Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Wednesday, September 19, 2024.

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READ: ‘You will find me unbowed’

VICE President Sara Duterte remained unfazed as she again faced members of the House of Representatives, saying she would not bow to them. Duterte on Wednesday attended the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s hearing on the budget of the Office of the Vice President. Duterte on Wednesday asserted that there was “no misuse of funds.” She maintained that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) had done nothing wrong.

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READ: Trafficking charges filed vs Alice Guo

NON-BAILABLE criminal charges for qualified trafficking have been filed before the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and 13 others, the Department of Justice (DoJ) said Wednesday. Guo, including Dennis Cunanan, with the former TLRC (Technology and Livelihood Resource Center) deputy director general and representative of the Zun Yuan Technology, as well as 12 executives and founders of three companies and Guo’s alleged business partners, has been filed in the RTC of Pasig City, DoJ spokesman Mico Clavano told reporters. He said that they filed the case before the Pasig RTC following a Supreme Court ruling granting the DoJ’s request for the transfer of venue of cases involving Guo.

READ: Former DBM exec linked to Pharmally scam arrested

LLOYD Christopher Lao, the former head of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM), has been arrested in Davao City, reports reaching the Philippine National Police said. Lao, 47, was arrested by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 11 in Davao City. A warrant of arrest was issued by the Sandiganbayan on September 12.

READ: New rules, AI help courts resolve cases

COURTS are solving cases faster thanks to the new rules and the use of artificial intelligence (AI), Supreme Court Administrator Raul Villanueva said Wednesday. In the hearing of the proposed 2025 budget of the judiciary, Villanueva said one of the changes is the adoption of the judicial affidavit rule, which included direct testimonies.

BUSINESS: BSP to slash reserve requirements

Headlining business, bank reserve requirements will be lowered “substantially” this year, with further cuts likely in 2025, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said on Wednesday. Remolona has previously said that the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) — the percentage of deposits that banks have to set aside and not lend out — could be cut by 450 basis points (bps) to 5.0 percent from 9.5 percent. When asked if it is still possible on Wednesday, he replied that the “idea is to reduce the reserve requirements in a substantial way.” Reducing the RRR will release funds that can be directed toward productive activities, boosting economic growth.

SPORTS: Obiena: I don’t endorse gambling

In sports, pissed with some unidentified companies allegedly using his name to promote their businesses without his approval, Filipino pole vault ace Ernest John “EJ” Obiena on Tuesday evening set the record straight that he doesn’t promote gambling and alcoholic products. Obiena said he’d like to use his platform responsibly, knowing that the actions he makes could influence the kids who look up to him. The world No. 3 pole vaulter added that his legal team is now working to make those companies accountable for their alleged actions.

READ: Opinion and editorial

Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Danton Remoto are today’s front page columnists. Contreras looks into Congressional “traditions”, Makabenta says Spain fueled Filipino nationalism, while Remoto goes back in time to Macau’s history.

Today’s editorial prepares for the upcoming Times Model Cities Awards and Forum, held today at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Galleria in Ortigas, which is headlined by Tourism Sec. Christina Frasco. Read the full version in the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

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