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VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 126 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2024
Opposition balks at Sara as leader
De Lima, Lagman voice objections By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta
V
ICE President Sara Duterte as opposition leader? Not so fast, said several groups representing the political opposition in the country.
Liberal Party president and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said Duterte’s resignation from the Marcos Cabinet does not automatically make her an opposition leader. “Vice President Sara Duterte may assume the leadership of the partisan opposition to the Marcos Jr. administration, but the Liberal Party remains t h e ideological and conscientious op-
position to both the current administration and Duterte’s breakaway power bloc,” the lawmaker said. “The real opposition has a foundation of accountability, transparency, and concern for the citizens, which cannot be seen in Vice President Sara’s track record,” added former Senator Leila de Lima on X. Next page
‘Hall of Fame’ Best Property Developer Megaworld is the first and only real estate company in the Philippines that won three consecutive years as Best Developer in two of the biggest property awards in the country. T h e company’s ’Hall of Fame’ awards came from the Property and Real Estate Excellence Awards by the International Real Estate Federation of the Philippines (FIABCI-Philippines) for 20152017, and the Philippines Property Awards by PropertyGuru for 2016-2018.
MegaStan
Blinken, Manalo raise alarm over China’s ‘escalatory actions’ By Rachelle Tonelada and Rex Espiritu Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT),” Miller said
EL NINO-AFFECTED FOLK IN CARAGA GET AID NEWS / A2 EL NINO AID. President Marcos shakes the hand of one of the 12,000 farmers, fisherfolk and their families who were affected by El Niño in the CARAGA region.
Two Chinese warships spotted off Balabac island By Manolo Del Rio
Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) is located. Roy Reyes, an entrepreneur and former barangay munici TWO Chinese warships were spotted on Wednesday captain of Barangay Bancalaan in this coastal municisailing through the waters off Balabac island, at the pality, said on Thursday that he witnessed the two vessouthern tip of Palawan, where one of the four Phil- sels prominently flying the Chinese flag. Next page ippine bases for use by US forces under the Enhanced
RODY ALIVE AND WELL—GO
GYMNAST YULO VOWS TO GIVE ALL
NEWS / A2
SPORTS / A8
DOJ confirms arrest of Teves brother over financing terror raps Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday confirmed the arrest of businessman and former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry A. Teves, in connection with the financing terrorism charges filed against him and 12 others before the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City. The DOJ said the 50-year-old Teves was arrested by virtue of an arrest war-
rant issued by Cebu RTC Branch 74 last May 13, 2024, for violations of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. Teves was arrested at Dr. Vicente Locsin Street, Barangay Taclobo, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental by members of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CID). Next page
Palace orders AMLAC to shut, freeze assets of Porac POGO OGO By Charles Dantes and Vito Barcelo
in Porac, Pampanga. According to a memorandum signed by Executive Secretary and PresidenMALACAÑANG directed the tial Anti-Organized Crime CommisAnti-Money Laundering Council sion chairman Lucas Bersamin, the (AMLC) to freeze and preserve all order encompasses all Lucky South 99 assets of the raided Philippine off- Corp. compound assets. Next page shore gaming operator (POGO) hub
UNITED States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo raised the alarm over the recent “escalatory actions” of China in the West Philippine Sea. The US State Department said the phone conversation revolved around the violent behavior demonstrated by China Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels against a lawful routine rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Ayungin Shoal on June 17. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken called China’s actions “dangerous and irresponsible.” “Secretary Blinken emphasized that the PRC’s actions undermine regional peace and stability and underscored the United States’ ironclad commitments to the Philippines under our
in a statement. The Philippine Navy, for its part, said there will be “changes” in its protocols after their rubber boats were attacked, but did not give details. Philippine Navy spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad also urged other countries to be vigilant amid China’s aggressive actions. “Other countries should now be very careful in looking at what China is doing in the WPS, because it will also be done to them, if not it’s already being done,” Trinidad said. “Our actions will always be guided by the rules of engagement. It will always be within the bounds of international law. We are here to assert our sovereignty. We are prohere to ensure our sovereign rights are pro tected,” he added. Next page
Olympians to wear barongs designed by Francis Libiran By Abigail Adriatico FASHION designer Francis Libiran has designed a barong for the national team representing the Philippines at the Olympics in Paris, whose opening ceremony will be staged along the River Seine. Aptly named “Sinag,” Libiran’s design takes inspiration from the rays of the sun, with the collar prominently brandishing embroidered sun rays and warrior patterns inspired by Pintados tattoo art. The celebrated fashion designer also incorporated the colors of France’s national flag into the sling to pay tribute to the host country of this year’s Olympics. The intricately crafted barong is made from piña-jusi fabric, which comes from Kalibo, Aklan. It features a detachable silk organdy sling that bears the colors of the Philippine flag along with an embroidered pattern that continues the motif of the sun rays. The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) also gave netizens a glimpse of Libiran’s creation, describing it as a stunning
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WEARING THE COLORS.
Filipina weightlifter Elreen Ando wears the ‘SINAG’ Barong designed by Francis Libiran for the national athletes in the upcoming Paris Olympics. Philippine Olympic Committee