Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Monday, July 5, 2021.
READ: 45 dead as Air Force plane crashes in Sulu
An Air Force plane carrying nearly a hundred passengers overshot the runway while landing at the Jolo airport in Sulu on Sunday and crashed, leaving 45 people dead. About 50 of the passengers were injured. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said 92 people were aboard the C130, including the three pilots and five crew members. Most of those aboard were Army soldiers who were reporting for duty in Sulu, and there were some civilians, Lorenzana said in a statement. The transport plane was ferrying 89 soldiers from Cagayan de Oro City to Sulu, reported Armed Forces chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana. The rescued passengers were brought to the Army’s 11th Infantry Division hospital in Sulu, Sobejana said. The plane’s pilots failed to regain power after missing the runway. The plane crashed and burst into flames in Barangay Bangkal, Patikul, Sobejana said in a separate interview with reporters.
READ: Pacquiao plane makes emergency landing
A Philippine Airlines (PAL) plane with Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao on board was forced to return to Manila on Sunday after making an emergency landing at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan, because of a medical emergency. Pacquiao, who was one of the 187 passengers on the flight, was on his way to Los Angeles, California, to start training for his title fight against American boxer Errol Spence Jr. on August 21. PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday.
READ: Robredo still mum on 2022 plans
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo has yet to decide on her plans for the 2022 elections. On her weekly radio show on Sunday, Robredo said she was still assessing several issues. Once she makes a decision there is no reason for her to keep it to herself a minute longer, she said in Filipino. What is holding her back is her focus on dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, she said. Robredo is considered as a contender for the 2022 presidential derby. She has been endorsed by the opposition coalition 1Sambayan.
READ: Red Cross administers Moderna vaccine
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Saturday administered Moderna vaccines at the inoculation center in its National Headquarters in Mandaluyong City. As of July 3, 80 Moderna doses were given, with more doses arriving in the coming months, PRC said. Recent studies showed the vaccine could be effective in dealing with the virus’ Delta variant. The US-made vaccine requires two doses with a 28-day interval. As of July 2, the PRC inoculated 21,886 individuals, with 3,662 fully vaccinated. The Philippines received over 200,000 doses of Moderna vaccine on June 27. A total of 150,000 doses were procured by the government and 99,600 doses by the private sector.
READ: IATF eases rules for interzonal travel
THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has eased the rules for interzonal travel for individuals fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Interzonal movement refers to the movement of people between provinces, highly urbanized cities and independent component cities under different community quarantine classifications. Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. on Sunday said a vaccination card or a certificate of quarantine completion shall be sufficient alternatives to any testing requirement by the local government units (LGUs).
READ: Include LGUs in Covid task force – Tolentino
SEN. Francis Tolentino batted for the inclusion of local government units (LGUs) and private sector representatives in the national task force addressing the Covid-19 pandemic. He said the Union of Local Authorities in the Philippines and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry should be included in the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. The senator made the call on Sunday to synchronize approach in dealing with various policies in addressing the pandemic.
BUSINESS: Govt borrowings fall in May
Topping business, the national government’s gross borrowings fell to P112.18 billion in May, but increased the four-month tally. According to figures released by the Bureau of the Treasury over the weekend, the actual gross financing in the fifth month of 2021 was P112.18 billion, down 61.26 percent from P289.81 billion a year ago. Domestic borrowings plunged 38.77 percent to P104.40 billion from P170.51 billion in May 2020. In May, P9.40 billion in Treasury bills and P95 billion in fixed-rate bonds were issued to ensure local finance.
SPORTS: After Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Sotto eager for more Gilas action
In sports, after getting a taste of world class basketball against grown men in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Belgrade, Serbia, Filipino NBA prospect Kai Sotto is eager to play more games with Gilas Pilipinas. In a statement on the PBA website, Sotto said he is more than grateful to play with such teams. He is due to play in Australia next season.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino are today’s front page columnists. Tiglao now claims Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao’s degree at the University of Makati is fake, while Fr. Ranhilio Aquino discusses about retrieving rationality.
Today’s editorial calls on the government to ramp up construction of new power plants. Read a full version on the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe week ahead.