US firepower on display as ‘Balikatan’ nears close

by FrAnCeS mAngoSing Inquirer.net

by JAnViC mAteo Philstar.com

MANILA — Almost nine in every 10 adult Filipinos said they were satisfied with how democracy works in the country, according to a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) more than six months after the 2022 elections. Results of the Dec. 10-14 survey released last Friday night, April 21 showed that 89 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the country’s democracy, 11 points above the 78 percent recorded in a similar survey conducted in April 2021.

there is a need to adjust them because there is really an evolution, there are also changes in the situations we are facing here — in the South China Sea, amid the events in Taiwan, North Korea, all of these [where] the situation is a bit simmering,” he said.

Marcos said he would also speak with Biden on “what should we do to lessen the rhetoric because nowadays the exchange of words is a bit serious,

Marcos witnesses ‘Balikatan’ 2023 drills, hopes PH could benefit from enhanced cooperation with US

by CAtherine S. VAlente ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, April 26 expressed hope that the Philippines will benefit from the “enhanced cooperation” with the United States as the two countries’ armed forces demonstrated the joint littoral live firing and sinking of a mock enemy vessel in the coastal town of San Antonio in Zambales, facing the disputed South China Sea.

The exercise, watched live by the President, was part of the annual Balikatan drills, which are scheduled to run until April 28 and involve more than 17,600 military personnel.

The President “witnessed the live-fire sea drills u PAGE 2