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Top US, EU security officials seek closer ties with PH By Charles Dantes
Kaja Kallas European Commission Vice President
Tulsi Gabbard U.S. Director of Nat’l Intelligence
PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday hosted two high-profile diplomatic visitors at Malacañan Palace, underscoring the Philippines’ deepening strategic partnerships with Western allies amid escalating tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea. Mr. Marcos welcomed Her Excellency
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, during a courtesy call that highlighted the growing cooperation between the Philippines and the European Union (EU). The meeting emphasized shared commitments to regional stability, maritime security, and the rules-based international order. Kallas’ visit comes at a time of height-
ened geopolitical friction in the West Philippine Sea, where Chinese vessels have continued to assert claims over areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The EU has previously expressed concern over actions that threaten freedom of navigation and the sovereignty of Southeast Asian nations, aligning with the Philippines’ position on upholding international Next page
House: Impeach fate with Senate; De Lima: Delays violate Charter By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives has already fulfilled its Constitutional mandate in the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte, and the ball is now in the court of the Senate to determine the next steps, Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday said.
“The impeachment complaint is now with the Senate, so we leave it to their sound discretion as to how they want to proceed and conduct,” Romualdez said in an interview. Senate President Francis Escudero yesterday said the impeachment trial will be up to the 20th Congress, and that the current Senate could only go Next page
FOURTH STAR. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. smiles as he pins, together with Ms. Patricia Torre, the fourth star on Police General Nicolas D. Torre III as the new chief of the Philippine National Police during the Change of Command ceremonies at Camp Crame. PCO
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 108 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2025
‘Impeach trial up to 20th Congress’ Chiz: We can’t bind incoming senator-judges By Ram Superable
T
HE incoming 20th Congress will have the final say on whether the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will continue, Senate President Francis Escudero said Monday, noting there is not enough time to start the trial proper before the present Congress adjourns on June 13.
Torre vows 3-minute PNP response time in major urban centers By Vince Lopez
involving its own personnel even as the new PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil and his succhief vowed to institutionalize the three-minute po- cessor, Gen. Nicolas Torre III. “As enforcers of the law, the entire police force is PRESIDENT Marcos on Tuesday ordered the Phil- lice response in major centers across the country. The President issued the directive in remarks dur- expected to act with integrity, serve with honesty, and ippine National Police (PNP) to purge its ranks Next page of scalawags and speed up the resolution of cases ing the PNPÂ’s turnover of command from outgoing
In a press conference, Escudero said there are only six remaining plenary sessions before the 19th Congress adjourns. “The 19th Congress can make a vote during the plenary (as to how the impeachment trial should proceed), but we cannot bind the 20th Congress. We in the 19th Congress can say the impeachment trial can cross to the 20th Congress, but they might decide otherwise. That it cannot cross and they would dismiss it. So, it depends (on the 20th Congress,” he said. Next page
More new vehicles, heavy equipment for NIA By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the turnover yesterday of more than 200 new vehicles and heavy equipment to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), vowing to provide faster and more responsive irriga-
tion services to help Filipino farmers cope with climate change and rising food demand. Speaking at the ICON JCB C6 Yard in Barangay Wawa, Taguig City, Mr. Marcos underscored the importance of the third tranche of the NIA’s Re-fleeting Program in modernizing irrigation
services and increasing food production across the country. “With these vehicles, backhoes, dump trucks, and excavators, we can accelerate the repair of damaged irrigation systems and the construction of new projects,” the President said. Next page
ILOCOS NORTE’S FIRST SM CITY. The first SM mall in Ilocos Norte and the 88th SM mall nationwide was opened to the public yesterday. Sharing the honors in the blessing and ceremonial ribbon cutting are (from left to right): SM Engineering Design and Development President Hans Sy Jr., SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, Laoag City Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Farinas, Laoag City Mayor Michael Keon, Laoag City Bishop Diocese Most Rev. Renato Mayugba, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc, Northern Luzon Presidential Assistant Asec. Ana Carmela Remigio, SM Prime Holdings President Jeffrey Lim, and SM Chairman Herbert Sy.
NEW FACILITY. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda K. Romualdez lead the unveiling yesterday of the new multipurpose covered court marker at the House of Representatives. Also in the photo are Alona Party-list Rep. Ana Villaraza Suarez (right) and BHW Party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co (left). The new building is designed to host sports and recreational activities, informal gatherings, and special events and provide space for essential relief operations in times of need.
DOTr mulls suit against AirAsia Move over ‘unacceptable’ fares economic sabotage case against Malaysiabased online booking platform AirAsia Move for allegedly charging “unacceptaTHE Department of Transportation ble” airfares for flights to Tacloban City. Next page (DOTr) on Monday said it plans to file an
By Darwin G. Amojelar and Rex Espiritu
PAGASA DECLARES START OF RAINY SEASON
RUSSIA, UKRAINE TO HOLD FRESH TALKS
PH GETS P15.7-B LOAN FOR CLIMATE ACTION
NEWS / A2
WORLD / A6
BUSINESS / B4