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Blu Girls battle region’s best in Women’s Softball Asia Cup

With a new head coach, the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Philippine Blu Girls set out to challenge the region’s best as they compete in the Women’s Softball Asia Cup slated July 14 to 20 at the Xi’an Physical Education University Softball Stadium in China.

The team will now be mentored by former Major League Baseball player Steven Figueroa and is now in deep preparation for the week-long event that serves as a qualifier to next year’s World Cup and Asian Games.

Apart from host China, the meet also drew participation from powerhouse Japan and Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Hong Kong, India and Southeast Asian Games rivals Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines President Jean Henri Lhuillier is confident of the country’s chances in Xi’an.

“I firmly believe that these young women, with the right blend of dedication and support, can bring the Asia Cup trophy home,” said Mr. Lhuillier. “We’ve seen their talent and heart. Now it’s our mission to give them everything they need to succeed.” — Joey Villar

ASICS to stage a 10-kilometer race at Vermosa in Imus, Cavite

A race for passionate runners seeking to test their own limits has been recently launched via the ASICS Meta: Time: Trials scheduled Oct. 19 at the Vermosa in Imus, Cavite.

ASICS brand communication executive Diego Verge de Dios said on Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum that they’re staging the 10-kilometer race with a goal of encouraging participants to strive to eclipsing their personal best.

“Our event is a testament to our commitment to see our runners surpass their personal best,” said Mr. De Dios, who was accompanied by Sonak brand communication manager Faith So and tech product trainer Rey Maniego.

The top three men and women in the invitational class and the top five in the open section will be given special prizes that ASICS will announce on its social media accounts soon.

This unique race actually made its global debut in Malaga, Spain three years ago and was followed by successful editions in Southeast Asia the same year in Thailand and Malaysia the next year.

Interestingly, national team mainstays Sonny Wagdos excelled last year and Richard Salano, an ASICS endorser, shone bright in Bangkok two years ago. — Joey Villar

Philippines sees spike in presence of Chinese ships in South China Sea in June

PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

NEARLY 50 Chinese navy and coast guard ships were monitored at contested features in the South China Sea in June, the Philippine military said on Tuesday, in what it described as the largest presence of Chinese vessels observed in a month, this year.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Chinese presence at disputed shoals and atolls in the South China Sea spiked to 49 ships in June, from the average of 29 China Coast Guard and People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels monitored per month in the first half of 2025.

“Regardless of these numbers, the Philippine Navy remains fully on top of the situation, demonstrating continued heightened vigilance and sustained presence in our maritime domain,” military spokeswoman Francel Margareth Padilla told a news briefing.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

China sent the biggest number of ships to Scarborough Shoal in June, which included nine coast guard vessels and 14 navy ships, Philippine Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Roy Vincent T. Trinidad said in the same briefing.

Twelve Chinese coast guard ships were monitored alongside 2 Chinese Navy vessels at Second Thomas Shoal, while nine coast guard ships and three navy ships were also spotted around Thitu Island, he added. Both features are occupied by the Philippines.

“These 49 ships were not there all the time, but they were in and out of the different features,” Mr. Trinidad said.

He said the Philippine Navy cannot ascertain why China ramped up its presence in the South China Sea. “We don’t have a direct reference for the tactical implications of why the number increased to 49 — up from 41 last month and 31 the month before that.”

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea via a U-shaped, 1940s nine-dash line map that overlaps with the exclusive waters of the Philippines and neighbors like Vietnam and Malaysia, irking Manila as Beijing continues to claim sovereignty over the waterbody by deploying an armada of coast guard and navy ships. A United Nations-backed tribunal in 2016 voided China’s expansive claims for being illegal, a ruling that Beijing does not recognize.

The Philippines has sought to expand its security ties beyond the US, its traditional ally, by engaging with other western countries and deepening regional alliances as it faces an increasingly assertive China.

Just last month, the Philippines held its first joint maritime drills with Japan in the South China Sea, since the ratification of their Reciprocal Access Agreement.

