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Teves arrested in East Timor; DOJ ready to get custody By Pot Chavez EXPELLED former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnulfo Teves Jr. was arrested in Dili, Timor Leste Tuesday evening, his son Axl confirmed in a social media post yesterday. In his video, the younger Teves claimed his father had been “kidnapped” at around 8 p.m. Tuesday.
“At around 7 p.m., he already had information that a private aircraft was scheduled to fly over to Timor Leste and at 8 p.m., immigration officers arrived at his residence and picked him up. They just picked him up without documents, without warrants or any form of legal documents,” Axl said. The Department of Justice said it is not
yet clear whether Teves “would simply be deported for being an undocumented foreigner or extradited forthwith pursuant to our pending application.” The Department of Justice, however, is ready to arrange the transfer of custody by the “most expeditious means” once the issue has been clarified, the DOJ said. Next page
ARRESTED. Former
Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves embraces an unidentified companion as arresting immigration agents seize him Tuesday night in his compound in Dili, Timor Leste. Axl Teves/FB
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 103 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025
P P20/k rice
By Othel Campos
sustainable, says PBBM Says cheap rice not cosmetic or for ‘pogi’ points
TAKING STOCK. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., together with Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. inspects rice stocks in an NFA warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan. Inset shows the President in a dialogue with Bulacan farmers. Jay Morales
PBBM brushes aside latest survey showing popularity dip By Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said yesterday that he was undisturbed by a recent Pulse Asia survey showing a decline in his trust rating, and that it should not be taken as the sole measure of public sentiment.
“There are many other surveys. Let’s not base everything on just one,” he told reporters when asked about the lackluster results. The latest Pulse Asia poll showed Mr. Marcos trailing behind both Vice President Sara Duterte and former President Rodrigo Duterte in trust ratings. Next page
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday said that reconciliation with the Dutertes is still possible, but made it clear that this cannot happen if conditions are set in advance. “No, no, no, no, no. That’s not how reconciliation works. You don’t put conditions to reconcile,” the chief executive told reporters seeking clarification on his statement about being open to mending fences with the political clan from Davao. “If you’re sincere, let’s sit down and talk. What’s the real issue? How did this happen? Let’s remove the problem,”
ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday gave assurance there will be no military coup d’etat under his leadership. Brawner reaffirmed the military’s “unwavering commitment” to the Constitution and the chain of command. “As long as I serve as Chief of Staff, no coup shall happen. Not on my watch. We will not be shaken by rumor, nor outmaneuvered by noise,” Brawner said in a statement in response to Next page
MMDA releases list of alternate routes to EDSA By Joel Zurbano THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday released a list of alternate routes for motorists ahead of the EDSA Rebuild Project, which is scheduled to begin on June 13.
In a post on its official Facebook page, the MMDA announced that seven northbound and 15 southbound alternative routes will be available. It also encouraged the public to use Mabuhay Lanes to avoid congested areas during the roadwork period.
Next page
By Charles Dantes
No military coup under my watch—Brawner
pasarela swimsuits to mallgoers during yesterday’s swimsuit lagoon fashion show at the Lagoon in Gateway Mall 2, Araneta Center. Danny Pata
“Watch me sustain it,” Mr. Marcos said in a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia late Tuesday evening. “And then, we’ll talk in May of 2028, about whether it was continued or not. We found a way. We found a way to do it. We’re making deals with different countries, so the price can be finalized without changing now and then. Whatever happens down the road, we were able to do it now. We didn’t have it before. Now we do.” “At the same time, on the other hand, we are ensuring that the purchasing price for farmers is good so they can have a decent livelihood. And the difference there – that’s what the government is paying for,” he added. On Wednesday, Mr. Marcos said the government is studying the implementation of a “floor price” for rice to ensure that farmers earn enough and are prepared for the next planting season.
Marcos: No demands, no preconditions in reconciliation offer
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SWIMSUIT SHOWCASE. The candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2025 showcase their
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday dismissed critics claiming his administration’s project of selling rice at P20 per kilo is unsustainable, assuring the public it will be sustained until 2028.
Southbound motorists coming from Ayala Avenue could use the South Superhighway or the Arnaiz Avenue to Roxas Boulevard route. From EDSA, motorists could turn right at the South Superhighway to Next page
EALA MAKES HISTORY, FIRST WIN IN GRAND SLAM SPORTS / A8
ASIAN EXPORTS STALLED BY TARIFF UNCERTAINTY BUSINESS / B1
MARCOS ASKS GOCC HEADS TO RESIGN NEWS / A2
Washington Post offers buyout to veteran staffers THE Washington Post is offering vol- Mullin of the rival New York Times. untary buyouts to selected staffers as Quoting a memo by Matt Murray, part of its newsroom transformation executive editor of the Post, Mullin plan, according to a post on X by Ben Next page