Good day. Here are the top stories for The Manila Times on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
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READ: Marcos ratings plunge while VP posts gains
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suffered a double-digit decline in his approval and trust ratings, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey which also showed a notable rise in public support for Vice President Sara Duterte. In the survey conducted from March 23 to 29 among 2,400 respondents, Marcos' approval ratings saw a steep decline, dropping from 42 percent in February to just 25 percent in March, with 53 percent disapproving and 22 percent remaining neutral. On the other hand, Duterte's approval ratings climbed from 52 percent in February to 59 percent, with 16 percent disapproving and 25 percent neutral. Aside from the two top officials, the approval ratings for other officials also dipped over the same period. Senate President Francis Escudero's approval rating fell from 47 percent to 39 percent, with 18 percent disapproving and 39 percent neutral. House Speaker Martin Romualdez saw his rating drop from 17 percent to 14 percent, with 54 percent disapproving and 31 percent neutral. Trust ratings followed a similar trend, mirroring the decline in approval ratings — except for Duterte, who was "the only top official with an improvement in trust ratings," Pulse Asia said.
READ: 2 dead as ship capsizes
TWO crew members — a Filipino and a Chinese — were confirmed dead after the sand carrier they were on capsized off the coast of Malawan village in the town of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, late Tuesday afternoon. The incident prompted a large-scale maritime search and rescue operation led by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The MV Hong Hai 16, manned by 25 crew members — 13 Filipinos and 12 Chinese — overturned under moderate sea conditions at about 5:20 p.m., the Coast Guard Sub-Station in San Jose said. The PCG swiftly mobilized multiple response teams, including specialized divers and marine environmental protection units. So far, 14 individuals have been rescued — six Filipinos and eight Chinese. Nine of the crew remain missing: six Filipinos and three Chinese. The MV Hong Hai 16, owned by Keen Peak Corp., was transporting sand when it capsized just off the Mindoro coastline. Initial reports suggest the vessel may have been compromised by a sudden tilt or possible mechanical failure, though investigations are still ongoing. PCG officials are also monitoring the vessel for potential oil leaks, working closely with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to prepare for the deployment of containment booms. By Wednesday morning, rescue operations intensified with reinforcements from Sablayan and neighboring coastal stations, supported by volunteers and local fishermen. The area has been cordoned off, and nearby communities have been urged to report any debris or sightings that may aid search efforts.
READ: Maundy Thursday: A day of irony, truth
FILIPINOS across the country pause today to observe Maundy Thursday, a day that marks one of the most important moments in Christianity — the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his apostles before his demise. For many, this is not only a day of solemn religious obligation but also a cultural tradition. Ironically, this may be Jesus' last supper but for many Filipinos, this is their first supper with their families as they head home for the Holy Week holidays. Maundy Thursday, known locally as Huwebes Santo, traditionally marks the start of the Triduum, the three-day solemn commemoration of Christ's passion, death and resurrection. The ritual of the Washing of the Feet, in which priests replicate Jesus' humble gesture of washing the feet of his disciples, remains a powerful tradition. At the Manila Cathedral, the Washing of the Feet will take place during the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Thursday. This is an act that aligns with the spirit of the Jubilee Year of Hope, which calls people to recognize and nurture the hope present in every person they encounter.
READ: US, PH forces set for major combat drills
ABOUT 14,000 American and Filipino soldiers will take part in battle-readiness exercises in the Philippines, including live-fire drills, in a large-scale deployment that shows the Trump administration is not scaling back its commitment to help deter aggression in the region, a senior Philippine military official said Tuesday. The annual joint Balikatan — Filipino for "shoulder-to-shoulder" — exercises between the longtime allies will be held from April 21 to May 9 and involve about 9,000 United States and 5,000 Filipino military personnel. They will involve fighter aircraft, navy ships and an array of weaponry, including a US anti-ship missile system, Brig. Gen. Michael Logico said. Australia will deploy about 200 military personnel, and Japan and a number of other friendly nations will send smaller military delegations. China has denounced such war drills in or near the disputed South China Sea and in northern Philippine provinces close to Taiwan, especially those that involve the US and allied forces that Beijing says aim to contain it and consequently threaten regional stability and peace. Logico said the Balikatan exercises were not aimed at any particular country.
