INQToday: PH summons Chinese envoy over water cannon attack; Vhong Navarro grateful for justice

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

PH summons Chinese envoy over latest water cannon attack

The Philippines was up in arms when China used water cannons anew against Filipino vessels in the Scarborough Shoal.

On Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it summoned Chinese Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong over China’s harassment of Philippine vessels conducting a routine and regular humanitarian mission to Bajo de Masinloc on April 30.

PCG ship hit by China water cannon suffers over P2 million in damages

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship that was directly hit by a China Coast Guard (CCG) water cannon sustained over P2 million in damages.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo made this confirmation on Thursday, citing the assessment of the captain of BRP Bacagay.

PCG’s no water cannon rule vs China is a ‘wise policy’– security experts

The position of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) of not using water cannons in retaliation to China is a prudent move, three maritime security experts said on Thursday.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, on Wednesday said the humanitarian armed service wants to maintain professionalism in dealing with China Coast Guard despite China’s latest use of a water cannon, which damaged a Filipino “white ship” in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal.

Hontiveros asks PNP to check the right number of Quiboloy’s guns: Is it 19?

Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure the accurate number of fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy’s firearms.

Speaking at the Senate panel on women’s hearing on Thursday, Hontiveros mentioned in passing her previous appeal for a “shorter deadline” for Quiboloy to surrender his guns.

Vhong Navarro grateful for justice amid guilty ruling for Cedric Lee, Deniece Cornejo

Vhong Navarro, with his shaking voice and tearful eyes, expressed gratitude after the Taguig regional trial court convicted businessman Cedric Lee and model Deniece Cornejo in the serious illegal detention case filed by the TV host.

Navarro was visibly high-spirited while singing along to the “It’s Showtime” theme song on Thursday, May 2. He was also the one who greeted the studio audience: “What’s up, Madlang Pipol!”

Price of LPG down by more than P1 per kilogram

After reducing pump prices on Tuesday, local oil companies slashed the price of cooking gas by up to more than P1 a kilogram or nearly P13 per 11-kg cylinder, effective on May 1.

Petron Corp. implemented a cut of P1.15 per kg or P12.65 per 11-kg cylinder in its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products effective at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.