Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Monday, July 12, 2021.
READ: Carpio's plan to push WPS deal hit
Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay said retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio was an "outsider" in the West Philippine Sea case who was pushing an "unethical" plan for a deal with China. Hilbay lashed out at Carpio a day before the fifth anniversary of the landmark arbitral decision on the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The Philippines filed an arbitration case in 2013 based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to settle the maritime dispute with China. On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague, Netherlands, upheld the Philippines' exclusive economic zone rights in the WPS. The court ruled China's nine-dash line covering almost 90 percent of the contested waters has no legal basis in international law. In the article he posted on Facebook, Hilbay said Carpio continues to malign the members of the legal team of former president Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino 3rd that handled the Philippine case against China.
READ: 'Expulsion defies party rules'
One of the officials of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) expelled by the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) on Sunday refused to recognize the resolution for his ouster, saying it is against the party's bylaws. Last week, the committee expelled party vice chairman Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, deputy secretary general Melvin Matibag and membership committee head Astra Naik for allegedly expressing allegiance to another party. The resolution kicking out the three was adopted on July 3, signed by Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, the party's acting president, and House Deputy Speaker Arnolfo Teves Jr., its acting secretary general. Matibag said in a radio interview his expulsion violates the bylaws of the party. He said the NEC, a committee which was created by Pacquiao, has no disciplining authority. Only the National Council, through two thirds vote, could order an expulsion, Matibag said.
READ: Go vows continued aid for vulnerable sectors
SEN. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go assured continued government support for vulnerable sectors, particularly farmers and fisherfolk, affected by the pandemic. Go made the pledge on Friday as he distributed meals, food packs, vitamins, masks and face shields to over 200 agri-fishery workers and 30 former rebels in Dauis, Bohol. The senator urged them to voice their concerns as he and President Rodrigo Duterte will be ready to serve them. The rebel returnees received help through the barangay (village) development program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. The activity was held in batches at the municipal gym in compliance with health and safety protocols against Covid-19. Recipients also received new shoes, while others were provided bicycles for daily commuting needs or computer tablets to help their children study and access educational materials at home.
READ: SWS: Number of poor Filipinos the same
THE number of Filipinos who consider themselves poor has not changed, results of a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed. The survey, conducted from April 28 to May 2, showed that 49 percent of those polled considered themselves poor while only 17 percent considered themselves "not poor." Meanwhile, 33 percent considered themselves "borderline poor." The SWS said the figures are similar to the November 2020 results, which showed 16 percent felt they are "not poor," 48 percent felt "poor" and 36 percent felt "borderline poor."
BUSINESS: Govt debt payments expand in May
In business, increased interest payments and amortization charges expanded the national government's debt servicing last May compared to payments made a year earlier, according to figures provided over the weekend by the Bureau of the Treasury. Debt servicing reached P37.80 billion in May, up 53.39 percent from P24.64 billion the previous year. Interest payments climbed by 857.64 percent from P21.88 billion in May 2020 to P28.93 billion, accounting for 76.54 percent of total servicing. Domestic interest payments increased by 66.67 percent to P24.11 billion in May, rising from P14.46 billion a year before, while external interest payments grew by 24.05 percent to P4.82 billion, soaring from P3.88 billion a year earlier.
SPORTS: WBA denies Pacquiao's reinstatement request
In sports, the World Boxing Association (WBA) disapproved the request of Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao's camp to reinstate the only eight- division world champion as the "super" welterweight titlist, per ESPN Deportes' Salvador Rodriguez on Saturday. With this, Cuban fighter Yordenis Ugas remains as the holder of the super welterweight belt. At the end of January this year, the WBA stripped Pacquiao off his "super" welterweight belt for his inactivity, as the 42-year-old last fought in July 2019 when he beat Keith Thurman to win the title. The WBA then promoted Ugas as the new champion and relegated Pacquiao as the "champion in recess."
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino are today's front page columnists. Tiglao discusses Vietnam's claims to the West Philippine Sea while Fr. Aquino talks about Filipino universities faring in the 21st century.
Today's editorial believes politics is distracting Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao's upcoming boxing match against Errol Spence. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe week ahead.