Olympics: Paalam earns gold medal chance, Marcial settles for bronze | Evening wRap

Today on Rappler – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:

• Carlo Paalam outclasses home bet, gets crack at Olympic gold

Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam advances to the elusive gold medal match in the Tokyo 2020 Games Thursday, August 5. Meanwhile, Eumir Marcial falls short of a finals spot in the men’s middleweight class after a split decision loss.

• Chaos erupts at COVID-19 vaccination sites a day before Metro Manila ECQ

Desperate for COVID-19 vaccines, thousands of Filipinos troop to vaccination sites across Metro Manila early Thursday, August 5, a day before the capitol region reverts to the strictest lockdown.

• Lacson crafts 2022 ‘unification’ plan vs Duterte; Robredo rejects it

Presidential hopeful Senator Panfilo Lacson devises a ‘unification formula’ against the Duterte administration for 2022. But Vice President Leni Robredo, a key figure in the opposition, rejects the idea.

• Ex-Inquirer top editor hits management’s ‘unprincipled’ deal on pork barrel libel case

A retired top editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer slams the management’s decision to enter into what he called an ‘unprincipled’ compromise deal to settle a libel case filed by a radio broadcaster over their pork barrel scam stories.

• Nas Academy insists Whang-Od consented to online tattoo course

Online learning platform Nas Academy insists their online traditional tattooing course by renowned artist Whang-Od is not a scam. – Rappler.com