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Cyprus working for viable, functional and resilient solution says President

Cyprus is working towards a viable, functional and resilient settlement that will safeguard the right of all the country’s lawful residents to live, work and pursue their activities wherever they choose, in conditions of peace, security and prosperity, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday evening at an anti-occupation commemoration organised by the municipalities, communities, refugee associations and organisations of Kyrenia district.

Addressing the event at the Makedonitissa Tomb, the President sent a message to the Turkish government, the Turkish Cypriot leader and all stakeholders in Cyprus and abroad that ‘if there is political will, we can achieve a settlement of the Cyprus problem that will benefit all parties concerned.’

President Christodoulides said Kyrenia had paid and continued to pay a heavy price for Turkey’s illegal invasion and the continuing occupation of the past 52 years, noting that the entire town and district had been seized and had suffered major losses among military personnel and civilians.

He said Turkey continued to violate international law and the fundamental rights of Cyprus’ lawful residents, while seeking to legitimise the faits accomplis created by the invasion.

Referring to the case of Kyrenia refugee Titina Loizidou, he said the European Court of Human Rights ruling had confirmed the fundamental principle that ‘illegality does not create law’, no matter how much time passes or how Turkey attempts to impose its will through force.

‘Our policy to free Cyprus from the shackles of occupation aims at a solution that will end the current situation, terminate the unacceptable state of affairs and secure the conditions necessary for a modern, functional European state,’ he said.

‘We are working for a viable, functional and resilient solution and, above all, one that safeguards for all the lawful residents of the country the right to live, work, pursue their activities and create wherever they choose, in conditions of peace, security and prosperity,’ he added.

The President also referred to his objective of securing a leading role for the EU in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem. He said it had become clear that the Cyprus problem was also a European problem and that the EU had an obligation to play a decisive role.

With the UN Secretary-General’s initiative under way and his visit to Cyprus scheduled for July 27-29, the EU was present ‘not merely formally, but in a leading role’, he said.

He added that EU involvement aimed to ensure that a settlement was compatible with the Republic of Cyprus’ status as an EU member state and that progress in EU-Turkey relations was linked to substantive developments in the Cyprus problem.

President Christodoulides said the Republic of Cyprus would remain an EU member state after a possible solution, with all the corresponding rights and obligations.

He pledged to continue working for a settlement that would free Cyprus from occupation and reunify it.

‘The assertion that our borders are in Kyrenia is not a slogan. It is our objective for a solution that will ensure the genuine reunification of the country in its territory, institutions, economy and every aspect of daily life,’ he said.

Kyrenia Mayor Joseph Violaris said there could be no viable future while the occupation and the crimes resulting from it were treated as normal. Refugees wanted a solution allowing them to return to their homes and properties, he said, but not one that would create new conditions of insecurity.

Archbishop Georgios described the anniversary as a particularly sad day for Kyrenia and its residents, saying that the occupying power had pursued ever since a harsh campaign to Turkify the town.

He also criticised visits and overnight stays in the Turkish-occupied areas, saying they amounted to financial support for the occupation, and called for the full application of the EU acquis throughout Cyprus, including freedom of movement, establishment and property ownership.

A resolution adopted at the event condemned the occupation, expressed solidarity with the families of missing persons and called for the full clarification of their fate.

It also called for a just and viable settlement based on UN Security Council resolutions, international law and the EU acquis, which would free Cyprus from occupying troops and settlers and safeguard human rights for all Cypriots.

The resolution urged the President and all political forces to support the demands of Kyrenia refugees. It was presented by the Mayor of Kyrenia to the President and the Archbishop.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

EDITORIAL – Many times over

Three American service members were killed recently in the war against Iran. One of them was killed after an Iranian attack in northern Iraq last Saturday, while two others in a separate attack on a military base in Jordan.

Now U.S. President Donald Trump is livid and said Iran will pay many times over for every American life lost.

