Marcos extends sympathies to US over deadly Texas floods
In a statement on Thursday, Marcos said the Philippines stands with the US in prayer and solidarity during this difficult time.
"On behalf of the Filipino people, I extend our deepest sympathies to President [Donald] Trump and the American people as they face the devastating floods in Texas," Marcos said.
"The Philippines knows the challenges of rebuilding after disaster and grieves with the families who have lost loved ones," he added.
Marcos expressed optimism that the strength and resilience of the people of Texas, together with President Trump's leadership, would guide them as they recover.
Search teams continued their operations through debris in Texas Hill Country on Wednesday as hopes of finding more survivors dimmed five days after flash floods hit the region.
As of Tuesday evening, there were more than 170 people still unaccounted for, according to figures provided by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said that no Filipinos have been reported killed or affected by the massive floods that ravaged Texas.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the Filipino community in Texas remains safe, citing updates from the Philippine Consulate in Houston. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
4 hours ago
- GMA Network
Trump announces Indonesia ‘deal' after tariff threats
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he had struck a deal with Indonesia—without providing specifics of the agreement—a week after threatening steeper tariffs on the Southeast Asian country. "Great deal, for everybody, just made with Indonesia," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, saying that he worked with the country's president directly. "DETAILS TO FOLLOW!!!" The Trump administration has been under pressure to finalize trade pacts after promising a flurry of deals, as countries have sought negotiations with Washington to avoid Trump's tariff threats. But the US president has so far only unveiled deals with Britain and Vietnam, alongside an agreement to temporarily lower tit-for-tat levies with China. Last week, Trump renewed his threat of a 32-percent levy on Indonesian goods, saying in a letter to the country's leadership that this level would take effect August 1. It remains unclear what Indonesia's new tariff level will be under the latest deal with Washington, Indonesia's former vice minister for foreign affairs Dino Patti Djalal told a Foreign Policy event Tuesday. But he added that insiders from the Indonesian government indicated they were happy with the new deal, adding that he expected further information in the coming hours. Trump in April imposed a 10-percent tariff on almost all trading partners, while announcing plans to eventually hike this level for dozens of economies, including the European Union and Indonesia. But days before the steeper duties were due to take effect, he pushed the deadline back from July 9 to August 1. This marked his second postponement of the elevated levies. Instead, since the start of last week, Trump began sending out letters to partners, setting out the tariff levels they would face come August. The levy he cited to Indonesia last week was unchanged from the figure he first unveiled in April. To date, Trump has sent more than 20 such letters to partners including the EU, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. Canada and Mexico, both countries that were not originally targeted in Trump's "reciprocal" tariff push, also received similar documents outlining updated tariffs for their products. But existing exemptions covering goods entering the United States under a North American trade pact are expected to remain in place. Analysts have warned that without trade agreements, Americans could conclude that Trump's strategy to reshape US trading ties with the world has not worked. "In the public's mind, the tariffs are the pain, and the agreements will be the gain. If there are no agreements, people will conclude his strategy was flawed," William Reinsch, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, previously told AFP. — Agence France-Presse
GMA Network
10 hours ago
- GMA Network
PH online gambling ban pushed anew in House, Senate
More lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the Senate are keen on seeking an outright ban on online gambling, arguing that industry regulation as proposed by some of their other colleagues would not be enough. Manila Representative Benny Abante has filed House Bill 1876 that aims to impose a ban on online gambling and offsite betting. He said online gambling has become an epidemic that "threatens the soul of the nation." "Online gambling is not just a vice—it is a virus. It is an addiction that eats away at the moral fiber of our society. It erodes the values we teach our children, and it devastates the finances of Filipino families," Abante said in a press conference. "Gambling has always profited off addiction. And today, it is worse because it has gone digital, viral, and global. There is nowhere a gambling addict can go to resist temptation because an addict cannot avoid casinos or cockpits if these are in the palms of their hands," Abante added. Abante then said that while online gambling generates billions of government revenues that fund social services such as classrooms and healthcare, the risk is not worth it. "No amount of government revenue can justify the human costs of this evil pastime. We cannot continue to build schools or roads with money soaked in the blood of fathers who have lost their savings, or of children who gambled away their futures," Abante said. "We should not heal our citizens with resources generated from an industry that harms our fellow Filipinos," Abante added. Several lawmakers have been split on how to deal with the proliferation of online gambling and casinos, with some pushing for restrictions while others seek an outright ban. In the upper chamber, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also earlier filed a similar measure last July 7 as part of his 10 priority measures. 