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Representative Paolo Z. Duterte issued a strongly worded statement criticizing recent remarks by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. regarding U.S. missile capabilities stationed in the Philippines. Duterte questioned the wisdom of boasting about missile systems that could reach China, warning that such rhetoric could endanger Filipino lives. “So…
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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to lead the Philippine delegation at the 47th ASEAN Summit, marking the beginning of a tightly packed diplomatic agenda aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and advancing Philippine interests. Accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and key Cabinet officials—including Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and Social…
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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Swedish government reaffirmed their commitment to maritime cooperation during a high-level meeting held Wednesday at the PCG headquarters in Manila. The dialogue focused on addressing security challenges in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and safeguarding the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Deputy Director General Daniel Wolven of Sweden’s…
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The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Philippines played a pivotal role in the 7th Katipunan Conference held on October 15–16 at the IGB-KAL Theater, University of the Philippines-Diliman, by hosting a luncheon that bridged policy and academia. Themed *“Philippine Strategic Outlook 2025: National Security and Economic Resilience in a Changing Global Order,”* the conference…
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The Swedish government has reaffirmed its commitment to Philippine infrastructure development by extending a ₱74-million grant to support the Luzon Economic Corridor’s flagship railway initiative. The grant, coursed through Swedfund International, will fund a feasibility study for the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) railway project, a major undertaking aimed at enhancing logistics and trade across Luzon. The agreement…
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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has urged for a more prominent role for local government units (LGUs) in shaping national development programs, emphasizing that real progress under his administration’s Bagong Pilipinas vision hinges on empowering local leaders. Speaking during the distribution of patient transport vehicles to LGUs, Marcos said that mayors and governors are “the…
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In a landmark move to bolster data protection in the country’s gaming industry, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance privacy governance and regulatory compliance across gaming establishments nationwide. The agreement, formalized at PAGCOR’s Corporate Office in Pasay City, marks…
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In a stirring tribute to international cooperation and peace, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in partnership with the United Nations in the Philippines, celebrated the 80th anniversary of the United Nations with a diplomatic reception titled *“UN Day 2025: A Celebration of 80 Years of Hope and Endeavor.”* The event highlighted the Philippines’ enduring…
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In a landmark move toward regional energy transformation, the Philippines and Japan have formalized a strategic alliance aimed at powering sustainable development and accelerating the clean energy transition. The partnership was sealed through a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed by Philippine Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin and Japanese Minister Muto Yoji on October 17, 2025,…
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It was one of those mornings when the coffee was strong and the conversation even stronger. Across the table sat Prof. Rommel Banlaoi, a leading security expert whose decades of experience in Southeast Asian geopolitics and counterterrorism lent weight to every word. What followed was a candid, wide-ranging discussion on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in…
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The Bench Files 