INQToday: PH firm in protecting sovereignty, wants dialogues with China — Marcos

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

PH firm in protecting sovereignty, wants dialogues with China — Marcos

The Philippines remains firm in defending its territory but still wants to dialogue with China, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday.

“We are firm in defending our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction against any provocations. But at the same time, we are also seeking to address these issues with China through peaceful dialogue and consultations as two equal sovereign states,” Marcos told Vietnamese President Võ Văn Thưởng during their meeting.

Vietnamese investment in PUV modernization program eyed

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is eyeing possible investment from Vietnamese conglomerate VinGroup Company in the midst of the country’s public utility vehicles modernization program (PUVMP).

According to the Palace on Tuesday, Marcos met with executives from the company during his state visit to Vietnam. The President noted the company’s interest in operations in the Philippines.

Over 200 Chinese ships spotted in West PH Sea by Navy

The Philippine Navy has counted more than 200 Chinese vessels swarming areas in the West Philippine Sea, its spokesperson said Tuesday.

Navy spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said that based on their latest monitoring, around 200 vessels were operated by Chinese maritime militia, 15 to 25 ships from the People’s Liberation Army-Navy, and 10 to 15 vessels from the China Coast Guard.

Senate subpoenas Atty. Abad, alleged proponent of people’s initiative

The Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation has summoned Atty. Anthony Abad for his alleged involvement in the signature campaign for the amendment of the 1987 Constitution.

Senator Francis Tolentino motioned to subpoena the lawyer during the Senate’s Tuesday hearing after Sagip party-list lawmaker Rodante Marcoleta said Abad appears to be the proponent of the said initiative.

SMNI seeks SC injunction vs NTC suspension order

Anchors and reporters from Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) from implementing its order to suspend the network’s operations indefinitely.

SMNI and their counsel, former presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, also asked the SC to stop the NTC from inquiring into the alleged legislative franchise violations of SMNI and scrutinizing the content of expressions aired over the network.