JAPAN DESTROYERS

The Philippine Navy also announced on Tuesday it will send a six-man team to Japan in August to conduct an inspection of the six Abukuma-class destroyers used by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, which the Japan-based newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported as being offered to the Philippines.

“There are so many things that we have to consider,” Philippine Navy spokesman Captain John Percie Alcos told reporters after a media briefing at the Philippine military’s headquarters, citing costs to refurbish and retrofit new weaponry.

The ships’ inspections will last around 2 weeks and would take the six-man team that includes combat weapon systems officers, a ship maintenance expert and a financial analyst about a month to assess and report about, said Mr. Alcos.

He said the Abukuma-class ships could be reclassified as a corvette or frigate by the Philippine Navy, depending on the inspections’ outcome.

“Depending on the capabilities that it still has and the system that we plan to install, these ships may be reclassified as a corvette or as a frigate,” Mr. Alcos said.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. expects the destroyers to add to fleet size, but noted it “will depend on whether we need to spend money for weaponizing it, for interoperability, for secure communications.”

The Philippines is looking to modernize its naval fleet, and it has increasingly relied on South Korea as a key supplier of warships.

The Defense department has put in an order with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to build at least 10 vessels, ranging from missile frigates to offshore patrol vessels.

COMMON THREAT

Also on Tuesday, Mr. Teodoro called for deeper cooperation among Manila’s allies to counter what he described as a common threat to regional peace.

He said that deeper security engagements with allies is now “vital” more than ever amid “cross-regional” issues that have broader geopolitical effects for the Philippines.

“Since the challenges affecting the quality of life of people in the Indo-Pacific are affected by events in the Middle East, Europe, even in the Arctic and Antarctic… cross-regional exchanges become vital, particularly for smaller nations,” he said in his speech at the opening of a top-level military forum in Manila.

“With collective action, collective purpose and collective resolve, we then deter any unilateral attempt to reshape the world order into a less free on,” Mr. Teodoro said.

This year, the Philippines is co-hosting the three-day Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium alongside the US, bringing in military leaders from allied countries across the Indo-Pacific in Manila to discuss how to advance com-mon security goals and foster deeper military cooperation.

Mr. Teodoro said the Philippines is ramping up efforts to widen its security alliances motivated by the need to address a “commonality of threats and threat actors” globally.

The Philippines is already bound by military agreements with the US, Japan and Australia. It recently finished the first round of negotiations for a possible visiting forces agreement with Paris, the Philippine defense chief said.

Meanwhile, the AFP said it will undergo “organizational enhancements” to accommodate the Japan-led “one-theater” approach in the East and South China Seas.

“Part of this will be looking at a broader expanse of the maritime, air and land domains. This will allow us to simplify the allocation of forces, streamline the organization and simplify the chain of command,” Mr. Trinidad said.

Military leaders are working to enforce a “one-theater” concept in the East and South China Seas, where China has asserted its presence in, moving forward with Japan’s proposal to treat the regions with a single military approach.

Portugal’s Euro campaign still alive after 1-1 draw with Italy

GENEVA, Switzerland — A last-gasp equalizer by Portugal’s Diana Gomes against Italy in a thrilling 1-1 draw kept alive her country’s Women’s Euro campaign when her strike cancelled out a stunning second-half goal by Cristiana Girelli on Monday.

Le Azzurre thought they were through to the quarterfinals after Girelli scored in the 70th minute, shifting the ball to her right foot at the edge of the box before unleashing a curling shot into the top right corner that goalkeeper Patricia Morais had little chance of stopping.

The 35-year-old Girelli fought back tears after the goal.

But Gomes brought Portugal’s level in the 89th when a corner hit the bar and the team worked the ball back into the box for her to fire into the roof of the net, sending their raucous fans, who chanted and banged drums throughout the night, into utter delirium.

The draw spoiled Italy’s chance of clinching a berth in the knockout round on Monday, with Spain the only Group B team to have so far guaranteed a quarterfinal spot. — Reuters

PSEi up on extended trade talks, rate cut bets

REUTERS

Local stocks rose for a second straight session on Tuesday, buoyed by extended talks between the US and trade partners including the Philippines, as well as expectations of a dovish policy stance from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) added 0.13% or 8.36 points to close at 6,433.6. The broader all-share index rose 0.11% or 4.24 points to 3,784.17.

