HEADLINES: Govt goes all-out to aid storm victims | October 26, 2024

Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Saturday, October 26, 2024.

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READ: Govt goes all-out to aid storm victims

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday ordered the full mobilization of all government assets, including the presidential helicopters, for rescue and relief missions in areas affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami). To ensure that his directive was fully carried out, the President ordered Cabinet secretaries to lead relief and rehabilitation work. He said he wanted “a conveyor belt of aid that is constantly delivering aid to the front.”

READ: Deaths from ‘Kristine’ onslaught climb to 46

THE Office of the Civil Defense reported 46 deaths due to the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. OCD Executive Director Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno also said 20 people were reported missing and seven were injured. The figures are still being validated by the OCD. Majority of the deaths were in the Bicol Region with 28. Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) followed with 15. Almost all of the deaths were attributed to landslides and drowning. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said it has so far verified 13 deaths. The number of people affected by Kristine (international name: Trami) rose to 2,656,446.

READ: Bato to ‘share truth’ at blue ribbon probe

In other news, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Friday said he is prepared to “share the truth” about the war on illegal drugs of former president Rodrigo Duterte when the Senate blue ribbon committee starts its inquiry on Monday. In facing his accusers, Dela Rosa said he would be frank and candid to set the record straight on allegations being thrown against him as one of the chief implementers of the war on drugs during his tenure as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

READ: DoJ orders relentless pursuit of drug cohort

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla called on the public to collaborate with law enforcement agencies in identifying and apprehending the accomplices of the suspected drug pusher caught operating near Malacañang Complex. In a statement on Friday, Remulla vowed to run after those behind the drug den found in the Palace compound. Armed with a warrant of arrest issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 37, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), along with the Presidential Security Group (PSG), raided an alleged drug den at 946 Nicanor Padilla Street, San Miguel, Manila located within the Malacañang complex on October 16. Law enforcers arrested the suspect identified as Edgar Ventura, alias “Face,” and confiscated nine sachets containing suspected shabu, along with drug paraphernalia. Authorities said Ventura’s alleged partner-in-crime, Francisco Soriano, alias “Juntot” managed to evade arrest. The two suspects face charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. A complaint has been filed against the suspects with the Manila Prosecutor’s Office.

READ: Social media nurtures fight against corruption

THE expansive reach of social media platforms provides fertile ground for anti-corruption movements, allowing citizens to engage, report corruption, and hold public officials accountable, according to the director of the Centre for Forensic Accounting Studies at the Islamic University of Indonesia. At a recent seminar on anti-corruption, Dr. Hendi Yogi Prabowo emphasized how information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become pivotal tools for promoting transparency, accountability and public engagement in the fight against corruption. Prabowo said that with over 256 million people, Indonesia is rapidly becoming one of the largest digital markets globally. As of 2016, 51.8 percent of the population were internet users, and an astonishing 97.4 percent of them utilized social media platforms. Prabowo pointed out that social media platforms like Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter, have facilitated public discourse around high-profile corruption cases.

READ: Ang II sworn in as Filipinos overseas commission head

THE Manila Times chairman and chief executive officer Dante Ang II took his oath as the new secretary of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), an agency promoting and upholding the interests, rights and welfare of overseas Filipinos. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin administered the oath to Ang in Malacañang on Friday. Ang, whose appointment paper was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on October 16, replaced former CFO chairman Romulo Arugay. Prior to his appointment, Ang was an acting member of the Board of Directors of Clark International Airport Corp., a non-chartered government-owned and -controlled corporation. Ang, a recipient of the Most Outstanding Publication Chief Executive Officer of the Year award in 2024, was also chairman of the National Book Development Board, an attached agency of the Department of Education.

BUSINESS: Peso back in P58:$1 territory

Topping business, the peso fell to its lowest in nearly three months on Friday, dropping back to the 58 pesos to $1 level as the dollar strengthened on expectations of slower Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts and the possibility of a second Trump presidency. Trading resumed after two days of storm-halted foreign exchange operations, and the currency closed out the week at 58.32 pesos against the greenback, its lowest since August 1.

SPORTS: Ateneo, La Salle renew rivalry in UAAP

Over to sports, the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament is back in action today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, headlined by the highly anticipated rivalry game between Ateneo de Manila University and defending champion De La Salle University. Ateneo (3-6) seeks to extend its two-game winning streak against La Salle (9-1), which has already secured a Final Four spot. The Blue Eagles aim to close the gap with University of Santo Tomas (4-6) and revive their playoff hopes. Head coach Tab Baldwin emphasizes his team’s growth and development amid external pressure.

READ: Opinion and editorial

Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, Danton Remoto, and Leonor Briones are today’s front page columnists. Contreras explains the country’s obsession of importing rice, Makabenta looks into the oil exploration in the West Philippine Sea, Remoto has opinions on Han Kang’s Nobel Prize for Literature, and Briones looks into life’s seasons.

Today’s editorial talks about energy transition. Read the full version in the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

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