RESCUED

Eight of the 21 Filipino seafarers of the ill-fated M/V Eternity C have safely disembarked at the port city of Jizan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday, July 15.

The rescued seafarers are being taken care of by the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, the Migrant Workers’ Office-Jeddah, and their shipping agency. The DFA said they will undergo mandatory medical assessment before returning to the Philippines.

The department expressed “deepest gratitude” to the KSA for giving issuing visas to the seafarers on humanitarian grounds. 

Here’s the background: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/overseas-filipinos/dead-wounded-crew-attack-greek-vessel-red-sea/

NEWS UPDATE – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. abolishes the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military and Police Affairs (OPAMPA) "as part of efforts to achieve bureaucratic simplicity, economy, and efficiency," says Palace.

Palace, in release, says: "According to the President’s EO 89 dated July 11, 'it is imperative to revisit the need for a separate office in charge of military and police affairs within the OP (Office of the President), consistent with the streamlining and rightsizing policy of the Administration.'"

The same EO says the "Office of the Executive Secretary, Department of National Defense, National Security Council, Philippine National Police, National Police Commission, and other relevant agencies shall perform OPAMPA’s duties and functions subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations."

Update from @Bea Cupin - RAPPLER/Rappler

The following statement is attributable to the U.S. Embassy in Manila:

On July 7. U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command issued a public solicitation for the design and construction of a new boat maintenance facility at the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, Palawan, Philippines.  The facility will provide repair and maintenance capabilities for several small Philippine military watercraft and will include two multi-purpose interior rooms suitable for equipment storage or conference use.  The boat maintenance facility is not a military base.

The project is approved by the government of the Philippines in accordance with all applicable U.S. and Philippine local rules and regulations. 

Our U.S. Philippine alliance with its roots in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty remains a cornerstone of peace and security, promoting our common vision for a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific.  All of our military activities in the Philippines are done in full coordination with our Philippine allies.

Update from @Bea Cupin - RAPPLER/Rappler

FA Statement on Illegal Scam Centers in Mainland Southeast Asia

MANILA 16 July 2025 – The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) continues to receive reports of alleged Filipino Human Trafficking Victims (HTVs) still trapped inside different scam centers in Southeast Asia.

In response, the DFA works with its Foreign Service Posts, especially in Mainland Southeast Asia (Thailand, Myanmar, Lao PDR and Cambodia), to persistently devote efforts and resources in extending all possible assistance to our Filipinos in distress, while requesting the authorities of the host countries for their invaluable cooperation.

We remain committed to the rescue and repatriation of all Filipino HTVs that are working in illegal call centers in the region. We call on all our kababayans, including our Filipino communities abroad, to support all efforts to prevent all modes of recruitment and victimization of our Filipino nationals in schemes that lead to forced criminality and participation in scamming operations.

In particular, relatives of Filipinos who wish to provide verified information on their kin that they believe may be trapped in scam hubs in the vicinity of the Myanmar-Thai border may  reach out to the Philippine Embassies in Yangon and Bangkok through Yangon PE’s Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) hotline (+95 998 521 0991), email at yangonpe.atn@dfa.gov.ph, or through the official Philippine Embassy in Myanmar Facebook Messenger, and Bangkok PE’s Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) hotline +66 81989 7116 or email through bangkok.pe@dfa.gov.ph.

The Philippine government further wishes to reiterate its advice to all Filipinos to pass through the proper deployment procedures established by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and other concerned agencies, prior to departing the country for overseas employment.

Good morning! We had lunch with AFP chief of staff Gen Brawner (with his spox Col Padilla and head of Civil Military Ops Gen Lagamon) yesterday - talked about how disinformation is reshaping warfare and how militaries around the world are changing mindsets and hardware in an uncertain future (with @Bea Cupin - RAPPLER and our head of data Kevin Hapal)

I will be eagerly waiting for the details of this meeting.

Update from @Bea Cupin - RAPPLER

Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado graced the Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka today, marking a momentous occasion for cultural diplomacy and deepening ties between Japan and the Philippines.

The Princess, known for her enduring relationship with the Philippines—including her role as Honorary President of photography competition Japan Through Diplomats’ Eyes and for gracing cultural events at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo with her presence—was welcomed by Ambassador Mylene Garcia‑Albano, Consul General Voltaire Mauricio, and Pavilion Manager Raquel Tria-Joya. The Princess admired the pavilion’s woven façade showcasing 212 indigenous fabrics, experienced the immersive display of 18 handwoven artworks inside, and witnessed a vibrant cultural dance performance.

At the close of her visit, the Princess met Kokoro‑chan, the pavilion’s tarsier mascot, which represents the smallest primate in the world, endemic to the Philippines. She was also honored with three handmade gifts: a rattan-woven scarf, a bag with woven details, and a Tangkulo scarf.

Touchdown, Joint Base Andrews. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrives in the US for an official visit to meet with US President Donald Trump.

They will, of course, talk trade and security. But will they talk immigration? https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/things-to-know-marcos-jr-official-visit-united-states-july-2025/

Meanwhile, Marcos and his top defense, security, foreign affairs, and trade officials are in Washington DC to meet with President Donald Trump and their counterparts. Highest up on the agenda – trade and tariffs, after Trump announced a 20% rate for the Philippines, supposedly effective August 1.