‘Every time Iran kills an American soldier they will pay for that killing many times over,’ President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He added that this directive has been passed on to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Daniel Caine, and ‘every leader in the military.’

Like we said before, this war might be a long one yet, most especially now that President Trump wants a tit for every tat.

It’s like he forgot that the U.S. is at war. Did he really expect that there would be no price to pay in terms of lives? During war people will die, that’s how it has worked since nations waged war upon on another since the dawn of time.

It’s also like he forgot that he started this war and not Iran.

We aren’t necessarily on Iran’s side in this conflict. In fact, we believe that one less religious-autocratic country that suppresses its own people and threatens other nations in the region will be good for the rest of the world.

However, we also believe Iran has every right to retaliate against any attack launched against its people, especially an unprovoked one.

Does President Trump really expect Iran to do nothing while the U.S. launches attack after attack against both military targets as well as civilian infrastructure? He’s acting like Russia President Vladimir Putin who keeps on causing devastation, destruction, and death in Ukraine, but cries foul when Ukraine brings the same to Russia.

Because no one other than him asked for this war, not the American people, not the United Nations, and certainly not the Iranians, any U.S. blood spilled in this war will actually be on Trump’s hands.

Elreen, Kyla, Eumir: Bright hopes in Asiad

ELREEN ANN ANDO leads a weightlifting team without Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo and the swimming association hopes for a bounce back by Kayla Sanchez in the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games in September.

Boxing association honorary chairman Ricky Vargas also boldly declared Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial should be in Nagoya all the way to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The Asian Games are set September 19 to October 4.

Diaz Naranjo begs off

THE country’s first Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo, begged off from competing in the Asian Games, according to Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) national coach Patrick Lee.

‘She [Diaz-Naranjo] informed us that she’ll skip the Asian Games because of personal reasons,’ lee said. ‘And I’m sure she’ll announce it herself one of these days.’

Diaz placed fourth place in the women’s 59 kgs class where Ando clinched a bronze medal in the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games.

In Diaz Naranjo’s place as leader of the weightlifting squad is citing two-time Olympian Elreen Ann Ando (women 61 kgs), who will be joined by Rosegie Ramos (women 53 kgs), Kristel Macrohon (women 69 kgs) Ian Delos Santos (men 70 kgs) and Eleaphraime Limmomg (men 60 kgs).

‘They are on our short list and we believe they could provide us the best results in the Asian Games,’ Lee said.

Ando is a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, while De los Santos ruled his division in the world junior championships last May in Egypt.

Ramos also won a gold medal in the Asia youth championships in Uzbekistan and Macrohon won gold at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Kayla magic in Nagoya

PHILIPPINE Aquatic Inc. (PAI) secretary-general Eric Buhain said they are hoping for Kayla Sanchez to flash the same magic that made her one of the most successful Filipinos at the Bangkok Southeast Asian Games October.

‘We are hoping for Kayla, and the rest to sustain, to sustain their charge in the Asian Games,’ said Buhain who, however, threw caution that the Asian Games are an Olympic-level competition with swimmers from China, Japan and South Korea seeing action.

Sanchez had a forgettable swim in her Asian Games debut in Hangzhou but recovered in Bangkok with three gold medals in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke and and 4×100 freestyle relay.

She also had five silver medals in the 200m freestyle, 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke and two women’s relays.

Joining Sanchez, according to Buhain, are Xiandi Chua, Teia Salvino, Heather White, Logan Noguchi and Gian Santos.

‘We are not coming home empty handed again, hopefully,’ Buhain said.

There wasn’t any medal from the pool in Hangzhou with Ryan Papa winning the country’s last Asian Games gold medal in men’s 200 backstroke at the 1998 Bangkok edition.

Vargas: We need Eumir

RICKY VARGAS believes Eumir Felix Marcial is a staple not only in the Asian Games but also in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

‘We really need Eumir [Marcial] to compete for our country in the Asian Games all the way to LA,’ Vargas told BusinessMirror on Thursday.

