Good morning. Here are the stories of The Manila Times, Saturday January 14, 2023.
BANNER – 43 police officers probed for ‘cleansing.
As part of the ongoing drive to rid the Philippine National Police (PNP), of those who are involved in drug trafficking, at least 43 officers from NCRPO were summoned for an initial screening procedure. According to LtCol. NCRPO, the policemen were named on the NCRPO’s drug watch list, which was compiled by its counterintelligence division. Dexter Versola. NCRPO Acting Region Director MGen called them. Versola stated that Jonnel Estomo was taken to Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City to allow them to clear their names. The Metro Manila police force will be screened to eliminate any doubts about its integrity, especially regarding anti-narcotics units.
Manila port seized P19-M smuggled Sugar
Smuggled sugar valued at P19 million was seized by the Manila International Container Port, the Department of Agriculture reported Friday. James Layug, Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Inspection and Enforcement, said that the contraband cargo was found in five shipping containers on January 11. Layug claimed that the shipment was labelled as insulators. The shipment had been held at the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, (PDEA), Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force(CAIDTF), Bureau of Plant Industry and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Servicess (CIIS) and was inspected by Layug. Layug indicated that DA is preparing criminal charges against Burias Jang Consumer Goods Trading as a result of misdeclaration of the shipment’s destination.
Wealth fund approves of foreign business executives
FOREIGN business leaders from the Philippines agree that the Maharlika Wealth Fund is a good idea if implemented properly. Lorens Ziller, the Executive Director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, believes that the country will become a popular destination for foreign investors. The MWF, a sovereign fund, will be used by the government to invest in a variety of outlets, including foreign currencies, fixed income instruments, commercial real estate, and projects that impact infrastructure. Chris Nelson, the trustee of the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and executive director of the MWF, spoke out during the roundtable hosted by Dante Klink Ang 2nd, chairman and CEO of The Manila Times. Nelson pointed out that wealth funds have had many successes and achieved results. Jesper Svenningsen (Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Executive director) agreed that the wealth fund could bring benefits to the country. He was joined by Nelson and Ziller in the roundtable. Svenningsen stated that President Marcos should also raise the issue of climate change in Davos.
DA Wants to Know Why Egg Prices Are So High
The Department of Agriculture (DA), is investigating why egg retail prices have soared up to P10 per piece. Kristine Evangelista, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman for the department, said Friday that they were investigating after Gregorio San Diego, Chairman of the Philippine Egg Board said that the farmgate price is still low at between P6.70 to P7.20 per pound.
Red-tagging continues to be a threat to the Church
According to a Church official RED-tagging continues to be a threat to missionaries in the Church, even though a local court cleared a Catholic nun and several human right activists of perjury charges filed by a former national intelligence adviser in 2019. Fr. Christian Buenafe O.Carm., chairman of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, said that while the court dismissed the perjury charge, the case still has implications for those who work to promote justice, equality, and freedom in the Philippines. Fr. Buenafe, also the executive secretary of the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines, stated that the Church has a clear desire to help the poor. They are however vulnerable to red tagging or allegations of being members in rebel groups.
NDRRMC: Infra, agri damage up P418M
Friday’s report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council was P418 Million in agricultural and infrastructure damage due to floods. The flooding has been caused by the combination of the shearline phenomena and a low-pressure zone (LPA), since January 2. The agriculture damage is estimated at P252,698,531 with P165,745,496 being for infrastructure. According to the National Irrigation Administration, (NIA), there was a total of P25,610,000 in damage. According to the report, 17 people died. According to the report, there were 17 deaths: five in Bicol and four each in Zamboanga or Northern Mindanao; three in Eastern Visayas, one in Davao, and one in Northern Mindanao.
BBM asks for private sector support on Natl ID
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, has asked the private sector for help in “get the National Identification out”, stating that it has the technology and capability to create new digital IDs. Marcos issued a directive on Thursday to speed up the digitalization of the national ID system during his meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) on Digital Infrastructure in Malacañang.
BUSINESS: PH plays a key role in Indo-Pacific growth
Topping business, better regional ties, supply chains and infrastructure will allow the Indo-Pacific region to grow — especially in these trying times — and the Philippines can play a central role in achieving this, Cabinet officials said. A panel discussion was held during Thursday’s forum. Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual stated that the Philippines has many advantages when it comes to establishing supply chains. Because of its central location, the Philippines has been a gateway to the Pacific and north.
SPORTS – Dindin inks for Akari Chargers in PVL
The Akari Chargers have signed Aleona Denise Santiago Manabat, an ex-Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Crossovers volleyball player, to a deal in sports. The Akari Chargers team announced her signing Friday, January 13. Manabat, 29, had previously played for many PVL teams between 2013 and 2022 and also had played for two Japanese teams between 2020 and 2018. She was a part of the Chery Tiggo Team that won the PVL open conference championship in 2021. Manabat was last in Thailand last year for the Nakhon Ratchasima Women’s Volleyball Club. Manabat joins Camille Victoria and Bang Pineda as Akari’s new recruits. Akari also has its holdovers in Trisha Gen, Erika Raagas and Lycha Ebon, Michelle Cobb and Jaja Maraguinot. Janine Marciano is Janine Marciano. Myla Pablo will be joining the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
Opinion and editorial
Today’s columnists include Antonio Contreras (Yen Makabenta), Danton Remoto and Danton Rmoto. Contreras discusses the current political situation in the US. Contreras continues his series about the country being an onion. Remoto speaks about the Library Renewal Partnership.
Today’s editorial believes President Marcos is sending a wrong message by addressing the controversial sovereign fund of the country during the World Economic Forum, Davos. You can read the entire article in the paper’s opinion section, or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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This is Peter Steven Llevares reporting.