Latest news with #VAL
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
PH deepens defense ties with Singapore, Australia
The Philippines, Singapore, and Australia commit to bolstering strategic defense partnerships in the region as defense chiefs from those countries meet at the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue. Philippine Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro first met with Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing as they underscored the importance of strengthening defense cooperation through increased training engagements. During the meeting, Teodoro expressed the country's interest in learning from Singapore's experience operating the C-130J aircraft, especially in the areas of operations, maintenance, and cost-efficiency. Minister Chan then invited Philippine special forces to conduct trainings in Singapore. He also expressed interest in reciprocal opportunities for Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) troops in the Philippines. Teodoro also met Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles. Teodoro noted the growing momentum in trilateral defense engagements involving the Philippines, Australia, and the United States. Minister Marles, meanwhile, praised the evolving defense relationship and stressed the need to translate longstanding people-to-people connections into a strong strategic and defense partnership. The bilateral engagements concluded with a shared commitment to promoting regional stability, strengthening defense cooperation, and exploring new avenues of collaboration in logistics, HADR, personnel exchanges, and capability development. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
PH, US reaffirm alliance in 'pursuit of peace' of Indo-Pacific region
The Philippines and the United States reaffirmed their alliance and commitment to stability in the Indo-Pacific region as the countries' defense chiefs met at the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. During the meeting, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, discussed deepening defense cooperation in support of regional peace, resilience, and a rules-based international order. 'The Philippines seeks peace, but it must be a sustainable peace—one grounded in our own resilience and reinforced through alliances with like-minded partners. We look forward to this meeting and to further strengthening our already robust defense relationship with the United States,' Teodoro said in a statement released on Saturday. Secretary Hegseth, meanwhile, committed to back the Philippines in its effort to push for stability in the region. "I want to applaud the Philippines for their courage and clarity in the South China Sea, and their clear-eyed recognition of the challenges we face. We stand shoulder to shoulder in our pursuit of peace and stability in the region,' Hegseth said. 'Our militaries exercised together in Balikatan in April—the largest in a long time with 14,000 troops. This speaks to the longstanding and ironclad relationship between our nations under the Mutual Defense Treaty,' Hegseth also said. Both secretaries also emphasized the importance of continuing defense cooperation in the face of evolving regional security dynamics. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Sandiganbayan finds Ruffy Biazon guilty of graft
The Sandiganbayan has found Muntinlupa mayor and former lawmaker Ruffy Biazon guilty of graft in connection with the P10 billion pork barrel scam. As a result, the anti-graft court sentenced Biazon to six to 10 years in jail. Sandiganbayan, however, cleared Biazon of malversation raps in the same pork barrel case. Biazon, meanwhile, has said that he will appeal the ruling. 'Public service should not be derailed by noise or distraction. My commitment to Muntinlupeños stands firm—a city led with compassion, guided by vision, and focused on real solutions," Biazon said in a statement. Biazon's camp also said that the Sandiganbayan verdict does not impact his current position as mayor. "The governance will continue with the same integrity and resolve that has marked his leadership since day one. This is not the end—it's the beginning of a renewed push for deeper, more inclusive public service,' Biazon's camp said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
LPA, easterlies to bring cloudy skies in parts of PH
Two weather systems continue to cause cloudy skies over parts of the country, according to PAGASA's daily weather forecast on Wednesday afternoon. The Trough of a Low Pressure Area (LPA) will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro, while the easterlies will cause partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over the rest of the country. Possible flash floods or landslides may occur over some parts of the country as a result of said weather conditions. Meanwhile, light to moderate winds with slight to moderate coastal waters may be expected over the Philippines. Temperatures in the country will range from a minimum of 26.4°C to a maximum of 34.7°C over the next 24-hour period. Sunrise in Metro Manila will be at 5:26 a.m. on Thursday. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- GMA Network
Over P1B worth of ‘shabu' found in Pampanga house
More than P1 billion worth of suspected shabu was discovered during a search in a house in Angeles City, Pampanga on Monday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Tuesday. In a statement, PDEA said authorities implemented a search warrant on a house at a subdivision in Barangay Pampang against a Chinese national. PDEA director general Undersecretary Isagani Nerez said that the illegal drugs were placed inside 155 transparent plastic bags with around one kilogram each, amounting to P1,054,000,000. 'However, the house turned out to be abandoned. The subject of the search warrant, a Chinese national, was nowhere in sight and remains at-large,' the PDEA said. The subject of the search warrant will be facing charges for possession of illegal drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. According to PDEA, the search was linked to the operation less than two weeks ago in Angeles City, where more than 35 kilograms of shabu were seized and a Chinese national and his Filipina cohort were nabbed. 'The two drug operations mentioned are linked to each other. What you see is the outcome of persistent tracking of previous operations targeting individuals connected to syndicated drug trafficking to include their sources,' Undersecretary Nerez said. 'While PDEA prioritizes the conduct of high-impact operations resulting in the arrests of high-value drug personalities and high-volume drug seizures, it is at the grassroots level where most of the drugs are sold and abused. We will not relinquish our thrust to go after small-scale drug dealers in communities as ordered by His Excellency Ferdinand R Marcos, Jr.,' he added. —VAL/ GMA Integrated News
