Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.
Harris reaffirms US pledge to defend PH
THE United States has an "unwavering" commitment to the Philippines, US Vice President Kamala Harris said Monday during her meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang. The vice president is the highest-ranking American official to visit Manila since Marcos took power in June, signaling a growing rapport between the longtime allies after years of frayed relations under his Beijing-friendly predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. She reiterated that the alliance between the United States and the Philippines "is a strong and enduring one." Harris also met with her Philippine counterpart, Sara Duterte. Marcos said he did not "see a future for the Philippines that does not include the United States." The US has a long and complex relationship with the Philippines — and the Marcos family. Marcos' father was president for two decades, and Washington valued him as a reliable ally during the Cold War.
Former executive secretary expelled from party
In a Times exclusive, former Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez has been expelled from the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) for "party disloyalty" and "acts inimical to the party." The party's decision stemmed from a complaint filed before the PFP leadership by Jammal "Bong" Amin, PFP regional chairman for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Al-Rasheed Sakkalahul (PFP BARMM regional president), and Edifar "Papay" Ladjhali (PFP BARMM regional executive vice president) alleging that Rodriguez has violated the party's platform of the government of fixing the government and making the country "crime-free, drug-free, corruption-free, insurgency-free and poverty-free." Rodriguez was the chief of staff and spokesman for Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during his presidential campaign.
Chinese coast guard seizes rocket debris from PH navy
THE Chinese coast guard forcibly seized floating debris the Philippine navy was towing to its island in another confrontation in the disputed South China Sea, a Philippine military commander said Monday. The debris appeared to be from a Chinese rocket launch. The Chinese vessel twice blocked the Philippine boat before seizing the debris it was towing on Sunday off Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos said Monday. He said no one was injured in the incident. It's the latest flare-up in long-seething territorial disputes in the strategic waterway, involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
PH Covid response gets $5M additional funding
DOUGLAS Emhoff, the husband of United States Vice President Kamala Harris, on Monday announced $5 million in funding to accelerate the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines in the Philippines. The assistance, funded through the American Rescue Plan, will support vaccine distribution for children and adults, the US embassy said in a statement. Emhoff is accompanying Harris on her visit to the Philippines. The US Agency for International Development (USAid) has trained health care workers, strengthened the vaccine supply chain, supported effective communications campaigns, deployed mobile vaccination clinics, and bolstered economic recovery efforts in the Philippines, the embassy said.
Topping Business
Investments target to be missed--BoI
THE Board of Investments (BoI) on Monday said it would miss its 2022 goal due to global headwinds, particularly the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. With a month-and-a-half left to the year, the agency has only approved P644.4 billion in investments. While 73.51 percent higher year on year, more than half that amount still has to be raised if the 2022 target of P1 trillion is to be met. Of the P644.4 billion, 81 percent or P518.3 billion comprised domestic investments, while the remaining 19 percent or P126.1 billion came from foreign sources.
In Sports
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy cemented his place as the European number one by winning the Race to Dubai for the fourth time in his career on Sunday with Spain's Jon Rahm sealing a third DP World Tour Championship. World number one McIlroy, 33, closed with a four-under-par 68, which was good for a solo fourth place and clinched the Race to Dubai crown after a gap of seven years. McIlroy emulated Henrik Stenson, the only other golfer to win the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai in the same season in 2013. With England's Matt Fitzpatrick and New Zealand's Ryan Fox unable to win the tournament, the path became easier for McIlroy when he finished ahead of both players. Rahm, who turned 28 this month, started with three straight birdies and even though he followed up with a bogey on the fourth hole, there was never any question about his dominance as a five-under par 67 round gave him a two-shot win with a 20-under par total. England's Tyrrell Hatton (66) and Sweden's Alex Noren (67) were tied for second at 18-under par 270.
Djokovic captures 6th ATP Finals title
Novak Djokovic claimed a record-equaling sixth ATP Finals title by beating the third-seeded Casper Ruud on Sunday to top a fantastic finish to the season for the Serb. Djokovic won 7-5, 6-3 to secure his first title at the event since 2015 and match Roger Federer's record.The 35-year-old Djokovic, who had lost his two previous finals at the event, raised his arms out and smiled broadly after sealing the match with an ace. Djokovic became the oldest champion at the prestigious yearend tournament and also earned the largest payday in tennis history as he walked away with $4.7 million for claiming the ATP Finals trophy undefeated.
HD Spikers, Titans dispute last F4 slot
CIGNAL and Choco Mucho tussle for the last semifinals berth in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference today, November 22, at the PhilSports Arena. The fourth-running HD Spikers and the sixth-running Flying Titans collide at 2:30 p.m. as they battle in the last play date of the eliminations, which also features the non-bearing game between the already-eliminated F2 Logistics and the third semifinalist in defending champ Petro Gazz at 5:30 p.m. The first two teams to clinch semis seats in the single round-robin semifinals — where teams are back to 0-0 — were Chery Tiggo and the Grand Slam-seeking Creamline. Petro Gazz seized the third semis spot last Saturday when it beat United Auctioneers Inc. Army, 25-13, 25-12, 25-19 — the same day Cignal defeated and booted out F2 with a 25-21, 20-25, 25-14, 25-20 win.
Irving returns in Nets victory
The Brooklyn Nets marked Kyrie Irving's return from an eight-game suspension with a 127-115 victory over Memphis on Sunday (Monday in Manila) as the NBA champion Golden State Warriors finally earned their first road win of the season. Irving, who was suspended by the Nets after his social media post linking to a movie condemned as anti-semitic sparked a furore, scored 14 points in 26 minutes on the floor. Kevin Durant led the Nets with 26 and Ben Simmons added 22 as seven Nets players scored in double figures. That included Japanese reserve Yuta Watanabe, who made four of the Nets' 16 three-pointers on the way to 16 points. In Houston, Warriors sharp-shooter Klay Thompson burst out of his early-season slump with a 41-point performance in Golden State's 127-120 victory over the Rockets.
The Times editorial talks about reports that the European Commission may reject the certification that authorizes Filipino seafarers to board its ships although the Philippine government has assured that it has complied with the EU's requirements. Read The Manila Times on print for the full version, subscribe to its digital edition or listen to the Voice of the Times. Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta are the featured columnists on the front page. Contreras pushes for the enactment of the National Land Use Act and Sustainable Forest Management; Makabenta on 'Creative Nation', the policy that sparked the creative economy environment.
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This is Kim Dignadice reporting.