Romualdez to ASEAN solons: Protect our seas
KUALA LUMPUR — Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday called on ASEAN lawmakers to uphold the rules-based international order and protect the region's seas.
Speaking before heads of state and parliamentary leaders at the 14th ASEAN Leaders Interface with Representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Romualdez stressed the legislative's critical role in securing peace, prosperity, and regional sovereignty.
'We must move as one — translating ASEAN's collective aspirations into concrete policies that empower our workers, farmers, and fisherfolks, protect our seas, connect our digital economies, and defend the rules-based international order,' the House Speaker said.
'This includes upholding the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS, which guarantees peace, security, and sovereignty for all,'' he added.
The regional peace and prosperity hinge on the steadfast observance of international law amid growing global polarization and external threats to maritime integrity. according to the House Speaker.
As the leader of Congress' lower chamber, Romualdez said he has ensured that Philippine legislation should not just be responsive, but visionary.
It must be catalytic, not just reactive, Romualdez emphasized.
The House Speaker reaffirmed the Philippine Congress' full commitment to championing regional priorities through laws that will strengthen food security, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, cyber defense, and green, inclusive growth.
'We believe the role of AIPA is not only to support ASEAN's vision — but to shape it — boldly and bravely,' he said.
The solon from Leyte further urged ASEAN lawmakers to embrace their role not only as policymakers but also as bridge-builders across cultures and generations. —RF, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
9 hours ago
- GMA Network
House says Sara Duterte impeachment complied with Constitution
On a motion by Isabela Rep. Inno Dy, the House plenary deferred acceptance of the articles of impeachment until the Senate Impeachment Court has responded to the queries sought by the House prosecution panel regarding the remanding of the articles of impeachment. The House of Representatives on Wednesday night certified that the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte complied with the 1987 Constitution, a day after the Senate impeachment court voted to return the articles of impeachment to the House. On a motion by Isabela Rep. Inno Dy, the House plenary deferred acceptance of the articles of impeachment until the Senate Impeachment Court has responded to the queries sought by the House prosecution panel regarding the remanding of the articles of impeachment. With no objections, the motion was carried. In a voice vote, the House plenary adopted House Resolution No. 2346, which certified that the impeachment initiated on February 5, 2025, against Sara Duterte fully complied with the constitution, including the circumstances on the filing of the first three impeachment complaints. Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David "Jayjay" Suarez, and Majority Leader Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe authored the resolution. The Senate sitting as an impeachment court on Tuesday night voted for the articles of impeachment to be returned to the House of Representatives without dismissing or terminating the case until such time that: The House of Representatives certifies to the non-violation of Article XI, Section 3, paragraph 5 of the Constitution, which provides that 'No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within one year; include the circumstances on the filing of the first three impeachment complaints"; and The House of Representatives of the 20th Congress communicates to the Senate that it is willing and ready to pursue the impeachment complaint against the Vice President. Batangas Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro, in a news conference on Wednesday, said that the House would defer the acceptance of the articles of impeachment while House members sought clarification from the Senate impeachment court. 'We are certain and it is in the face of the impeachment complaint, that we are fully and strictly compliant with the requirements of the Constitution,' Luistro said. 'They're asking for reconfirmation of the 20th Congress, whether it will pursue the impeachment complaint against the vice president. How can this order be complied with when the 20th Congress does not yet exist?' she added. Those who voted yes include Senate President Chiz Escudero and Senators Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa, Robin Padilla, Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Francis Tolentino, Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, Ramon Revilla Jr., Joel Villanueva, Lito Lapid, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Raffy Tulfo, and Juan Miguel Zubiri. The negative votes came from Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, and Senators Grace Poe, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Nancy Binay. –Tina Panganiban-Perez/NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14 hours ago
- GMA Network
House defers accepting articles of impeachment; to seek Senate guidance
'We are certain and it is in the face of the impeachment complaint, that we are fully and strictly compliant with the requirements of the Constitution,' House prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro said in a briefing on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. The House of Representatives will defer the acceptance of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte while they are seeking clarification from the Senate impeachment court on its requests, a lawmaker said Wednesday. 'We will be seeking for clarification first and that's why we opted to defer receiving the orders,' Batangas Representative Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro said in a briefing. This comes after 18 senators on Tuesday voted for the return of the articles to the House. The senators are asking the House to certify the non-violation of the one-year ban on impeachment complaints and sought assurance from the 20th Congress that it is willing and ready to pursue the impeachment complaint. 