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TRUMP, ISHIBA HIT CHINA’S ‘PROVOCATIVE’ SCS ACTIONS CONDEMN UNLAWFUL MARITIME CLAIMS, MILITARIZATION
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ASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday (Manila time) condemned China for “provocative activities” in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.
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“The two leaders reaffirmed their strong opposition to the PRC’s unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea,” a joint statement said after Trump and Ishiba met in Washington, referring to China by the abbreviation of its official name. The two leaders reaffirmed their position during a bilateral summit in Washington D.C. “The two leaders shared views on the severe and complex security environment and expressed their determination to continuously cooperate to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the White House said in a statement. The Philippines has condemned China’s increased presence in the West Philippine Sea, the area covering the country’s maritime zones in the South China Sea, and its recent deployment of coast guard vessels some 100 nautical miles off the Zambales province coastline. Trump and Ishiba reaffirmed their willingness to advance their “multilayered and aligned cooperation” among like-minded countries, including through their trilateral setup with the Philippines/ They also called for a denuclearized North Korea, although Trump—who met its leader Kim Jong-un during his first term—said he wanted to have “relations” with Pyongyang. Behind Trump’s expressions of support were Japan’s promises of a $1 trillion investment in the United States and to boost Japanese purchases of US defense equipment. Ishiba said his country was the biggest investor in the United States and would step up its spending. The soft-spoken, cigarette-smoking Ishiba had rushed to Washington hoping to blunt the edge of Trump’s “America First” policies, with Tokyo avoiding tariffs that the US president has slapped on other allies – for now. AFP
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PEDRISTA FESTIVAL. Participants from different public schools in San Francisco Del Monte in Quezon City perform during a street dance competition on Saturday ahead of the Pedrista Festival – the feast day of Franciscan missionary priest San Pedro Bautista on Sunday. Jann Conrad Bonifacio
GROUNDBREAKING.
Speaker Martin Romualdez (third from right) leads the groundbreaking for the Benjamin Romualdez International Convention Center (BRICC) at Leyte Park in Tacloban City. Ver Noveno
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the acquisition of additional vessels from Japan and France, the Philippine Coast Guard said. PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Philippines will enhance its coast guard fleet with five additional 97-meter vessels from Japan and 40 more vessels from France. “This information is an open book that the PCG would require more assets for us to safeguard our maritime rights, not just in the WPS, but for our entire maritime jurisdiction as an archipelagic country,” Tarriela said. Mr. Marcos on Thursday said the Philippines “does not have the means to force out” China’s “monster ship” – China Coast Guard 5901 – even as the government would continue to defend its maritime region amid limited military resources. “It’s not like we have an aircraft
carrier with a destroyer, frigate, and submarine to push them away. We don’t have that,” the President said. On Friday, Tarriela said the socalled “monster ship” was back in waters near Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Panatag Shoal. He said two CCG vessels were also seen in Bajo de Masinloc, while three others were positioned off the coast of Zambales. “Well, right now, CCG 3304 and CCG 5901 swapped again. CCG 5901 is once again back in the vicinity of Bajo De Masinloc at a distance of 120 nautical miles,” Tarriela said. “CCG 3304 is the one trying to replace 5901 as it maintained [China’s] illegal presence off the coast of Zambales at a distance of 105 nautical miles,” he added. Mr. Marcos said the country’s policy remains firm—that of defending the nation’s sovereign territory and rights within the exclusive economic zone.
ANDI EIGENMANN: PHILMAR NO CHEATER, BUT... By Angelica Villanueva ACTRESS Andi Eigenmann denied speculations that her fiancé, professional surfer Philmar Alipayo, cheated on her, following a series of cryptic social media posts that fueled rumors of their breakup. In a statement on Saturday, Eigenmann clarified that her earlier messages—including a reference to a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”— were not directed at Alipayo but at a former friend who allegedly repeatedly urged him to break up
with the actress. “I am fully aware that my husband never cheated on me with this girl. I am always around when they are together. I posted because this person betrayed me, encouraged my husband to break up with me during every fight even when I also tell my side of the story to her,” Eigenmann wrote. The woman also convinced Alipayo to get matching tattoos, the actress said. “The day after our fight, she inserted herself in the situation by encouraging him to go for a
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spontaneous love couple tattoo together,” she said. The woman reportedly shared a photo of the “224” tattoos that she and Alipayo got. “2Today, 2Tomorrow, 4Forever. More than a decade of being my lil bro, and one of my greatest blessings,” read the woman’s post that received backlash online, prompting her to deactivate her Instagram account. Eigenmann admitted feeling “hurt” by the situation but did not confirm whether she and Alipayo have officially separated.
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ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN MATERIALS TO BE REMOVED NEXT WEEK—COMELEC THE Commission on Elections will start removing illegal campaign materials – including those posted outside designated areas – next week, poll body chief George Garcia said. “We will monitor and take down materials in places where campaign materials aren’t supposed to be posted,” Garcia said in a television interview on Saturday. He also warned candidates that failure to take down materials that do not comply with the required size may lead to their disqualification. The 90-day campaign period for national positions will start on February 11, Tuesday. Garcia, however, assured the public Comelec will not take down materials posted on private property, guided by a Supreme Court decision on the matter. He also reminded candidates to abide by the Fair Elections Act and other election policies, including the use of biodegradable materials. Earlier, Comelec also authorized its Kontra Bigay Committee (KBC) to prevent and take legal action against individuals involved in vote buying and selling, as well as those who exploit state resources (ASR). Comelec Resolution No. 11104 defines the offense of ASR as one that “pertains to the misuse of government resources, whether material, human, coercive, regulatory, budgetary, media-related or legislative, for electoral advantage.” Garcia also encouraged voters to report any instances of candidates attempting to buy votes and advised them against selling their votes or supporting candidates involved in such practices.
Andi Eigenmann and Philmar Alipayo
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