INQToday: 2 Chinese Navy ships spotted as US, PH make joint patrols in West PH Sea

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

2 Chinese Navy ships spotted as US, PH make joint patrols in West PH Sea

The Philippine Navy observed the presence of two Chinese Navy vessels while US and Philippine troops conducted joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea last Friday.

Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said Tuesday that the two People’s Liberation Army (PLA)-Navy ships appeared to be monitoring the latest maritime cooperative activity (MCA) between Manila and Washington.

DFA slams Chinese envoy’s remark on WPS: It’s distortion of law, fact

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) criticized the claims of Chinese Consul General Zhang Zhen belittling the arbitral ruling that favors the Philippines’ position on the West Philippine Sea.

“The Philippines and China are both parties to UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas],” it pointed out in a message to reporters, as it stressed that it takes “serious exception” to the diplomat’s remark.

Abad says sorry to those who were promised financial aid in Cha-cha drive

An expression of regret was all Atty. Anthony Abad could utter when he was asked on Tuesday what his message was to Filipinos who were promised financial aid in exchange for their signature used in the people’s initiative for Charter change (Cha-cha).

Abad, whose name was solely written in the forms for the signature campaign for Cha-cha, was grilled during the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation’s hearing.

PNP says all bomb threats vs gov’t offices on Feb 12 were a hoax

All bomb threats that hit various government offices nationwide on February 12 were a hoax, the Philippine National Police (PNP) disclosed Tuesday.

The PNP, however, still advised the public to remain vigilant.

Labor group hits solons opposing P100 wage hike

“Walang puso sa manggagawa.” (No compassion for the workers.)

That was how the militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) on Tuesday described government officials and members of the House of Representatives who opposed a proposed P100 legislated wage hike.

Rice instead of cash for 4Ps recipients? Marcos contemplates – DA exec

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will seriously think about a proposal that would give rice – instead of cash – to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Department of Agriculture (DA) Usec. Roger Navarro revealed this in a press conference that followed a meeting between agriculture officials and the President in Malacañang on Tuesday.