Good day. Here are the top stories for The Manila Times on Sunday, April 13, 2025.
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READ: Truth Commission on drug war pushed
AS the International Criminal Court (ICC) case against former president Rodrigo Duterte gathers momentum, human rights lawyer Katrina Conti, who represents victims of the Philippine drug war, has added her voice to calls to establish a Truth Commission. In an interview, Conti emphasized that while Duterte's trial is a milestone for international justice, it alone cannot capture the full scale or systemic nature of the atrocities committed. A national Truth Commission, Conti said, could fill that gap — by creating space for both victims and perpetrators to come forward, tell the truth, and begin a long-overdue reckoning with the country's culture of impunity. The proposal to set up a Truth Commission on Duterte's deadly drug war was raised in January by the quad committee of the House of Representatives. UP professor Randy David had also called for the creation of such a commission in 2024. The proposed Truth Commission would be modeled on those seen in countries recovering from state violence or dictatorship. From South Africa to Colombia, such bodies have helped reveal hard truths while creating pathways for institutional reform and national healing. Conti envisions a commission that is independent, inclusive and grounded in Philippine law — possibly through legislation informed by a Supreme Court ruling that would grant it official status. Its mandate would include documenting testimonies from survivors, family members of victims, and even perpetrators — those who pulled the trigger, gave the orders, or kept silent.
READ: Tech support hub set up for polls
MIRU Systems, the technology provider of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday unveiled the National Technical Support Center (NTSC) at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) to serve as the nerve center for addressing any technical issues that come up during the 2025 national and local elections. Designed as a 24/7 operations hub, the NTSC will serve as the main contact point for election officers, Department of Education (DepEd) support personnel and field technicians. The center is equipped to respond to concerns related to Miru's automated counting machines, as well as issues involving the secure transmission of election results handled by iOne Resources and Ardent Networks. Overseas voting support, led by SMS Global Technologies Inc. and Sequent Tech Inc., is also part of the center's wide-ranging oversight. Miru Systems emphasized that the creation of the support center is part of its commitment to transparency, efficiency and swift problem resolution. To further support operations on the ground, Miru Systems has rolled out a network of repair hubs across the country. These facilities are fully equipped with spare parts and expert personnel ready to deploy wherever technical difficulties may emerge. The goal is to minimize downtime and maintain the flow of the electoral process with as little disruption as possible. Comelec officials welcomed the initiative, noting that a centralized and proactive technical support framework is essential in protecting the integrity of the electoral process.
READ: Palm Sunday: a tradition that unites Filipino families
MANY Filipino Catholics will once again flock to church and wave their palm branches to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 13, signaling the beginning of Holy Week — the most solemn and reflective period in the Christian calendar. Palm Sunday is a day that recalls Jesus Christ riding a donkey as he entered Jerusalem — a prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 that foretold the Messiah's entry. He was welcomed by crowds waving palm branches, which signified victory and peace. The celebration is rooted in all four gospels and is traditionally reenacted during the Holy Mass with the blessing of palm branches, a custom that resonates deeply with Filipinos. For many, Palm Sunday is more than just a liturgical event but a vibrant blend of faith, culture, and familial occasion. It is a time when Filipino households come together to profess their faith. Palm Sunday also marks the start of a week of reflection, penance and devotion, culminating in Easter Sunday. From this day forward, Filipinos engage in time-honored practices such as the Pabasa ng Pasyon (chanting of the Passion of Christ), Visita Iglesia (visiting multiple churches around the country), and attending Holy Week processions and dramatizations of the passion and death of Jesus. After Mass, many Filipinos take their blessed palms home and display them on altars or doorways, a tradition that they believe brings protection and blessings throughout the year.
READ: Pagasa warns of dangerous heat index in 19 areas
THE state-run weather bureau warned on Saturday of dangerous heat index levels in 19 areas, including points in Pasay City and Quezon City in Metro Manila. Weather specialist Grace Castañeda at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said these areas may have heat indices ranging from 42 C to 45 C on Saturday. Log on to www.manilatimes.net or get a copy of our print edition for the full list. Pagasa said the heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity combines with air temperature. The weather bureau advised the public to limit the time spent outdoors, especially at noon, and drink plenty of water. People going outdoors are reminded to use umbrellas or wear hats and sleeved clothing.
READ: Pilita Corrales, 'Asia's Queen of Songs,' 85
THE industry is mourning the passing of Pilita Corrales, also known as "Asia's Queen of Songs," who died on Saturday, April 12. She was 85. Her granddaughter, actress Janine Gutierrez, confirmed the news in an Instagram post and led the outpouring of online tributes. Corrales' career began in Australia during the 1950s, where she rose to fame with her rendition of "Come Closer to Me." Over six decades, she recorded more than 50 albums in English, Filipino, Spanish and Cebuano. Her signature song, "Kapantay ay Langit," became a classic in Philippine music history. She was also the first Filipino artist to perform at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, invited by the legendary Sammy Davis Jr. In 1972, she won the Best Performer Award at the inaugural Tokyo Music Festival, surpassing international stars including Olivia Newton-John. Corrales also made her mark on Philippine television and cinema, appearing in numerous films from the late 1960s through the 1990s. She later served as a judge on talent shows including "Philippine Idol" and "Asian Idol."
