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VP SARA BACK AFTER LRT 1 TO SUSPEND TRAIN MONTH-LONG HAGUE STAY OPS FROM APRIL 17-20 NEWS / A3
BUSINESS / B1
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‘LADIES FOR A CAUSE’ BACK CHILD’S FIRST 1,000 DAYS LIFE & SHOW / C3
Smuggled vape, e-cigarettes target youth, Marcos warns By Charles Dantes and Vito Barcelo
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 56 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025
Carnage in global markets continues
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the condemnation of smuggled electronic cigarettes, vape parts, and accessories worth P3.26 billion on Monday as the administration intensifies efforts to curb its rampant smug-
gling and illegal sale. The President underscored the dual threats posed by smuggled vapes: economic losses due to tax evasion, and, more critically, serious public health risks, especially to minors. He underscored the government’s resolve to protect public health and enforce Next page
Marcos economic team to meet today
A
SIAN and European equities collapsed on a black Monday for markets after China hammered the United States with its own hefty tariffs, ramping up a trade war many fear could spark a recession.
In Manila, Philippine President FerPSEi plunges 4.3%, shares took a dinand Marcos beating Monlowest in 2.5 years Jr.’s economic day on massive team will meet regional selloff BUSINESS / B2 today (Tuesday) that saw the into discuss the dex plunging government’s action as the US 4.3 percent. worldwide reciprocal tariffs will The benchmark Philippine take effect on April 9, Trade Sec- Stock Exchange index lost 261.34 Next page retary Ma. Cristina Roque said.
VAPE DESTRUCTION. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the public
condemnation of 2,977,925 pieces of seized smuggled electronic cigarettes, vape parts, and accessories valued at P3.26 billion at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in South Harbor, Manila. PPA POOL
Motive behind 3 Pinoys’ arrest still unclear
Palace confident Trump hands-off in Rody’s arrest
By Charles Dantes and Rex Espiritu
MALACAÑANG maintains that the US will respect the Philippines’ “sovereign prerogative” regarding the recent arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, despite potential US sanctions. The assertion comes after Senator Ronald Dela Rosa urged US President Donald Trump to sanction those involved in Duterte’s transfer to the ICC, citing a Trump executive order that allows for economic and travel sanctions against individuals aiding ICC investigations of US citizens or allies. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that while the Philippines could fall under the purview of Trump’s February executive order, which aims to protect US allies from ICC jurisdiction, she believes the US
MALACAÑANG said it has yet to come up with definitive proof that the arrests of three Filipinos in China were Beijing’s retaliation for the recent rounding up of several alleged Chinese spies in the Philippines, even while it did not close the door on the possibility. The Palace’s statement came on the heels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reporting that one of its vessels barely escaped a collision with an aggressive Chinese ship, underscoring the strained relations between the two Asian states. “There is no concrete evidence yet if it is really retaliation or a part of retaliation of the other country,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters in a briefing on Monday. “We will not say that [it was not retaliatory] because there is no final investigation on that matter [yet],” she added.
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MT. PROVINCE TREASURE. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has nominated the Maligcong rice terraces in Barangay Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes. The Maligcong rice terraces of Bontoc is one of the treasures of the Mountain Province. It is a site where local and foreign tourists can enjoy a mesmerizing sunrise view. Dave Leprozo
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PH, US kick off aerial wargames; allies present as observers By Rex Espiritu THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) are honing their abilities to fight together with yesterday’s launch
of the Cope Thunder Philippines (CT PH 25-1) drills at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga. The aerial wargames, wherein representatives from the air forces of five other friendly nations are present as
observers, will run until April 18, PAF spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo told reporters. PAF Chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura and COMPACAF Air National Guard Mobilization Assistant Maj. Gen.
Christopher Sheppard led the ceremonies officially kicking off the exercises. ‘”Enhancing combat readiness and elevating joint mission effectiveness” would be central to the Cope Thunder Next page
NEWS / A3
Qatar frees 17 pro-Rody rallyists without charges—PBBM By Charles Dantes
COPE THUNDER. Filipino and American airmen officially kicked off the Cope Thunder Philippines (CT PH 25-1) drills yesterday at Clark Air Base, Mabalacat City, Pampanga. The exercise will run from April 7 to 18 and will be held across key training locations in Northern Luzon, including Basa Air Base and Clark Air Base in Pampanga and Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base in Tarlac. The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has deployed 729 personnel along with a variety of aircraft, including the FA-50PH, A-29B ‘Super Tucano,’ S-76A, and S70i ‘Black Hawk’ helicopters while the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) sent 250 personnel and 12 F-16 fighter jets. Philippine Air Force
PRESIDENT Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. announced Monday that Qatar will no longer pursue charges against 17 Filipinos, who were detained in the Gulf state for allegedly participating in an illegal assembly. Mr. Marcos shared the development on his social media account, expressing his relief that the detained Filipinos would not face legal consequences and would be able to return
to their work in Qatar. “I am pleased to announce that Qatar will no longer pursue charges against 17 of our countrymen who were recently detained there for illegal assembly,” President Marcos said. “They will not face any penalties and will be allowed to return to their jobs,” he added. The announcement follows a discussion between President Marcos and Qatar’s Ambassador to the Philippines Next page