Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Friday, March 25, 2022.
READ: Lacson leaves Partido Reporma
PRESIDENTIAL candidate Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has quit as the standard-bearer of the Partido ng Demokratikong Reporma after party leaders decided to support Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo. He said he was informed on Wednesday by Partido Reporma president, former Speaker Pantaleon "Bebot" Alvarez, that the party's bloc in Davao del Norte led by the party Secretary General and provincial Governor Edwin Jubahib, "has decided to endorse another presidential candidate." In a press conference in General Santos City, Lacson said Alvarez's group has long abandoned him. It started at the onset of the campaign period when "they're no longer present on the ground," he said. Lacson insisted he was not withdrawing from the presidential race.
READ: Duterte meets with Marcos
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. had a "cordial and productive" meeting, erasing speculations that a wall of animosity stands between them, a Palace official said. Acting Malacañang spokesman Martin Andanar said on Thursday the President "discussed the current government's major achievements and gave pieces of advice to Mr. Marcos." Andanar said the President expressed optimism that Marcos will continue his administration's key programs and projects. The President's daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, is Marcos' vice presidential candidate under the UniTeam banner. The President has never endorsed Marcos' candidacy and is widely believed to dislike him.
READ: Local campaigning kicks off
THE 45-day campaign period for local candidates kicks off today, March 25. Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez said on Thursday all local and national candidates are now covered by campaign rules. At stake on May 9 are 18,100 positions. Aside from the positions for president and vice president there are 12 slots for senators, 63 for party-list groups, 253 for members of the House of Representatives, 81 each for governors and vice governors, 782 for provincial councils, 1,634 each for mayors and vice mayors, and 13,558 for municipal councils.
READ: Govt imposes price cap on more medicines
THE government has put a ceiling on the price of 204 more medicines following the issuance of Executive Order 155 that expands the number of drugs under the Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) system, the Department of Health said. EO 155 widens the coverage of Executive Order 104 implemented in June 2020. Medicines covered under EO 155 are for the top diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
READ: Times presents Journalism in time of Pandemic and Beyond
The Manila Times and Manila Times College in cooperation with SM Foundation will present "Journalism in time of pandemic and beyond: Presenting news and information responsibly," an online event for campus journalists, their friends and mentors. In times of crisis, especially in the age of social media, where fake news or distorted information abound, it is important to always stay true to the principles and practices of quality, ethical and unbiased journalism. Two seasoned journalists from renowned international media organizations will be the guest speakers — Allison Jackson, Manila bureau chief of Agence France-Presse, and Marga Ortigas, former senior correspondent of Al Jazeera. The online event will be streamed on The Manila Times Facebook page, YouTube and Dailymotion channels at 10 a.m. It will be moderated by TMT Chairman and CEO Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd and TMT Campus Press editor Arlo Custodio.
BUSINESS: BSP keeps rates unchanged
Topping business, monetary authorities kept key interest rates at record lows on Thursday, choosing to prioritize economic recovery over rising consumer prices. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) overnight borrowing, lending and deposit rates were maintained at 2.00 percent, 1.50 percent and 2.50 percent, respectively, by the policy-making Monetary Board.
SPORTS: Philta expects ITF ban to be lifted soon
In sports, the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) is expecting to have its suspension from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) lifted soon after making reforms in its leadership and membership structure. Philta President Atty. Antonio Cablitas said amendments have been made in the Philta Constitution to increase the association's membership and representation. During the Philta Trustees election held via Zoom on Jan. 2, 2021, Cablitas was elected president, Manuel Misa as vice president and treasurer, and Martin Misa as secretary general. The other Philta Trustees are Romeo Magat, Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Dr. Pablo Olivarez and Ms. Edna Olivarez-Nguyen.
READ: Opinion and Editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Ruben Torres are today's front page columnists. Tiglao believes American organizations are funding a candidate, while Torres weighs in on the four-day work week.
Today's editorial believes Russian president Vladimir Putin is playing the nuclear card on Ukraine. 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 Friday ahead.