Page 4 - Robertzon Ramirez News Today

Filipino and American troops are set to hold their biggest joint military exercises in April under Balikatan 2023 amid China’s growing brazenness in asserting its claim over waters within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Smuggled onions and garlic with an estimated market value of P135 million were seized in Manila and Malabon on Friday, the Philippine National Police reported yesterday.

China should stop its “damaging and dangerous” actions in the West Philippine Sea that are “destabilizing” peace and stability in the entire region, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

The country is standing by the account of the Philippine Coast Guard that the Chinese harassed a PCG ship on Feb. 6 in Ayungin Shoal with powerful laser light, rejecting Beijing’s claim that its use of laser was meant to “ensure navigation safety.”

President Marcos summoned China’s ambassador yesterday to relay his “serious concern” over the actions of Chinese ships against the Philippine Coast Guard and Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.

Forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun shed light yesterday on the “sloppy” investigation conducted on the body of Kian Loyd delos Santos, whose death at the hands of policemen in 2017 exposed the brutality of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

A motorist pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt was arrested for alleged possession of 10 kilos of shabu with an estimated street value of P69 million in Allen, Northern Samar on Tuesday afternoon.

Former Valenzuela City congressman Rexlon Gatchalian yesterday appealed to early critics of his appointment as Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary to give him a chance to do his job.

To support onion farmers and increase domestic supply, the Department of Agriculture will launch the Optimization and Resiliency in the Onion Industry Network or ORION program.

The Philippine government has suspended the accreditation of foreign recruitment agencies in Kuwait following the brutal killing of Filipina domestic helper Jullebee Ranara.