Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Sunday, March 26, 2023.
PH, China diplomats clash in talks on SCS
FILIPINO diplomats confronted Chinese officials in closed-door talks Friday with a slew of protests over Beijing's aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, including targeting a Philippine coast guard ship with a military-grade laser, but no resolution was reached on the issues, according to an official who was privy to the meeting but requested anonymity. Territorial disputes in the busy waterway have long loomed as a potential flashpoint in Asia and have become a sensitive front in the regional rivalry between China and the United States. Washington lays no claims in the contested waters but has challenged Beijing's extensive claims, including deploying its warships and fighter jets and repeatedly warning that it would help defend the Philippines — a treaty ally — if Philippine forces, ships and aircraft are attacked. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the seaway, which sits atop vast deposits of oil and gas.
PH generals, flag officers back 4 more Edca sites
A GROUP composed of generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expressed its support for four more sites in the country that will host the facilities and equipment of the United States under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The Association of General and Flag Officers Inc. (AGFO) issued a statement on Saturday after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that the government has identified the four additional Philippine bases. The military said Cagayan, Zambales, Isabela and Palawan were among the possible EDCA sites. There are five predetermined EDCA sites located at Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City. According to AGFO, EDCA is one of the mechanisms designed to bolster the alliance between the US and the Philippines under the 1951 RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty.
Padilla: Report on Cha-cha resolution almost done
THE Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, led by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, said it is almost done with the report on the resolution seeking to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. Padilla had decided not to conduct further hearings after having heard the input of various sectors on the matter both in Senate hearings and live meetings in key cities of the country. Padilla is proposing that Charter change be done through a constituent assembly (con-ass) with members of the Senate and House of Representatives voting separately.
P18M cash, guns seized from Teves sugar mill raid
POLICE reported on Saturday that the raid on a sugar mill allegedly owned by former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves, brother of the province's Third District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr, resulted in the confiscation of an estimated P18 million in cash, multiple firearms and thousands of live ammunition. Three individuals were also arrested. The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) said seized during the raid of the HDJ Bayawan Agri-Venture Corp. Tolong compound, in Barangay Caranoche, Santa Catalina Town in Negros Oriental were six rifles of various calibers, nine pistols of various calibers, 9,615 rounds of live ammunition of different calibers, 207 pieces of fired bullets of different calibers, 45 steel and plastic magazines of different calibers, assorted accessories of different calibers of firearms, P18 million bills in different denominations, several identification and ATM cards, and documents and other evidence.
'Oil spill-affected parties can file claims'
Residents affected by the oil spill from MT Princess Empress that sank in the waters of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro can file damage claims from the vessel's insurance company, Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor said on Friday. Dolor in a social media post said that a first claims office or claims caravan will be set up at the Provincial Capitol Compound in Barangay Camilmil on Monday, March 27, 2023. Dolor's post added that individuals, corporations or government agencies can file damage claims under various categories that include coastal cleanup and preventive measures, economic loss to those in fisheries and marine culture, economic loss to those in the tourism sector, and related businesses and property damages. It said that if no clear action is taken on the claims after 30 days, the claimants can contact the insurance company's nearest claims office. The amount of compensation might vary and would depend on the evidence presented and on the assessment of the representative of the insurance company.
In business, shares in Deutsche Bank fell heavily on Friday on the lender's surging cost of default cover, reigniting fears about a widening banking sector crisis. Germany's biggest lender dropped more than 14 percent on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in early trade before clawing back ground to close 8.5 percent lower, at 8.54 euros. The cost of insuring the bank's debt against a risk of defaulting ― so-called credit default swaps ― has surged as investors fret about the banking sector's health. Long-troubled Deutsche Bank has become the focus of investor concerns after the collapse of three regional US lenders, and the enforced takeover of Credit Suisse by rival UBS triggered market turmoil earlier this month.
Cool Smashers, Angels begin Finals rematch
Over to sports, defending champ Creamline and Petro Gazz begin their Finals rematch in the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference Big Dance on Sunday, March 26, at the Mall of Asia Arena. Game One of the best-of-3 series is set at 6:30 p.m., succeeding the Game One of the battle for bronze best-of-3 series between PLDT and F2 Logistics at 4 p.m. This is the third installment of the Cool Smashers and Angels finals clash in an all-local tournament, with the former winning the first two in the 2019 and 2022 editions when the AllFilipino Conference was still carrying the Open Conference name. Petro Gazz got one against Creamline albeit it happened in the 2019 Reinforced Conference. That being said, the Cool Smashers and the Angels are actually facing each other in a Finals setting for the fourth time overall.
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he prefers to save money used to rewrite the Constitution.
Today's editorial calls on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to propose a peace plan for Ukraine. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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For The Manila Times, this is Kim Luden Salinas reporting.