PH-US-Japan sea exercises set

By Charles Dantes

THE first-ever trilateral maritime exercise between the coast guards of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines will kick off in the waters off Mariveles, Bataan this week.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the trilateral maritime exercise, which will run from June 1 to 7, would reinforce interoperability through communication exercises, maneuvering drills, maritime law enforcement training, search and rescue, and passing exercises.

As this developed, retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said it is time for the Philippines to submit a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly to seek China’s com-

Lanao residents fleeing from DI swell to 3,000

By Charles Dantes

OVER 3,000 residents from Marogong, Lanao Del Sur have now fled from their homes after an alleged threat from a terror group surfaced, the Bangsamoro Ministry of Social Services and Development said on Monday.

A total of 3,154 individuals escaped from their communities since Daulah Islamiyah (DI) threatened the local government after four of their members were apprehended by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The displaced residents were moved to nearby towns and given relief goods in the meantime, and the regional MSSD said they are expecting more residents to follow suit as tensions rise.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda said that police presence in the area has been strengthened.

He said police are coordinating with the AFP to safeguard the area.

“We have ample security forces enough really to safeguard the town,” said Acorda.

“We beefed up the police force in the area. We deployed our mobile force battalion there, along with one company (of policemen),” he added. With the security forces in the area beefed up, the PNP assured the DI threat will be diffused.

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From A1

University, is an ambassador for ALIMA, a youth-led organization that focuses on educating underprivileged children about health, career paths, and environmental awareness.

During the final Q&A round, Lopez was asked: What makes you a Binibini who walks the talk and who is beyond mere self-promotion?

“I stand here tonight because it is my mother who instilled in me the values and morals that I am using to be the woman I am today—a woman who possesses strength, courage, and tenacity. I have the strength to decide for myself and work hard to achieve what I truly want,” she said.

Lopez’s mother passed away when she was 14, she later revealed in a TV interview, as she worked odd jobs to earn a living for her family.

‘Bigger...

From A1 be channeled to fund the government’s strategic social programs towards the achievement of the nation’s larger development goals,” he said, referring to the sovereign wealth fund that the government seeks to establish. pliance with the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that rejected its massive claims in the South China Sea.

The House approved the Maharlika Investment Fund bill in December last year.

The Senate is expected to pass its own version of the measure before the sine die adjournment of Congress this week after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. certified the measure as urgent.

“There is a compelling need for a sustainable national investment fund as a new growth catalyst to accelerate the implementation of strategic and high-impact large infrastructure projects that will stimulate economic activity and development,” President Marcos said in his message to the Senate, certifying the Maharlika Investment Fund as urgent.

“I’m in favor of bringing the issue to the UN. We must sponsor a resolution, (and) submit it to the General Assembly that China must comply with the arbitral award of July 12, 2016. That will be put to a vote. I think we will win there,” Carpio said.

“Remember, the majority of the members of the UN General Assem - bly are coastal states. They are afraid that their big neighbors might seize their exclusive economic zones. They don’t want their big neighbors to follow China...They will be supporting us because by supporting us, they are preserving their own exclusive economic zone,” he added.

China has dismissed the 2016 arbitration ruling, calling the decision “illegal and invalid.”

Amid tensions in the South China Sea, participating PCG personnel in the trilateral maritime exercises will demonstrate a scenario involving a suspected vessel involved in piracy.

A joint law enforcement team from the three countries will then conduct a boarding inspection followed by a search