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VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 130 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2024
‘WPS clash deliberate, not a misunderstanding’ DND chief clarifies Bersamin's 'preliminary assessment' By Charles Dantes, Rex Espiritu and Rachelle Tonelada
T
HE attack on Philippine Navy troops near Ayungin Shoal by China Coast Guard and militia on June 17 was “deliberate,” the Defense and Foreign Affairs secretaries and the National Security Adviser said in a joint statement, departing from the earlier pronouncement of Executive Secretary that the incident was only a “misunderstanding.”
Former US Air Force officer Ray Powell, for his part, said Bersamin's use of the words "misunderstanding" and "accident" were "unfortunate." "This is clearly not an accident, it is clearly not a misunderstanding. These were deliberate acts by the China Coast Guard," Powell told ABS-CBN News in a virtual interview. “I think that the idea behind using terms like that was toward de-escalation. But we need to be very careful when we consider de-escalation as an outcome, that we don’t sort of fall into the trap,” Powell added. Next page
Iconic McDonald’s stores Megaworld townships are known as homes to the most iconic McDonald’s stores in the country. These include the ‘most beautiful McDonald’s’ at The Upper East in Bacolod City; the sprawling McDonald’s at Capital Town Pampanga known as the ‘biggest McDonald’s’ in the country; and the ‘firstever McDonald’s NXTGen store’ in the whole Negros Island at Northill Gateway just five minutes away from the BacolodSilay International Airport.
MegaStan
Court sets De Lima free, dismisses last drug case By Joel E. Zurbano FORMER senator Leila de Lima was acquitted in the last remaining criminal charges against her, ending years of legal battles for one of the most vocal critics of former president Rodrigo Duterte and his deadly drug war. Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 206 Judge Gener Gito on Friday granted De Lima's demurrer in her last remaining drug case.
NOT A MISUNDERSTANDING. Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro
says the violent encounter between Philippine Navy sailors and Chinese forces in Ayungin shoal was deliberate and not an accident. He elaborated on a joint statement signed by National Security Council chief Eduardo Ano and Undersecretary Teresa Lazaro of the Department of Foreign Affairs at a press conference at the Malacanang Palace yesterday.
CL police chief under probe for possible POGO links PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Rommel Francisco Marbil said on Monday that he placed the PNP Central Luzon Regional Director, Police Brigadier General Jose Hidalgo Jr., under investigation due to the discovery of the illegal Philippine Offshore
The former justice secretary had spent a decade investigating "death squad" killings allegedly orchestrated by Duterte until she was arrested in 2017 and spent more than six years in prison. "I am now completely free and vindicated. It's very liberating," an emotional De Lima told reporters as she emerged from the courtroom. "Despite the pain and injustice of it all, I went through it and endured the whole process." Next page
Rice traders assure Congress of lower prices By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez was assured by leaders of the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) on Monday that rice prices would significantly drop to as low as P42 per kilo next month. PRISM founders Rowena Sadicon and Orly Manuntag met with Speaker
Romualdez and other leaders of the House of Representatives at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City. PRISM is a group composed of various stakeholders across the rice value chain from seed growers, farmers, millers to traders, importers and retailers. Manuntag expressed his gratitude to the Speaker and other lawmakers for Next page
Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga. "We are also investigating the regional director on the reports thatwere not acted upon properly. We put accountability there on the regional directors," General Marbil said at a press briefing. Next page
LOWER RICE PRICES. House Speaker Martin Romualdez stresses a point during a meeting with rice traders at Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City on Monday morning. Ver Noveno
Let Sara speak for herself—Speaker FULL SUPPORT. President Marcos Jr. emphasized anew the importance of the first BARMM elections in May 2025 in an address to officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao led by BARMM chief minister Ahod Ebrahim. Al Haj.
HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez said Monday that it should be Vice President Sara herself who should declare that she will be leading the opposition against the administration. Lawyer Harry Roque, former spokesman during the administration of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte – had earlier an-
nounced that the vice president would now lead the opposition after she resigned last June 19 from the Cabinet and as secretary of education. “I guess that’s Mr. Harry Roque’s statement but I guess we just have to hear it from the VP if and when the time comes Next page