Sofia Tomacruz

“The Duterte-time SEC 'displayed willful defiance,' says the Court of Appeals. 'These actions have no place in a democratic state.'” rappler.com/philippines/co…

(1/2) I had the pleasure of co-hosting w/ Sec. Teodoro, US SecState Blinken and SecDef Austin, for the 2+2 PH-US Ministerial Dialogue, the first to be held in Manila. We reaffirmed our historic and ironclad alliance and committed to continue our cooperation...

#DNDPHL Sec.Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr., and @DFAPHL Sec. Enrique A. Manalo met with their counterparts, US @SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III and Sec. of State Antony J. Blinken @SecBlinken, at the 4th Philippines-US Two-Plus-Two Ministerial Consultations on July 30, 2024, in Quezon City.

READ | Statement of the Association of General and Flag Officers Inc. (AGFO) on the June 17 RORE mission of the AFP #AFPyoucanTRUST #OneAFPOnePhilippines #StrongAFPStrongPhilippines

Vietnam says it's ready to hold talks with Philippines on overlapping continental shelf claims (from @AP) apnews.com/article/6656b8…

#China’s dangerous actions against #Philippines🇵🇭 vessels & personnel have maliciously raised regional tensions. #Taiwan🇹🇼 condemns violence, opposes attempts to forcefully alter the status quo & calls for peaceful dispute resolution & respect for international maritime law.

The CCG continued its relentless harassment of AFP troops through a series of aggressive actions.

Body cam footage from one of the AFP personnel shows PH troops administering first aid to one of their wounded while CCG continued their confrontation as it deployed tear gas and blared sirens

AFP photos likewise show CCG personnel brandishing bladed weapons. PH officials point out in first photo that a CCG personnel was caught on video threatening to injure an AFP soldier with a pickaxe during the rotation and resupply mission at BRP Sierra Madre last June 17.

Chinese coast guard boarded Philippine vessels, damaged and confiscated equipment in a confrontation that saw a Filipino soldier lose one of his fingers. “This is piracy,” said AFP chief Brawner. Analysts view it as a serious escalation. My first for WP: washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/…

The CCG swarmed AFP's Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) already moored alongside BRP Sierra Madre (LS57), escalating their aggression by wielding pointed weapons and explicitly threatening to harm Filipino troops.

LOOK | The China Coast Guard's coercive, aggressive, and barbaric actions during the humanitarian rotation and resupply mission at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on June 17, resulted in severe damage to AFP vessels, including their communication and navigation equipment.

LOOK: AFP releases photos that show China Coast Guard personnel "brandishing bladed and pointed weapons threatening to injure AFP troops" during the June 17 resupply mission for troops at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. AFP photos

Chinese forces boarded Philippine vessels and damaged, confiscated equipment in a confrontation that caused a Philippine sailor to lose one of his fingers. A "very serious" escalation in the South China Sea, say analysts. washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/…

WATCH: Several China Coast Guard vessels chased after and conducted dangerous maneuvers against one of the Philippine Navy’s patrol coastal craft during the June 17 resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. @ABSCBNNews

READ #DFAStatement: The Department of Foreign Affairs expresses grave concern over the incident that occurred in the Ayungin Shoal during a humanitarian mission to BRP Sierra Madre on 17 June 2024. Also found in this link 👉🏻 shorturl.at/thTai #DFAForgingAhead

The Philippines' submission for an extended continental shelf in the West Palawan Region. Executive Summary now posted on the website of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, at un.org/depts/los/clcs…. 1/7

PHILIPPINES MAKES OFFICIAL SUBMISSION TO U.N. ON ENTITLEMENT TO AN EXTENDED CONTINENTAL SHELF IN THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA #DFAForgingAhead