INQToday: Only PH president can approve agreements on WPS, Ayungin – DFA

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

April inflation quickens to 3.8%, still within target range

Inflation slightly quickened to 3.8 percent year-on-year in April, mainly due to costlier vegetables and fish, as well as higher pump prices of petroleum products, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported Tuesday.

Price growth last month was faster than the 3.7 percent recorded in March. But it remained within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 2 to 4 percent target range for the fifth consecutive month, defying expectations of an above-target reading.

DFA: Only PH president can approve agreements on WPS, Ayungin

Only the country’s president can authorize agreements entered into by the Philippine government on matters pertaining to the West Philippine Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday.

The DFA said this as it maintained no Cabinet-level official of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration agreed to any “model” on handling Ayungin Shoal as claimed by China.

Military drills meant to prepare PH for West PH Sea defense – US general

Manila and Washington’s  activities during its war games here, like the simulation of retaking and defending of maritime territory as well as the sinking of a mock enemy ship, are part of preparations to protect the country’s interests in the West Philippine Sea.

Lt. Gen. Michael Cederholm, commanding general of the 1 Marine Expeditionary Force, reiterated that this is part of the seven-decades old Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between both countries.

No intention to delay investigation on Duterte’s ‘pact’, says Zubiri

Setting the record straight, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday denied allegations that he is delaying the upper chamber’s investigation on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s gentleman’s agreement with China.

Zubiri made the clarification during a plenary session, calling on the public to keep politics out in the West Philippine Sea issue.