Marcial missed the men’s 80 kgs gold in Hangzhou after he lost to China’s Tanglatihan Tuohetaerbieke via split decision in a controversy-marred final. Josef Ramos

‘His only formidable opponent is himself,’ Vargas said. ‘If he overcomes that, there is an absolute chance that he will win.’

Marcial-currently based in Tokyo sparring with boxers his size and weight which are a scarcity in the country-is also on stand by for his eight pro fight since his successful stint at the ‘Thrilla in Manila 2’ in Cubao last October.

G-Devith returns to Manila to reconnect with Filipino fans, explore collabs

The Cambodian sensation will join HORI7ON and 1ST.ONE at SEA Pop Music and Culture Caravan.

Hot on the heels of his well-received performance as Cambodia’s representative at the 2026 ASEAN-Korea ROUND Music Festival held at the Araneta Coliseum last April, Cambodian superstar G-Devith returns to Manila to further strengthen his growing connection with Filipino audiences through music, artistic collaborations, and cultural exchange.

Filipinos were first introduced to G-Devith during the ASEAN-Korea ROUND Music Festival, where he performed alongside artists from across Southeast Asia and South Korea at the Araneta Coliseum. His riveting performance before thousands of Filipino fans offered a glimpse into Cambodia’s vibrant contemporary music scene.

During an intimate Philippine media conference at LaVie Resort and Casino, G-Devith shared his admiration for the Philippines’ rich music culture and expressed his openness to building meaningful artistic collaborations that celebrate the diversity and creativity of Southeast Asian music.

He cited SB19 and BINI, in particular, as artists he would love to collaborate with. ‘If they are open to collaboration, I’m happy to see [us] explore new music together,’ he declared.

G-Devith’s return to Manila reflects his desire to further connect with Filipino audiences and explore opportunities to collaborate with Filipino artists and creatives in the future.

He considers Filipino music fans energetic, passionate, and ‘know how to party.’

G-Devith’s Manila visit culminates with his participation in the inaugural leg of the Southeast Asian Pop Music and Culture Caravan 2026, organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in partnership with BSE. The regional initiative brings together artists and cultural communities across Southeast Asia to celebrate contemporary music, culture, and creative collaboration.

Joining G-Devith in the inaugural leg are Filipino global pop group HORI7ON, P-Pop powerhouse 1st.ONE, and Filipino World Music band TALAHIB, reflecting SEA Pop’s vision of fostering greater appreciation for Southeast Asia’s diverse artistic voices and creating meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange across the region.

He revealed that he and HORIZON already have ‘some plans for the future’ and confirmed that a collaboration is now ‘processing.’

For G-Devith, the Southeast Asian Pop Music and Culture Caravan 2026 represents an opportunity to further strengthen his connection with the Philippines and become part of the growing movement that champions Southeast Asian music beyond national borders.

Looking forward, the Cambodian superstar, through an interpreter, also expressed his hope of returning to Manila once again-this time for his very own concert.

While discussions remain in their initial stages, G-Devith’s interest in returning for a future Manila concert reflects his appreciation for the warm support he has received from Filipino audiences and his desire to continue sharing his music with the Philippines. The envisioned concert also presents exciting possibilities for collaborations with Filipino artists, as cultural ties between Cambodia and the Philippines through music will be further cemented.

’Economic recovery not likely for rest of the year’

DESPITE the government’s expectation of stronger growth in the second half, a University of Asia and the Pacific (UAandP) economist said the Philippine economy is unlikely to stage a meaningful recovery in the remaining months of 2026.

‘We’re naturally optimistic at the university, but over the next five and a half months, there won’t be any recovery. If the economy grows by 3 percent, we’d already be very happy with that,’ UAandP economist Ronilo M. Balbieran said in an interview on Thursday.

Should the economy grow by around 3 percent, it would fall below the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC)’s recalibrated gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of 3.5 to 4.5 percent this year.

It would likewise mark the fourth consecutive year that the Marcos administration has failed to meet its growth target.

