Here鈥檚 a quick roundup of today鈥檚 top stories:
The government of China expressed hope that the Philippines would 鈥減rotect the lawful rights and interests鈥� of Chinese nationals in the country following the arrest of a suspected 鈥渟leeper agent鈥� involved in espionage activities.
The spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, made this statement when asked for a comment on the case.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is ready to work with law enforcement agencies regarding the alleged espionage operations in the Philippines supposedly conducted by a foreign national.
鈥淚n accordance with its mandate to help protect national security, the Department takes any indication of espionage operations by foreign nationals seriously, and stands ready to support the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other relevant government agencies as they undertake their respective mandates in accordance with the law,鈥� said the DFA in a statement on Thursday.
The 5.8-magnitude earthquake that hit waters off a Southern Leyte town on Thursday morning caused damage to roads and prompted local government units to suspend classes.
The provincial government of Southern Leyte reported that several roads, including those in Barangays Amaga and Himay-angan, as well as roads in Liloan town, were rendered impassable due to fallen debris and severe cracks caused by the quake.
Following her filing of a聽substitute bill amending controversial provisions of Senate Bill No. 1979,聽otherwise known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said hopes are high that the measure would finally gain her colleagues鈥� approval, and appealed that the matter be discussed in an 鈥渦rgent鈥� manner.
鈥淔ears? Higit sa fears, malakas ang pag asa ko sa ngayon sa bisa ng substitute bill 鈥� sa bisa ng hindi talaga ito binibitawan ng advocates ng pag-iwas sa teenage pregnancy para sa ating mga adolescents,鈥� Hontiveros said at a Kapihan sa Senado forum on Thursday.
聽on Thursday withdrew from the 2025 Senate race.
Marcos, who is Norman Mangusin in real life, went to Palacio Del Gobernador personally to file his certificate of withdrawal.