INQToday: PH to get $500-M in military funding from US; Duterte appeals protection for her family
Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
PH to get $500 million in military funding from US
United States defense and state ministers arrived in the country on Tuesday for a meeting with Philippine counterparts amid West Philippine Sea tension.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, for the 4th Philippines-US Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue (2+2 Dialogue).
PH gov’t can’t stop ICC from probing drug war suspects – SolGen
The oil sheens along the shorelines of Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and Cavite are only “very minimal,” the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the PCG said it conducted an aerial survey and “observed very minimal and unnoticeable oil sheens” along the shoreline.
Article continues after this advertisementSara Duterte appeals protection for her family – physically or online
Vice President Sara Duterte pleaded protection for her family, following the recall of 75 police officers from her personal protection team.
Article continues after this advertisementOn Facebook, Duterte said she hopes for nothing more than her family’s safety, as she thanked Senators Bato Dela Rosa, Robin Padilla, and Bong Go for their support after the Philippine National Police (PNP) pulled out its men from the Vice President’s security group.
Senate deliberation on 2025 budget set to start on Aug. 13
The Senate will start deliberating the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025 on Aug. 13 with a briefing from the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), according to Senate President Francis Escudero.
Speaking to reporters in an ambush interview on Tuesday, Escudero said the upper chamber is eyeing to wrap all these before the year ends.
SC allows Enrile’s trial for plunder to proceed
The Supreme Court has allowed the Sandiganbayan to proceed with the plunder trial of former Senator and now Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Juan Ponce Enrile.
Voting 13-0 with two justices having “no part,” the Supreme Court dismissed Enrile’s petition for prohibition of his plunder case, in which he is accused of pocketing more than P172 million in pork barrel funds.
PCG: ‘Very minimal’ oil sheen along shoreline of Manila, other areas
The oil sheens along the shorelines of Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and Cavite are only “very minimal,” the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the PCG said it conducted an aerial survey and “observed very minimal and unnoticeable oil sheens” along the shoreline.
