Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
PH, US eyeing inclusion of Japan in ‘Balikatan’
The Philippines and the United States are considering the expansion of their annual “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises to include Japan following the historic trilateral meeting of the leaders of the three countries in Washington last week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday.
Marcos welcomed the idea of having Japanese troops participate in the Balikatan war games, carried out under the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States.
Many excuses from ex-Duterte execs on ‘gentleman’s agreement’, says Marcos
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday slammed the contradictory stance of former officials of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte on the supposed gentlemen’s agreement it made with China when it comes to the West Philippine Sea.
“I’ve talked, I’ve tried to get in touch with former officials of the previous administration who could possibly have been involved in these discussions and I have to tell you I haven’t gotten a straight answer out of anyone,” Marcos said during a forum at Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.
Alvarez says Marcos support withdrawal call is not seditious
Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez said his call for the country’s police and military to withdraw their support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. cannot be deemed seditious.
According to the former speaker of the House of Representatives, his appeal is not the same as advocating a coup-d’état style of withdrawing support from the current administration because “ it was done in a peaceful and orderly manner.”