Here鈥檚 a quick roundup of today鈥檚 top stories:
Despite acting like a 鈥渂and of barbarians鈥� in the West Philippine Sea, the country鈥檚 navy said it will not fire the first bullet against China Coast Guard (CCG).
Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, made the pronouncement on Thursday after the June 17 confrontation with the CCG, during which Chinese personnel boarded Filipino boats, looted firearms, and caused serious injuries to one of the sailors.
Senate President Francis聽 Escudero said Philippine authorities must聽find other means to deal with China amid continuously rising tension in the West Philippine Sea.
The Senate鈥檚 top leader said they will ask for a full briefing from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)聽following the 鈥渁larming鈥澛� escalation of confrontation in the disputed waters.
No DepEd OIC yet; VP Duterte鈥檚 resignation effective July 19 鈥� Palace
No officer-in-charge has so far been appointed for the Department of Education (DepEd), Malaca帽ang said on Thursday.
The Palace also reiterated that聽Vice President Sara Duterte鈥檚 resignation as education secretary聽will only be effective on July 19.
Gatchalian: UniTeam hasn鈥檛 met since 2022 polls
The Uniteam, the presidential campaign team of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, has not met since the 2022 national elections, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Thursday.
Gatchalian made this admission when asked in an interview with ABS-CBN 黑料社 Channel鈥檚 Headstart about how Duterte鈥檚 resignation from her Education secretary portfolio affects the Uniteam.
Leni Robredo may run for Naga City mayor in the 2025 polls, says Lagman
Former Vice President Leni Robredo appears to be aiming for the Naga City mayoral post in the 2025 midterm polls, Liberal Party (LP) president and Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman said on Thursday.
During an interview with reporters at the Batasang Pambansa complex, Lagman was asked about the possibility that Robredo would get nominated for the vacant Department of Education (DepEd) post.
A parallel聽 investigation into the proliferation of fake聽 birth certificates and聽 abuse of the late birth registration system in the country聽 has been sought聽 in the Senate.
The聽 probe is proposed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian through聽 Senate聽 Resolution聽 No 1053聽 he filed early this week.