Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Saturday, August 31, 2024.
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READ: KoJC base a maze of secret passages
POLICE have discovered intricate passageways, explosives and deadly weapons inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) compound in Davao City as they continue the search for its leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Thursday afternoon, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. presented videos taken during the first days of the search, which showed complex structural designs of buildings inside the 30-hectare estate. Abalos said police discovered a secret passageway that leads to another room and at least 42 buildings inside the compound.
READ: Marcos meets with Viet defense chief
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday reiterated his administration's commitment to strengthening ties with Vietnam, particularly in defense and security and trade, as he met with Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang in Malacañang. It was Phan's first visit to the Philippines since he was named defense chief on April 8, 2021. During their meeting, the President underscored the Philippines and Vietnam's significant ties, which now span decades.
READ: Times joins drive against fake news
THE Manila Times joined prominent media organizations, academic institutions, and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in launching a campaign to stop the proliferation of fake news and deepfakes. The Times President and Chief Executive Officer, Dante “Klink” Ang II on Friday signed the covenant, “Panata Kontra Fake News,” in ceremonies at the GMA-7 Studio in Quezon City. Other signatories were Philippine Daily Inquirer President and CEO Rudyard Arbolado; Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. Publisher Herminio Coloma Jr.; Manila Standard Publisher Rolando Estabillo; Daily Tribune President Willie Fernandez; Malaya Chief Executive Officer Antonio Macasaet; and Business Mirror Publisher T. Anthony Cabangon.
READ: Guo, 35 others charged with money laundering
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc) on Friday filed 87 counts of money laundering charges against dismissed mayor Alice Guo and 35 others before the Department of Justice (DoJ). The charges involved an estimated P7 billion in assets of the so-called scam farm operations in Central Luzon. Among those charged for violation of Republic Act 9160, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, were Cassandra Ong and Alice's supposed sibling, Shiela, as well as officials of QSeed Genetics, Zun Yuan Technology Inc., Hongshen Gaming Technology Inc., QJJ Farms, and Baofu Land Development Inc. The complaint said the respondents, “through their individual or collective conspiratorial acts, evidently transacted the money or money instruments representing the proceeds of the unlawful activities involving human trafficking, securities regulation violation, and estafa/swindling.”
BUSINESS: August inflation on target – BSP
Headlining business, lower fuel and key food prices may drive inflation back within target levels in August, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Friday. Consumer price growth, which spiked to 4.4 percent in July, was estimated to have declined to 3.2- to 4.0-percent range. The Philippine Statistics Authority is scheduled to release inflation data for the month on September 5.
SPORTS: Ganapin, Gawilan take centerstage in Paralympics
Over to sports, taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin and swimmer Ernie Gawilan take centerstage for Team Philippines at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris on Saturday. Ganapin makes his Paralympic debut against Hadi Hassanzada of the Refugee Paralympic Team in the men's K44 -80-kilogram round of 32. The match is set at 4 p.m. (Manila time) at the Grand Palais. Ganapin, whose right arm was amputated to his elbow due to a congenital disorder, is supposed to be on his second Paralympics stint. The 26-year-old has qualified for Tokyo Games but was forced to withdraw after testing positive for Covid-19 before his opening bout. At 5:20 p.m., the 33-year-old Gawilan starts his third Paralympics campaign in the men's 200-m individual medley SM7. Gawilan, a four-time Asian Para Games gold medalist and nine-time Asean Para Games champion, will also compete at the 400-m freestyle S7 on Monday at 3:38 p.m.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, Danton Remoto, and Leonor Briones are today's front page columnists. Contreras discusses the implications of Alice Guo's departure, Makabenta asks if former president Rodrigo Duterte was turning the country into a narco-state, Remoto looks into “Majapahit”, and Briones, a former education secretary, sends her regards to Silliman University on their 123rd anniversary.
Today's editorial has a troubling suggestion for the National Maritime Council after they suggested reviewing the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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