INQToday: Sual Mayor Dong Calugay denies relationship with Alice Guo

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

Signal No. 1 still up in parts of Luzon due to Tropical Depression Gener

The weather bureau on Monday afternoon was monitoring two cyclones, one expected to cross northern Luzon’s land area by Tuesday and the other seen to cross only the northeastern periphery of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

The two weather disturbances—Tropical Depression Gener, which is projected to make landfall in Isabela or Aurora province by Tuesday morning, and Tropical Storm Pulasan, which will likely remain far from Luzon’s landmass—are still expected to intensify the southwest monsoon (habagat) on the heels of Tropical Storm Ferdie (international name: Bebinca), which stayed a relatively brief eight hours on Friday in waters north of Luzon.

Sual Mayor Dong Calugay denies relationship with Alice Guo

Sual Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay denied on Tuesday that he had a relationship with dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo (real name: Guo Hua Ping), stating that they are just “friends.”

The mayor made this statement during a Senate women’s committee hearing, where senators questioned him about his alleged ties with Guo.

US backs PH: ‘China’s maritime claims have no legal basis’

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said that it had not given up on Escoda (Sabina) Shoal despite pulling out its ship there after a record-setting five months of deployment.

Its offshore patrol vessel (OPV) BRP Teresa Magbanua returned to shore on Sunday after keeping watch on Escoda since April under the constant presence of Chinese vessels and suspected reclamation activities.