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Metro Manila, Philippines –  U.S. President Donald Trump holds President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “in high esteem,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said as the two allies reaffirmed their growing partnership amid heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Rubio conveyed Trump’s message during a courtesy call on Marcos at Malacañang on Wednesday while in Manila for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings. “You know how much the President holds you in high esteem,” Rubio told Marcos. “We had a very positive meeting last year in Washington.” Rubio said the United States considers the Philippines a longstanding partner whose strategic importance continues to grow. “This is a country that has had deep ties to the United States for many, many years, and it’s a partnership that is only growing,” he said. “In light of recent events, I think [it is] more important than ever.” He said that aside from participating in the ASEAN meetings,…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Some senator-judges called out alleged lying witnesses and supposed unfair treatment on the ninth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on July 22, which was the shortest session so far.  The Impeachment Court resumed the cross-examination of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag.  Defense lawyer Mark Vinluan continued to grill Matibag, at one point questioning the probe on Duterte’s supposed hiring of an assassin for the presidential family: “Are you saying that once you reach your findings, because we’re all waiting for that, is it correct to say that you will file another impeachment case against VP Sara?” “The betrayal of public trust as the issue in the Impeachment Court, we don’t need to investigate even if we pinpointed the person contracted because the point being is the betrayal of public trust has already been consummated when she publicly admitted, there is…

Metro Manila, Philippines – National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag disclosed that the agency is eyeing a possible conspiracy between Vice President Sara Duterte and her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, in the alleged hiring of an assassin to kill the presidential family.  The correlation comes from two separate but similarly themed remarks of the Duterte siblings, said the NBI chief.  In a press briefing on Oct. 18, 2024, Sara Duterte recounted an experience where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. refused to give a watch to a student who asked for it as a graduation gift.  Recounting her internal feelings, she said, “Gusto kong tanggalin ang ulo niya ba.” [Translation: I want to decapitate him.] On April 12, 2026, the Davao City Mayor made a similar remark during the launch of the Reform Alliance for Accountability, Good Governance, and Ethics (RAGE) Coalition.  “Isang ulo lang naman ang kailangan…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippines raised its strongest concerns yet over China’s recent actions in the West Philippine Sea during high-level talks Tuesday, July 22, protesting the violent confrontation at Ayungin Shoal, the depiction of Filipinos as monkeys in a Chinese state media video, and Beijing’s continued presence at Bajo de Masinloc. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro conveyed Manila’s positions during a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. The meeting marked the first bilateral engagement at the foreign minister level between the two countries in two years. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Lazaro reiterated the Philippines’ “strong protest” over the violent actions of China Coast Guard personnel against Philippine Navy personnel during a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on July 20. Lazaro reiterated the Philippines’ call…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippines and China will review the implementation of their provisional understanding on rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal following the latest violent confrontation between their forces in the West Philippine Sea, Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan said. Speaking to reporters after meeting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Tuesday, July 21, Jing said both sides would discuss the status of the July 2024 arrangement to prevent misunderstandings and miscalculations during Philippine rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre. “We will discuss the implementation of the provisional understanding and we will see what will happen next,” Jing said. He also urged the Philippines to continue complying with the arrangement. The review comes after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) accused China Coast Guard personnel of striking a Philippine Navy sailor in the head with a wooden baton and damaging a navy…