'We are certain and it is in the face of the impeachment complaint, that we are fully and strictly compliant with the requirements of the Constitution,' Luistro said. 'Pangalawa [Second], they're asking for reconfirmation of the 20th Congress, whether it will pursue the impeachment complaint against the vice president. How can this order be complied [with] when the 20th Congress does not yet exist?' she later added. Aside from this, Luistro said they will seek clarification regarding a letter that is circulating on social media that the presentation of articles has been rendered moot. 'That is part of their own rules and we are ready to present the articles. Why suddenly, biglang rendered moot. No less than the rules of the impeachment of the Senate provides for the same,' she said. Luistro said that the House is not defying or disobeying the impeachment court. 'As soon as we are clarified about the issues surrounding the order of the Senate last night, for as long as they are within the bounds of the law, the prosecution panel will comply,' she said. The lawmakers also said that it is up to the Office of the Secretary General to receive the articles of impeachment. Luistro, meanwhile, earlier welcomed the service of the summons to Duterte, saying this means that the impeachment trial can no longer be stopped as the court has acquired jurisdiction over her. 'Finally, the people of the Philippines will see from the answer of the Vice President what her defenses are,' she said. 'Isa lamang po ang ibig sabihin nito. 'Yung pag-acquire po ng jurisdiction ng impeachment court sa ating respondent, kay Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte, it only shows na tuloy na tuloy na ang impeachment trial,' she added. (This only means one thing. The impeachment court's acquisition of jurisdiction over our respondent, Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte, only shows that the impeachment trial is definitely moving forward.) Confident? When asked about the possibility that the senators would retain their position following the trial, Luistro said the decision of the senators would be hard to preempt. 'Mahirap po isipin o sabihin na 'yung boto kahapon ay 'yun na rin ang magiging boto sa impeachment case sapagkat wala pa po ni isang ebidensyang naiilatag ang prosecution,' Luistro said. (It's difficult to assume or say that yesterday's vote will be the same vote in the impeachment case because not a single piece of evidence has been presented yet by the prosecution.) This was echoed by Antipolo Representative Romeo Acop, who said that he remains hopeful that the senator-judges will rule in their favor. 'You know why? During the Erap impeachment trial, they had the number. Pero bakit nag baliktad? Kasi nakita na 'yung ebidensya. As the gentle lady from Batangas said, wala pang naipre-presenta na ebidensya,' he said. (You know why? During the Erap impeachment trial, they had the number. But why did they change their votes? Because the evidence was revealed. As the gentlelady from Batangas said, not a single piece of evidence has been presented yet.) 'Siguro kapag nakita na ng mga tao at saka senator judges 'yung mga pieces evidence, baka magbago po ang isip nila,' he added. (Maybe once the people and the senator-judges see the pieces of evidence, their minds might change.) Those who voted yes include Senate President Chiz Escudero and Senators Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa, Robin Padilla, Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Francis Tolentino, Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, Ramon Revilla Jr., Joel Villanueva, Lito Lapid, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Raffy Tulfo, and Juan Miguel Zubiri. The negative votes came from Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, and Senators Grace Poe, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Nancy Binay. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
15 hours ago
- GMA Network
Musk says some of his posts about Trump ‘went too far'
Musk bankrolled a large part of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, spending nearly $300 million in last year's US elections and taking credit for Republicans retaining a majority of seats in the House and retaking a majority in the Senate. REUTERS/ Kevin Lamarque/ File photo Billionaire businessman Elon Musk said on Wednesday he regretted some of the posts he made last week about US President Donald Trump as they had gone "too far." Trump said on Saturday his relationship with Musk was over after they exchanged insults on social media, with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO describing the president's sweeping tax and spending bill as a "disgusting abomination." Musk has since deleted some posts critical of Trump, including one signaling support for impeaching the president, and sources close to the world's richest man say his anger has started to subside and he may want to repair the relationship. "I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far," Musk wrote in a post on his social media platform X on Wednesday, without saying which specific posts he was talking about. Tesla shares in Frankfurt rose 2.7% after Musk's post. Musk bankrolled a large part of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, spending nearly $300 million in last year's US elections and taking credit for Republicans retaining a majority of seats in the House and retaking a majority in the Senate. Trump then named him to head an effort to downsize the federal workforce and slash spending. Musk left the role late last month after criticizing Trump's marquee tax bill, calling it too expensive and a measure that would undermine his work at the Department of Government Efficiency. Declaring their relationship over on Saturday, Trump said there would be "serious consequences" if Musk decided to fund US Democrats running against Republicans who vote for the tax and spending bill. Trump also said he had no intention of repairing ties with Musk. On Monday, Trump said he would not have a problem if Musk called and that he had no plans to discontinue the Starlink satellite internet provided to the White House by Musk's SpaceX but might move his Tesla off-site. "We had a good relationship, and I just wish him well," Trump said. Musk responded with a heart emoji to a video on X showing Trump's remarks. — Reuters
