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Metro Manila, Philippines –  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to Malacañang on Tuesday, July 21,  following the latest confrontation between Philippine and Chinese forces near Ayungin Shoal. The meeting came two days after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said China Coast Guard personnel struck a Philippine Navy sailor in the head with a wooden baton and damaged a Navy rigid-hull inflatable boat during a routine resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) condemned the incident, calling any act of violence against Filipino personnel “unacceptable” and saying it would take “appropriate diplomatic action.” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the discussion involved issues of national security and details are limited at the moment.  Before confirming the meeting, Castro said the president supported the statements issued by the Department of National Defense, the AFP and the DFA condemning the incident. “Kinukondena…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte is on an overseas trip in the middle of her impeachment trial, her office confirmed on Tuesday, July 21.  The vice president has yet to make a physical appearance before the Impeachment Court since trial began on July 6. Palace press officer Claire Castro said that Duterte received travel authority from July 16 to 31 for a visit to Qatar, Germany, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and the Netherlands.  According to the Office of the Vice President (OVP), her itinerary included a stop in Qatar, participation in a forum and Filipino community event in the UK, and another visit to the Netherlands.  Defense panel spokesperson Michael Poa said in a pre-trial press briefing on Tuesday that the vice president is in The Hague, Netherlands.  Her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is under International Criminal Court detention in The Hague for crimes against…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang on Tuesday, July 21, condemned the latest incident in Ayungin Shoal where a Philippine Navy sailor was injured after he was allegedly struck by a China Coast Guard personnel, saying the government will continue to address the issue through diplomatic channels. During a Palace press briefing, Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. supports the statements issued by the Department of National Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Department of Foreign Affairs condemning the incident. “Hindi po din nina-nais ng pangulo ang ganito mga klaseng insidente… na siyang nagbibigay ng polisiya na dapat tayo tumugon sa mga ganitong klaseng insidente through a diplomatic manner,” said Castro. [Translation: The president does not want incidents like this to happen. His policy is that we should respond to these kinds of situations through diplomatic means.] She reiterated the DFA position, saying, “Any act of violence…

Metro Manila, Philippines – National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag bared at the Impeachment Court that his agency has established persons of interest in relation to Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threat to kill the president and members of his family, but refused to name names to avoid compromising the investigation.   “Meron po tayong mga leads na atin pong sinusundan at katunayan, we already have established persons of interest na maaaring makapagturo o tumukoy dun sa taong kinausap ng ating Bise Presidente, o maaaring isa rito sa tinatawag nating persons of interest ang nakausap,” Matibag said on Tuesday, July 21, as witness of the prosecution panel. [Translation: We have leads that we are following and we already have established persons of interest who can point to the person that the vice president spoke to, or maybe one of these persons of interest are whom the vice president spoke…

Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda as chief liaison to Congress. His position is as secretary of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO). “The mandate given to me is to reform and transform the PLLO into a genuine policy in the Office of the President. This administration has been uniquely open to the best ideas from the people,” said Salceda. “I humbly invite the country’s best minds, especially young people, to share with us your time, your talents, and your energies towards this undertaking,” he added. The PLLO promotes the administration’s legislative agenda and priority policy reforms in Congress. Salceda is not new to the Cabinet, having served as presidential chief of staff in 2007 under then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He was elected governor of Albay, winning the 2010 and 2013 elections. Salceda was a member as well of…