Headlines

Philippines’ own defence industry eyed; P1 billion seed fund set
MANILA – Senators have proposed earmarking P1 billion as seed money to finance the development of the country’s own defense industry in the wake of China’s more aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea. The senators, led by Senate President Juan Miguel...

Philippine national security adviser hits China’s claim of Philippines intruding into Scarborough Shoal
MANILA – National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on Tuesday said China was “creating unnecessary tensions” with the Philippines and was “overhyping” a recent incident where a Philippine Navy ship entered the waters of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine...

US expert calls for more pressure on Beijing over WPS agression
A defense expert and former senior U.S. naval officer has urged the Philippines to focus on rallying the international community towards creating a stronger international pressure on Beijing amidst China’s increased aggression in the West Philippine Sea. Retired USN...
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Fishing ban, other restrictions eyed to counter overfishing
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he is eyeing a fishing ban and other restrictions in certain areas to address overfishing and boost the country’s fish population. Such measures, said Marcos, are part of the...

Tolentino sees WPS coral harvesting as a prelude to reclamation
Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino believes there's something deeper in China's coral harvesting endeavors in Iroquios or Rozul Reef in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), saying that it might be a prelude to reclamation. “May iba pang plano siguro po riyan, di lang ‘yong...

P122M more needed to complete Tubbataha ocean outpost
MANILA – The Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) still needs about PHP122 million to complete the construction of an offshore station that will house rangers tasked with protecting the more than 97,000-hectare Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) located in the Sulu Sea....

‘Walang natira’: AFP suspects China behind massive coral harvesting in Rozul Reef
Released / WESCOM MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed that the Rozul Reef — an area within West Philippine Sea where Chinese vessels were seen swarming — has been completely stripped off of its naturally occurring corals. ...

Canadian navy’s advanced warship arrives in PH; two more coming
A Canadian navy ship equipped with advanced weapon and sensor systems arrived in the Philippines on Thursday, Sep. 14, as one of the three vessels that Ottawa is sending to the country to flex its military might in the Indo-Pacific. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)'s...

Heightened swarming activities of Chinese fishing vessels monitored in 3 WPS key areas
Chinese fishing vessels continue to swarm in three key areas in the West Philippine Sea, the Western Command (Wecom) has disclosed citing its recent aerial patrols. In a statement, the Wescom said the heightened presence of Chinese fishing vessels were noticed in...

Teodoro: China’s expansionist policy escalates tension in West PH Sea
China’s expansionist policy is what is causing the escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea and not the engagement of the Philippines with other countries that include the United States, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said. “In terms of the Philippines,...

Senate maritime panel told: ‘Greater West PH Sea’ sounds good, but int’l recognition unlikely
“Can Congress change the name of the West Philippine Sea to Greater West Philippine Sea?” Senator Francis Tolentino raised this question on Thursday, September 14 as he broached the idea of renaming the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in a bid to strengthen the country’s...

Bartender, senior citizen drown in Batangas
CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – A 24-year-old bartender and a 65-year-old man drowned while swimming in Nasugbu and Balete in Batangas province, police reported on Wednesday, September 13. The Police Regional Office 4-A identified the victims as Mark Andrew Famor,...

P100M worth of illegal fish catch, vessels seized by gov’t operatives in Lucena City
TWO purse seine vessels, paraphernalia, and fish harvest with an estimated market worth of more than Php 100 million were seized by Philippine law enforcement authorities today, 09 September 2023, off the coast of Tayabas Bay in Lucena City. Coast Guard...

Tolentino: PH not a US proxy in conflict vs. China
Metro Manila (September 10) — Amid rising tensions between Manila and Beijing, Senator Francis Tolentino said the Philippines would not become a tool, or surrogate, for other nations to use against China. “Hindi po proxy war kasi hindi lang naman United States...

Karma at sea: Chinese boat gets stuck in Ayungin
MANILA, Philippines — In what the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) described as karma, a Chinese watercraft got involved in a mishap while taking part in a maneuver by other Chinese vessels to stop a resupply mission for a Philippine military outpost in Ayungin...

AFP needs to acquire a submarine – official
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) needs to acquire big-ticket naval assets such as a submarine to help the country build a credible defense posture in light of the territorial and maritime issues in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). AFP spokesperson Col. Medel...