Manila Times

1. PH Navy seizes $175M meth haul at sea

   MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy seized an illegal drug shipment worth 10 billion pesos ($175 million) on Friday in one of the country's biggest narcotics hauls on record, officials said.

   A pair of naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of main island Luzon just before dawn, Commodore Edward de Sagon told a press conference.

   Four people, including one foreigner, were arrested in the joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, according to de Sagon.

   "We still don't have the details of where (the drugs originated)," he said, saying they believed the haul had been transferred from a larger vessel to the fishing ship.

   "That was when it was intercepted. There was information and (manoeuvres) that made us suspicious," de Sagon said.

   Meth, known locally as shabu, is the most prevalent illegal drug in the Philippines.

   "This is one of the largest illegal drug apprehensions in the history of the Philippine Navy," navy spokesman John Percie Alcos said in a statement.

   Earlier this month, a large volume of drugs was found adrift just north of the area where Wednesday's arrests were made.

   The Philippines' biggest-ever drug seizure came in April last year when more than two tonnes of meth was seized at a police checkpoint on a road in Batangas province south of the capital, according to the presidential palace.

2. Marcos wants 50% fare discount for students, senior citizens

   MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he wanted to increase to 50 percent the current fare discount for students and senior citizens from the previous 20 percent to ease their financial burden.

   In his latest podcast aired on Friday, the President said that the students, like the senior citizens, were the most vulnerable sectors of society that also needed greater support.

   "Everywhere I go, seniors and students get a discount—a big one, 50 percent," the President said.

   "Students usually don't have money, and seniors have limited resources. So why should we burden them further?" he added.

3. Japan-US-Philippines hold coast guard drills with eye on China

   KAGOSHIMA, Japan — Japan's coast guard will simulate a collision between vessels Friday during joint exercises with the United States and the Philippines seen as a show of unity against Chinese activity in disputed regional waters.

   It is the second time the countries' coast guards have held training drills together, following their first joint maritime exercise in the Philippines in 2023.

   Friday's simulation of a collision, fire and person overboard, which Agence France-Presse reporters will observe, caps a week of exercises off Japan's southwest coast that began Monday.

   Dozens of personnel are taking part in the drills that officials say are not targeted at any one nation — while using language often employed by Washington and its allies to indirectly refer to China.

   Hiroaki Odachi, the regional head of Japan's coast guard, said the exercises aimed to contribute "to the realisation of a free and open" Asia-Pacific region.

   Tensions between China and other claimants to parts of the East and South China Seas have driven Japan to deepen ties with the Philippines and the United States in recent years.

   In 2024, the three countries issued a joint statement that included stronger language towards Beijing.

   "We express our serious concerns about the People's Republic of China's (PRC) dangerous and aggressive behavior in the South China Sea," it said, describing "dangerous and coercive use of Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels."

   They also expressed "strong opposition to any attempts by the PRC to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea."'Volatile flashpoint'

   China and the Philippines have engaged in months of confrontations in the contested South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis.

   Chinese and Japanese patrol vessels in the East China Sea also routinely stage face-offs around disputed islands.

   Friday marks the 214th straight day that Chinese vessels have been spotted sailing near the Tokyo-administered disputed islets known as the Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan, according to the Japan Coast Guard.

   The current record is 215 straight days in 2023-24.

   "Such persistent intrusion raises a risk of accidental collision or confrontation in the East China Sea," Daisuke Kawai, director of the University of Tokyo's economic security and policy innovation programme, told AFP.

   Meanwhile "the South China Sea is now regarded as one of the world's most volatile flashpoints, I would say, where any accident at sea could escalate into the border crisis."

   "A trilateral coast guard framework bolsters maritime domain awareness and law enforcement capacity, making it harder for any one nation, China, to pick off a smaller player in isolation," Kawai said.

   The three countries have also carried out joint military exercises to bolster regional cooperation.

   Last week Tokyo and Beijing traded barbs over close encounters between their military planes over the Pacific high seas.

   Japan says recent Chinese military activities in the Pacific — where Beijing's two operating aircraft carriers were sighted simultaneously for the first time — reveal its intent to improve operational capacity in remote areas.

4. Sara flies to Australia for 'personal' trip, rally with supporters

   MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte left the country again, this time to Australia for a "personal trip" and to participate in a rally in support of her jailed father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

   This is her second foreign trip in a month and her fifth this year since the arrest of the former leader due to alleged crimes against humanity he committed during his relentless campaign against illegal drugs under his administration.

   "Vice President Sara Duterte is currently on a personal trip to Australia and will be attending the "Free Duterte Now" rally scheduled for June 22, 2025, in Melbourne," the Office of the Vice President said.

