Good day. Here are the top stories for The Manila Times on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
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READ: 'Answer petition versus dynasties'
THE Supreme Court has ordered the Senate and the House of Representatives to submit their comments within 10 days regarding a series of petitions calling for the enactment of an anti-political dynasty law. This ruling responds to three consolidated petitions urging Congress to fulfill its constitutional duty to pass a law prohibiting political dynasties, as mandated by the 1987 Constitution. The petitions, filed by Kapatiran Party (Alliance for the Common Good), Wilfredo Trinidad and the 1Sambayan Coalition, have now been merged by the court, acknowledging the shared constitutional issue at the heart of their claims. Central to the petitions is the assertion that Congress has failed to fulfill its constitutional duty as outlined in Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution, which stipulates that the State "shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law." Despite this clear mandate, nearly four decades have passed without the passage of an enabling law that would define and enforce the prohibition on political dynasties. Political dynasties continue to hold a tight grip on the political landscape, with powerful families retaining multiple elective positions across generations, often within the same regions. Critics contend that this concentration of power fosters corruption, weakens the nation's institutions and systematically denies capable but less-connected individuals the opportunity to serve. Such dynasties are seen as a major barrier to meaningful political reform and a more inclusive governance structure.
READ: Attempt to exclude drug war victims hit
A LAWYER representing victims of Rodrigo Duterte's bloody drug war on Wednesday denounced the former president's legal team for trying to block their participation in the ongoing proceedings before the International Criminal Court (ICC). Kristina Conti, counsel for victims before the ICC, criticized Duterte's defense lawyers for challenging the qualifications of victims seeking to take part in the case. In particular, she said their insistence on requiring formal national identification or passports as proof of identity was not only unrealistic but deliberately exclusionary. Duterte's defense team submitted a formal objection to the ICC Registry on Monday, raising concerns over procedures regarding victim participation in the ongoing pretrial proceedings against him. In a four-page filing dated April 7, Duterte's lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman argued that the proposed framework for verifying the identity of victims and appointing their legal representatives could compromise the integrity of the proceedings. At the core of the defense's objections is the matter of identity verification — a crucial step for victim participation in ICC cases. The Registry had proposed accepting a broad and flexible range of documents, acknowledging the persistent bureaucratic delays in the issuance of national ID cards in the Philippines. But Duterte's legal team pushed back, saying only Philippine national identity cards or passports with updated photographs should be considered valid. In the absence of these, they suggested adhering strictly to the list of IDs accepted by the Philippine Social Security System. It urged the court to impose stricter verification protocols to safeguard the credibility of the case and avoid fraud.
READ: Officer in funds mess may get new job
A MILITARY officer being investigated for his role in the questionable distribution of confidential funds is being considered for reassignment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Security and Protection Group, The Manila Times learned Wednesday. The officer, Lt. Col. Dennis Nolasco, was deputy commander of the recently deactivated Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), and is being investigated by the Office of the Provost Marshal General for his involvement in the illegal disbursement of confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd). A military source sent The Manila Times a copy of a document where AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner asked the commanding general of the Philippine Army, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, and commander for the General Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command, Brig. Gen. Armand Arevalo, for comments on the reassignment of Nolasco to the ASPG. Based on the document, Nolasco will be temporarily assigned at the AFP Education, Training and Doctrine Command effective May 6 and is "projected to be designated as deputy" to the ASPG. Nolasco and former VPSPG commander Col. Raymund Dante Lachica are being investigated for the confidential fund mess at the OVP and the DepEd when Vice President Sara Duterte was its secretary. The investigation could lead to a court-martial for the two officers if it establishes probable cause.
READ: Asean integration key vs Trump tariffs
Asean must act boldly to speed up regional economic integration as sweeping US tariffs leave much of the world caught in the middle of a devastating trade war, the bloc's chief said Wednesday. The 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which count on the United States as their main export market, were among those slapped with the toughest levies by President Donald Trump. Asean Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn presided over an investment conference on the eve of a meeting of Asean economic and finance ministers as well as central bank governors in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur to discuss how to respond to the US tariffs. Asean governments have chosen not to retaliate against Washington, preferring dialogue. But their export-oriented economies risk being hurt by a global trade war after China — another key market — imposed its own tariffs on the United States. Manufacturing powerhouse and Asean member Vietnam was hit with a 46-percent tariff on exports to the United States, while neighboring Cambodia — a major producer of low-cost clothing for big Western brands — was slapped with a 49-percent duty. Other Asean nations hit with hefty tariffs are Laos (48 percent), Myanmar (44 percent), Thailand (36 percent), Indonesia (32 percent). Malaysia, Southeast Asia's third-largest economy, was hit with a lower tariff of 24 percent. Brunei also faces a 24-percent tariff while the Philippines was hit with 17 percent and Singapore 10 percent.
