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Trump slaps 20% tariff rate on PH exports; Manila seeks trade talks By Othel V. Campos, Charles Dantes and Darwin Amojelar VOL. XXXIX • NO. 145 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025 •
MANILA will seek fresh talks with the Trump administration over Washington’s newly imposed 20 percent tariff on Philippine exports – up from
the previously announced 17 percent rate, but the second lowest in ASEAN, next only to Singapore’s 10 percent. Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said a delegation will fly to Washington next week to seek clarity and initiate negotiations in a bid to review or recalibrate the 20 percent tariff. Next page
Sack of bones found in lake SOCO verifying if remains are human as search for ‘sabungeros’ begins
By Pot Chavez, Vince Lopez and Rex Espiritu
A
UTHORITIES on Thursday recovered a sack containing what appeared to be bones some 10 meters from the shoreline as search teams began scouring Taal Lake for the remains of dozens of “sabungeros” or cockfighting enthusiasts allegedly murdered by rogue police. Batangas provincial police director Col. Geovanny Emerick Sibalo told ABS-CBN News they have yet to confirm if the bones are human. He said the sack was turned over to the regional Scene of the Crime Operatives for forensic examination. Suspect turned whistleblower Julie Patidongan, who previously went by the alias “Totoy,” earlier said the remains of 34 missing “sabungeros” Next page
SEARCH FOR REMAINS. A Coast Guard official briefs officials of the Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police on the planned search by divers of the remains of the missing sabungeros allegedly dumped into Taal Lake, near the Talisay, Batangas area. Upper and lower photos show divers and coast guard boats checking out the areas where the missing were thrown into the lake. Norman Cruz, Philippine Coast Guard.
Phivolcs issues warning over Taal volcanic tremors NEWS / A2
Gomez is new PCO head, Garin gets DOE post
3 PH seamen killed, 3 rescued, in Houthi Red Sea attack THREE Filipinos were killed, 3 others rescued and 15 still missing after Yemen's Houthis sank a cargo ship in one of the deadliest attacks yet in the Red Sea, the European Union's (EU) Operation Aspides force posted yes-
terday on X. The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) earlier confirmed that three of the Filipino seafarers onboard the Liberian-flagged MV Eternity C died from the attacks.
A total of 21 Filipinos were on board the ill-fated vessel. The Eternity C and another ship, Magic Seas, were probably attacked "due to prior Israeli port calls or ownership/ship Next page
By Charles Dantes Acting PCO Sec. Dave Gomez
PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. appointed former journalist and corporate communications head Dave Gomez as the new secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), and Department of Energy Officer-inCharge Sharon Garin as the new Energy chief, Malacañang announced yesterday. Gomez, a seasoned media and communications professional, previously served as senior reporter, director general of the Philippine Information Agency, and communications director at PMFTC Inc.
Acting DOE Sec. Sharon Garin
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GRAND PRIZE WINNER.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. hands over to Candon City Mayor Eric Singson yesterday the award for the Independence Day Parade Grand Prize for Best Float in a ceremony in Malacañang. Looking on (from left) are First Lady Liza Marcos, and Candon City Vice Mayor kristelle Singson Revoli Cortez/PPA POOL
PBBM extends sympathies to Trump over Texas tragedy By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday extended his sympathies and solidarity to the United
States as Texas reels from catastrophic flooding that has displaced thousands and claimed lives. "On behalf of the Filipino people, I extend our deepest sympathies to
President Trump and the American people as they face the devastating floods in Texas," President Marcos said in a statement. Next page
NEOPHYTES’ WELCOME DINNER. Reelected Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez engages in a cordial conversation with young, neophyte lawmakers during a dinner held Wednesday evening at Imelda Hall in Aguado, Manila for members of the 20th Congress who completed the three-day Executive Course on Legislation. With him are (from left) Reps. Andrew Julian K. Romualdez (Tingog Party-list), Javier Miguel L. Benitez (3rd District, Negros Occidental), Brian Poe-Llamanzares (FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list), Ryan S. Recto (6th District, Batangas), and Leandro Leviste of the 1st District, Batangas (not in the photo). Ver Noveno