Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Friday, July 4, 2025.
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READ: Zubiri, other senators want to oust Escudero
SEN. Juan Miguel Zubiri said he was not happy with how Sen. Francis Escudero led the Senate and would support anyone who will challenge the latter for the Senate presidency when the 20th Congress opens session on July 28. The 24 senators — a mix of incumbent, returning and neophyte members of the Senate — are expected to call for a reorganization when they meet in the morning of July 28 for the opening of the first session of the 20th Congress. Escudero, who has been accused of dragging his feet on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, banged the gavel to declare the adjournment sine die of the 19th Senate on June 12, which held a total of 56 sessions. If Escudero retains his position as Senate president, he will jointly hold a session in the afternoon with whoever the House speaker would be to hear the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
READ: DOJ: Search under way for missing sabungeros
JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is pushing forward with its investigation into the disappearance of 34 “sabungeros” or cockfighting aficionados, saying the case has gone “beyond private complaints” and is now a matter of national concern. He confirmed that the DOJ has been building up the case for nearly three years and is now nearing the stage of formal charges against several suspects, possibly including public figures. He confirmed that Gretchen Barretto’s name came up in the investigation, but emphasized that the information is still being validated and has not yet resulted in formal charges or conclusions.
READ: Ang disavows role in missing sabungeros, sues whistleblower
BUSINESSMAN and gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang on Thursday denied any involvement in the disappearance of more than 30 sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts and filed criminal charges against whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan and alleged accomplice Alan Bantiles, also known as “Brown.” The complaint, filed at the Office of the City Prosecutor in Mandaluyong, includes serious charges of conspiracy to commit attempted robbery with violence or intimidation, grave threats, grave coercion, slander, and falsely incriminating innocent individuals.
READ: House seeks probe into PrimeWater
ZAMBALES 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun on Thursday filed a resolution seeking a probe by the House of Representatives of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., which is owned by the influential Villar family. Khonghun’s resolution asks the House to direct the proper committee to conduct the inquiry in aid of legislation “with the end in view of developing a strong legal and regulatory framework that ensures transparency, accountability, the empowerment of water districts and the protection of the consuming public’s welfare.” Khonghun said that residents of Subic had “repeatedly expressed severe frustrations over PrimeWater’s” service. He said that the town council of Subic had adopted Resolution 29, Series of 2025, which urged the Subic Water District (SWD) to end its joint venture agreement with PrimeWater, and that the SWD had “served a notice of pre-termination to PrimeWater.” The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) had submitted the results of its investigation related to PrimeWater to the Office of the President following numerous consumer complaints.
READ: Lea Salonga to get her star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
TONY Award-winning Filipino theater icon Lea Salonga has been selected as a member of the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s Class of 2026. The announcement was made Wednesday (Los Angeles time) by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Lisa Lew, co-founder and executive producer of the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), confirmed the news to The Manila Times that MIFF nominated Salonga for the recognition. Salonga, who has made an indelible mark on Broadway, Disney and the global concert stage, will receive her star in the Live Theater category. Her selection makes her the fourth Filipino and the first Filipina to be honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Other Filipinos who have received stars include comedian Rob Schneider and global music superstar Bruno Mars. Apl.de.Ap is set to receive his star with his Black Eyed Peas bandmates, and Salonga will soon join them as the fourth Filipino honoree.
BUSINESS: NG debt nears P17T
Over to business, higher local borrowings pushed the national government’s outstanding debt to a new high of P16.92 trillion in May, the Bureau of the Treasury said on Thursday. 166.2 billion pesos was added to the debt tally from April’s 16.75 trillion pesos, Treasury data showed. The count was also 1.57 trillion pesos higher than the year-earlier 15.35 trillion pesos and 867.58 billion pesos, up from 16.05 trillion pesos at the end of 2024.
SPORTS: Eala ‘living the dream’ after Wimbledon debut
In sports, Filipino tennis star Alex Eala said that she is “living the dream” following her women’s singles debut at Wimbledon on Tuesday. Despite the three-set loss to defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, Eala said on Instagram that she could not have asked for a better debut.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Francisco Tatad are today’s front page columnists. Tiglao claims Sen. Francis Tolentino’s “fake exposé” caused the latter to be banned in China, while Tatad talks about the secretary of foreign affairs being the head of the presidential Cabinet.
Today’s editorial discusses the recent heat wave in Europe. Read more in the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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