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(ABSCBN) MANILA (UPDATE) — Former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez has not left the country following the Sandiganbayan’s issuance of a precautionary hold departure order against him, his spokesperson said Thursday.

“We categorically clarify: Rep. Romualdez is in the Philippines and has not left the country. Any report or insinuation that he has fled is false and irresponsible,” Romualdez’s lawyer and spokesperson Ade Fajardo said in a statement.

Romualdez was blocked from leaving the country after the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday issued a precautionary hold departure (PHDO) order against him as he faces investigation over an alleged kickback scheme involving flood control projects.

The anti-graft court’s Seventh Division, chaired by Associate Justice Lorifel Pahimna, granted the Office of the Ombudsman’s application for a PHDO after conducting a hearing on the same day…. Read More

(CBSNews) Manila, Philippines — A ferry with more than 350 people on board sank early Monday near an island in the southern Philippines, killing at least 18 people, officials said. Rescuers saved hundreds more, while a fleet of coast guard and naval ships searched for those still missing.

Coast guard officials said the cargo and passenger ferry apparently encountered technical problems and sank after midnight. The steel-hulled vessel abruptly tilted to one side and took on water, hurling people into the sea in the darkness, according to a rescued passenger who lost his 6-month-old baby.

“My wife lost hold of our baby and all of us got separated at sea,” a distraught Mohamad Khan told a volunteer rescuer, Gamar Alih, who posted a video of Khan’s remarks on Facebook.

He said he and his wife, who had been holding their child, were rescued, but the baby drowned. His wife wept by his side as Khan recounted their ordeal.

The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 was sailing in good weather from the port city of Zamboanga to southern Jolo island in Sulu province with 332 passengers and 27 crew members. It sank about a nautical mile from the island village of Baluk-baluk in Basilan province, coast guard Commander Romel Dua told The Associated Press.

“There were two coast guard safety officers on board and they were the first to call and alert us to deploy rescue vessels,” Dua said, adding that the two safety marshals survived…. Read More

(Philstar) MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte said she will be submitting a new travel request, citing concerns over the timing and uncertainty surrounding the approval of her earlier travel authority.

In a statement addressed to the Office of the President on Thursday, April 23, Duterte thanked Malacañang for granting her request but said her plans had to be changed due to doubts over whether she would be allowed to leave the country..

“Thank you for the last-minute issuance of the travel authority. I regret to inform you that the plans have since changed due to uncertainty as to whether I will be permitted to depart,” she wrote in a statement posted on Facebook.

Duterte also appealed for earlier processing of travel requests in the future, saying that approvals issued only shortly before departure leave little time for preparation.

“You will be receiving a new request soon. Please ensure that the necessary documents be processed and issued promptly, allowing sufficient time for travel preparations rather than only a few hours before the intended departure,” she said.

She also called for proper confidentiality and handling of sensitive documents… Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — Signal No. 1 is still hoisted over Batanes as Typhoon Hanna (international name: Haikui) slightly intensified while moving towards the sea east of Taiwan, the state weather bureau said Saturday.

According to the 11 a.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible in Batanes.

Hanna is reported to have maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometer per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon enhanced by Hanna and two other tropical cyclones (Saola and Kirogi) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) will continue to bring rains in parts of Luzon.

“Itong tatlong bagyo na ito ang nagpapa-iral sa ating southwest monsoon o hanging habagat na nagdudulot ng pag-ulan sa malaking bahagi ng Luzon at kanlurang bahagi ng Visayas,” weather specialist Daniel James Villamil said in a press briefing late Friday evening… Read More

(NewsComAu) Beijing has demanded the world respond to a new map showing its claims over vast swathes of neighbouring territory in an “objective” and “responsible” way.

It’s just released a revised 2023 edition of its “Standard National Map”.

It’s gone down like a lead balloon over Central and Southeast Asia.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin appeared surprised at the international response, telling a press briefing that “China hopes relevant parties” consider the map in an “objective and rational way” and not “over-interpret” its meaning.

Objectively, the map shows Beijing believes it owns parts of China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Russia.

Rationally, that means these neighbouring countries are in for tough diplomatic, economic – and potentially military – times ahead.

Exactly how Beijing attempts to enforce its claims is open to interpretation… Read More

(Radio Free Asia) Manila slams ‘latest attempt to legitimize China’s purported sovereignty’ in the South China Sea.

Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan on Thursday objected to China’s latest version of its territorial map because of new boundaries that reach waters they claim as well in the South China Sea.

Beijing released the map on Monday amid tensions with the United States over Taiwan, and days after China Coast Guard ships formed a cordon to block Philippine supply boats delivering supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre, Manila’s military outpost in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), in the disputed waters.

“This latest attempt to legitimize China’s purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said in a statement… Read More

(TheSunUK) But the 44-year-old has aspirations of representing his homeland of the Philippines at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

President of the Philippine Olympic Committee Abraham Tolentino said: “Senator Pacquiao’s camp reached out saying our Filipino ring idol wants to fight in Paris.”

Conversations between the POC, the Association of Boxing Alliances and the International Olympic Committee over Pacman representing the Philippines at Paris 2024 are already underway.

But Tolentino revealed: “The Senator can no longer vie for qualification in the Asian Games in Hangzhou next month.”

Pacquiao is ineligible to qualify for Paris 2024 via the Asian Games as they have a 40-year-old age limit for all athletes.

But he could still book his place in the competition through two qualifying tournaments next year.

Boxing fans were quick to react to the possibility of Pacquaio competing at the next Olympics, with one tweeting: “I doubt he medals but I can’t wait to see it.”

Another said: “This would be pretty cool! & a hell of an accomplishment if he wins.”.. Read More

(PRNewswire) As demand for intelligent solutions accelerates to build more connected, resilient, and sustainable cities, Grundfos, a global leader in advanced pump solutions and water technologies, today launched its new NK and NKE range in the Philippines. The new long-coupled end-suction pumps feature industry-leading energy efficiency, with the premium NKE range utilising smart technology to bring ease of use, monitoring capabilities, and greater connectivity.

Grundfos launched its new NK and NKE range of end-suction pumps in Asia-Pacific, boasting greater energy efficiency, connectivity, and durability.

Being among the countries most affected by climate risks[1], the Philippines has seen growing interest in smarter and greener buildings that help to mitigate the impacts of climate change, with over 200 green buildings developed to date[2]. Smart city initiatives, such as those adopted in Manila, Cebu City and Davao City[3], are also on the rise, leveraging intelligent technology to improve urban sustainability – including through smart energy- and water-efficient solutions.

As multi-purpose pumps that play a role in a variety of different applications in areas including cooling and heating in commercial buildings, Grundfos introduced the new and improved NK and NKE range to complement its strong portfolio of energy efficient water solutions, providing customers with a holistic range of highly efficient solutions at every level… Read More