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Japino octogenarians meet for the first time with Okinawa kin By Kyodo News
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 100 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, MAY 26, 2025
Japan last year met with their Japanese relatives for the first time Sunday. The meeting between Esperanza LINAPACAN, Philippines—Two sisters in their 80s of Japanese descent in Morine Cabrillos, 87, and Lydia Mothe Philippines who had been stateless rine Galalan, 85, and their relatives before being granted citizenship from Next page
Marcos in crucial trade talks ASEAN leaders forging singular stand on US tariff hikes By Vince Lopez
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last night to attend the 46th ASEAN Summit, where regional leaders are expected to draw up a collective response to the Trump administration’s sweeping tariff increases. Before departing from Villamor Air Base, the chief executive revealed that informal consultations among ASEAN leaders are already in motion, signaling their intention to address the United States’ draconian trade policy shift as a bloc despite different tariff rates imposed on each member. “I will add to that list of issues in the discussions with the Chair of ASEAN, Malaysia, specifically PM Anwar on the proper response of ASEAN as a group towards the new tariff schedule being imposed by the United Next page
PH still supports Timor Leste’s ASEAN membership By Ram Superable DESPITE a diplomatic rift over its refusal to extradite accused murderer, former Congressman Arnie Teves, Timor-Leste will continue to receive the Philippines’ support in its bid for full ASEAN membership. “I think it’s also ASEAN’s intention, particularly that of the chair, Malaysia, for Timor-Leste to become a member as soon as possible. It’s probably one of the key deliverables of their chairmanship this year,” incoming Next page
46TH ASEAN SUMMIT TALKS. President Ferdinand R.
Marcos Jr., accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, arrives at the Bungaraya Complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The President is in the Malaysian capital to participate in the 46th ASEAN Summit, where he is expected to engage in high-level discussions with fellow Southeast Asian leaders on regional cooperation, economic integration, climate action, and peace and security. PPA Pool
‘Supermajority’ assures Romualdez’ speakership By Rio N. Araja LIBERAL Party (LP) lawmakers have officially joined the expanding supermajority coalition in the House of Representatives, which supports Speaker Martin Romualdez’s continued leader-
ship in the 20th Congress. Some 278 out of 285 House members signed formal declarations backing Romualdez’s continued speakership, according to Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David Suarez, including four out of six representatives from the LP.
Suarez said this development has cemented the broadening consensus across party lines, acknowledging the incumbent Speaker as the most unifying, competent, and effective choice to lead the chamber during the crucial second Next page
Palace orders manhunt for cop in Korean’s kidnap-slay By Vince Lopez MALACANANG has ordered law enforcement agencies to hasten the arrest of former police Lt. Col. Rafael Dumlao III who has been implicated in the kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee2016 Ick Joo. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin issued the order last with a view to helping the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) maintain public trust and boost coordination with with international partners in the resolution of high-profile cases involving foreign nationals. The killings and other cases were mentioned during a recent meeting between Philippine and South Korean officials, Bersamin said in an interview at the sideline of their meeting in Camp RELIEF GOODS. Relief workers deliver goods by banca to flood-affected communities in Maguindanao del Sur. (Story on A3). Joseph Muego/Office of Civil Defense
Pope Leo XIV names Cardinal Tagle head of Albano church POPE Leo XIV on Saturday appointed Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the new titular of Albano, a suburbicarian diocese the pontiff himself once held before his election. Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, succeeds Pope Leo—formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost—who had held the title of cardinal bishop of Albano since February 2025. Before his election as pope, Leo served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis.
The Diocese of Albano, located just outside Rome, is one of seven suburbicarian sees historically associated with cardinal bishops, the highest-ranking order within the College of Cardinals. Before receiving the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Albano, Tagle had served as cardinal priest of the Church of San Felice da Cantalice in Centocelle since 2012. In 2022, Pope Francis elevated him to the order of cardinal bishops, assigning him to the same titular church. CBCP News
Crame, Quezon City. “There are other immediate [things] that are being discussed, that’s why I’m bringing this to your attention because it was in 2016 and this murder happened inside Camp Crame,” Bersamin said. He added that he was surprised Dumlao had remained at large and that he decided a manhunt “is the only” solution to finding the cashiered police official. “If he does not fully surrender, then he runs the risk of a full-scale manhunt,” Bersamin stressed. He said there were no Immigration records showing Dumlao had left the country. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the possibility that Dumlao had snuck out. Next page
‘Atin Ito’ volunteers sail away for 3rd WPS mission By Rex Espiritu THE ‘Atin Ito’ (This is Ours) Coalition’s third civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) officially started early Sunday morning, May 25, as volunteers departed Manila for El Nido, Palawan. In a brief update, the coalition shared photos of its members boarding the M/V Kapitan Felix Oca, the vessel designated
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WPS CIVILIAN MISSION. Youth volunteers of the Atin Ito Coalition hold tarpaulins promoting the upcoming ‘Concert at Sea for Peace’ for a third civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea on board M/V Kapitan Felix Oca. The ship left Manila en route for its first stop at El Nido, Palawan early Sunday morning. Akbayan Youth