JAPAN-US-PH COAST GUARDS SIMULATE CRISIS HELICOPTERS buzzed in the shadow of a smoldering volcano and boats rescued dummies from the sea this week in a show of maritime unity by Japan, the United States and the Philippines. The joint coast guard exercises held off Japan’s southwest shore follow a warning from the three countries about Chinese activity in disputed regional waters. Tensions between China and other claimants to parts of the East and South China Seas have pushed Japan to deepen ties with the Philippines and the United States. This week marked the second time the countries’ coast guards have held training drills together, and the first in Japan. They took place over five days off the coast of Kagoshima, where Sakurajima volcano dominates the
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VOL. XXXIX • NO. 126 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES JUNE 22, 2025
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DOE TO DISCUSS STAGGERED PRICE HIKE, DISCOUNTS FOR PUVS MONDAY
PORT CALL. The JS Suzunami, a Takanamiclass destroyer of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, docks at the international port in Manila on Saturday, June 21, 2025. AFP
PH SETS ALERT LEVEL 3 IN WAR-TORN IRAN, ISRAEL DFA SAYS PINOYS IN TEL AVIV PREFER TO STAY DESPITE TENSIONS
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HE Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday advised Filipinos in Israel and Iran as well as their relatives here in the Philippines to stay calm and not panic after the agency raised Alert Level 3, paving the way for voluntary repatriation, noting that there have been several “misinformation” posts on social media.
THE Department of Energy will meet with oil firms on Monday to discuss a possible staggered implementation of next week’s major oil price hike, with diesel price increase now seen to hit P5.10 per liter. Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said the possibility of extending promos and discount offerings of gas stations to help mitigate the impact of the price increase will also be raised during the meeting. Crude futures have soared as the Israel-Iran conflict showed no signs of easing, with investors pricing in the risk of tighter oil supplies that would likely weigh on economic growth. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Friday warned consumer prices could exceed 5 percent if global oil benchmarks, particularly Dubai crude, reach $100 per barrel and the Philippine peso sharply depreciates. Turn on A4
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Robert Ferrer said: “The ones panicking are the relatives here in the Philippines. They (Filipinos in Israel and Iran) are the ones reassuring their relatives back here.” “It is as if the Filipinos there are hardened. They treat these missile attacks as super typhoons. They are vigilant, but after, it’s okay and life goes on.” “If you ask most of our Filipinos in Tel Aviv, they
are calm, they don’t want to go home. They believe in the Israeli system to protect them, to take care of them,” Ferrer added. Under Alert Level 3, “all overseas Filipinos in Israel and Iran are enjoined to return to the Philippines.”
Tech-fueled misinformation distorts Iran-Israel fighting WORLD / A4 “Travel by Filipinos to both these countries is highly discouraged, due to the ongoing crisis and the actual closure of their air space and seaports,” the DFA said in its advisory. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega added that all Filipino diplomats at the Philippine Embassy in Tehran will stay in Iran to continue monitoring and assisting the situation. At present, there are a total of nine diplomats
at the embassy, including Philippine Ambassador Robert Manalo. The DFA said the majority of around 1,200 Filipinos living and working in Iran are married to Iranian citizens while only over a dozen are workers. Nine have so far requested to be repatriated. “We are considering all the possible safe border exits from Iran. Tehran is now almost like a ghost town and many have left, including Filipinos,” Ferrer said. There are over 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, of which at least 191 have requested to be repatriated. De Vega said the first 26 repatriates from Israel are scheduled to return to the Philippines next week. Israel’s war with Iran rages for a second week, with Israel’s military saying on Saturday it killed three Iranian commanders and struck Iran’s Isfahan nuclear site for a second time. Israeli “fighter jets struck and eliminated in the area of Qom the commander of the Palestine Corps of the Quds Force, and the key coordinator Turn on A4
PBBM ON IMPEACHMENT, LEGACY, WPS ‘I CHOOSE NOT TO INTERFERE IN VP TRIAL’ By Charles Dantes
LEAP OF FAITH. People watch as a skater performs during Go Skateboarding Day 2025 in Manila on Saturday, June 21, 2025. AFP
OMBUDSMAN ASKS HOUSE: WHY GIVE COPY OF PANEL REPORT ON VP? By Maricel V. Cruz OMBUDSMAN Samuel Martires questioned the House of Representatives for giving the body a copy of its report on the allegations against Vice President Sara Duterte. Martires made the statement after House spokesperson Princess Abante
said the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability did not file a complaint against the Vice President before the Ombudsman. “Why did they furnish us a copy of the result of their investigation? Do they expect us to use it as scratch paper? We’re not even a part of that investigation of the
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PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is focused on attending to the needs of the country and the Filipino people and has no intention to intervene in how Congress handles the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. In the latest episode of his podcast aired on Saturday, Mr. Marcos responded to a comment that the President has a “say” on whatever the decision would be on Duterte’s impeachment case. Turn on A4
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is focused on bringing “significant and tangible” changes to the country in his last three years in office. In the latest episode of his podcast aired on Saturday, Mr. Marcos said giving Filipinos a more comfortable life is the legacy he wants to leave behind when his term ends in 2028. “We’ve made a change for the bet better. This has been my guide in all the positions I’ve taken,” he said. “So, I absolutely insist that in 2028 when I leave this office, there are sigsig nificant and tangible changes for the better and the life of a Filipino,” the President added.
Mr. Marcos said he is eyeing a quarterly assessment of government performance as part of his efforts to recalibrate his administration. He earlier announced a “more rigorous” performance review extending beyond the Cabinet level. Turn on A4
‘DON’T MESS WITH OUR FISHERMEN OR ELSE…’ PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. warned against making even the slightest concession in maritime disputes, adding the Phil-
China Coast Guard fires water cannon at PH ships
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‘SIGNIFICANT, TANGIBLE CHANGES FOR THE BETTER’
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ippines must stand firm in protectprotect ing its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. “Like they say–you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile. So, you cannot allow even one inch,” Mr. Marcos said, underscoring the importance of a Turn on A4
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