In Business
READ: France reaffirms backing EU-PH FTA
VISITING Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad Laurent Saint-Martin has reaffirmed the support of France to pursue the free trade agreement between the European Union and the Philippines (EU-PH FTA) during his official visit to the Philippines. Speaking at a press conference at the residence of the French ambassador to the Philippines in Makati on Friday, Saint-Martin underscored the urgency of strengthening trade partnerships based on rules-based systems, especially in light of current global uncertainty. He said the EU-PH FTA is becoming more significant amid increasing global trade tensions and protectionist policies such as the recent imposition of reciprocal tariffs by the United States. The minister added that the French government and the EC support trade policies that prioritize cooperation. Saint-Martin also highlighted the potential of the Philippines, noting the country's strong gross domestic product (GDP) growth and its rising importance in the Indo-Pacific region. Asked about the timeline for the EU-PH FTA, Saint-Martin clarified that while EC is negotiating over the trade deal, discussions are "on track." The event also saw the Philippines and France signing several agreements. One of the deals was the joint declaration between Saint-Martin and Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, which aims to advance the partnership between Manila and Paris in supporting the Philippines' rail and maritime capacity.
Topping Sports
READ: Jokic triple double as Denver fights back for big win
The Denver Nuggets strengthened their playoff position with a triple double from history-making Nikola Jokic helping them to a 117-109 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday (Saturday in Manila). The Serb put up 26 points, 13 assists and 16 rebounds, and his 34th triple double performance ensured he will finish the regular season as just the third player averaging a triple double across an entire season. The 15-point comeback victory was the second straight win for interim head coach David Adelman, who took over when Michael Malone was fired on Tuesday in a surprise move. Malone, who led Denver to the NBA championship in 2023, was dismissed after a four-game losing streak. The win means the Nuggets improve to 49-32 on the season and have a real chance of grabbing fourth place and home court advantage in the playoffs. Aaron Gordon top scored with 33 points for Denver while Jamal Murray, back from a six-game injury absence, played a key role down the stretch and ended with 15 points and seven assists.
READ: Meralco eyes bounce back win vs Phoenix
MERALCO tries to get back on the winning track when it battles winless Phoenix as the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup resumes on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The Bolts clash with the Fuel Masters at 5 p.m. Facing off in the main game at 7:30 p.m. are Converge and Blackwater. The wards of coach Luigi Trilllo suffered a 110-98 defeat at the hands of San Miguel Beer during their marquee match up on the day the PBA celebrated its 50th anniversary last Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. The Bolts currently tote a 2-1 record, having won their first two games against the FiberXers and the Terrafirma Dyip. Phoenix, meanwhile, opened the conference with back-to-back losses to the Dyip and the FiberXers. Chris Newsome, Raymund Almazan, Bong Quinto, Aaron Black and Cliff Hodge are set to lead Meralco's charge, though Meralco seemed to have found a gem in rookie guard Kurt Reyson. Reyson, who won three NCAA men's titles with the Letran Knights, logged in 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field in the Bolts' loss to the Beermen.
READ: Eala top seed player in Portugal tiff
FILIPINO tennis ace Alex Eala is the highest-ranked player at the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal and thereby seeded No. 1 in the tournament. The draw is not available yet for the competition which is set from April 14 to 20. Eala's historic semifinals run at the Miami Open where she toppled three Grand Slam winners sent her from 140th to 75th in the WTA rankings. In the latest rankings released last week, Eala even climbed two notches to achieve a new career-best ranking at 73rd. Despite being the highest-ranked player in this Oeiras tourney, Eala will still have her work cut out as the other seven seeded players achieved career-high rankings higher than hers, posing a threat to the 19-year-old. For example, American Katie Volynets, the second seed in the tourney, is 80th in the rankings but went as high as 56th. Italian Elisabeta Cocciaretto (89th), Hungarian Anna Bordar (91st), Swiss Viktoria Golubic (93rd), Chinese Yuan Ye (101th), Spanish Nuria Parrizas Diaz (111th) and Romanian Sorana Cirstea (117th) rounded out the eight seed players in the tourney in that order. This $168,100 prize tourney is Eala's first in the clay season which culminates at the French Open next month which she confirmed she's going to join, having direct entry now as part of the top 100 players in the world.
READ: Opinion
The Times, in its editorial, says that the Philippines must be prepared for tariff shocks resulting from US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs on the world. Read the full version on print and digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Marlen Ronquillo is the featured columnist on the front page. He described Trump's tariff imposition as both a 'tragedy and black comedy.'
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