Singapore PM lauds PH’s ‘respectable growth’ despite Middle East tensions
Metro Manila, Philippines – Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has congratulated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after the Philippines attained upper-middle-income country status, describing it as a sign of the country’s resilient economic growth despite global challenges. Wong conveyed his congratulations during his meeting with Marcos at the Istana on Wednesday, July 15, as part of the Philippine leader’s working visit to Singapore. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Wong described the Philippines’ transition to upper-middle-income status as “respectable growth” despite the impact of the conflict in the Middle East. “Sa kanilang meeting, nagpaabot ng pagbati si Prime Minister Wong kay Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa pag-angat ng Pilipinas bilang upper-middle-income country,” Castro said during a Palace briefing on Thursday, July 16. (Translation: During their meeting, Prime Minister Wong congratulated President Marcos on the Philippines’ transition to upper-middle-income country status.) The World Bank recently classified the Philippines as an upper-middle-income economy after…
PH sees progress in South China Sea code talks; Batanes not on ASEAN agenda
Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippines remains confident that negotiations on a long-awaited South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) are making progress, while clarifying that concerns involving Batanes will not be part of discussions during next week’s ASEAN ministerial meetings. Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary and ASEAN-Philippines National Secretariat spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial said ASEAN and China continue to make headway in negotiating the regional code. “We’re happy to say that there is continuing progress in terms of the number of meetings that have happened so far,” Imperial said during a briefing on Thursday, July 16. He said the Philippines remains optimistic that negotiations can be completed this year. The target stems from a 2023 agreement by ASEAN foreign ministers to conclude the negotiations within three years. Imperial acknowledged that negotiators are still tackling key “milestone issues.” “When we say there’s progress, one by one we are able…
House prosecutors want to avoid bothering Marcos over authorization for Duterte tax records – Chua
Metro Manila, Philippines – The House prosecution panel said, as much as possible, it does not want to bother President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. by seeking his authorization for the release of Vice President Sara Duterte’s tax records to the Impeachment Court. In a press conference on Thursday, July 16, House prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua said the prosecution panel is exploring other legal options. “Hangga’t maaari syempre ayaw naman natin na guluhin pa ang ating executive pagdating dito dahil marami rin naman ginagawa ang ating Pangulo at kung may iba pang option, may iba pa kaming mga pwedeng gawin ay ‘yun muna ang ie-explore namin,” Chua said. [Translation: “As much as possible, we don’t want to bother the executive over this because the President already has a lot on his plate. If there are other options available or other courses of action we can take, we will explore those…
Rubio, Wang Yi to attend ASEAN meetings in Manila
Metro Manila, Philippines – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are expected to attend next week’s ASEAN ministerial meetings in Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday, July 16. DFA Assistant Secretary and ASEAN-Philippines National Secretariat spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial said both officials have confirmed their attendance at the week-long meetings. “We have information that Secretary Rubio will attend. Also, Foreign Minister Lavrov will attend,” Imperial said during a briefing, referring to the top Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov. He later confirmed that Wang will also be present. Imperial said it remains up to each foreign minister which specific meetings they will attend. The ASEAN ministerial meetings will include post-ministerial conferences with dialogue partners, the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The meetings come amid heightened strategic competition between the US and…
No fear for the innocent in SEA Games probe – Palace
Metro Manila, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) probe on the alleged anomalies in the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games should not intimidate the innocent, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said, after Senators Alan and Pia Cayetano claimed reviving the issue was an attempt to distract them from the impeachment trial. “Ang tao na wala naman dapat katakutan ay hindi nai-intimidate kahit kailan. Hindi ito pai-intimidate, hindi ito panggigipit sa mga taong wala namang ginawang mali. So hindi dapat magkaroon ng reaksyon na dahil i-imbestigahan lamang ay sila iisa-isahin na,” Castro said in a press briefing on Thursday, July 16. [Translate: Those without anything to fear should not be intimidated. This is not an attempt at intimidation, and it is not meant to harass those who have done nothing wrong. So there shouldn’t be any reactions that because the anomalies will be investigated, they’ll be…
