July 19-25, 2025 Volume 36 - No. 29 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
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Marcos to press US on tariffs and security DATELINE USA California sues Trump in first Washington Summit with Trump administration over from the AJPress NEWS TEAM across America
$4 billion high-speed rail funding cut Newsom says funding revocation “illegal” as state takes battle to federal court
On his first official visit to Washington under the Trump administration, Marcos seeks relief from new U.S. tariffs and deeper defense cooperation as tensions rise in the South China Sea by AJPress
WASHINGTON — When President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrives in Washington on July 20 for a three-day official visit, he will be walking a diplomatic tightrope, hoping to shield his country’s export
economy from a new round of U.S. tariffs while reinforcing Manila’s growing reliance on American military support in one of Asia’s most contested regions. The visit, his first bilateral summit with President Donald Trump, comes as the United States
Senators split on date of convening impeachment court for Sara Duterte
SACRAMENTO / WASHINGTON — California filed a federal lawsuit this week challenging the Trump administration’s decision to revoke $4 billion in federal funding for the state’s highspeed rail project—escalating a long-standing conflict between Sacramento and Washington over infrastructure, climate policy, and federal authority. The lawsuit was filed on July 17 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, based in Sacramento, and seeks to block the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) from rescinding grant agreements that state officials say are critical to completing the Merced-to-Ba-
by Jason Sigales Inquirer.net
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2,000 troops withdrawn, but military presence continues in Los Angeles amid immigration tensions Remaining troops face growing criticism, court challenges, and pressure from state leaders to end the federal crackdown on immigrant communities LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Department of Defense has ordered the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, signaling a partial de-escalation of federal military presence amid weeks of protest and legal challenges over the use of military personnel in immigration enforcement operations. The move, announced July 15, 2025, by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, comes after the controversial deployment of approximately 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines in June. The Pentagon stated that the decision to reduce troop levels
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prepares to raise duties on Philippine exports to 20 percent, a move that has unsettled Filipino business leaders and drawn concern among senior officials in Manila. The tariff hike, set to take effect August 1, follows months of recalibration in U.S. trade polu PAGE A2
FAST LANE. Clients make transactions at the newly launched Bagong Pilipinas EGovPH Serbisyo Hub at San Juan City Government Center on Friday, July 18. The hub is a one-stop shop integrating essential national and local government services to ensure faster and more accessible public service delivery. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
MANILA — Some senators differed on convening the impeachment court on August 4, for Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial, which has already been delayed for five months. Four to six senators had informally talked with Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero to start the trial on August 4, to give the chamber time to decide its leadership, chairperson roles, and address housekeeping concerns, according to Sen. Joel Villanueva on Wednesday, July 16. In a statement on Friday, July 18, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said he would “seek clarification” about the proposed date. “In keeping with the constitutional mandate, there should be no delay in the trial proper,” he stressed in a mix of Filipino and English. “The earliest possible time we can convene, the bet-
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DOJ can’t act on ‘Totoy’ Luxury on a budget? Why Manila is claims without affidavit becoming a haven for the world’s wealthy by Jane Bautista Inquirer.net
MANILA — Whistleblower Julie Patidongan may have kept the public glued to his gripping allegations about the missing “sabungeros,” but he has yet to lodge a formal criminal complaint that public prosecutors can evaluate for filing in court. Until he formally files a complaint-affidavit with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Pa-
tidongan’s claims will remain “allegations that need to be validated and evaluated,” Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon told reporters on Tuesday, July 15. “At this point, much as we would want to, we cannot make any disclosures because all these revelations [that] are being made have to be formally presented or submitted to us in the form of affidavits and we have yet to see it and if and when we do see it, we u PAGE A2
by AJPress MANILA — In a world where luxury often comes with a sky-high price tag, one Southeast Asian city is quietly defying the trend. According to the newly released Julius Baer Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2025, Manila is now ranked as one of the world’s most affordable cities for the rich—an unexpected but telling indicator of the Philippines’ evolving economic and cultural footprint. A global lens on luxury
Each year, Swiss private bank Julius Baer measures the cost of living well among the world’s affluent. The bank’s Lifestyle Index tracks the price of 20 high-end goods and services—from designer handbags and fine watches to personal trainers, luxury cars, and private healthcare—in 25 major cities. In 2025, Manila emerged near the bottom of the list, placing 23rd out of 25 cities surveyed. That’s not a knock against the capital. It’s a nod to its value. u PAGE A4
CASTRO AGAIN CRIES ‘FAKE NEWS’ Alex Eala’s global swing continues: US DOJ seeks to overturn De Lima acquittal; former senator says move is ‘infuriating’ Palace: Lines ‘added’ in report to Open, North America, and Asia next DOJ moves to reverse Leila de Lima’s June 2025 acquittal in her final drug case, prompting backlash. De Lima, now a Congresswoman, calls it “infuriating persecution” by AJPress MANILA — Government prosecutors have filed a motion urging the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (Branch 204) to overturn the acquittal granted to former senator and current Congresswoman Leila de Lima in her final drug-related case. The motion, dated July 12, claims the June 2025 verdict was flawed, citing alleged “serious errors in the appreciation of evidence”
and conclusions “contrary to the facts on record.” De Lima sharply criticized the move, labeling it an act of “infuriating persecution.” “Nakakagalit na,” she told reporters, “This is clearly persecution disguised as prosecution. Ilang ulit na ba akong kailangang mapawalang‑sala?” (“This is infuriating. This is clearly persecution disguised as prosecution. How many times do u PAGE A4
link first lady to Tantoco death by Dexter Cabalza Inquirer.net
MANILA — Malacañang stressed on Tuesday, July 15 that First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos was not with Juan Paolo “Paowee” Tantoco on March 8 when the luxury retail executive died reportedly due to an accidental cocaine overdose in the United States. In a briefing, Undersecretary Claire Castro, the Palace press officer, dismissed as “fake” the Beverly Hills police report being shared through social media, purportedly saying Arane-
ta-Marcos was among Tantoco’s companions at the time of his death. She said lines had been “added” in the report that appeared online to connect the first lady to Tantoco’s death, which happened when she was also in Los Angeles to promote a Philippine film festival. She also denied a report originating from a U.S. publication that Tantoco was part of the first lady’s “entourage.” Castro said Malacañang was studying the legal actions it could take against groups and u PAGE A4
by AJPress Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala is gearing up for an ambitious stretch of tournaments as she builds toward a strong showing at the 2025 U.S. Open in New York later this August. Before taking the courts at Flushing Meadows, Eala is scheduled to compete in two high-stakes WTA 1000 events: the National Bank Open in Montreal and the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. These back-to-back tournaments will serve as crucial tune-ups for the Grand Slam, offering Eala opportunities to test her form u PAGE A2 Alex Eala
Photo from Facebook/AlexEala