INQToday: OVP budget cut recommended by House appropriations panel

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

OVP budget cut recommended by House appropriations panel

The House of Representatives committee on appropriations has recommended slashing the 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

The reduction would affect social service programs of the OVP which lawmakers intend to realign to programs of other government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Health (DOH), according to panel senior vice chairperson and Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo.

Beijing, Manila agree to continue talks on West Philippine Sea

The Philippines and China have agreed to continue discussions on areas of cooperation concerning the West Philippine Sea as top foreign affairs officials of two nations exchanged “frank and candid” views on the recent developments in the disputed waters.

In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro  exchanged views with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong on managing the situation in the West Philippine Sea, including the Escoda Shoal.

Marcos to skip UNGA in NYC, limits foreign trips for rest of 2024

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will skip the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) this month as he has “limited his trips” for the rest of 2024, said Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez on Thursday.

According to Romualdez, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo will instead represent Marcos in the assembly, which will be held in New York City from September 22 to 23.

PAOCC’s next target: Find Pogo hub ‘graves’

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is seeking the court’s permission to excavate locations within the compounds of two raided Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in Tarlac and Pampanga amid suspicion that they bore remains of many torture victims, its spokesperson said on Wednesday.

In a television interview, Winston Casio said their operatives have expressed a strong belief that graves at a Pogo hub in Porac town in Pampanga would provide additional evidence to bolster the criminal charges of qualified trafficking lodged against 54 personalities.