Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Saturday, March 15, 2025.
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READ: Duterte's fate now in ICC's hands
FORMER president Rodrigo Duterte failed to show in person at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday (local time) at the opening of his crimes against humanity hearing over his deadly crackdown on narcotics. The 79-year-old, the first ex-Asian head of state to face charges at the ICC, was following via video link during a short hearing to inform him of the crimes he is alleged to have committed, as well as his rights as a defendant. Sounding frail and wearing a blue suit and tie, he spoke briefly to confirm his name and date of birth. The presiding judge allowed him to follow proceedings in absentia due to his long flight to The Hague. Duterte stands accused of the crime against humanity of murder over his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups said killed thousands. In the prosecutor's application for his arrest, he said Duterte's alleged crimes were "part of a widespread and systematic attack directed against the civilian population in the Philippines."
READ: Casting a wider net for drug war accountability
ALL individuals involved in former president Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs could face legal action and potential prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, dean of the Graduate School of Law San Beda College. In an interview, Aquino said the ICC's prosecution process is highly meticulous, typically beginning with those in positions of power who orchestrated, managed or directed the crimes. While Duterte and other high-ranking officials may be the initial targets, lower-ranking officers, including police personnel and executioners of extrajudicial killings, could be prosecuted later. Aquino said the ICC follows a hierarchical approach to accountability, wherein those in leadership positions bear primary responsibility due to their role in planning and executing policies that allegedly resulted in mass human rights violations.
READ: Marcos: No loyalty check on police, military
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not see the need for a loyalty check on military and police officials following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte over crimes against humanity charges, Malacañang said Friday. Speaking to reporters, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos was confident that the government was following the law when Duterte surrendered to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday. She also dismissed claims that there were police officers who quit their jobs in support of the former president.
READ: Duterte clan's political future in doubt
MINUTES after former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte was bundled onto a plane bound for The Hague to face a charge of crimes against humanity, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said of the arrest: "Politics doesn't enter into it." Complying with the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant tied to his predecessor's deadly drug war was simply a matter of the Philippines meeting its international obligations, he told reporters. But Tuesday's shocking arrest, which comes barely a month after the impeachment of Duterte's daughter Sara, the country's vice president, has left the family's national political fortunes in deep peril, analysts said.
BUSINESS: Tariff delays seen favoring peso
Topping business, Maybank has raised its outlook for the peso as US tariff threats are taking longer to materialize. It now expects the currency to be relatively stable at 58 pesos against the dollar this year instead of falling to new all-time lows beyond the current record of 59 pesos to the greenback. Maybank Research previously projected the peso to weaken significantly to 61 pesos against the dollar given global uncertainties, particularly over US trade and fiscal policies. Last month, it said the peso could hit 60 pesos to the dollar in the first quarter, plunge past that to 63 pesos to $1 in April-June, and then settle at 61 pesos for the rest of the year.
SPORTS: PH Paralympians win 5 golds in India
Over to sports, the Philippine delegation bagged 15 medals, including five golds, at the 2025 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in New Delhi, India. The games were held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from March 11 to 13, featuring para-athletes from 20 countries. In a statement by the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) on Thursday night, the national team won 5 golds, 6 silvers, and 4 bronzes from the games. On the forefront of the Philippines' campaign were Paralympians Cendy Asusano and Jerrold Mangliwan, who won five gold medals for the country.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists, as both analyze the current Duterte saga in the ICC.
Today's editorial says electric cooperatives are not campaign organizations. Read more on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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