“The local market extended its rise as investors continued to cheer the extension of the US reciprocal tariff deadline to Aug. 1, giving the Philippines more time to strike a trade deal with the US,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Manager Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message.

On Monday, US President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order moving the effectivity of reciprocal tariffs to Aug. 1 from the original July 9 deadline.

Starting Aug. 1, the US will impose varying tariffs — 25% on Japan, South Korea, Tunisia, Malaysia and Kazakhstan; 30% on South Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina; 32% on Indonesia; 35% on Serbia and Bangladesh; 36% on Cambodia and Thailand; and 40% on Laos and Myanmar.

Shares also rose as the market was lifted by expectations of another policy rate cut by the Philippine central bank.

“Local shares closed higher, lifted by dovish expectations on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ policy stance following soft June inflation data,” said Luis A. Limlingan, head of sales at Regina Capital Development Corp.

June inflation accelerated slightly to 1.4% from 1.3% in May, but below 3.7% a year earlier.

The BSP has cut interest rates twice this year, with the policy rate now at 5.25% after the latest 25-basis-point reduction on June 19.

Sectoral performance was mixed. Services rose 0.77% to 2,130.23, while holding firms gained 0.65% to 5,638.9.

On the other hand, mining and oil slipped 0.43% to 9,199.7, financials dropped 0.35% to 2,265.98, property shed 0.26% to 2,422.64, and industrials edged down 0.01% to 9,116.95.

Universal Robina Corp. led index gainers with a 4.33% jump to P94. ACEN Corp. was the biggest decliner, falling 2.26% to P2.60.

Trading value dropped to P6.96 billion from P7.8 billion on Monday. Winners beat losers 104 to 96, while 56 stocks were unchanged.

Net foreign selling stood at P168.05 million, reversing the P107.24 million net inflow on Monday. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

DFA summons Chinese envoy over sanction against former senator

FRANCISTOLENTINO.PH

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned the Chinese Ambassador over Beijing’s move banning a former Filipino senator who sponsored the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, a declaration that Manila exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over its territorial waters, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro quoted Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, saying that Ambassador Huang Xilian was summoned last Friday, July 4, to convey the Philippines’ concern over China’s sanctions against former Senator Francis N. Tolentino.

“The DFA conveyed to the Chinese side that, while the imposition of such sanctions falls within China’s legal prerogative, the imposition of punitive measures against democratically elected officials for their official acts is inconsistent with the norm of mutual respect and dialogue that underpins relations between two equal sovereign states,” Ms. Castro said, quoting Ms. Lazaro.

China’s Foreign Ministry on July 1 announced sanctions against Mr. Tolentino, barring him from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. The ban, issued a day after his Senate term ended, cited his “egregious conduct on China-related issues,” specifically his strong anti‑Beijing stance and actions asserting Philippine territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippines, as a democratic country, upholds the principle of free speech and legislative independence, according to the DFA.

“The Department reminded the Ambassador that as a democracy, the Philippines values freedom of expression,” Ms. Lazaro added.

“In the Philippines’ adherence to the constitutional separation of powers among the three branches of government, it is the mandate of senators and other elected officials to inquire [into] matters of national and public interests.”

The top diplomat reiterated the Philippines remains committed to resolving differences peacefully through established diplomatic channels.

“The Department remains committed to addressing differences through diplomacy and dialogue and looks forward to continued constructive engagement with China to promote mutual understanding,” she said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila in a Viber message to reporters argued that the sanction is “within China’s legal prerogative and there are consequences for hurting China’s interest,” as it claimed anti-China politicians driven by self-interests have made malicious remarks against it.

“Tolentino’s malicious smear against China and instigation of confrontation will only backfire, and ultimately harm the interest of the Philippines and Filipino people,” the Embassy said. Mr. Tolentino had called the sanction a “badge of honor.”

China’s expansive South China Sea claims overlap with the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines and several other Southeast Asian countries.