'Epidemic' For his part, Senator Raffy Tulfo said Tuesday that he will also file a bill seeking a total ban—not just merely regulation—of online gambling in the country, which he called an "epidemic." "Merong nagaganap na epidemic ngayon sa ating bansa at lumalala nang lumalala ang epidemic na ito. It's about time na lahat tayo magtulung-tulungan para magamot itong malalang epidemic," he said in a press conference. (There is an epidemic happening in our country right now and it's getting worse and worse. It's about time that we all work together to address this serious epidemic.) Ban, not regulate Tulfo said he is not for regulating online gambling despite concerns that a total ban would result in its underground operations. He said it is the job of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to address such concerns. He also said that even government officials linked in the proliferation of online gambling should be investigated. "That has to be investigated. Dapat imbestigahan—sino 'yung mga pulitiko, sino 'yung mga malalaking opisyal na involved sa online gambling, online gaming. Eh 'di sampahan ng kaso sa Ombudsman, sampahan ng kaso sa Sandiganbayan. Find out who these people are," he said. (That has to be investigated. Probes should be launched to uncover the politicians and top officials involved in online gambling and online gaming. Cases should be filed against them before the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan. Find out who these people are.) "Kahit na sabihin nating legal, dapat ang mga pulitiko ay nagsisilbi sa taumbayan. Ang pangit naman 'yung kanilang pinagsisilbihan, 'yun 'yung tinatamaan nu'ng kanilang negosyo o kanilang involvement," he added. (Even if they say that's legal, politicians should serve the people. It doesn't look good if the people they are supposed to serve are affected by their business or affiliation with online gambling.) Even accredited platforms In his bill, Tulfo said he would push for the ban of all online gaming platforms, including those accredited by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). The senator also called on PAGCOR to prohibit all forms of advertisements of online gambling, even in social media, television and radio. PAGCOR earlier announced that it has ordered gaming licensees and other industry stakeholders to dismantle all billboards and out-of-home gambling advertisements by August 15 this year. Tulfo further expressed hope that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will mention in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28 the country's worsening problem with online gambling. "Sana makarating sa Pangulo kung gaano kalala na itong problema sa online gaming. At sana 'wag siyang lokohin, meaning 'wag siyang bigyan ng wrong information. Kasi usually 'yung ating Pangulo, umaasa lang naman 'yan doon sa mga advisers niya, sa mga alter ego niya kung ano sinasabi sa kanya, 'yun ang pinapakinggan niya," he added. (I hope this bad problem in online gaming reaches the President. And I hope he doesn't get fooled by the people giving him advice.) Gov't-regulated Also on Thursday, digital finance companies association FinTech Alliance PH said it is pushing for stricter regulations and enhanced regulatory measures for licensed online gaming platforms and their users. FinTech Alliance PH includes major players in the digital finance sector such as GCash, RCBC, CIMB Bank, Cebuana Lhuillier Bank, Maya, Tonik, GoTyme Bank, GrabPay, Xendit, and Smart Communications. Over the weekend, three of the country's largest integrated resort-casino operators assured that their online gaming operations comply with laws and regulations. In a joint statement, Solaire Resort, Newport World Resorts, and Okada Manila said, "Our online gaming operations are a regulated and responsibly managed extension of our operations—designed to complement our primary offerings." Earlier, online gaming operators licensed with PAGCOR called for stronger regulation but warned against a total ban on their industry, saying that doing so may prompt Filipino users to shift to unregulated sites in the black market. They also said a ban would risk losing billions of pesos in revenue for the Philippines, instead of keeping pace with regional neighbors that are modernizing gaming regulations to attract investments and protect players. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
10 hours ago
- GMA Network
Palace says Marcos to continue asserting PH rights in WPS
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will continue to assert the Philippines' sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Tuesday. She was asked to comment on the Chinese Foreign Ministry refusing to recognize the arbitral ruling, which invalidated China's massive territorial claims in the South China Sea. To recall, it was on July 12 that Manila commemorated the ninth year of the said ruling, favoring the country over Beijing. ''Parang nadinig na po natin iyan noong nakaraan pa, na ang sinasabing arbitral award ay isang papel na dapat lamang ibasura. Hindi po ganyan ang paningin at pananaw ng kasalukuyang administrasyon. Nagsalita na po si Secretary Tess Lazaro, nagsalita na rin si Secretary Gibo Teodoro pati na po si Secretary Año,'' Castro said in a briefing. (It seems like we have heard that before, that the so-called arbitral award is a piece of paper that should just be thrown away. That is not the vision and perspective of the current administration. Secretary Tess Lazaro has already spoken, Secretary Gibo Teodoro has also spoken, and Secretary Año.) ''Isang tagumpay po na mapaalam sa buong mundo kung no ang pinaglalaban natin at kung ano ang para sa Pilipinas at para sa taumbayan. Muli, ang Pangulo, hindi isusuko ang soberanya, ang karapatan ng bansa at ng taumbayan kahit kanino pa man,'' she added. (It is a victory to let the whole world know what we are fighting for and what is for the Philippines and the people. Once again, the President will not surrender the sovereignty, the rights of the country and the people to anyone.) The Philippines has said the nine-year-old arbitral ruling served as a guide in peaceful resolution of maritime territorial disputes. The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is ''an illuminating precedent for States facing similarly challenging circumstances in the seas, and the clearest of reminders to the international community that the rule of law can be the great equalizer between and among nations, and serve as the bedrock of peace and stability for the international community.'' On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague, Netherlands issued a ruling on the case filed by the Philippines in January 2013. The case hinges on the legal status of reefs, rocks and artificial islands in the Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Island group. Manila's 15-point case critically asked the tribunal to rule on the status of China's so-called "nine-dash line", a boundary that is the basis for its 69-year-old claim to roughly 85% of the South China Sea. The Arbitral court ruled in favor of the Philippines and invalidated China's 'nine-dash line' claim, which virtually covers the entire South China Sea. China has since ignored the ruling and continues its aggression in the region. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
