Mindanao emergency state for ‘lawless violence’ lifted after 7 years

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has lifted the declaration of a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao.

Citing the improved peace and order situation in the country’s southern re - gion, Mr. Marcos issued Proclamation 298 which repealed a 2016 proclamation on the state of national emergency because of a “spate of violent and lawless acts across many parts of Mindanao.”

The President, through Proclamation 298, noted that lawless violence perpetrated by private armies and local

Marcos seals $285m in deals from Malaysian execs before going home

By Charles Dantes, Othel V. Campos and Maricel V. Cruz

MALAYSIAN business leaders on Thursday pledged a total of $285 million in investments during a roundtable meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malaysia.

“I had the benefit of meeting a number of Malaysian [business leaders] in the key sectors of agriculture, transportation, and technology,” President Marcos said before leaving for Manila, where he was expected to arrive at 11 p.m.

The Malaysians expressed interest in investing in the food processing industry, multi-service digital platforms, aviation, aviation maintenance support services, logistics, manufacturing, infrastructure, and water and wastewater treatment in the country, he said.

Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said five companies that signed letters of intent with the Philippine government will help develop industries warlords, bandits, criminal syndicates, terrorist groups, and religious extremists “have been significantly mitigated or reduced.”

“Through successful focused military and law enforcement operations and programs that promote sustainable and inclusive peace, the government has made significant gains in improving and restoring peace and order in the region,” the new proclamation read. The President said lifting the state of national emergency would help boost economic activity and hasten the recovery of the local economy. vided to the victims of Typhoon Egay, including those farmers whose crops have been damaged.

“Yes, we have been watching over this, at this point, a lot of houses have been damaged, a lot of property flooded away,” Mr. Marcos told the Philippine media delegation.

“Some areas had just been planted (with crops), so we have to find out what are the areas that were ruined to we can help the farmers recover and salvage this crop season,” added the President, who is concurrent Agriculture Secretary.