Overview and analysis here - https://www.rappler.com/philippines/view-manila-ferdinand-marcos-back-white-house-trump-meeting/

US President Donald Trump greets Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, July 22. 📸 Reuters

Trump on Marcos: Great family, great family legacy... we’re going to be talking about trade... war and peace

Marcos asked by media how he'd balance US, China ties as ASEAN chair in 2026: "...there is no need in a sense to balance our relationship with the US and China simply because our foreign policy is an independent one and we are concerned with the defense of our territory and exercise of our sovereign rights."

Marcos on US Congress' proposal to set up an ammunition manufacturing facility in Subic: What we consider part of the modernization of the Philippine military is a response to the situation in the South China Sea... [and the region] which we have expanded now to the Indo-Pacific... any kind of military spending… we would wish that it wasn’t necessary but it is. This is the US assisting the Philippines in our self-reliance defense program… whatever the circumstances that occur in the future.

WATCH: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. holds a press conference in Washington D.C. following his bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. https://www.youtube.com/live/VGtq-hqDkW0 

In a statement to media, the US Embassy in Manila said the U.S. Department of State announced at least Php3 billion ($60 million) in foreign assistance funding to support energy, maritime, and economic growth programs in the Philippines. This follows a meeting between Marcos and State Sec Marco Rubio on July 21. According to the State Dept: "This is the U.S. government’s first announcement of new foreign assistance for any country since the Trump Administration began its review and realignment of foreign assistance in January."

State Dept: "As part of this at least Php3-billion initiative, Secretary Rubio also announced that the U.S. Department of State intends to work with the U.S. Congress to allocatePhp825 million ($15 million) to catalyze private sector development in the Luzon Economic Corridor.  If approved, this funding will support investments in the areas of transport, logistics, energy, and semiconductors that will help create jobs and drive economic growth in the country."

Bakit Luzon lang? None for the Visayas and Mindanao? 🤔

The Luzon Corridor is a specific project, born out of the PH-Japan-US trilateral in April 2024. I'm sure there are separate and individual efforts in other parts of the Philippines, but this one of a pilot trilateral/multilateral effort, if you will.

I am not aware of any separate efforts for the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Anyway, does it matter? Thanks Bea for the reply.

LOOK: Philippines, China hold 9th Joint Consular Consultation in Beijing 

Diplomats from Manila and Beijing met in China on July 22 to “discuss the safety, rights and welfare of their respective nationals, as well as law enforcement cooperation, trade and investment, and tourism,” according to a release by the Philippine embassy in China. 

This is the first 9th Joint Consular Consultation between the two countries since 2019. 

According to the embassy’s release, “the two sides stressed ongoing cooperation between the two countries in addressing transnational and other crimes, including illegal gambling.” 

PH embassy: “President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., announced the banning of Philippine Offshore Gaming Corporations in 2024. Since then, both countries have been cooperating to crack down on illegal gambling operations.” 

“The two sides agreed on the importance of engagement through this bilateral mechanism in order to achieve improvements in managing consular cases which facilitate people-to-people relationships.” 

Greetings from Taiwan! As two tropical storms approach the island, a much more serious political storm has been brewing across the country. Taiwan is facing its largest recall election, where 24 legislators from the China-friendly KMT party are at risk of losing their jobs. On Saturday, Taiwanese from districts all over will vote on whether to kick them out of office or not. Go around the streets of Taipei and you’ll see fierce pro and anti recall groups doing last minute campaigning.

The recalls come as people have become disgruntled with how the KMT has taken advantage of its legislative majority to steamroll policies seen as favoring itself. It passed bills overpowering the legislature (where it has the majority), cutting budget and subsidies to essential services, and freezing the constitutional court. Furthermore, civic groups accuse several in the KMT of cozying up to Beijing, and sees them as jeopardizing Taiwan’s soveriegnty (especially as the KMT cut budget to the coast guard and defense).

It even led to a mass protest last year where 100,000 people rallied outside the legislature but to no avail. Thus, Taiwanese society took the next step: recalling their legislators.

Unlike the Philippines, Tawian allows voters to recall legislators after one year in office, even if they don’t face any legal cases. Since late last year, grassroots organizations have been campaigning on the ground and gathering signatures to meet the quota to recall KMT representatives across the country.

Now, it all culminates in this Saturday’s vote—a vote that will shape Taiwan’s young democracy, and the fate of the region at large.

DFA statement on clashes over border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia

We are hopeful our two fellow ASEAN member states will resolve this issue in accordance with international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

We urge both parties to extend due consideration and care to innocent civilians who may be affected by the ongoing conflict.

The Philippines does not take any position on this dispute but underscores the importance of maintaining open lines of communication and ensuring the de-escalation of the situation.

We are continually monitoring the situation and we are ready to extend all possible assistance to Filipinos living in these two countries if necessary. To date, no Filipino nationals have been reported to be affected by this conflict.

Context – https://www.rappler.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-cambodia-border-clash-july-24-2025/

Hello! 50,000 Taiwanese have occupied the heart of Taipei’s Ketalagan Boulevard in the lead up to recall elections this Saturday