INQToday: Christmas convoy to WPS aborted; supply boat reaches Lawak Island

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:

Christmas convoy to WPS aborted; supply boat reaches Lawak Island

Tensions in the West Philippine Sea escalated on Sunday after a Chinese ship fired water cannons on two resupply vessels and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrol boat, ramming and causing “serious engine damage” to one of them.

Meanwhile, a civilian convoy journeying to bring Christmas gifts to Filipino troops stationed in remote outposts in the West Philippine Sea cut short its trip and headed back to El Nido in Palawan province on Sunday after being “shadowed” by at least four Chinese vessels.

US tells China to stop its ‘dangerous and destabilizing conduct’ in WPS

The United States (US) once again upheld its commitment to its defense treaty with the Philippines following China’s reckless maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) over the weekend.

“We reaffirm that Article IV of the 1951 US – Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea,” said US Department of States Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement issued Monday (Philippine time).

Piston sets another transport strike starting Dec 14

Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) will hold a strike starting December 14 (Thursday).

The organization is urging the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to junk the deadline for franchise consolidation applications.

Oil price rollback by up to P1.85 a liter set for Dec 12

Motorists will have another Christmas bonus lined up this week after local oil firms announced big-time rollback in the pump prices of petroleum products by up to P1.85 per liter.

In separate advisories, the companies said they would slash the per-liter price of gasoline by P1.60 and diesel by P1.85 on Tuesday, Dec. 12. The price of kerosene will likewise decline by P1.40 per liter.