According to Balbieran, one of the biggest risks to growth is the government’s continued underspending on infrastructure, which has limited the public sector’s ability to generate jobs and incomes at a time when households and businesses are grappling with rising costs.

Citing official data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), he pointed out that the government’s infrastructure spending has contracted more sharply than during the pandemic.

He noted that infrastructure spending fell by over 40 in the first four months of 2026, steeper than the 26 percent contraction recorded during the pandemic.

DBM data showed infrastructure and other capital outlays declined to P189.3 billion in January to April from P347.6 billion in the same period last year.

Balbieran said that increasing public investment remains the government’s most effective tool to support growth because infrastructure projects create employment, particularly in the construction sector, while generating demand for goods and services across the broader economy.

As workers earn more from these projects, they spend more on food, transportation, housing and other daily needs, helping stimulate demand and support businesses across other sectors, he explained.

‘When that particular portion of our labor force will have money, then that will actually have the demand pool for everything else, for all the sectors,’ Balbieran also said.

Aside from weak infrastructure spending, Balbieran said inflation has continued to weigh on household consumption-the country’s biggest driver of economic growth.

Based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, household consumption grew by just 3 percent in the first quarter of 2026, slowing from 5.3 percent a year earlier.

The PSA said this was the weakest growth in household spending since the pandemic-era contraction in the first quarter of 2021. Excluding the pandemic years, it was the slowest pace since the third quarter of 2010.

Balbieran said consumers’ purchasing power has been squeezed by rising prices, a situation aggravated by the peso’s depreciation.

On Wednesday, the peso weakened to P61.75 against the US dollar, matching the record low it reached on May 18.

The weaker currency, Balbieran said, has also raised the cost of imported raw materials and goods, prompting businesses to pass on higher costs to consumers already grappling with more expensive fuel, electricity and transportation.

‘Double whammy on all the way to the final consumer because products and services will be higher aside from on top of our consumers already facing higher prices…everything gets messed up because you have higher prices, imported prices being multiplied by a higher exchange rate,’ he said.

The Philippine economy grew by 2.8 percent in the first quarter, marking its weakest expansion since 2021.

The PSA is scheduled to release second quarter GDP data on August 7.

Teacher seeks probe into husband’s death at hospital

A teacher and social media influencer from Ratchaburi has petitioned health authorities and professional medical bodies to investigate the treatment her late husband received at a private hospital, alleging possible breaches of medical and nursing standards.

Benyaporn Phanphet, better known as “Kru Sai”, was accompanied by Thanakrit Chit-arirat, a former secretary to the public health minister, as she submitted complaints to the Department of Health Service Support (DHSS), the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) and the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council on Tuesday.

The petitions seek investigations into the conduct of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel involved in treating her husband before his death at a private hospital in Ratchaburi.

Mr Thanakrit said the complaint asks the DHSS to conduct a fresh on-site inspection based on testimony from the victim’s family rather than relying solely on information gathered from media reports. Investigators were asked to compare the family’s account with the hospital’s medical records to determine whether they are consistent.

He also urged the Medical Council and the Nursing Council to examine whether healthcare professionals involved complied with professional and ethical standards.

In addition, Mr Thanakrit asked the DHSS to act as a mediator in discussions with the hospital regarding preliminary compensation for the family. He said he had been authorised to assist the family in pursuing both civil and criminal action against those found responsible.

Ms Benyaporn is seeking an investigation into the death of her husband, Phanupong Wongwai, 31, following an alleged misdiagnosis at the hospital.

San Camillo Hospital has apologised and suspended the doctor involved, who has reportedly been unreachable since the incident. Hospital director Father Piyasak Wongwai has pledged full cooperation with the inquiry.

Ms Benyaporn said the doctor failed to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) despite her husband complaining of chest pain. The doctor allegedly attributed the symptoms to anxiety and discharged him. Mr Phanupong later collapsed and died. An autopsy found two blocked coronary arteries.

