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Vancouver, Canada – Two Canadian mining companies announced plans to expand their operations in the Philippines after separate meetings with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the sidelines of his official visit to Canada. In a statement, officials said the discussions focused on planned investments, mine expansion and exploration projects. OceanaGold Corp. said it is pursuing a US$1.9 billion (about ₱106 billion) expansion of the Didipio Gold-Copper Mine in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. The company said the project is intended to extend the mine’s operating life until 2037. Marcos also met with executives of B2Gold Corp. and Filminera Resources Corp., which jointly operate the Masbate Gold Project. The companies discussed plans to invest about US$14 million (about ₱784 million) in expanding the project’s solar power facility and carrying out additional exploration activities. B2Gold also submitted a letter expressing its intention, subject to further agreement, to provide technical and exploration expertise to…

Vancouver, Canada  — Malacañang said  the Philippines’ upgrade as an upper-middle-income status is an important economic milestone but should not be viewed as the final goal. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro acknowledged that many Filipinos continue to struggle with poverty and high prices despite the World Bank reclassification. “Ito pong pagiging upper middle income country, hindi po ito finish line. Hindi po ito katapusan. Marami pa pong dapat gawin ang bansa para mas umangat pa ang ekonomiya,” she said. [Translation: Becoming an upper-middle-income country is not the finish line. It is not the end. The country still has much more to do to further strengthen the economy.] Castro said the new classification does not mean every Filipino has escaped financial hardship. She said the government will continue implementing programs to address poverty, hunger and other economic challenges. She said the country’s stronger economic standing is expected to attract more investors and…

Vancouver, Canada – Malacañang said Vice President Sara Duterte should personally appear before the Senate impeachment court if she wants to prove she has done nothing wrong. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the executive branch respects the Senate constitutional mandate to hold the trial. She said appearing in person would allow Duterte to answer the allegations and confront the witnesses against her. “Kung lawyer din naman at pag-uusapan at alam naman nila na yung kanilang kliyente ay walang kasalanan at malinis, mas magandang maipakita ito sa buong mga kababayan natin at sa buong mundo na ang vice president ay malinis,” Castro said in a press briefing on Friday, July 3. [Translation: If her lawyers truly believe their client is innocent, it would be better to show the Filipino people and the rest of the world that the Vice President is indeed innocent.] Castro said every respondent has the right to…

Vancouver, Canada – Malacañang  said the government will not be pressured by protests or public demonstrations in light of the filing of plunder charges against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. In a briefing in Vancouver on Friday, July 3, Palace press officer Claire Castro said investigators and the courts should be allowed to function without outside influence. “Hindi naman po kailangan magpa-pressure ang gobyerno at ang mga nag-iimbestiga, pati na po ang mga korte natin sa mga pressure ng ibang mga grupo.” [Translation: The government, investigators and even the courts should not give in to pressure from any group.] Castro said she does not expect another surprise protest if a warrant of arrest is issued against Marcoleta. She said any attempt to influence investigators or dictate government action would undermine due process. “Kung ano po ang sinasabi ng batas, kung ano ang sinasabi ng proseso, ay dapat lamang po natin itong hayaan…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The House prosecution panel has named its witnesses for the July 6-8 impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, including National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional director Jeremy Lotoc.  In a manifestation dated July 3, the prosecution also identified NBI Cyber Investigation and Assessment Center senior agent John Mark Calilung and House of Representatives Legislative Security Bureau executive director Capt. Belinda Bello as witnesses for the scheduled hearings.  The witness list was in compliance with the Impeachment Court pre-trial order requiring both parties to disclose their witnesses at least three days before the scheduled presentation of evidence.  The three witnesses are expected to testify in connection with Article IV of the impeachment complaint, which alleges grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his family members.