READ: Comelec seeks to disqualify Sia
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has filed a petition for disqualification against a congressional candidate in the lone district of Pasig City for making vulgar remarks toward single mothers. The Comelec Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections (Task Force SAFE) filed the petition against Christian Sia for allegedly violating Comelec Resolutions 11116 and 11127, and Section 262(e) of the Omnibus Election Code. Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said the Task Force SAFE is convinced that Sia violated the commission's anti-discrimination policy, and thus filed the petition for his disqualification. Under Comelec Resolution 11116, any person who commits an act of discrimination — whether based on HIV status, gender or disability — shall be held accountable. This also includes bullying, coercion, discrimination against women and persons with disabilities, gender-based harassment, labeling, violations of anti-discrimination ordinances and infringements on the right to religious and cultural sites or ceremonies.
In Business
READ: PPP project list expanded
PUBLIC-PRIVATE partnership (PPP) projects in the pipeline have increased to 187 as of last Friday from 176 a month earlier, the PPP Center said, with their combined worth also rising to P2.64 trillion from P2.60 trillion. The expansion was primarily driven by the inclusion of 14 new projects — three national and 11 local — either through unsolicited proposals endorsed for further evaluation or via submissions from implementing agencies, the agency said on Wednesday. These new projects span a wide range of sectors, including energy, health care, transportation, tourism and infrastructure, it added. The national projects added to the list are the P3.97-billion Last Mile Schools Green Energy and Connectivity Project of the Department of Education and WeGen Energy Philippines; the P4.3-billion Philippine Coast Guard Maritime Modernization Program proposed by the Maritime Technology Group; and the P5.31-billion Subic International Airport Project of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Cerberus Asia Pacific Investments LLC.
Topping Sports
READ: Warriors down Grizzlies to reach playoffs
Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler combined for 75 points as the Golden State Warriors squeezed into the NBA playoffs on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) with a pulsating 121-116 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. A thrilling play-in duel at San Francisco's Chase Center saw the Warriors hang on after a ferocious second-half fightback by Memphis, who trailed by as much as 20 points before rallying back to edge into the lead late in the game. But just when Memphis threatened to pull off a famous victory, Curry stepped up with a huge 15-point fourth quarter to shepherd the Warriors to a win that sets up a first-round playoff series against second seeds Houston. Curry finished with 37 points, including six three-pointers, while Butler led the Golden State scoring with 38 points in another masterful performance from the former Miami Heat talisman. Memphis were left pondering what might have been after a rousing second-half fightback that fell just short, losing precious momentum in the third quarter when Ja Morant was forced to leave the floor for several minutes after rolling an ankle. Desmond Bane led from the front with 30 points while Morant, who returned to the game but was clearly hampered by his injury, finished with 22 points. The Grizzlies will now face the winner of Wednesday's other play-in between the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks for the final playoff ticket from the Western Conference.
READ: Universal Studios to host LA events
An iconic Hollywood studio lot and the golden sands of Venice Beach are among an array of Los Angeles landmarks that will stage events for the 2028 Olympic Games, organizers said Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila). In an updated list of venues for the Games, LA28 confirmed venues for surfing, triathlon, baseball, cricket and squash, among other sports. Universal Studios will play host to squash's Olympic debut, with the sport taking place on Courthouse Square — the mock-up town square featured prominently in Oscar-winning movies such as "Back to the Future" and "To Kill a Mockingbird." Venice Beach, meanwhile, will host the triathlon — relocating from its initial venue in Long Beach — and will also be the starting point for the men's and women's marathon, as well as the cycling road races. LA28 organizers also confirmed that cricket — which is making its return to the Olympics for the first time in more than a century — will be held at a purpose-built venue at Pomona, just east of Los Angeles. Earlier reports had suggested cricket could have been staged thousands of miles from Los Angeles in New York. The venue for surfing was also confirmed, with the competition taking place at Trestles Beach in the coastal town of San Clemente, roughly 61 miles (98 kilometers) from Los Angeles. Baseball will take place at Dodger Stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, which also hosted the sport at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
READ: Opinion
Make use of better FTAs is today's editorial on the Times. Read the fill 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 writes about Sara's black ops and Imee's desperation; Makabenta on reform and renewal of the country's political system and Remoto on combating cild labor in the Philippines.
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