   The rally will be held at Parliament Gardens near the Victorian Parliament Building, and is expected to be joined by around 3,000 supporters, according to Duterte Down Under's Rado Gatchalian in an interview over Australia's SBS Radio.

   She joined her father in the rally held at Hong Kong before his arrest in March, and followed him to The Hague immediately after his arrest.

   She later went to Qatar and back to The Hague in May, and to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a personal trip and to participate in the Independence Day reception.

5. Marcos backs NCAP: 'Its intention is good'

   MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed support for the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), calling it a good initiative that could help reduce chances of corruption.

   In his latest podcast aired on Friday, the President dismissed concerns that NCAP could be used for bribery.

   "In principle, I agree with the no-contact policy. I'm in favor of that," Marcos said.

   "Its intention is good. The goal is to ensure that we follow the rules of the road, instead of doing whatever we want to do, and it also helps reduce corruption," he added.

   The President's remarks came amid calls from some sectors to temporarily halt NCAP and review its implementation, citing concerns about unclear rules, hefty fines, and allegations that some local governments were using it as a revenue-generating scheme.

   The policy was resumed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on May 26, 2025 following the Supreme Court's lifting of the temporary restraining order on this scheme.

6. Ombudsman orders Sara, DepEd, OVP officials to answer House complaint

   MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman ordered Vice President Sara Duterte and other officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd) to file counteraffidavits in relation to a case filed by a panel of the House of Representatives investigating the alleged anomalous use of confidential funds in 2022 and 2023.

   Aside from Duterte, named as respondents in the complaint filed by the House Committee on Good Government were former special disbursing officers Edward Fajarda and Gina Acosta, former Education assistant secretary Sunshine Fajarda, and formrer Education undersecretary Nolasco Mempin, and other officials of the OVP and DepEd.

   They are being charged with technical malversation, falsification of public documents, use of falsified documents, perjury, bribery, corruption of public officers, plunder and betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution

   In an order signed by Assistant Ombudsman Nellie Golez, the respondents were directed to file their counteraffidavits 10 days upon the receipt of the order at the Ombudsman's main office in Quezon City.

   "Failure to file Counter-Affidavit within the aforesaid period shall be deemed as waiver of respondents' right to submit controverting evidence and the preliminary investigation shall proceed accordingly," the order said.

   It also said that the case would be "deemed submitted for resolution on the basis of the evidence presented by the parties, whose presence may be dispensed with, unless otherwise required for clarificatory questioning."

   It will not also entertain any motion to dismiss.

   The vice president is facing an impeachment trial before the Senateover the alleged misuse of funds from the OVP and DepEd when she was its secretary.

   She was impeached by the House early this year.

7. Immigration exec defies reassignment after accusing Commissioner of corruption

   MANILA, Philippines — A senior official of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) refused to comply with a Department of Justice (DOJ) order reassigning him, just days after he accused the bureau's top official of delays, favoritism, and corruption in an internal letter sent to multiple government offices.

   Lawyer Gilberto U. Repizo, executive chairman of the BI's Board of Special Inquiry (BSI), wrote to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on June 19, 2025 to formally decline reassignment to the Office of the Secretary, saying he will contest the order before the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

   "Without meaning disrespect, I cannot as of now comply with the directives as I intend to elevate the matter to the CSC," Repizo wrote, citing his rights under CSC Resolution No. 1800692, or the 2017 Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions.

   The reassignment was ordered under DOJ Department Order 435, which designated lawyer Ruben Casibang Jr. as acting BSI chief and directed Repizo to report directly to Remulla. The order took immediate effect and cited CSC Resolution 1701009 as legal basis.

   The move came less than a week after Repizo issued a four-page letter dated June 13, accusing BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado of delaying deportation cases, favoring well-connected foreigners, and tolerating corrupt practices within the bureau.

   In the letter, obtained by the Manila Times, Repizo cited a ₱30-million payoff scheme allegedly tied to the hasty release of three Chinese POGO executives, and pointed to Viado's inaction on finalized deportation orders involving controversial figures such as dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, and Chinese-Filipino national Yang Jianxin. He also described the agency under Viado as suffering from "systemic dysfunction."

   Repizo further criticized the formation of a so-called "kangaroo fact-finding committee" tasked with investigating internal complaints, alleging that its members were close to the Commissioner and could not conduct an impartial investigation. He claimed to have withdrawn a previous complaint and stepped down from a key committee to support Viado's reappointment, only to become the target of smear campaigns and rumors of reassignment.

   In his June 19 letter, Repizo furnished copies to BI Commissioner Viado, Casibang, the bureau's Human Resource Development Division, and the records office for official filing.

