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US assures PH of solid support against an assertive China By Charles Dantes
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 158 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025
‘Dante,’ 2 LPAs bring more rain
TOP US officials promised President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) that Washington will defend its longtime ally and ramp up military resources aimed at deterring an assertive China. Marcos will meet Tuesday with President Donald Trump, who has rattled many European allies by demanding they pay
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No gov’t work, classes in NCR, 36 other areas By Rio N. Araja, Charles Dantes, Rex Espiritu, Joel E. Zurbano and Othel Campos
T
HREE weather conditions—two low pressure areas and one LPA that has developed into Tropical Depression “Dante”—are threatening to dump even more rain in the country even as several areas are still reeling from the swathe of destruction caused by Severe Tropical Storm “Crising” and the southwest monsoon or habagat.
Malacañang ordered the suspension of work in government offices and classes at all levels in Metro Manila and 36 other areas today (Wednesday) amid continued heavy rainfall caused by “habagat,” which together with “Crising” has since affected over 1.2 million people. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said apart from Metro Manila, Next page
STRONGER ALLIANCE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. shakes hands with U.S.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth upon his arrival at the Pentagon on the first day of his official visit to the United States. PCO
Marcos stops SONA preps, orders shift to relief ops amid flooding By Charles Dantes
all government agencies to shift their full attention to flood response and reMALACAÑANG has ordered the im- lief operations. In a statement, Executive Secremediate suspension of all preparations for the President’s fourth State of the tary Lucas Bersamin cited reports Nation Address (SONA) and instructed Next page
LOVE CONQUERS ALL. Nothing, not even knee-deep flood waters and pouring rain, could stop Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar from saying their ‘I Do’s’ yesterday at the historic Barasoain Church in the parish of Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Malolos, Bulacan. The wedding took place as the weather bureau raised the red rainfall warning due to heavy rain whipped up by the combined effects of the southwest monsoon (habagat) and tropical storm Crising. On Tuesday, PAGASA reported two developing weather disturbances, top left, that would trigger more rains today in 32 provinces including Metro Manila. Bottom left photo shows residents bringing out a flood boat to ferry commuters along España Boulevard in Manila. Barasoain Church/Norman Cruz.
South Korea to deliver new fighter jets by 2028 By Rex Espiritu SOUTH Korea plans to deliver the first three of 12 FA-50 Block 70 light combat aircraft to the Philippines by 2028, ahead of the end of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s term, South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee
Sang-hwa announced yesterday. The delivery is part of a USD 700 million agreement signed last month between the Philippine government and Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI), as Manila moves to strengthen its air defense capabilities. “This additional purchase, the 12 FA-
50s, we believe will make a significant improvement also for the air force of the Philippines,” Lee said in a luncheon meeting with the press in Makati City. “The first batch will be delivered, we hope, before the end of the term of the Marcos administration.”
Ombudsman suspends GSIS chief, 6 others By Rio N. Araja, Darwin G. Amojelar, and Alena Mae Flores THE Office of the Ombudsman placed Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso and six other officials under a six-month preventive suspension without pay for the purchase of P1.45 billion in preferred shares from Alternergy Holdings Corp. in November 2023. In a seven-page order dated July 11, the anti-graft body cited that it found sufficient grounds to suspend Veloso, executive vice president Michael Praxedes, executive vice president Jason Teng, vice president Aaron Samuel Chan, vice president Abigail Cruz-Francisco, officer II Jaime Leon Warren, and acting officer IV Alfredo Pablo. This is “considering that there is strong evidence Next page
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Local firms looking at investing in US ammo hub project in Subic A NUMBER of companies in the Philippines are interested in joining a potential consortium that would establish an ammunition production facility in Subic, according to the Philippine envoy to the United States. Speaking to the Philippine media
delegation, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said an ammunition production facility would also generate employment in the country. “Obviously, we’re open to that one, because it’s a good way of being able
EALA DEBUTS IN CANADA OPEN
PCCI PUSHES 20 SONA BILLS
SPORTS / A8
BUSINESS / B1
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Napolcom bares moves of two groups to derail ‘sabungero’ case By Vince Lopez, Darwin Amojelar, the alleged involvement of 12 police officers in the case of missing “sabunand Vito Barcelo
GSIS President Jose Arnulfo ‘Wick’ Veloso
geros” or cockfighting enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the Catholic Church reTHE National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Tuesday disclosed at- newed its call for the government and the tempts to derail their investigation into Next page