Medical council secretary-general Ittaporn Kanacharoen said the council would review medical records, the autopsy report and other evidence to determine whether the treatment met professional standards. Also on Tuesday, Akhom Praditsuwan, deputy director-general of the DHSS, expressed condolences to the family and pledged a fair and impartial investigation.

Dr Ittaporn said the council had already requested documents and would summon all relevant parties to provide testimony. Medical experts would then assess whether the diagnosis and treatment met accepted clinical standards, he said.

Inside Kenya’s high-stakes bid to become Africa’s AI investment epicentre

Record foreign investment inflows have put Kenya on the radar of global investors, but the next battle is likely to be fought over artificial intelligence infrastructure, green data centres and the digital economy.

Kenya Investment Authority (Invest Kenya) chief executive John Mwendwa says the country is betting on its renewable energy, skilled workforce and strategic location to attract the next wave of capital.

Kenya attracted a record $3.2 billion (Sh413.6 billion) in foreign direct investment in 2025 according to UNCTAD. What drove that performance?

It’s always good to set the landscape before jumping into the numbers. Globally, capital is looking for favourable places to locate, and Africa is increasingly becoming the next frontier for investment because by 2040 it will be home to the world’s youngest population.

Kenya is riding that wave. For the first time in our history, foreign direct investment exceeded $3 billion. That did not happen by accident. It reflects a sustained government push to facilitate investors throughout the entire journey.

We work with investors from the moment they begin considering opportunities in Africa and Kenya, providing business intelligence and helping them evaluate projects. We stay with them through implementation until they are commercially operational.

For the first time, we’ve also strengthened what we call ‘aftercare’, ensuring investors continue receiving support after establishing operations. That complete investor journey has become a major differentiator.

Much of the global investment conversation has shifted from traditional manufacturing to artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centres. Is Kenya seeing that shift?

Absolutely. AI and technology continue evolving faster than most people imagine.

We already have a pipeline of several data centre investments interested in Kenya, not only to serve the domestic market but to use Kenya as a springboard for the rest of Africa.

Green data centres represent the future. Sustainability has become a significant consideration for investors, and Kenya has a strong advantage because our electricity mix is about 93 percent renewable.

We have also seen important announcements such as Oracle’s data centre investment, and there are others evaluating similar opportunities. The demand is definitely there.

The key question now is ensuring power supply grows alongside demand.

Can Kenya realistically compete with established investment destinations like South Africa, Morocco or even the UAE for AI infrastructure?

Investors make decisions based on different competitive advantages, and I believe Kenya possesses a combination that very few countries on the continent can match.

We are strategically located on Africa’s eastern seaboard, giving us access to regional and international markets.

Our electricity is largely renewable, with a national ambition of reaching 100 percent renewable energy in the coming years. That becomes a very important consideration for companies building energy-intensive digital infrastructure.

Remember, these are not data centres designed only for Kenya. They are regional facilities serving customers across Africa and beyond.

The building blocks required to make Kenya a technology hub are increasingly falling into place.

If you want evidence, look at startup funding. Kenya attracted nearly $1 billion in startup investment in 2025, with a significant share flowing into technology businesses.

We believe Kenya is competitive, and this is one area where we can become a continental leader.

How is Invest Kenya helping investors move faster once they decide to invest?

One of the biggest initiatives we have introduced is what we call the ‘Investment Deal Room’.

Essentially, it brings together different government agencies to resolve investment bottlenecks in one coordinated process.

If an investor has challenges with land titles, we engage the Ministry of Lands. If there are taxation issues, company registration concerns or regulatory approvals, the relevant agencies come together and work through those challenges collectively.

Rather than leaving investors to navigate multiple institutions independently, we coordinate solutions.

That dedicated collaboration has significantly improved the investment process.

Apart from approvals, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to attract global capital?

One challenge that doesn’t receive enough attention is the quality of investment opportunities.

