HEADLINES: 43 policemen probed as ‘cleansing’ begins | Jan. 14, 2023

Good day. These are the stories that The Manila Times published on Saturday, January 14, 20,23.

BANNER: 43 officers were questioned by police as the ‘cleansing” began

At least 43 officers of the National Capital Region Police Office were summoned by the NCRPO for an “initial screen procedure”. This was part of the effort to eliminate members from the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) who are involved with drug traffickers. According to LtCol. NCRPO, the policemen were named on the NCRPO’s drug watch list, which was compiled by its counterintelligence division. Dexter Versola. NCRPO Acting Director MGen called them. Versola explained that Jonnel Estomo took them to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, to get a chance to clear their name. The Metro Manila police force will be screened to eliminate any doubts about its integrity, especially regarding anti-narcotics units.

Manila port seized P19-M smuggled Sugar

Smuggled sugar worth approximately P19 million was seized by the Manila International Container Port, the Department of Agriculture reported Friday. James Layug, Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Inspection and Enforcement, said that the contraband cargo was found in five shipping containers on January 11. Layug claimed that the shipment was labelled as insulators. The shipment was ordered to be held on November 29, and was inspected by a team of the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and (PDEA), Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force and (CAIDTF), Bureau of Plant Industry and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services. Layug stated that DA was preparing charges against Burias Jang Consumer Goods Trading for violating the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 and misdeclaration.

Foreign business executives approve of wealth fund

FOREIGN business leaders from the Philippines agree that the Maharlika Wealth Fund is a good idea if implemented properly. Lorens Ziller, the Executive Director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, believes that the country will become a popular destination for foreign investors. The MWF is a sovereign money fund that the government can use to invest in a wide variety of avenues such as fixed-income instruments, foreign currency, corporate bonds, commercial realty, and infrastructure projects. Chris Nelson, the trustee of the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and executive director of the MWF, spoke out during the roundtable hosted by Dante Klink Ang 2nd, chairman and CEO of The Manila Times. Nelson said that many wealth funds are well managed and have delivered positive results. Jesper Svenningsen (Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Executive director) agreed that the wealth fund could bring benefits to the country. He was joined by Nelson and Ziller in the roundtable. Svenningsen suggested that President Marcos address another important issue at Davos: the effects of climate change on the Philippines.

DA Wants to Know Why Egg Prices Are So High

THE Department of Agriculture is trying to find out why eggs retail prices have soared to as high at P10 per pound. Kristine Evangelista, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman for the department, said Friday that they were investigating after Gregorio San Diego, Chairman of the Philippine Egg Board said that the farmgate price is still low at between P6.70 to P7.20 per pound.

Red-tagging remains a threat for the Church

According to a Church official RED Tagging is still a threat for missionaries of The Church. This is despite the fact that a local court cleared a Catholic priest and several human rights activists from perjury charges, which were brought by a former national security advisor in 2019. Fr. Fr. Fr. Buenafe, also the executive secretary of the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines, stated that the Church has a clear desire to help the poor. But they face red tagging, as well as allegations of belonging to a rebel group.

NDRRMC: Infra, agri damage up P418M

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, (NDRRMC), reported Friday that P418 million was incurred by agriculture and infrastructure as a result of floods caused by the combination the shearline phenomenon and a low pressure area (LPA), since January 2. The agriculture damage is estimated at P252,698,531 with P165,745,496 being for infrastructure. According to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), damage was reported at P25.610,000. According to the report, 17 people died. The report stated that five of the deaths occurred in Bicol, four in Northern Mindanao and Zamboanga, and three each in Eastern Visayas. One in Davao was also among them.

BBM requests private sector assistance on Natl ID

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, has asked the private sector for help in “get the National Identification out,” stating that it has the technology and capability to create new digital IDs. Marcos issued a directive on Thursday to speed up the digitalization of the national ID system during his meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) on Digital Infrastructure in Malacañang.

BUSINESS: The key role of PH in Indo-Pacific Growth

Topping business, better regional ties, supply chains and infrastructure will allow the Indo-Pacific region to grow — especially in these trying times — and the Philippines can play a central role in achieving this, Cabinet officials said. A panel discussion was held during Thursday’s forum. Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual stated that the Philippines has many advantages when it comes to establishing supply chains. Because of its central location, the Philippines has been a gateway to the Pacific and north.

SPORTS: Dindin inks in PVL with Akari Chargers

Sports: Aleona Denise Santiago-Manabat, a former Chery Tiggo 7 pro crossovers player, has signed a contract with the Akari Chargers, the newest Premier Volleyball League team. On Friday, January 13th, the team announced her signing. Manabat, a 29-year old, had previously played for several PVL teams (2013-2022) and two Japanese teams (2018 and 2020). She was part of the Chery Tiggo team, which won the PVL Open conference championship in 2021. Manabat played last year in Thailand for the Nakhon Ratchasima Women’s Volleyball Club. Manabat is joining Camille Victoria, Bang Pineda and Eli Soyud, who are the new recruits to Akari. Akari also boasts its retainers in Trisha Genesis and Erika Raagas as well as Michelle Cobb, Jaja Martaguinot and Dani Ravena. Myla Pablo will be joining the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.

Editorial and opinion

Today’s columnists include Antonio Contreras (Yen Makabenta), Danton Remoto and Danton Rmoto. Contreras gives his opinion on the political situation in America, Contreras continues with his series on the country as an onion, while Remoto discusses the Library Renewal Partnership.

Today’s editorial claims that President Marcos confronting the controversial sovereign wealth fund for the country at the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland) sends a false message. You can read the entire article in the opinion section of the paper, or listen to the Voice of the Times.

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This is Peter Steven Llevares reporting.