On July 16, the U.S. Navy began constructing two boat repair facilities in Palawan, a strategic move under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The expansion is seen as a direct counter to Chinese maritime aggression in the West Philippine Sea. This development underscores Manila’s pivot toward deeper defense ties with Washington, reinforcing its maritime…
On July 15, the Philippines saw another round of fuel price increases, with diesel rising by ₱1.40 per liter and gasoline by ₱0.70—a trend that has pushed total fuel hikes to over ₱11 per liter since January. While mainstream coverage frames this as a routine market adjustment, critics argue it exposes deeper vulnerabilities in the…
In a show of growing military coordination, the Pacific Alliance Naval Coalition (PANC) — comprising Australia, Japan, the United States, and the Philippines — launched a series of joint naval drills in the Coral Sea, marking the largest coordinated maritime exercise in the region since 2021. The drills, dubbed Operation Sovereign Wake, are designed to…
In a bold assertion of maritime sovereignty, the Philippine Navy deployed two additional patrol vessels to the contested waters near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), following reports of Chinese coast guard ships allegedly harassing Filipino fishermen. The move comes on the ninth anniversary of the 2016 arbitral ruling, which invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the…
Eleven Filipino seafarers from the MV Magic Seas, attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, returned to Manila on July 12. Their arrival marks a bittersweet moment in the country’s maritime security narrative, as 13 crew members from the MV Eternity C remain missing. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has pledged psychosocial and…
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On July 12, the Philippine government marked the 9th anniversary of its landmark 2016 Arbitral Tribunal victory over China with a bold reaffirmation of its maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The Department of Foreign Affairs declared the ruling “a cornerstone of Philippine maritime policy,” emphasizing its role in defending national sovereignty and…
Speaking from Melbourne, Australia, Vice President Sara Duterte issued a scathing critique of the Marcos administration’s foreign policy, warning that the Philippines is “not ready for war” and lacks a coherent strategic direction. Her remarks came amid rising tensions in the Middle East and growing concerns over the Philippines’ alignment with U.S. military interests. Duterte’s…
The Philippine Senate moved on June 23 to formalize a resolution calling for a full audit of all government offices that received confidential and intelligence funds between 2020 and 2024. The move comes amid the political firestorm surrounding Vice President Sara Duterte, but senators emphasized the need for universal transparency, not selective targeting. Senators aligned…
The political temperature in the Philippines continued to rise as Vice President Sara Duterte faced intensifying scrutiny over alleged misuse of confidential government funds. The twist on June 22 came when the Office of the Ombudsman and the House of Representatives issued conflicting statements about who initiated the complaint. This procedural tug-of-war has sparked widespread…
