Good morning. These are the stories from The Manila Times Saturday, January 14, 2023.
BANNER – 43 policemen are questioned as ‘cleansing begins’
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 NCRPO spokesperson LtCol. Dexter Versola. NCRPO Acting Director MGen called them. Versola explained that Jonnel Estomo took them to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, to get a chance to clear their name. The Metro Manila police force screening is expected to clear any doubts, especially about the integrity of its anti-narcotics team.
Manila port seizes P19-M smuggled sweets
The Manila International Container Port (MICP) was seized with smuggled sugar worth at least P19million, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA). James Layug (Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Inspection) said the contraband cargo had been discovered in five shipping containers on Jan 11. Layug claimed that the shipment was labelled as insulators. The shipment was ordered to be held on November 29, and it was inspected by a team of the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and (PDEA), Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force and (CAIDTF), Bureau of Plant Industry and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services. Layug stated that DA was preparing charges against Burias Jang Consumer Goods Trading for violating the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 and misdeclaration.
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, Executive Director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines believes that a sovereign wealth fund can make the Philippines a desirable destination for investors. The MWF is a sovereign money fund that the government can use to invest in a wide variety of avenues such as fixed-income instruments, foreign currency, corporate bonds, commercial realty, and infrastructure projects. 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 said that many wealth funds are well managed and have delivered positive results. Jesper Svenningsen from the Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, who was joined in the roundtable by Nelson and Ziller, agreed that the wealth funds can bring about benefits for the country. Svenningsen stated that President Marcos should also raise the issue of climate change in Davos.
DA would like to know why egg prices have risen
The Department of Agriculture (DA), is investigating why egg retail prices have risen to as high at P10 per pound. 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 remains a threat for 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
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, (NDRRMC), reported Friday that P418 million was incurred by agriculture and infrastructure as a result of floods caused by the combination the shearline phenomenon and a low pressure area (LPA). This has been occurring since January 2. P252,698,531 is the damage to agriculture and P165,745,496 to infrastructure. According to the National Irrigation Administration, (NIA), there was a total of P25,610,000 in damage. It also stated that 17 deaths had occurred. According to the report, there were 17 deaths: five in Bicol and four in Northern Mindanao. Three in Eastern Visayas, one in Davao, and three in Zamboanga.
BBM requests private sector assistance on Natl ID
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, has asked the private sector for help in “get the National Identification out.” He said that the sector 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: The key role of PH 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. In a panel discussion that took place during Thursday’s forum Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual indicated that “The Philippines has many factors going for them when it comes to setting up supply chains.” The Philippines’ central position makes it a natural gateway to the north and Pacific.
SPORTS: Dindin inks in PVL with Akari Chargers
Sports: Aleona Denise Santiago-Manabat, a former Chery Tiggo 7 pro crossovers player, has signed a contract with the Akari Chargers, the newest Premier Volleyball League team. On Friday, January 13th, the team announced her signing. 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 part of the Chery Tiggo team, which won the PVL Open conference championship in 2021. Manabat played last year in Thailand 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 is now heading to 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 thinks that 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.
Get more information from the The Manila Times Subscribe to it for print digital edition Log on or register www.manilatimes.net. Follow us Twitter, Facebook Oder Instagram Keep up to date with The Times.
This is Peter Steven Llevares reporting.