INQToday: B-52H bomber joins PH jets for WPS patrol, irks China

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

B-52H bomber joins PH jets for WPS patrol, irks China

The United States has sent a nuclear-capable bomber for its first joint patrol with the Philippine military over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), prompting China’s military to send its forces there to monitor that activity.

Three FA-50 light fighters of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Monday flew in tandem with a B-52H Stratofortress long-range strategic bomber deployed by the US Pacific Air Forces. The joint flyovers covered 90 nautical miles (166.7 kilometers) west of Candon, Ilocos Sur, and 50 NM (92.6 km) northwest of Lubang, Mindoro, within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, the PAF said in a statement.

Marcos: Why the row? Senate to lead Cha-cha

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he was baffled by all the political noise on the proposal to amend the Constitution, saying that this had already been settled “months ago” during his discussions and consultations with the two leaders of Congress.

Mr. Marcos reiterated that the Senate would be taking the lead in crafting the proposed Charter changes.

LTO plate-making plant to operate 24 hours to address backlog

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) vehicle plate-making plant will shift to a 24-hour operation schedule so it can address its backlog, officials told a House of Representatives panel on Tuesday.

During the hearing of the House Committee on Transportation, LTO Property Section Head Clarissa Ogsimer said that after the plate-making plant has finished all its maintenance works, the production will shift to a 24-hour operation, increasing the daily output from 38,000 plates to 48,600 plates.