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PBBM SECURES $1.53B IN DEALS, MEETS CAMBODIAN PREMIER Stop harassing us, says Manalo; PH’s words ‘consistent’ —envoy By Rey Requejo FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Monday said the Philippines wants to solve maritime disputes with China peacefully -- but delivered a simple message to Beijing: “Stop harassing us.”
Speaking on the sidelines of ASEAN-Australia summit in Melbourne, Manalo defended Manila’s policy of publicizing Chinese maneuvers in contested maritime territory, including the recent passage of warships near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.
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VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 24 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2024
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Marcos: We will push back
President hits China’s sea actions, gets Aussie, ASEAN backing By Charles Dantes
P
RESIDENT Marcos on Monday vowed the Philippines would continue to engage and push back against China if the latter’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea persist.
MARCOS IN MELBOURNE. President Marcos is flanked by (from
left) Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Speaker Martin Romualdez, First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos, ICTSI chairman Enrique K. Razon, and executive vice president Christian Martin Gonzalez as they are presented with a plaque of the Phase 3 expansion of the Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), the first fully-automated container terminal in Australia, on Monday. Later, Mr. Marcos addresses the Lowy Institute, a prominent Australian think tank, and emphasized the Philippines’ dedication to peace amidst the complex power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. PPO Photo with AFP
Speaker, lawmakers raise alarm over incursions in Philippine Rise By Maricel V. Cruz and Vince Lopez SPEAKER Martin Romualdez expressed alarm over the presence of Chinese vessels “loitering” and conducting research activities within the Philippine
Rise, which is well within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EZZ). “The Philippines will not compromise its territorial integrity or allow any encroachment upon its sovereign rights. Philippine Rise is unquestionably within our EZZ, and we will as-
sert our authority to safeguard our maritime domain,” Romualdez said on Monday. “The Philippines will not back down or yield an inch of its territory. We will continue to assert our rights over the Philippine Rise and
any other maritime areas that belong to us under international law,” he added from Melbourne, where he joined President Marcos and the Philippine delegation in the 50th ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.
“Our independent foreign policy compels us to cooperate with them on matters where our interests align, to respectfully disagree on areas where our views differ, and to push back when our sworn principles, such as our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and our jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea — are questioned or ignored,” President Marcos said in his keynote speech at the Lowy Institute forum in Melbourne. The President also criticized China’s provocative and illegal actions despite an international arbitral ruling invalidating its massive nine-dash-line claim over the South China Sea. “It is unfortunate that despite the clarity provided by international law, provocative, unilateral, and illegal actions continue to infringe upon our sovereignty, our sovereign rights, our Next page
DOJ READIES RAPS AGAINST QUIBOLOY NEWS / A4
TULFO CHIDES PNP OVER GAMBLING NEWS / A3
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Zubiri calls Senate loyalty check; Coup talk ‘coming from outside’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta AMID rumors of a leadership coup in the Senate, several senators on Monday admitted to signing a resolution expressing support for Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri in what one of them confirmed was a loyalty check of sorts. Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Sonny Angara said they both signed
AGI-MPOWER PACT.
Alliance Global Group, Inc. (AGI), through its companies Megaworld and the Travellers International Hotel Group, has tapped MPower of Meralco to achieve its goal of sourcing 100% of its power requirements from renewable energy this year to around 70 property developments of both Megaworld and Newport World Resorts. At the ceremonial signing are Kevin Andrew L. Tan, chief executive officer of AGI (2nd from left) and Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman and CEO of Meralco (2nd from right). Witnessing were Lourdes T. GutierrezAlfonso, chief operating officer of Megaworld (left) and Redel M. Domingo, first vice president and head of MPower.
the resolution, and when the latter was asked if the measure was a loyalty check, Angara replied: “Something like that.” Senator Cynthia Villar earlier divulged the existence of the resolution – although admitted she didn’t see it nor sign it -- amid fresh speculation over the weekend that Zubiri would be toppled from his position. Next page
House to senators: Adopt ‘Cha-cha’ rules By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta
over the absence of clear guidelines within the Senate for amending the 1987 Constitution This also raised questions about HOUSE leaders on Monday advised senators to adopt the rules of the the sincerity of senators in pushing House of Representatives on Charter for economic constitutional reforms, Next page change, as they expressed concern
#ANONGBALITA
Tiu Laurel takes over NFA as Ombudsman suspends 139 By Othel V. Campos and Macon Ramos-Araneta AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel is taking over the reins of the National Food Authority after at least 139 officials and employees of
the agency were placed under preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman on claims they helped sell NFA rice stocks to commercial traders for just P25 per kilo. Laurel said the Department of Agriculture is giving the Ombudsman full
access to all information a DA panel is gathering to conduct the internal investigation into the corruption charge. “We condemn this and we will not allow any form of corruption at the NFA. We are one with the Ombudsman in
Jaclyn Jose died from heart attack, daughter confirms
‘Para kay D:’ EDSA billboard goes viral with heartfelt plea
Dinner with PBBM: Pinoys meet First Couple at resto
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