HEADLINES: CHINA DENIES AIMING MISSILES AT PH TARGETS | JULY 6, 2024

Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Saturday, July 6, 2024.

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READ: China denies aiming missiles at PH targets

CHINA has said that it does "not pose a threat" to the Philippines as it refuted claims by Sen. Imee Marcos that Chinese missiles were aimed at targets in the country. Marcos had posted a video on TikTok and Facebook in which she said that China had identified 25 targets that it would attack with hypersonic missiles.

READ: Trillanes files graft case against Duterte, Go

FORMER senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed graft and plunder cases against former president Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Bong Go on Friday before the Department of Justice (DoJ). In his complaint, Trillanes cited an investigative journalism series by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) entitled "Build, Build, Build Hits Chokepoint," which was first published on Sept. 6, 2018. He said the "landmine of disturbing information" exposes the top contractors in the Davao Region, particularly the CLTG Builders and Alfrego Builders & Supply, which are allegedly owned by Go's father, Deciderio, and his half-brother, Alfredo.

READ: DoJ starts investigating Guo for human trafficking

THE Department of Justice (DoJ) on Friday started the preliminary investigation into the case of trafficking in persons against suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and several others. The case stemmed from the complaint filed by the Presidential AntiOrganized Crime Commission (Paocc) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) before the DoJ on June 21. The Paocc and CIDG allege that Guo and 13 other respondents are involved in the establishment and running of Baofu, previously Hongshen Technology, which subsequently became Zun Yuan Technology, Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) reportedly involved in forced labor, human trafficking, online fraud and investment scams. The respondents are allegedly aware of the illegal activities in the Baofu compound in Bamban. Following a search of the hubs, authorities established the close link between Zun Yuan in Baofu compound with Guo and the other respondents. Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty urged Guo's four Filipino co-respondents to file counter-affidavits in their defense.

READ: Filipino optimism about PH hits all-time low

OPTIMISM of Filipinos in the second quarter of 2024 fell to its lowest level in two years, a survey by independent pollster Publicus Asia shows. In Publicus' second quarter study conducted from June 15 to 19, 2024, positive perceptions about the country's current state and direction hit an all-time low. According to the survey, 38 percent were positive about the country's current state, and 54 percent were optimistic about its direction, with a "significant portion of Filipinos feeling uncertain about the nation's standing."

READ: Inflation slows in June but risks remain

SLOWER increases in electricity and fuel prices, as well as transport costs, led to a lower inflation rate last month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday. Consumer price growth dropped to 3.7 percent in June, snapping four straight months of increases at 3.9 percent in May. The rate is also markedly lower than the 5.4 percent in the same month last year. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy items, remained at 3.1 percent, lower than the 7.4 percent a year earlier. It is well within the 3.4- to 4.2-percent estimate of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the month and lower than the 3.9-percent median in a Manila Times poll of economists. Rates also remained within the BSP's 2.0- to 4.0-percent target for the seventh straight month. While the outlook has improved, the BSP noted that rising prices of food items, transportation costs, and electricity rates continue to pose inflationary risks.

BUSINESS: Rate cut more likely as inflation drops

In a related development, lower-than-expected June inflation has raised the likelihood of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) cutting key interest rates next month, analysts said. Consumer price growth slowed to 3.7 percent in June, easing from May's 3.9 percent and below the 3.9 percent median in a Manila Times poll of economists. It ended a four-month rise and bucked earlier expectations of a second-quarter breach of the central bank's 2.0- to 4.0-percent target.

SPORTS: PH takes on Brazil in semis

WITH its Olympic hopes very much alive, the Philippines will be shooting for a finals spot in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament when it tangles with Brazil in a knockout crossover semifinal match on Saturday night (Philippine time) at the Arena Riga in Latvia. Gilas Pilipinas marched into the semifinal round as the No. 2 seed from Group A despite dropping a narrow 96-94 decision to Georgia Thursday night. Georgia failed to meet the required winning margin of 19 or more points to oust the Philippines as it blew a 20-point second quarter lead. Georgia succumbed to the zone defense of Gilas Pilipinas, which allowed the Filipino to launch a massive comeback behind the timely shooting of naturalized player Justin Brownlee and CJ Perez and the playmaking of Dwight Ramos.

READ: Opinion and editorial

Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras and Makabenta talk about Philippine diplomacy regarding China, while Remoto looks into the "beautiful boy drought".

Today's editorial looks into Australia's new laws against vapes. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

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