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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
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Roque says Malacanang is inclined to ask the four ex-presidents to attend a meeting on issues besetting the West Philippine Sea. NSC file
Marcos: Policy on sovereignty still unchanged
PBBM cautions vs. e-gambling ban, seeks policy to curb addiction
By Charles Dantes and Rex Espiritu THE Philippines’ commitment to defending its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea has not changed despite its policy of non-belligerence, President
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 174 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2025 •
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SC impeachment ruling not absolution—PBBM Says magistrates did not clear VP Sara of wrongdoing
By Charles Dantes, Maricel Cruz, Ram Superable and Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. cautioned against banning online gambling, saying it would only stoke illegal operations that would be harder to arrest, as the government and stakeholders such as the Catholic Church craft a policy to address its social impact. "The problem is not online gambling. The problems are the social effects on our children and those who are addicted to gambling," he said in a recent BBM Podcast. "The first effect of banning it fully is to put it underground, and then we have no control," the President added. He said online gambling was “not a criminal enterprise” per se. Next page
By Pot Chavez and Charles Dantes
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., yesterday said that the Supreme Court’s decision on the impeachment case addressed only procedural issues and had no bearing on its merits, even as impeachment proponents raised the option of seeking the ouster of the magistrates. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. held discussions with various Indian business companies before ending his five-day state visit to India. Top photo shows the President with officials of NephroPlus led by Group CEO, Mr. Rohit Singh, who reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its 39 dialysis centers in the Philippines. Inset at left shows the President meeting with the ISON Group which outlined plans to bring substantial investments into the country.
“We have to make very, very clear to everyone that the Supreme Court decision does not have any bearing on the rightness or wrongness of the merits of the impeachment case. They’re not saying that there was no Next page
OVERFLOW. Dozens of Leptospirosis patients have been transferred to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute's (NKTI) Gym and Wellness Center which was converted into a makeshift ward due to the influx of patients to NKTI's emergency room. Manny Palmero
Marcos brings home US$446m from five-day India state visit PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines yesterday from a five-day state visit to India, securing $446 million in direct investment commitments and and a new strategic partnership between the two nations. In a video message upon his arrival, the President said: I return from India, our good friend and now our Strategic Partner, with an even stronger sense of optimism. Optimism that our bilateral
partnership will foster progress and prosperity for both countries.” Mr. Marcos said that during his meeting with India’s leaders, he “emphasized our shared aspirations and objectives for a free, open, and inclusive IndoPacific region. Important to these are the security and rule of law in the maritime commons, food security, supply chain resilience, and countering terrorism and other traditional and non-traditional threats.” Next page
Some ‘sabungero‘ kin have settled, being swayed to weaken case—DOJ Aklan vice mayor shot dead by councilor By Caloy Lozada IBAJAY, Aklan—What was supposed to be routinely business as usual on Friday at the municipal council here turned out to be horribly shocking and tragic as the town’s vice mayor was gunned down right inside the govern-
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has expressed apprehensions that some relatives of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts locally called “sabungeros” were being swayed or “settled” to weaken the criminal cases being readied against those suspected of complicity in the invol-
ment building by a local councilor or Sangguniang Bayan member. Ina another development, the police are looking into Thursday’s alleged shooting of a 15-year-old student in Nueva Ecija. Ibajay Vice Mayor Julio Estolloso
untary disappearances. This developed as Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that Elakim Patidongan, a brother of whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias “Dondon” and “Totoy,” also offered to turn state witness and has submitted his own sworn statement or affidavit. Next page
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P1.50/l rollback in fuel prices eyed next week—DOE By Alena Mae S. Flores CONSUMERS can expect oil prices to roll back by as much as P1.50 per liter next week due to the softening of global oil prices. Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said diesel prices are forecasted to drop by P1.30 to P1.50 Next page
THE CAPTAIN HAS LANDED.
Korean actor Hyun Bin says he enjoyed adobo during his first visit to the Philippines as the latest ambassador of Solaire Resort. He vowed to return the love of his Filipino fans with more projects in the future. Nickie Wang
IMMERSION. Education Secretary Sonny Angara rides on banca during a visit to the flooded Macabebe Elementary and High School in Pampanga province. The Secretary met with teachers and DepEd personnel from various public schools in the area and assured them that the safety of the students and teachers as well as other school personnel was the priority of the Department. Angara was accompanied by Cong. Dr. Anna York Bondoc and Vice Mayor Vince Flores. Department of Education