HEADLINES: Ombudsman suspends Guo | June 4, 2024

Good day. Here are the articles from the Manila Times from Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, the Philippines’ leading home improvement and building supplies retailer – your trusted building partner.

READ: Ombudsman suspends Guo

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the preventive suspension of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo while the government investigates her alleged connection with an illegal online gambling operation in her town. The order, issued on May 31, was based on a recommendation by the Department of Interior (DILG) to suspend Guo after a task force investigating allegations regarding her links with illegal Philippine offshore gambling operators (POGOs) in her town found “serious illegal acts.” Ombudsman Samuel Martires said there were “sufficient grounds for preventive suspension” of Guo.

READ: China criticised for seizing Philippine supplies

Senators on Monday condemned the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) for allegedly seizing and dumping food and medical supplies intended for the Philippine troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). China, on the other hand, said two persons on the deck of the BRP Sierra Madre were armed and pointed their guns and hands toward a CCG vessel. Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said the CCG’s action “endangers the lives of our Philippine troops stationed on the Ayungin Shoal and could be considered a violation of their human rights.” Senator Bong Revilla called China’s recent harassment of Philippine troops “inhumane.” Senator Nancy Binay said the “obstruction of medical assistance to our personnel is an affront to these international norms and human dignity.” The BRP Sierra Madre is a commissioned Philippine naval vessel permanently stationed in Ayungin Reef to serve as a “constant Philippine government presence in the area,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. This was in response to China’s “illegal occupation” of Panganiban (Mischief) Reef in 1995.

READ: Marcos and Zelensky meet in Malacañang

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Malacañang on Monday and discussed with him their countries’ defense and security issues. Zelensky’s brief stay in Manila came after his “surprise” attendance at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore, where Marcos delivered the keynote speech. The two leaders pledged to further strengthen the 32-year-old diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Ukraine. Ukraine also plans to open an embassy in Manila, a move Marcos considered “very good news” as it will be easier for the country to “help in any way” apart from initiatives through the European Union and the United Nations. The Ukrainian leader, who quietly arrived in the country with his delegation last Sunday evening, thanked the Philippine government for its support to Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia since 2022. The Philippines reiterated the international community’s calls on Russia and Ukraine to resolve the conflict through diplomatic means.

READ: Comelec promises clean elections for 2025

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has vowed to make full use of its power and constitutional duty to enforce and administer the electoral laws to ensure that the upcoming 2025 midterm elections are clean, honest and peaceful. Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Monday said it is the Comelec’s duty to enforce and administer the electoral laws and it would be a dereliction of duty if it fails to enforce the 2025 law.

READ: The Manila Times partners with Cedara

THE Manila Times (TMT) has announced a groundbreaking initiative to comprehensively measure advertising carbon emissions in partnership with Cedara, the Carbon Intelligence Platform, making it the first publisher in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region to undertake such an endeavour. TMT will engage Cedara, the market leader in mapping emissions across the entire media supply chain, to leverage its cutting-edge software platform and data-driven approach to measure and reduce its carbon footprint in line with industry standards.

READ: Marina honors TMT, maritime journalists

THE Manila Times was awarded the “Media Partner of the Year” by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) for its important role in highlighting important maritime issues and improving public understanding of the industry. Marina also recognized the publication’s journalists, including maritime editor Carmela Huelar, who received the “Maritime Journalist of the Year” award. Columnist Brenda Pimentel and journalists Yashika Torib and Genivi Factao were honored with a certificate of appreciation for their “exemplary dedication and unwavering commitment to excellent reporting, which has been instrumental in raising public awareness of Marina’s initiatives and promoting a better understanding of the maritime industry” during Marina’s 50th founding anniversary on June 1 in Okada Manila. The Manila Times has a weekly maritime page and has promoted industry dialogue through forums.

BUSINESS: Reforms improve business in the Philippines

Topping the rankings is the ease of doing business in the Philippines, which has improved slightly following recent reforms designed to make the country a more attractive investment destination, according to a multinational consulting firm. In the latest Global Business Complexity Index by the Dutch TMF Group, the Philippines ranks 34th out of 79 countries, an improvement from 31st in the 2023 edition of the report. Greece, in first place, is the most complex country to do business in this year, followed by France and Colombia. China, ranked 11th in 2023 (up from 15th in 2023), is the most complex jurisdiction in the Asia-Pacific region. The least complex, on the other hand, are the Cayman Islands, closely followed by Curaçao and Denmark. Hong Kong, in 76th place, is the region’s leader.

SPORT: Saso wins the US Women’s Open for the second time

On the sport side, Yuka Saso went all out on the back nine holes to win her second U.S. Women’s Open title on Sunday (Monday in Manila). She shot 68 (two under par) to win by three strokes at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania. Saso finished with a total of 276 (four under par) to claim her second LPGA Tour title, three years after winning the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco – representing the Philippines at the time.

READ: Opinion and editorials

Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Orlando Mercado are today’s front-page columnists. Contreras says Guo’s hearings are a waste of time, Makabenta looks for ways to fend off China’s advances, and Mercado looks at cases of road rage.

Today’s editorial is about improving the lives of indigenous peoples. Read the full version in the newspaper’s Opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

For more news and information, read The Manila Times print, subscribe to the digital edition or visit www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn, and join our communities on Viber, Telegram and Mastodon.