Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in 25 years kills nine; 50 missing
Taiwan’s biggest earthquake in at least 25 years killed nine people on Wednesday, injuring more than 800, while 50 went missing en route to a national park, authorities said, as rescuers used ladders to bring others to safety.
Television broadcast images of buildings tilted at precarious angles in the mountainous, sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien, near the epicenter of the 7.2 magnitude quake, which struck just offshore at about 8 a. m. (0000GMT).
Marcos assures Filipinos in Taiwan: Gov’t ready to assist you
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured Filipinos in Taiwan that the government is ready to assist them in the wake of a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that hit the area Wednesday morning.
In a tweet, Marcos also expressed his sympathies to the people of Taiwan and added that the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is working to ensure the safety of Filipinos there.
Malaya: PH is committed to maintaining position at Second Thomas Shoal
The Philippines will continue resupply missions to soldiers stationed in a grounded warship off Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea and China’s attempts to foil them will be met with a response, a top security official said on Wednesday.
Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson of the National Security Council, said the Philippines remains committed to keep the BRP Sierra Madre which it deliberately grounded in 1999 to bolster its maritime claims to the disputed waters.
Hontiveros files resolution for probe into Duterte-China WPS deal
Senator Risa Hontiveros moved for the upper chamber’s investigation of the “gentleman’s agreement” that former President Rodrigo Duterte supposedly entered into with China regarding the West Philippine Sea.
Hontiveros, in her proposed Senate Resolution No. 982, said that if Duterte’s deal with China is proven true, the former chief executive’s action is tantamount to a surrender of the Philippines’ sovereignty and hence, “treasonous.”
Approval, trust ratings for Marcos, Duterte fall – Pulse Asia
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s and Vice-President Sara Duterte’s performance ratings had a decrease in the March 2024 ratings released by polling company Pulse Asia Research Inc. on Tuesday.
Marcos Jr.’s performance ratings decreased from 68 percent in December 2023 to 55 percent in March 2024, while Duterte’s performance ratings decreased from 74 percent in December 2023 to 67 percent in March 2024.