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File photoon datedA4) July 27, 2016 shows President Duterte during a National Security Council meeting attended by four former presidents (Story including (from left) Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Fidel V. Ramos and Benigno Aquino III. Presidential Spokesman Harry
GDP GROWTH RISES TO 5.5 PERCENT IN 2ND QUARTER—PSA Semiconductor firms sound alarm over new 100% US tariff
STORY BELOW
Roque says Malacanang is inclined to ask the four ex-presidents to attend a meeting on issues besetting the West Philippine Sea. NSC file
By Othel V. Campos
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 173 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2025 •
THE Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. (SEIPI) has raised alarm over US president Donald Trump's decision to impose a 100 percent tariff on semiconductor products from firms that do not invest in the US.
The announcement triggered a wave of uncertainty across Asian chipmaker stocks on Thursday. The US president unveiled the levy at the White House on Wednesday ahead of the imposition of sweeping tariffs on goods from dozens of countries, with chips so far exempt. Next page
House: Fight for truth not yet over
Speaker: Impeachment not political maneuvering but for accountability By Maricel V. Cruz, Ram Superable, Vince Lopez and Katrina Manubay
T
HE leadership of the House of Representatives vowed to continue the fight for truth and accountability even as it lambasted the killing and "rushed burial" by the Senate of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. Speaker Martin Romualdez underscored the Supreme Court ruling junking the Articles of Impeachment as unconstitutional is not yet final. "On Aug. 5, the House of Representatives filed a motion for reconsideration. The court found our arguments serious enough to require the respondents, including the Vice President, to submit their comment," he said. Next page
Next steps for impeach proponents: Refile next year, go to Ombudsman By Pot Chavez, Maricel Cruz and Ram Superable PRO-IMPEACHMENT groups may take the fight to hold Vice President Sara Duterte accountable before the Ombudsman after the Senate decided to archive the complaint against her for alleged impeachable offenses such as malversation of confidential funds and unexplained wealth, among others. As a worst-case scenario, lawmakers will refile the complaint against Duterte in February next year. Next page
BANGALORE WELCOME. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos arrive at Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore, India on Thursday, August 7, 2025. The President's visit to Bangalore, tagged as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, aims to strengthen ties between the Philippines and India in the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector. PPA Pool
Napolcom eyes police generals in ’sabungero‘ case By Vince Lopez and Pot Chavez
MIXED REACTIONS. Vice President Sara Duterte, left photo, hosts a dinner celebration with staff and supporters following the Senate vote archiving the impeachment complaint against her, while angry protesters gathered at the Senate to denounce the vote. FB of Konsi Atty. Luna Acosta /Jimmy A. Domingo
THE National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Thursday said it is looking into the possible involvement of several police generals in the disappearance and alleged execution of cockfighting enthusiasts collectively known as the ‘‘missing sabungeros.’’ At a press conference in Quezon City, Napolcom Vice Chairperson Next page
Marcos pushes back vs. China’s WPS narrative PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pushed back against China’s narrative that the Philippines is provoking instability in the region at the behest of more powerful nations, saying the country is acting indepen-
dently to uphold its sovereignty and national interest. In an interview with Indian news outlet Firstpost on Wednesday, Mr. Marcos also dismissed claims that Next page
GDP grows 5.5% in Q2 2025—PSA By Othel V. Campos THE Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 5.5 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Thursday. This is faster than the 5.4-percent growth in the first quarter. Data showed that all major economic sectors—agriculture, forestry,
and fishing; industry and services— posted year-on-year upticks in the second quarter of 2025 with 7.0 percent, 2.1 percent, and 6.9 percent, respectively. “With this performance, we maintain our place among the fastestgrowing economies in emerging Asia, behind Vietnam’s 8.0 percent growth, but ahead of China’s 5.2 percent and Indonesia’s 5.1 percent. While our Next page
Chinese ships show ‘very unusual’ moves off Batanes NEWS / A3
DOH warns over use of lepto meds w/out prescription By Ram Superable, Rio Arajo HEALTH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Thursday reminded the public that doxycycline medication should be taken under a physician’s prescription. Next page
ONE VISAYAS. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez urges fellow lawmakers representing Regions 6, 7, 8, and the Negros Island Region to work together to uplift the lives of their constituents and ensure their priorities are reflected in the national agenda during the first meeting of the Visayas Caucus yesterday at the Social Hall of the Office of the Speaker in the House of Representatives.