr. Aquino talks about executive power, while Tatad asks if the Ukraine war is coming to an end.
Today's editorial analyzes what will be the path to free elections in Myanmar. Read more on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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