Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Saturday, April 30, 2022.

READ: Robredo challenges Marcos to a debate

VICE President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo on Friday challenged the leading presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to a debate "anytime, anywhere," but Marcos' camp replied that "it will never happen." Robredo also said in the statement she will not be attending the forum for presidential and vice presidential bets sponsored by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP). Replying to Robredo's call, Marcos spokesman Victor Rodriguez said their camp will only engage in "positive campaigning." Explaining her reason for not attending the forum organized by the Comelec and KBP, Robredo said she had been presenting her track record, intentions, and principles through panel interviews and social media since the start of the campaign period. Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, her running mate, will likewise be unable to attend, citing his tight campaign schedule. Pangilinan challenged his rival, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, to participate in the forum because she and Marcos had never attended debates with other candidates.

READ: Relief of 2 Comelec officials recommended

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COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rey Bulay has recommended the temporary relief of Comelec spokesman James Jimenez and Director Frances Arabe, both of the Education and Information Department (EID), in connection with the cancellation of the last episodes of the vice presidential and presidential debates sponsored by the poll body. Bulay, who heads the task force investigating the debate fiasco, made the recommendation to Comelec Chairman Saidemen Pangarungan on Friday.

READ: Energy players push shift to renewables

ENERGY stakeholders on Friday underscored the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy (RE) in the country and said the government can help attract more investments in the sector. In a virtual forum organized by The Manila Times, Jose Layug Jr., president of Developers of Renewable Energy for AdvanceMent Inc., said the Philippines has a lot to offer RE investors, especially now that legislation promoting alternatives to fossil fuels is in place. Layug noted that the Philippines has abundant RE resources and should push for it instead of relying on traditional fuel. Layug said RE is cheaper than conventional fuel and allows the country to be less reliant on imported fuel resources. REs never deplete and have lower carbon emission, he said.

READ: Justice chief says Espinosa perjured himself

KERWIN Espinosa perjured himself when he recanted his sworn statement implicating Sen. Leila de Lima to the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP), Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Friday. Guevarra said the self-confessed drug lord made false statements under oath when he withdrew his statement against de Lima, who has been detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) custodial center in Camp Crame, Quezon City since February 2017. One of the three narcotics-related cases filed against the senator was dismissed last year. The remaining two are being tried at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court.

READ: Adult joblessness at 28% in Dec. 2021, says SWS

ABOUT 11 million Filipinos or 24.7 percent of the adult labor force were jobless in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS). The jobless consist of those who voluntarily left their old jobs, those seeking jobs for the first time or those who lost their jobs because of economic circumstances beyond their control. The December 2021 joblessness rate was 2.6 percent lower than the 27.3 percent in November 2020 but falls within the sampling margin error of survey results. The survey results showed that adult joblessness was highest in Metro Manila at 34.1 percent, followed by Balance Luzon at 29.1 percent, Mindanao at 18.1 percent and the Visayas at 16.7 percent.

BUSINESS: Inflation projected to hit as high as 5%

Over to business, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Friday that headline inflation likely rose to as high as 5 percent in April due to higher power, fuel and food expenses. The actual 4.2- to 5.0-percent estimated range for the month by the central bank is higher than the 4-percent result in March.

SPORTS: No rematch for Paras, Paradero

In sports, boxer Vince Paras of General Santos City refuses to have a rematch with Robert "Inggo" Paradero of Malaybalay, Bukidnon. He said he did not even want to fight him the first time. Paras said he didn't want a rematch, as he and Paradero are "buddies". Their 10-round bout ended in a split draw on Tuesday, April 26, at the Sanman Gym in General Santos City but Paras thinks he should have won the fight. He later said he was forced to fight Paradero.

READ: Opinion and editorial

Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta are today's front page columnists. Contreras talks about his recent experience in Boracay, while Makabenta analyzes the final stretch of the election campaign.

Today's editorial talks about responsible and practical gambling policies. 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 Labor Day weekend.