INQToday: Gatchalian reports threats made against his life for probing Alice Guo

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

China’s ‘monster ship’ leaves Escoda Shoal

China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “monster ship” has left Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, a navy spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, confirmed that the CCG ship with hull number 5901 has exited the country’s exclusive economic zone.

PH, Vietnam resume joint activities on Pugad Island

The cooperative activities between the Philippines and Vietnam on Pugad Island (Southwest Cay) have resumed, marking the first bilateral engagement between both countries in the West Philippine Sea since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The seventh iteration of the joint activity between the Philippine Navy and the Vietnam People’s Navy was held on July 10, navy spokesperson Commander John Percie Alcos said on Tuesday.

DepEd spokesperson, other execs quit

Department of Education (DepEd) spokesperson Undersecretary Michael Poa said he and four other officials have resigned.

In a Viber message to reporters Tuesday, Poa explained that they resigned because “it is only appropriate to give the incoming Secretary of Education, Secretary Angara, a free hand to choose the people that will form part of his team.”

Gatchalian reports threats made against his life for probing Alice Guo

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has sought the help of police after receiving threats to his life supposedly for his active participation in the Senate probe into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).

Gatchalian reported these threats to the Pasay City Police Station through a letter to its substation commander, Police Major Benjamin Mandane.

Pogo ‘handled pretty well’, still not a security threat – NSC official

The Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) is still not a national security threat, according to a National Security Council (NSC) official, believing that “[r]ight now, the issue is handled pretty well” by the government.

At the Senate committee on ways and means hearing on Tuesday, NSC Assistant Director General Francis Jude Lauengco said they are satisfied with the government’s initiatives in terms of addressing problems surrounding Pogo.

 Senators want crackdown on fake birth certificates

Senators want a crackdown on those behind the proliferation of fake birth certificates in the country, saying the case in Lanao del Sur could just be the “tip of the iceberg.”

Latest reports revealed that the number of falsified birth certificates found in the province alone has grown to 1,200 from only around 200.