In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled that Beijing’s sweeping claims in the area have no basis under international law — a decision that China rejects as it continues its operations in the disputed waters.

The department’s remarks demonstrate the government will promote the Philippines’ interest above its relations with China, Josue Raphael J. Cortez, diplomacy lecturer at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“This move was geared towards reiterating our position as a peace-loving nation committed to ensuring that international norms and standards are promoted,” he said.

“At the same time, in line with international law, it is also the Philippines’ prerogative to ascertain that Filipinos — bounded to the country through its sovereign status — are not being subjected to policies and initiatives by other international personalities (states) which go against the norms we uphold as a democratic society.”

Climate disasters worsen PHL’s education crisis, says UNICEF

STUDENTS in Manila braved the rains after classes were suspended later on Tuesday. — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

CLASS SUSPENSIONS and damaged classrooms caused by climate-related events disrupt students’ learning and further exacerbate the country’s education crisis, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said.

“We see so many schools and classrooms have been damaged, and as a result, classes are suspended or closed, and children lose their learning opportunities and time. I think that also adds to this learning crisis,” UNICEF Philippines’ Education Chief Akihiro Fushimi said on Thought Leaders with Cathy Yang, on Tuesday.

“This learning disruption caused by climate-related events and disasters is a real challenge,” he added.

Citing data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), Mr. Fushimi said 85% of schools in the country suspended classes during the previous academic year.

He also noted a report from the Department of Education (DepEd), which stated that at least 7,000 classrooms had been damaged due to natural disasters in the past few years.

“There’s a sense of urgency, I think, among the DepEd, UNICEF and other partners to tackle this crisis… to have better learning outcomes and improvement in the education system,” he said.

The Philippines has remained the most at-risk country worldwide since 2009, according to the World Risk Index (WRI), due to its high vulnerability to natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

Last year, the Philippines was struck by 18 tropical cyclones, with six hitting back-to-back within 25 days during the latter part of the year.

This led the education sector to lose up to a month’s worth of school days during the first half of the academic year 2024 to 2025, EDCOM 2’s Year Two report showed.

Schools in Luzon suffered the most, with the Cordillera Administrative Region losing 35 school days, followed by Cagayan Valley with 33, and the Ilocos and Calabarzon regions with 31.

“We found that there’s huge gaps in terms of the infrastructure and in terms of the readiness of the schools and teachers and learners, for example, to have alternative modality for the learning continuity,” he said.

Mr. Fushimi commended the DepEd for having alternative delivery modes but noted areas without access to electricity, mobile devices and internet connectivity as a challenge.

“If you look at the most challenging environment, there’s no power, no devices, no internet connectivity, no materials and digital literacy. We need to really build those capacity systems and equipment and materials for the schools and for the LGUs (local government units) so they can be empowered and equipped with those learning disruptions.”

UNICEF pushed for climate-resilient education, which will include implementing evidence-based policies, integrating climate issues into the curriculum, and building safe and resilient school facilities. Mr. Fushimi highlighted its importance, particularly in conflict-afflicted areas like the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“Children in BARMM are equally—if not more—susceptible to climate hazards… that’s why we’ve started training education officials to integrate disaster and climate lenses into their planning,” Mr. Fushimi said.

Meanwhile, the UNICEF education chief also underscored the need to prioritize mental health support for students and teachers in disaster-prone areas.

He noted that they are working with DepEd, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Health in this initiative.

“Several months after the typhoon, kids were still learning under tents or in corridors… but they are still very keen to come to school, to meet friends, to learn from teachers. That’s the kind of resilience we want to see — and support,” Mr. Fushimi said.

“Teachers are now thinking not just about lessons, but about how they can keep children safe… and supporting children’s mental health after disasters. They too need mental health support.” — Katherine K. Chan

Senator files bill to tighten policies on online gambling

REUTERS

A PHILIPPINE Senator on Tuesday filed a bill tightening policies on online gambling, including a ban on linking gaming platforms to electronic wallets and super apps, following calls from legislators to strengthen government regulations to curb gambling addiction.