In Business
READ: ADB cuts PH growth forecast
PHILIPPINE economic growth will likely be lower than previously forecast but still hit the government's target this year, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Wednesday. In an April update to its Asian Development Outlook, the Manila-based lender cut its outlook for 2025 gross domestic product (GDP) to 6.0 percent from 6.2 percent. That for next year is a slightly higher 6.1 percent. The projections, the ADB stressed, were finalized before US President Donald Trump unveiled "reciprocal" tariffs ranging from 10 percent to as much as 50 percent on imports from trading partners including the Philippines, which was slapped with a 17-percent duty. If realized, the latest GDP outlooks mean the country will snap two straight years of below-target economic growth. Last year's 5.7-percent and 2023's 5.5-percent results missed the respective 6.0- to 7.0-percent and 6.0- to 6.5-percent goals. The official target for this year up to 2028 is 6.0-8.0 percent.
Topping Sports
READ: Angels out to dethrone Cool Smashers
PETRO Gazz is on the verge of ending Creamline's dominance in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). The stage is set for a thrilling showdown as the Gazz Angels face off against the league's perennial champions Cool Smashers in Game 2 of the PVL 2024-2025 All-Filipino Conference best-of-three championship series at 6:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum. The two-time Reinforced Conference champion Petro Gazz took the first step toward claiming the championship title, defeating Creamline in a thrilling five-set match (25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10) in Game 1 of the series. Despite a strong comeback attempt by the 10-time PVL champions Cool Smashers, the Angels held their ground and emerged victorious. Reigning Conference Most Valuable Player Brooke Van Sickle led the charge with 24 points, including 21 attacks, two blocks and three aces. Jonah Sabete and MJ Philipps both contributed 16 points each, while Myla Pablo added 12 points to help fend off Creamline. Creamline, known for its resilience, is set to fight back and tie the series, aiming for its fifth consecutive title in the league.
READ: Shai sizzles, Doncic ejected as Thunder down Lakers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers, 136-120, on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) in a hard-fought battle that saw Luka Doncic controversially ejected in the fourth quarter. Two days after suffering a 27-point defeat to the Lakers, the No.1-ranked Thunder avenged that loss, thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander's 13th 40-point game of the season, with Jalen Williams adding 26 and Luguentz Dort, 17. The contest pivoted on the fourth-quarter incident that led to the Lakers' Slovenian star Doncic picking up a second technical foul and being tossed from the game. The Lakers remain in third place with a 48-31 record and need to win two of their remaining three regular-season fixtures to lock in third seeding in the Western Conference.
READ: Mahinay bags 2nd gold in Prisaa
Central Visayas continued to flex its athletic prowess as Cebu bet Mark Mahinay secured his second gold medal on Day 3 of the 2025 Prisaa Games in Cagayan Sports Complex, Tuguegarao City, on Wednesday. Mahinay, a crowd favorite and feared by most competitors who earned the first gold of the tournament in the 5000-meter (m) race, clinched his second gold medal by winning the 1500-m event in three minutes and 59.5 seconds. The 23-year-old bolter shared that he was satisfied with his run despite not beating his personal best of 3:54.00 seconds. The Prisaa top runner out ran his teammate Oswaldo Arcelo Jr. (4:06.3), who settled for silver, and bronze winner Mark Renniel Hubag of Sultan Kudarat (4:10.1). Mahinay guns for the third gold medal relay event on Friday.
READ: Opinion
The Times, in its editorial, says all eyes are on PH in the case of the detained Russian YouTuber. Read the full version on print and digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Featured columnists on the front page are Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Danton Remoto. Contreras tackles the role of education in political literacy; Makabenta says since the Senate ratified the Philippines accession to the International Criminal Court, it should also be the first to proclaim the country's withdrawal from the treaty in 2019; Remoto talks about the Madrasah education for Muslim students.
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