With the new PNP chief in the Rappler newsroom days after Duterte’s arrest. That’s me with @Chay Hofileña - Rappler and reporter Jairo Bolledo

Here's the story on his appointment, as announced by ES Bersamin https://www.rappler.com/philippines/nicolas-torre-iii-new-pnp-chief/

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo welcomes European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas in Manila. Kallas will also pay a call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr later today.

Good evening from Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. I'm here with several other Filipino journalists for a maritime patrol mission to different areas in the West Philippine Sea.

Posting some photos to this channel while we're sorting ourselves out and preparing for the next leg of the mission.

Hi @Bea Cupin - RAPPLER! What happens in a maritime patrol mission? 😮

Hello! It's a regular activity our Navy or Philippine Coast Guard undertake — to check on the condition of different features that the Philippines controls and claims. It's also a way to assert that very same control and claim — kung baga, you have to make it clear that you're always present in that area in the West Philippine Sea.

In this piece @marites vitug puts a spotlight on the epic rivalry between the US and China at the street level. Puts things in a more nuanced perspective. Good morning @here https://www.rappler.com/plus-membership-program/exclusive-content/sui-generis-united-states-china-rivalry-cagayan-palawan/

https://www.rappler.com/world/us-canada/trump-entry-ban-countries-security-concerns-june-2025/ Trump’s latest slash-and-burn move

MARITIME PATROL IN THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA 

BRP Andres Bonifacio embarks on a days-long maritime patrol mission around several features in the West Philippine Sea. On Wednesday, June 4, she sailed close to Parola Island, a feature controlled by the Philippines. 

Right beside Parol Island is Pugad, a feature controlled by Vietnam. 

Rappler is one of several media entities on board the BRP Andres Bonifacio for the mission. Here are some photos from @Bea Cupin - RAPPLER.

Indian nationals can now enter the Philippines visa-free for tourism purposes, the Department of Foreign Affairs announces on Saturday, June 7.  @here

Hello from Manila! Just wrapped up a days-long embed with the AFP from Pag-asa Island to different parts of the WPS and Kalayaan Group of Islands on board PS17 or the BRP Andres Bonifacio.

Now that all embargoes have been lifted, here's what the experience was like —

In some ways, Pag-asa feels like just any other coastal community in the mainland (sa baba, as locals would say).

Smart lang yung mag signal dito (umaabot naman ng LTE in certain areas), and there are sari-sari stores (medyo mahal nga lang, cos they need to ship items from Palawan via smaller civilian vessels).

But then you see this — Chinese vessels loitering in waters off the western side of the island. To the right of these ships (which are well within the 12 nautical mile territorial waters of the island) are Pag-asa Cays.

Hello, everyone! @here Our reporter @Bea Cupin - RAPPLER wrote her first piece about her embed with the military in the West Philippine Sea last week. She talks to Technical Sergeant Nino Calbog, one of the guardians of. our seas https://www.rappler.com/philippines/view-manila-defending-west-sea-kalayaan-group-islands/

Good morning and happy Independence Day! @here Celebrate it by finding time to watch these films - if you have not seen them yet. https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/heneral-luna-goyo-ang-batang-heneral-screening-independence-day/

Happy Independence Day, too, Madam Glenda. Sadly, we have no cinema here. I hope to watch them on YouTube. Again, happy Independence Day to all members of the Rappler community. 😢 👍️

Happy Independence Day!