“Phones are not casinos. It has become too easy to get addicted to gambling because it is so accessible through e-wallets and super apps,” Ms. Hontiveros said in a statement.

The proposed “Kontra E-Sugal bill,” filed on Monday, seeks to ban gambling within e-wallets and super apps. A counterpart in the House of Representatives was also filed by the Akbayan party-list on Monday.

The bill also sets the minimum betting age to 21 and requires identity verification to prevent underage gambling. It also orders the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to impose a betting and loss limit.

The measure also imposes a ban on advertisement of online gambling platforms in public spaces, tri-media, and social media.

“We will also put an end to all the billboards, commercials, and social media ads that encourage gambling. This vice should no longer be encouraged,” Ms. Hontiveros added.

About 10% of taxes from gambling will also fund treatment and rehabilitation of gambling addiction, public education campaigns against gambling, monitoring and enforcement programs, and research and policy evaluation.

“Let’s help our countrymen who are addicted to gambling recover and make sure no one else gets addicted to it,” she said.

It also imposes fines of up to P5 million or possible jail time of up to six months for those seen violating the proposed measure.

The proposed measure also seeks to establish a self-exclusion system, that would allow users or their families to be added to a registry that would block them from using online gaming platforms.

Gross gaming revenue (GGR) rose by 27.44% to P104.12 billion in the first quarter, according to PAGCOR. Electronic businesses generated P51.39 billion or 49.36% of GGR in the period.

The Palace said on Monday that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is open to taxing online gambling activities or regulate its use, after the finance department said that they will propose a tax online gaming sites.

Also on Tuesday, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito said he had filed a resolution urging a Senate probe on the rapid spread of online gambling in the country.

“We will have a hearing because there are a lot of senators who have already filed, just like myself, the measure on regulating or total ban of online gaming,” Mr. Ejercito told a news briefing.

“Let’s see if we consolidate it based on the outcome of the committee hearings that will be held, when we resume session,” he added.

In a resolution filed on Tuesday, Mr. Ejercito said that mobile phones have become “more than a one-stop-shop but a haven for online gamblers or player-bettors.”

He noted that e-wallets and digital financial services have become enablers for online gambling.

“Online lending companies that offer their services online, whether as a category within an e-wallet mobile phone application or as an app on its own, provide not only financial aid to the poor in need of assistance but also capi-tal to those who are addicted to online gambling,” Mr. Ejercito said.

The Senator also said that he is looking to regulate celebrity endorsers from promoting online gambling platforms.

“That will still depend on the outcome of hearings, if it can be proven that the endorsers have a big impact,” he added.

NO TO OUTRIGHT BAN

A congressman on Tuesday said he is not in favor of an outright ban over the online gambling industry and instead called for stricter regulations to curb misuse and addiction while still allowing the government to rake in funding from gambling activities.

Banning online gambling websites and applications could make the government miss out on billions worth of revenue from legal gaming operations, Negros Occidental Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez said.

“I fully support stricter regulations. Smarter, tighter controls to protect citizens and maximize public benefit,” he said in a Facebook post. “But outright bans only make matters worst.”

Mr. Benitez said about 40,000 Filipinos are employed at legal online gambling companies, and a ban would leave them jobless. Money raked in by the government from gambling activities also funds key sectors, such as healthcare and education, he added.

“History has proven repeatedly that prohibition simply doesn’t work,” he said, citing the US alcohol prohibition in the 1920s and attempts by the government to crack down on Jueteng, a numbers game famous in the Philip-pines.

“The reality is simple: Gambling is here to stay,” said Mr. Benitez. “The only question is whether we want it safely regulated and benefiting our communities or dangerously unregulated and controlled by criminals.”

Filipinos would likely turn to using internet tools like website proxies to bypass a sweeping online gambling ban if the government opts for that route, he said.

“Blocking something online is like trying to catch water with your hands, it slips through every time,” he said. “Instead of outdated bans, we need tech-smart, practical policies that reflect how people really behave online.”

Similarly, digital advocates asked the government to impose stricter rules on online gambling platforms to protect the public from harmful social and economic effects.

