News

Vancouver, Canada — Alex Eala’s historic run at Wimbledon is only the beginning, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Saturday, July 4, expressing confidence that the Filipina tennis star has bigger achievements ahead. Eala reached the fourth round of Wimbledon, with Marcos saying her latest victory shows she is only beginning to realize her potential. Marcos opened his final media briefing in Canada by congratulating the 20-year-old, who became the first Filipina to reach the Round of 16 at Wimbledon after defeating defending champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets. “She really is becoming a true inspiration, especially for younger Filipinos,” Marcos said. He described Eala as a world-class athlete. “Tennis does not operate at a higher level than Wimbledon, so she’s really world-class,” he said. “She’s terrific.” Marcos recalled saying years ago that Eala’s early international success was only the beginning. “I said she was just getting started,” he said. “Well,…

Vancouver, Canada –  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is concerned a future administration could change the Philippines’ policy in the West Philippine Sea, calling the issue one of the country’s most important national interests. In an interview with reporters in Canada on Saturday, July 4, Marcos admits that he was worried the gains his administration has made in advancing the 2016 arbitral award could be weakened after he leaves office, Marcos answered, “Of course I am.” “It’s almost, not quite, but it’s almost an existential issue for us,” he told reporters. He said the issue goes beyond the interests of any single administration. “Maybe not existential for ordinary Filipinos, but for the Philippine state, the Philippine Republic,” he said.  “So we really have to be consistent,” the president added. Marcos argued that the Philippines’ position has gained broader international support. He pointed to countries such as Canada, which backs…

Vancouver, Canada — An official facing an impeachment trial would be better off appearing before the impeachment court and answering questions personally, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Saturday, July 4, saying it would help clarify the issues more quickly. In an interview with reporters, Marcos was asked whether Vice President Sara Duterte should attend her impeachment trial, the President stressed that the decision ultimately rests with the accused and their lawyers. “My only experience with an impeachment trial was during the Corona impeachment trial,” he said, referring to his stint as a senator-judge in 2012. “It’s really up to the accused whether they feel the need to appear. I guess the lawyers on the defense side will give their advice.” He added that hearing directly from the accused would benefit the proceedings. “It would be much easier to get to the bottom of everything if you can speak to the…

Vancouver, Canada – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said former President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledged systemic issues in government flood control projects but failed to hold anyone accountable, marking the first time he has directly faulted his predecessor over the alleged anomalies. Speaking to reporters at the conclusion of his official visit to Canada on Saturday, July 4, Marcos said the government’s ongoing investigation has revealed that questionable infrastructure allocations predate his administration. “If you remember, in 2018, then-House Minority Leader Nonoy Andaya had already uncovered a ₱300-billion flood control mess,” Marcos said, noting that the pattern stretches back across the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years. “At the time, President Duterte acknowledged that there were great problems in terms of the flood control projects. Pero wala namang nangyari (But nothing happened),” Marcos added.  “Having acknowledged it, it did not find accountability in anybody. So I guess that was left up to me…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial is set to begin on Monday, July 6. She is the fifth public official to be impeached by the House of Representatives, and the first in Philippine history to be impeached twice. Here is a brief, chronological history of the country’s officials who have undergone impeachment proceedings. President Joseph Estrada The House of Representatives impeached former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada on November 13, 2000, making him the first Philippine president to be impeached and tried. The short-lived trial commenced on December 7, 2000. Estrada was accused of: Receiving millions of pesos in monthly kickbacks from jueteng lords, funneled through then-Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson; Diverting tobacco excise taxes; Amassing undisclosed assets, including luxury mansions and dozens of business stakes; Betraying public trust by interfering in a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation; and Violating the Constitution by transferring smuggled luxury vehicles…