Nafarrete to succeed Brawner as AFP chief
Metro Manila, Philippines – Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete has been appointed as new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Department of National Defense (DND) said. He will replace Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., who retired on Tuesday, July 21. Brawner had been the top military official since July 21, 2023. Nafarrete was a former army commanding general, serving since July 31, 2025. Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran, the commander of the Western Mindanao Command, will take over the army leadership, the DND said.
‘Win for accountability’: Prosecution hails grant of subpoena on Duterte financial records
Metro Manila, Philippines – The Impeachment Court’s partial approval of the prosecution’s motion to subpoena the bank, tax, and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) documents of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Mans Carpio was a win for accountability, prosecutors said Monday, July 20. READ: Impeachment Court partially grants prosecution subpoena for Duterte’s financial records Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, the lead prosecutor for the article on unexplained wealth, issued this statement, noting that the ruling is victory for truth. “Panalo ito ng taumbayan,” he added. [Translation: This is a win for the Filipino people.] Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, another prosecutor, said the decision was also a triumph for the court for upholding its constitutional authority. “Hindi ito nagpahina doon sa mga supposed confidentiality provisions,” she said, in reference to the National Internal Revenue Code, which provides certain limitations on the disclosure of tax documents. [Translation: The court…
China Coast Guard hits PH sailor with wooden baton at Ayungin Shoal
Metro Manila, Philippines – A Philippine Navy sailor was injured after being struck on the head with a wooden baton by China Coast Guard personnel during a confrontation near Ayungin Shoal on Monday, July 20, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. The military also reported that a Philippine Navy rubber boat was damaged in the incident, which occurred during a mission near the BRP Sierra Madre, the grounded naval outpost at Ayungin Shoal. According to the AFP, a China Coast Guard rigid hull inflatable boat with eight people from vessel CCGV 21560 unlawfully approached the Sierra Madre, circled the ship and took photos and videos. The military said two AFP rubber boats then moved “calmly and non-confrontationally” to drive away the Chinese vessel. “The CCGV personnel reacted violently and aggressively by striking a Philippine Navy personnel on the head with a wooden baton, causing injury and damaging the…
Marcos won’t interfere as ombudsman nears filing of plunder case vs. Romualdez
Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not interfere in the Office of the Ombudsman investigation on former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, as the anti-graft body moves closer to filing a possible plunder case against his cousin, Malacañang said Monday, July 20. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the president would allow the legal process to take its course regardless of who is involved. “Wala po, hindi po makikialam ang pangulo sa anumang pag-iimbestiga. Sabi nga po natin at ang sabi rin po ng pangulo, kahit sino po ang maapektuhan ito, kung saan po pupunta ang ebidensiya, sundan na lang po natin. So, kung ano po ang mangyayari sa anumang pag-iimbestiga dito, hindi po makikialam ang pangulo at tatanggapin po ito,” she said. [Translation: The president will not interfere in any investigation. As we have said, and as the president himself has said, regardless of who may be affected,…
Palace tells Cayetano: Don’t blame Marcos for failure of ₱10K aid proposal
Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang rejected Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected his proposal to provide ₱10,000 in cash assistance to Filipino families, saying the measure failed to advance before Marcos assumed office. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Cayetano first pushed the proposal as a member of Congress and blamed others when it failed to move forward. “Itong panukalang 10 thousand pesos na ayuda sa bawat pamilya ay isinulong ito noong siya pa ay miyembro ng Kongreso… hindi pa po pangulo si Pangulong Marcos Jr. dito,” she said. [Translation: The proposal to provide ₱10,000 in aid to every family was introduced when he was still a member of Congress… President Marcos Jr. was not yet president at the time.] Castro cited Cayetano’s previous public statements in 2021 and 2022, in which he acknowledged that the proposal did not advance in Congress and was not included…
