HEADLINES: CHEd chief faces criminal charges | Mar. 14, 2024

Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, March 14, 2024.

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BANNER: CHEd chief faces criminal charges

A SUSPENDED official of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has filed graft and corruption and grave abuse of authority charges against the agency's chairman, Prospero de Vera 3rd, before the Office of the Ombudsman. In a five-page complaint filed on Tuesday, CHEd Commissioner Aldrin Darilag accused de Vera of giving undue favor to a supplier, claiming that his superior had asked him to support the supplier even if the company was not qualified. On Jan. 16, 2024, the Office of the President placed Darilag under preventive suspension for 90 days for alleged grave misconduct, neglect in the performance of his duties, and abuse of authority and oppression.

Difficult to see way forward – Marcos

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said «it is very difficult to see a way forward» with proposals that China made to ease tensions in the South China Sea because these were based on its expansive territorial claims that are «not recognized by any country.» Marcos pointed out that the Philippines' baselines were already well established and that China intruded on the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Filipinos unfamiliar with political parties – study

A STUDY commissioned by Participate PH revealed that most Filipinos are unfamiliar with the nature of political parties but see their value in terms of public service delivery and representation that could convince them to join them anyway. Participate PH is a non-partisan, pro-democracy coalition that aims to engage and empower the political participation of Filipinos by providing opportunities for citizen engagement and empowerment. The coalition is led by the Ateneo School of Government, La Salle School of Governance, National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services Inc. (Ideals Inc.), and Caucus for the Development of Non-government Organization