“As digital access becomes more widespread, Filipinos — especially the youth — are increasingly exposed to online gambling. There is an urgent need to impose stronger safeguards to address the growing social and psychologi-cal risks tied to gambling,” Digital Pinoys National Campaigner Ronald B. Gustilo said in a statement.

These include raising the minimum age for accessing online gambling platforms.

“Strict Know-Your-Client (KYC) protocols must be enforced to verify user identity and age — requiring a government-issued ID or national ID, for example,” Mr. Gustilo said.

State authorities should also set a high minimum buy-in amount to serve as a deterrent for casual or impulsive gamblers.

Online gambling ads and redirect links to digital platforms must be prohibited, Mr. Gustilo added.

“Social media, e-wallets, and superapps are used by people of all ages. These platforms should remain free from online gambling promotions to ensure they don’t become gateways to risky behavior,” he also said.

Finally, the government should restrict the linking of electronic wallets to online gambling services.

“Prohibiting the linking of e-wallets to gambling platforms can help cut off one of the most accessible means for people to engage in betting,” Mr. Gustilo said. — Adrian H. Halili, Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, and Beatriz Marie

17 Pinoy seamen in Yemen safe

THE DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday said that Filipino seafarers that escaped an attack by alleged Houthi rebels last week have been safely accommodated in a hotel in Djibouti.

“17 Filipino seafarers and two other crew members on board a bulk carrier are now safe from harm after escaping an armed attack by alleged Houthi rebels on their ship while they were sailing in the Red Sea near Hodeidah, Yemen on July 6,” the DMW said in a statement.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said that the Filipino seafarers and the Romanian ship master and Vietnamese chief engineer were all accounted for and are now in a hotel in Djibouti.

The Liberian-flagged vessel MV Magic Seas came under assault from small boats with men armed with automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades, when it was sailing about 51 nautical miles southwest of Yemen.

“The ship’s security team, composed of four armed personnel, was able to repel the attack by returning fire. This led to the escape of the ship’s crew, who were later rescued by the passing container ship Safeen Prism,” it added.

He said that the DMW remain in close coordination with relevant government agencies and the licensed manning agency Crewcare, Inc., “to facilitate the safe and swift repatriation of the affected Filipino seafarers.”

Separately, Mr. Cacdac said that another vessel, the MV Eternity C, was also assaulted by alleged Houthi rebels near Hodeidah, last Sunday. There were 21 Filipinos on board the ship.

“We are still confirming (the reports) at this hour. We are in close coordination with the manning agent, the principal, or the ship owner. We’re having difficulty communicating with them,” he said in a livestreamed brief-ing.

He added that there were two missing and two more crew members injured following the attack.

Mr. Cacdac said that the DMW had reached out to more than half of the seafarers affected. — Adrian H. Halili

Keep mum on VP trial, senators told

BW FILE PHOTO

SENATORS should refrain from commenting on the merits of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial, a congressman said on Tuesday, urging them to limit their statements over concerns that they could sway public perception.

“Maybe let’s limit our statements to how the process should go about during the trial, and not on the substance, especially our position with regard to the impeachment and the articles of impeachment” Iloilo Rep. Lorenz R. Defensor, a member of the prosecution team for Ms. Duterte’s trial, told reporters.

It would be “unbecoming” for a senator to comment on the impeachment trial, he said, as issuing statements regarding the merits of the impeachment may “telegraph” their biases to the public.

Ms. Duterte, who emerged as a contender in the 2028 presidential election, was impeached by the House of Representatives in February, and is facing a slew of accusations ranging from budget anomalies to plotting the assassination of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., his wife and the Speaker. She has denied any wrongdoing.

The senators who would act as jurors for the trial are expected to hear Ms. Duterte’s trial in late July.

“I hope those senator-judges exercise some self-control,” Party-list Rep. Leila M. de Lima told reporters in Filipino. “They should be careful about what they say, because it reflects their prejudices, biases and predisposition on how they might decide the case.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Climate research groups say increasing LNG imports could raise power prices

REUTERS

THE PHILIPPINES’ growing imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is vulnerable to market shocks, in the next four years raises concerns over electricity prices as it may push up generation costs, according to climate research groups.

