Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Maundy Thursday, March 28, 2024.

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BANNER: Filipinos don't want Charter change – poll

NEARLY nine out of 10 Filipinos said the 1987 Constitution must not be amended, with 75 percent of them saying it should not be amended now or at any other time, the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed. In the "Ulat sa Bayan" survey conducted from March 6-10, 2024, 88 percent said they did not want the current constitution to be amended now, and 75 percent of them said it should never be amended. Meanwhile, 14 percent said that while the Constitution could not be amended, it could be amended sometime in the future. Of these, 6 percent said the Charter could be amended during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., while 8 percent said that it could be done in the next administration. Only 8 percent of respondents said they were in favor of amending the Constitution.

Chinese SCS moves destabilizing - Australia

AUSTRALIA on Wednesday criticized "destabilizing and coercive" actions in the South China Sea, including unsafe encounters at sea and in the air and the militarization of disputed features. Canberra said the pattern of "deeply concerning behavior" by China in the S.C.S. "endangers the peace and security of the region, threatens lives and livelihoods, and creates risks of miscalculation and escalation."

Holy Thursday commemorates Last Supper

CATHOLICS commemorate today, Holy Thursday, the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, which marks the start of the Easter Triduum, a three-day period leading to the resurrection of Christ and considered the most solemn part of the Holy Week. The start of the Easter Triduum also marks the end of the 40-day Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday. The 40-day Lent represents the time Jesus Christ spent enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to start his ministry. It is also on the evening of Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, that practicing Catholics do the traditional "Visita Iglesia," the practice of visiting various churches and praying the station of the cross to atone for their sins.

Critics slam revival of drug war in Davao City

LEADING critics of the so-called war on drugs of former president Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday slammed the move of his son, Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, to revive the brutal policy. Critics of Mayor Baste assailed his move after seven drug suspects were killed in separate police operations in the city, under the "leave or die" warning of the younger Duterte to drug dealers and users. In a statement on Wednesday, Bayan Muna chairman and former lawmaker Neri Colmenares said the revival of the drug war has created a "dangerous environment for the people, resulting in more killings and human rights violations."

Blackwater owner: We should have been 5-0

AS far as Blackwater Bossing owner Dioceldo Sy is concerned, his team should have easily been 5-0 in the P.B.A. Philippine Cup. Unfortunately, Sy said, the team could not finish strong, especially in their last two games, as they tend to play not to lose instead of just push until the final buzzer sounds. For Sy, the team's lack of maturity was the reason Blackwater entered the break with a 3-2 slate, tied with the Dyip at the sixth spot of the 12-team league. The 66-year-old billionaire, whose team started the conference with three straight victories, stressed the importance of finishing strong.

SPORTS: Hidilyn off to Phuket for Olympic qualifiers

OLYMPIC champion Hidilyn Diaz is gearing up with the rest of the Philippine weightlifting team for the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup tournament in Phuket, Thailand. The tournament will serve as the final qualifying event in weightlifting for the upcoming Paris Olympics later this year. Diaz on Wednesday showed a social media story of herself and her team that includes husband-coach Julius Naranjo at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Based on the IWF's Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Rankings for the women's 59-kilogram division as of March 4, Diaz is in 8th position, after her participation at last year's IWF World Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and lifted a total of 224 kg.

BUSINESS: Auto sales growth speeds up in Feb

Over to business, motor vehicle sales accelerated in February, automakers reported on Wednesday, raising industry hopes of a strong first quarter and possibly another record result this year. A total of 38,072 units left showrooms last month, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report, up 23.2 percent from the 30,905 units sold a year earlier. The growth rose from 15.5 percent in January, when sales totaled 34,060.

Opinion and editorial

Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta are today's front page columnists. Contreras looks into private property rights, while Makabenta recalls a speech by former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping.

Today's editorial calls for a microplastics ban in the country. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

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