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VOL. XXXIX • NO. 101 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025
Marcos to ASEAN: Hasten SCS Code Warns maritime tensions threaten region By Charles Dantes and Maricel Cruz
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday reiterated his call for the urgent adoption of a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, warning that geopolitical tensions over maritime claims threaten stability and progress across Southeast Asia. Speaking at the plenary of the ASE- Marcos underscored the need for a forAN Summit hosted by Malaysia Mr. mal agreement to protect the maritime
rights of regional states. “We underscore the urgent need to accelerate the adoption of a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to safeguard maritime rights, promote stability, and prevent miscalculations at sea,” President Marcos told fellow ASEAN leaders. The South China Sea, a vital global shipping route, has long been a flashpoint between China and several Next page
‘Atin Ito’ offers ‘love song’ for WPS, peace
STRONGER TOGETHER.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. joins ASEAN leaders during the plenary session at the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, May 26, 2025. Inset photo shows Speaker Martin Romualdez extending a warm greeting to his counterpart, Dato Johari Bin Abdul Speaker of Malaysia’s House of Representatives, before the ASEAN Leaders Interface with representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly. AFP
NATO to deploy task force in Indo-Pacific region—Navy By Rex Espiritu MEMBER nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will deploy a task force to the Indo-Pacific region as a demonstration of support for rules-based order amid China’s assertive actions in the West Philippine Sea, a senior naval official said. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS, said the NATO Multinational Task Force will include an aircraft carrier of the United Kingdom. “It’s a NATO task force. They will be
coming to the Indo-Pacific,” Trinidad said. “It’s no longer just the ASEAN…it’s already the whole world standing against China, against the Chinese Communist Party, telling them that we will support the stand of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, we will support international law in the West Philippine Sea,” he added. Last year, NATO said it is strengthening dialogue and cooperation with its partners in the Indo-Pacific region. “In today’s complex security environment, relations with like-minded partners are increasingly important to Next page
By Rex Espiritu
READY FOR THE SEA CONCERT. Atin Ito volunteers disembark from M/V Kapitan Felix Oca upon arriving at El Nido, Palawan Monday morning. They will leave for Pagasa Island in the West Philippine Sea today for a sea concert. Atin Ito Facebook page
Odd-even scheme, free Skyway passage set for 2-yr EDSA rehab By Joel E. Zurbano and Darwin Amojelar THE government is set to reintroduce the “odd-even” scheme on private vehicles while waiving toll fees on portions of the Skyway Stage 3 to ease the swelling of traffic once the rehabilitation of
the 23.8-kilometer Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) gets underway. In a press briefing yesterday, heads of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Next page
MEMBERS of the Atin Ito Coalition yesterday said that they have prepared themselves for the likelihood of aggression by the China Coast Guard (CCG) during their third mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) this week. At a press conference ahead of their pre-departure concert in El Nido, Rafaela David, Akbayan party-list president and convenor of Atin Ito, was asked how they would respond if the CCG issued a radio challenge to their vessel – the T/S Felix Oca. “Tuloy po tayo, proceed tayo (We will proceed). We expect radio challenges; we expect shadowing,” she said. David, however, clarified that their mission does not encourage hostility but instead serves as “an invitation of peace among the Philippines’ neighboring countries,” including China. “All countries should work together, and we are hoping that China will also respond to our invitation for peace and come and participate in our peace concert,” she stressed in Filipino. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced it has dispatched two vessels to accompany the civilian-led mission to the WPS from May 26 to May 30. Next page
STRANGER THAN FICTION. A former barangay tanod (wearing a mask and wielding a
gun) shoots dead a barangay captain and two barangay councilors during a flag ceremony at Brgy. Salitran 3 in Dasmariñas City, Cavite. CCTV grab from Dasmariñas City Police
Brgy. captain, 2 councilors killed during flag ceremony By Dennis Abrina
after escaping, during a flag ceremony in front of the barangay hall in Barangay SaliDASMARIÑAS CITYE—A barangay tran 3 on Monday, May 26, 2025. According to Police Lt. Colonel Regicaptain and two barangay councilors were killed after being shot by a former baran- no Oñate, acting chief of the Dasmariñas gay tanod, who then shot himself shortly Next page
Over 500 violations on 1st day of NCAP By Joel E. Zurbano and Ram lowing the Supreme Court’s partial oughfares. Most of the violations inlifting of the temporary restraining volved disobeying traffic signs and Superable THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) apprehended over 500 vehicles on the first day of reimplementing the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), fol-
order (TRO) that had suspended the policy since August 30, 2022. As of 4 p.m. on Monday, the MMDA recorded 582 traffic violations using high-definition CCTV cameras installed along major thor-
unauthorized use of the exclusive EDSA Busway. MMDA chair Romando Artes said the agency is exploring the use of text messaging to notify motorists of Next page