Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
AFP: China’s account on Ayungin incident ‘deceptive, misleading’
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday called the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) account of the reported collision between its vessel and a Filipino resupply boat in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal “deceptive and misleading.”
CCG said that its vessel took “control measures” against the resupply ship for entering the waters off Ayungin Shoal at 5:59 a.m. on Monday, causing a collision between the two.
China ship ‘appears’ surveying off Scarborough Shoal – monitor
A Chinese 104-meter research vessel appears to be surveying off Scarborough or Panatag Shoal, a West Philippine Sea monitor said Monday.
“China’s research ship Haiyang Dizhi 4 Hao has moved into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, where it appears to have begun a survey,” Sealight director Ray Powell said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
21 Filipino seafarers rescued from Houthi-hit ship arrive in PH
Twenty-one Filipino seafarers rescued from the Houthi-hit merchant ship MV Tutor in the Red Sea arrived in the Philippines on Monday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.
In a video sent to reporters by the DMW, the crew members onboard a flight from Bahrain International Airport were seen arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
Hontiveros bares documents linking pork barrel scam convict to Pogo
A former government official convicted in a pork barrel scam will be invited to a Senate hearing, this time for his alleged involvement with illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos).
On Monday, Senator Risa Hontiveros bared documents showing that former Technology and Resource Center (TRC) Deputy Director General Dennis Cunanan acted as an “authorized representative” for two Pogo firms: Hongsheng Gaming Technology in Bamban, Tarlac, and Lucky South 99 Limited Inc. in Porac, Pampanga.
Guo may be slapped with human trafficking charges – PAOCC exec
Alice Guo, the suspended mayor of Bamban town in Tarlac, may face human trafficking charges this week, an official of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio explained that Guo may be liable for the crime because she had partial ownership of properties where alleged human trafficking activities took place.