INQToday: Kabayan weakens into tropical depression, makes landfall in Davao Oriental

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

Kabayan makes landfall in Davao Oriental, weakens into tropical depression

Tropical Storm Kabayan (international name: Jelawat) has weakened into a tropical depression as it made landfall in Manay, Davao Oriental, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported on Monday morning.

Marcos: Tension in region increased, not diminished

The territorial dispute in the South China Sea has increased recently but the Philippines will continue to push for peace and dialogue among the parties involved, President Marcos said here on Saturday.

“I’m afraid we’ll have to say … that tensions have increased rather than diminished for the past months or the past years,” the President said in an interview with Japanese media late Saturday evening.

Bongbong Marcos may sign 2024 nat’l budget bill on Dec. 20, says Speaker

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. may sign the 2024 national budget on Wednesday, according to House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In an ambush interview in Tokyo, Romualdez said the President will sign the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) a day after he arrives from Japan.

Ronaldo Valdez, renowned actor, dies at 76

Janno Gibbs confirmed the death of his father, Ronaldo Valdez, also known as Ronald James Dulaca Gibbs in real life, although he has yet to confirm the cause of the latter’s death.

On Monday, Dec. 18, Gibbs asked his father’s supporters to “respect [their] privacy in this grieving moment” through a brief statement on his Instagram account.