Faces of the News: November 24, 2024
Manny V. Pangilinan
Tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan gave assurances this week that the P200-billion solar power project in Luzon would help accelerate the country’s transition to cleaner energy sources. On Thursday, the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), one of the companies under the MVP Group, kicked off the development of the MTerra Solar Project, dubbed the largest integrated solar and battery storage facility in the world.
The project is expected to supply clean energy to approximately 2.4 million households upon full completion in 2027. The massive project is seen to contribute to the global energy transition and the government’s aggressive push to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix that is still dominated by coal power plants.
“Numbers alone fail to articulate the full significance of this project, we are making a statement today that the Philippines is not only keeping pace with the global energy transition but more so express our intention, the Philippines’ intention to lead the migration from thermal to renewables,” said the Meralco chair. —JORDEENE B. LAGARE
Mary Jane Veloso
Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino woman convicted of drug smuggling in Indonesia, may now be a step closer to freedom after the Indonesian government agreed to transfer her to Manila. On Wednesday, President Marcos took to social media to announce that Veloso will be coming home—although still a convict—after 14 years of incarceration.
He thanked ex-Indonesian President Joko Widodo and incumbent President Prabowo Subianto for their goodwill and act of justice and compassion to Veloso, now age 39. Despite repeated claims of innocence, Veloso was arrested and sentenced to death in 2010 after being found with 2.6 kilos of heroin in her luggage.
In 2015, execution by firing squad was stayed at the last minute after the Philippines asked Indonesia to let her testify against her illegal recruiters. On Thursday, Mr. Marcos said the strong friendship between the Philippines and Indonesia ultimately led to the commutation of Veloso’s death sentence to life imprisonment during Widodo’s term, and a possible grant of clemency is “on the table.” —JULIE M. AURELIO
Mary Grace Piattos
“Mary Grace Piattos” was purportedly among the recipients of some P125 million in confidential funds spent by Vice President Sara Duterte’s office in just 11 days in December 2022. Her name appeared in one of more than 1,200 acknowledgment receipts submitted by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to the Commission on Audit (COA) to justify the use of the huge sum in so short a period that year.
Based on one receipt, Piattos was supposed to have been paid P70,000 as reward in the form of medicines on Dec. 30, 2022. The other receipts submitted for liquidation by the OVP to the COA had no names but only signatures, or vice-versa, while some bore unreadable names and dates mistakenly marked 2023.
When presented in a House inquiry recently, Piattos’ name stood out and aroused the strongest suspicion of fraud because it is also the name of a popular brand of potato chips. The House of Representatives has since offered a P1-million reward for anyone who could pinpoint and present Piattos in the flesh before the committee on good government and public accountability. —JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE
Kai Sotto
Kai Sotto turned in his finest game in a Gilas Pilipinas uniform on Nov. 21, when the national team finally defeated World No. 22 New Zealand in the second window of the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers. Sotto had 19 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists in the shock 93-89 win at SM Mall of Asia Arena that put an end to the Filipinos’ losing streak against the taller and physical Kiwis.
The 22-year-old center humbly credited the win to team effort, one efficiently delivered before the nearly 17,000 Gilas fans in attendance. “I think it all started with our preparations. Starting with our window back in February, starting when this team was built, we all just kept at it,” said 7-foot-3 Sotto.
“[New Zealand] really challenged us and it was a great, 40-minute game that was really competitive from start to end. [But] I just want to give credit to my teammates who kept on fighting and making big plays towards the end of the game. I’m just happy we prepared really well for this [since] we wanted to protect home court.” Still, Sotto particularly drew high praises from coach Tim Cone. —DENISON REY A. DALUPANG
Benjamin Netanyahu
World leaders were divided when the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The ICC ordered the arrest of the Israeli premier along with his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and nemesis Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the ongoing war in Gaza.
The tribunal found Netanyahu and Gallant criminally responsible for using murder, persecution and starvation as weapons of war against the Palestinian people. Netanyahu met the arrest order with outrage, calling it “antisemitic” as he strongly rejected the court’s “false and absurd” allegations. Israel’s allies led by the United States also condemned the ICC’s move, with US President Joe Biden calling the decision “shameful.”
Countries like Hungary and Argentina scoffed at the order, with Hungarian President Viktor Orban even inviting Netanyahu to visit his country. Of the 124 ICC member nations, many showed hesitation in enforcing the warrant against the Israeli leader.
