Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Saturday, March 22, 2025.
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READ: Freeze of Duterte's assets under study
THE Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is considering freezing the assets of former president Rodrigo Duterte, following his arrest and detention by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Earlier this week, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the AMLC would determine its course of action if the ICC requests a freeze on Duterte's assets. AMLC Chairman and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr. told The Times that such a move "is not simple legally." Under Republic Act 9160, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the council can request the Court of Appeals to issue a freeze order if it finds probable cause that a financial asset such as money or property is linked to unlawful activities. In July last year, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed plunder complaints against Duterte and Sen. Bong Go before the Department of Justice over the alleged irregular awarding of 184 government contracts worth more than 6 billion pesos.
READ: More effective online content moderation proposed
PRESIDENTIAL Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz on Friday called on Congress to pass laws aligning the country's content moderation on social media with international standards. Speaking at the House of Representatives Tri-Committee's inquiry into fake news, Ruiz proposed adopting the European Union's Digital Services Act as a model for curbing online disinformation, hate speech and harmful content while protecting free speech. He said many social media platforms, including TikTok and YouTube, do not have local offices in the Philippines, making content moderation and enforcement slow and ineffective.
READ: Claims of 'warrantless' Duterte arrest refuted
A LAWYER accredited by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday refuted claims that former president Rodrigo Duterte's arrest was "warrantless," stressing that it was done in full compliance with Philippine law and international statutes. In a press briefing in Malacañang, Joel Butuyan said the validity of the implementation of the arrest warrant is based on Republic Act (RA) 9851 (An Act Defining and Penalizing Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity) and the Rome Statute.
READ: PH not giving up on Teves extradition
MALACAÑANG on Friday said the government will appeal the decision of a Timor-Leste court denying the extradition of former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing the government was "surprised" at the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals' "adverse ruling" overturning its December 2024 decision approving Teves' extradition. Castro said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will file the appeal. The Philippine government has submitted all necessary evidence and legal documents to support the extradition request, including proof that the Philippines has no active death penalty in place, she said. The appellate court ruled that there was a well-founded risk that Teves would be subjected to torture, inhuman, degrading or cruel treatment, once he is brought back to the Philippines.
BUSINESS: Despite Fed pause, BSP still seen cutting
Over to business, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will likely resume lowering interest rates next month despite the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) decision to pause anew, Metrobank Research said. In a commentary on Friday, Metrobank maintained its view that the central bank will deliver a 25-bp (basis point) cut at next month's Monetary Board meeting to support economic growth amid target-consistent inflation. The US central bank on Wednesday kept the federal funds rate at 4.25 to 4.50 percent, marking the second straight pause since January after cutting rates by 100 bps last year.
SPORTS: Creamline, ZUS gun for PVL semis berths
WITH Choco Mucho and Akari already in the final four, favored teams Creamline and ZUS Coffee will also seek to make the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Having a 1-0 lead in the short best-of-three quarterfinals series, Creamline and Zus Coffee will gun for repeat victories against Chery Tiggo and Petro Gazz, respectively, to advance. Creamline, the defending champion, displayed a high-caliber performance in Game 1 as it swept Chery Tiggo, 25-10, 27-25, 25-21, last March 18. In that game, Alyssa Valdez flaunted her vintage form after leading the Cool Smashers with her 16-point outing on a 64 percent attacking efficiency, while Jeanette Panaga added 10 points. Despite the advantage, Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses wants his team to play Game 2 with their backs on the wall.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists, giving more views on the Duterte-ICC case.
Today's editorial tells readers not to lose sight of the root problem in the divisive Duterte case. Read more on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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