INQToday: P13-B ‘shabu’ seized by cops in Batangas checkpoint

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

Philippines invites Japan to completely join in Balikatan war games – AFP

Japan has been invited to participate fully in next year’s Balikatan exercises, the country’s biggest war games with the United States.

Col. Michael Logico, executive agent of Balikatan 2024 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, made the announcement on Tuesday as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s said the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Tokyo will soon be completed.

P13-B ‘shabu’ seized by cops in Batangas checkpoint

More than 2 tons of “shabu” (crystal meth) loaded into a passenger van were seized in Alitagtag town in Batangas province on Monday in what authorities described as the “largest drug bust in the history of the country.”

The Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) regional police, citing a spot report from the Alitagtag police station, said a team led by the town’s police chief, Capt. Luis de Luna Jr., flagged down a Foton van at a checkpoint along the highway in Barangay Pinagkurusan around 9 a.m.

Marcos on largest shabu bust ever: No bullet fired, not one person dead

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has stressed that launching the drug war without resorting to violent means is possible, with the largest-ever drug bust being conducted without anyone being killed or shot.

In a short briefing on Wednesday, after inspecting the shabu confiscated in Alitagtag town of Batangas province, Marcos said that the estimated weight of the contraband was 1.8 tons, making it the biggest-ever drug seizure in the country’s history.

DOJ chief wants probe to see if Alvarez may be prosecuted for sedition

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered an investigation to determine if Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez can be prosecuted for sedition, inciting to sedition, or even rebellion.

“As a former lawmaker myself, I would like to remind Congressman Alvarez to act in accordance to the highest standards of ethics, morality, and nationalism, and avoid remarks unbecoming of a member of the House of Representatives,” Remulla added.

DND: Calls to withdraw support from Marcos are ‘futile,’ prosecution likely 

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday called “futile” any attempts to make the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) turn against the Constitution and the current administration.

Teodoro made the statement as Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez urged the AFP to withdraw their support for Marcos peacefully.

DOTR mulls raps vs transport groups for traffic ‘obstructions’ during strike

Protesters who participated in the two-day transport strike may be held liable for committing traffic violations, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said on Tuesday.

According to Bautista, the Department of Transportation observed that the protest was only successful in causing traffic congestion for travelers and motorists.