Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
Biden: US defense commitment to Philippines is ‘ironclad’
United States (US) President Joe Biden emphasized his country’s “ironclad” defense commitment to the Philippines following China’s incursion in the West Philippine Sea.
In a press conference on Thursday, Biden briefly expressed US support for the Philippines.
Hamas’ hostages include 2 Filipinos — Israel gov’t
A report citing the Israeli government says more than half the estimated 220 hostages held by Palestinian group Hamas have foreign passports from 25 different countries, including 2 Filipinos.
Garin, 4 others charged with graft over P3.5-B Dengvaxia purchase
The Office of the Ombudsman has indicted former Health Secretary and now Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin and four other former health officials for graft and technical malversation in connection with the allegedly anomalous purchase of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia vaccines in 2015.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Wednesday confirmed to the Inquirer that his investigators had filed charges against Garin and four other officials on Tuesday at the Sandiganbayan.