   Neither the DOJ nor the BI has publicly responded to Repizo's challenge. Malacañang has yet to comment, although Repizo's earlier allegations were also sent to the Office of the President, the Executive Secretary, and the Presidential Management Staff.

8. Airport police advise passengers to choose accredited transport vehicles

   MANILA, Philippines — The Airport Police Department (APD) of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) recommended to arriving passengers to select only transport vehicles accredited by the operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).This recommendation is aimed at protecting travelers from potential scams, overcharging, and unlicensed operators who may not adhere to safety regulations.

   This comes in light of a recent incident where a taxi driver charged a passenger at least P1,200 for a brief trip from NAIA Terminal 2 to Terminal 3.

   "What I would like to remind our passengers is to choose only accredited transport vehicles. Your safety is important. It would be better to choose the right vehicle," Airport Police chief Levi Jose said.

   Jose said that it would be very hard to locate unscrupulous drivers who take advantage of unsuspecting passengers, "but fortunately, most of the suspects have been arrested and charged in court." The New NAIA Infra Corp (NNIC) confirmed that the taxi involved in the overcharging of taxi fares was not among the accredited transport providers authorized to pick up passengers at the country's main gateway.

   The NNIC said that only accredited Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) such as Grab and Joyride Super Taxi were allowed to pick up passengers at NAIA.

   These two accredited transport services operate from a centralized hub at Terminal 3. "For Terminals 1 and 2, passengers are advised to use only official, accredited transport services with transport booths at the arrival curbside." NNIC added that metered taxis were allowed entry strictly for drop-offs, to ensure public access to the airport, but were not allowed to solicit or accept passengers.

   MIAA General Manager Eric Ines, in coordination with NNIC, ordered Airport Police Mobile Patrol to conduct intensive monitoring on all non-accredited taxis plying within NAIA complex and to hold on all colorum taxis at the airport searching for possible victims, whether they be local or foreign tourists.

   On the other hand, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon last Monday ordered the relief of five airport police involved in the alleged 60/40 extortion scheme against taxi drivers at the NAIA.

   He also ordered the MIAA to investigate the extortion scheme.

   The investigation was prompted by a Taxihub Transport driver's revelation of a 60/40 extortion scheme allegedly imposed by airport police, in which taxi drivers were forced to surrender a portion of their earnings -- leading them to overcharge passengers at the airport to make up for the loss.

9. Ticket sold in Las Piñas wins P25-M Lotto jackpot

   MANILA, Philippines — A lone bettor from Metro Manila bagged the P25 million jackpot in Thursday night's Lotto 6/42 draw.

   In an advisory on Friday, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said the ticket, purchased at Zapote, Las Piñas City, bore the winning combination 02-14-16-28-22-30.

   The winner has a year to claim the P25,051,343.80 prize at the PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City.

   Claimants must present the winning ticket and two valid identification cards.

   Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, winnings above P10,000 are subject to a 20 percent tax.

   Aside from the jackpot winner, 62 players won P24,000 each for correctly picking five of the six winning numbers.

   A total of 2,477 bettors will receive P800 for matching four numbers, while 30,361 players will get P20 for hitting three digits.

   The 6/42 Lotto is drawn every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

   PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles encouraged the public to support the agency's gaming products to raise additional revenues for health initiatives, medical services, and other national charities.

   Through its mandatory contributions, the PCSO not only helps people in need of medical assistance but also provides funds to government institutions.

10. Disqualified Manila lawmaker Uy insists he's Filipino

    MANILA, Philippines — Manila 6th district congressional candidate Joey Uy on Thursday night insisted that he was a natural-born Filipino, in his first comments since his disqualification by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

    Uy said many were "concerned and confused" over the Comelec's resolution that questioned his citizenship.

    "I was born in Sta. Mesa, Manila. My father is a naturalized Filipino, but my mother is a natural-born Filipino. If your mother is natural-born and the Philippines is your birthplace, then aren't you a natural-born Filipino?" he wrote in Filipino.

    Uy said he grew up and served the city of Manila as a city councilor for several terms since 2004 and that the people in the 6th district already spoke on who will be their representative in the 20th Congress.

    "My only desire is to continue over two decades of service to our beloved 6th Disrict of Manila," Uy added.

    Uy said he was born on March 15, 1962 to a Chinese father and a Filipina mother.

    The Comelec Second Division on Thursday disqualified Uy over questions regarding his citizenship, which led to Rep. Benny Abante winning reelection for the congressional seat of the 6th District of Manila.

    Abante originally lost to Uy by 1,388 votes in the recent elections, Uy got 64,746 votes, while Abante got 63,358.