LNG imports in the Philippines could increase by 508% by 2029, according to a joint analysis of international research group Zero Carbon Analytics (ZCA) and Philippine-based Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Tech-nology (CREST).

The groups warned that the country’s increasing reliance on imported LNG “could worsen electricity affordability.”

Based on the analysis, the growth in LNG imports is set to cost the country an estimated $3.9 billion (P218 billion) by 2029.

“The cost of building five new LNG terminals for the imports will add an additional $1.5 billion (P83.7 billion), bringing the total investment for LNG imports to $5.4 billion (P301.5 billion) for the above period,” the groups said.

LNG imports are estimated to increase gas-fired power generation costs by 11-24%, which could impact generation costs — the cost of producing electricity accounting for over half of total electricity bills, the groups added.

“LNG is a globally traded commodity subject to market shocks. Price surges in the past three years, from geopolitical instability and increased European demand, have shown how vulnerable import-dependent countries can be,” the analysis read.

With the concerns raised, the groups said that the downward trend in the cost of generating power from solar and wind make it more cost-competitive than gas in the Philippines, which signals “a long-term structural advantage for renewables.”

“Renewables such as solar and wind are cheaper options than gas both in terms of the upfront costs and generation. Renewables are also a cleaner choice compared to LNG, a fossil fuel that emits significant amounts of green-house gases such as methane,” said CREST President Rei Panaligan.

Mr. Panaligan said that the country has the potential to generate enough indigenous renewable power to meet its own energy demands. “The Philippine government should invest further for more renewables and to start clos-ing permanently the door to fossil fuels.”

“Our analysis shows that importing more gas will likely raise those prices. Instead of importing LNG and building costly LNG infrastructure, the government should look instead to the country’s huge potential for solar and wind, which can now produce electricity more cheaply than gas,” said ZCA Asia Regional Researcher Yu Sun Chin. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

PMA: ‘Continue trust in us’

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is appealing for a continued trust in the country’s premier military officer training institution following the recent maltreatment of a fourth-class cadet that sent him to collapse and spend several months in the hospital.

PMA, through spokesman Philippine Navy Lt. Jesse Nestor B. Saludo, insists, “the professional institution steadfastly (is) committed to the highest standards of integrity, discipline, and excellence in the service of the.”

Mr. Saludo reiterated that PMA does not condone maltreatment. “Since 2018, we have implemented comprehensive reforms in training systems, policies, supervision, and monitoring mechanisms to prevent such incidents and foster a culture of respect, discipline, and professionalism among our cadets,” the PMA official statement, issued Monday, read.

The official PMA statement was issued after news already broke out on the complaint against cadets who allegedly physically harmed fourth-lass cadet Mauee Bumagat Maraggun for almost a month in September 2024 and made him perform heavy exercises which led to his collapse.

He was hospitalized at the V. Luna Medical Center in Quezon City and transferred to the PMA Hospital until his medical discharge on June 30.

Mr. Maraggun, 22, from Sta. Maria town in Isabela, filed a complaint before the Baguio City police on July 2 and was referred to the Office of the Baguio City Prosecutor on that day.

Mr. Saludo said the PMA has not seen a copy of the police report or formal complaint. “The victim is currently on indefinite leave while awaiting discharge orders based on AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Medical Board findings unrelated to the injuries sustained.”

Appropriate punishments have been meted out against the three cadets, Mr. Saludo said, detailing, Mr. Maraggun’s upperclassman, in fact his squad leader, was meted out with 60 demerits, 210 touring hours and 210 confinement days in his room though he can still attend class, eat at the mess hall and perform official duties like parades and other tasks. Only his privileges were waived.

“This is the maximum punishment given to a class 1 offense,” Mr. Saludo explained.

The two other cadets, his own “mistahs” (classmates) and in fact roommates, were suspended for a year for “inflicting physical injuries to a classmate.”

The fourth was freed from any punishment because he was found not guilty of any offense. — Artemio A. Dumlao

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