A project cannot simply be an idea. Investors need detailed financial assumptions, realistic projections and credible data before committing capital.

That is why, for the first time, we have published an investment projects catalogue.

It brings together public, private, public-private partnership and infrastructure projects that have been developed to a standard investors can evaluate.

Instead of spending months trying to understand whether an opportunity is viable, investors can immediately see where the opportunities are and what the potential returns look like.

That shortens the investment discovery process considerably.

If you could change one thing over the next 12 months to improve Kenya’s competitiveness, what would it be?

The biggest priority is creating an even more predictable and conducive business environment.

Investment promotion is not something one agency can deliver alone. It requires coordination across government because investors interact with many institutions.

For us, the most consequential issue is improving the overall business climate. If investors know what is coming, if regulations are fair and consistent, and if decisions happen quickly, Kenya becomes much more competitive.

What are some of biggest investment projects that Kenya lost to competing countries in recent years?

If you asked a bank how many customers it declined compared to those it financed, you would probably find they turned away far more than they approved.

Investment promotion works in a similar way. Not every project comes to Kenya, and that’s perfectly normal. Sometimes another country is simply a better fit.

If another African country wins an investment, Africa still benefits.

What matters is understanding why we didn’t secure a project and whether there are lessons we can apply next time.

The encouraging part is that Kenya’s numbers continue moving in the right direction. Foreign direct investment is growing. Our pipeline continues expanding.

Our focus remains on improving conversion.

Looking ahead, are you confident Kenya can surpass the record FDI inflows recorded in 2025?

I’m optimistic, but we are only halfway through the year, so I don’t want to give a specific number.

When we held our international investment conference in March, I thought we might announce around $2 billion worth of investment commitments.

Instead, we announced $2.9 billion. That shows the strength of the pipeline.

Based on what we are seeing today, I believe 2026 can perform better than 2025.

Exactly where the number lands, we will know when the year closes. But the trajectory is positive.

14 areas under Signal No. 1 due to ‘Kiyapo’

Fourteen areas in Northern Luzon are now under Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Kiyapo continues to move northwestward over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said Thursday.

In a press briefing on Thursday, July 23, PAGASA weather specialist John Manalo said the tropical depression was estimated to be 640 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, as of 4 p.m.

Kiyapo is moving northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph), with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gusts of up to 55 kph.

PAGASA has hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over the following areas in Northern Luzon:

Batanes

Cagayan (including the Babuyan Islands)

Ilocos Norte

Apayao

Ilocos Sur

Abra

Kalinga

Isabela

Mountain Province

Ifugao

The northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya

The northern portion of Benguet

The northern portion of Quirino

The northern portion of Aurora

The state weather bureau expects Kiyapo to maintain its tropical depression strength as it nears the Babuyan Islands.

However, it is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm by Thursday afternoon.

Because of its slightly accelerated pace, the cyclone is projected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Saturday morning.

Once outside the PAR, over the sea between the Philippines and the southeastern coast of China, the storm is forecast to further intensify into a severe tropical storm before making landfall in southeastern China.

Northern Samar seeks limits on gadget use by students in schools

The provincial government of Northern Samar is pushing for a policy on the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices in public and private elementary and secondary schools during class hours.

The officials cited concerns over distractions, cyberbullying, cheating, and exposure to inappropriate online content.

The proposed ‘Provincial Learner Focus and Digital Wellness Ordinance of 2026’ seeks to establish a stronger local framework for gadget regulations in schools and extend the policy to private educational institutions in the province.

Board Member Don Abalon, chair of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on laws, justice, human rights and public accountability, authored the measure.

The proposed ordinance is intended to complement existing Department of Education (DepEd) policies, including DepEd Order No. 6, series of 2026, which regulates the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices in public elementary and secondary schools.

Under the proposed provincial measure, students would generally be prohibited from using mobile phones during instructional hours, except in cases involving medical needs or emergencies, or when it is expressly required by a teacher for academic purposes.

It also said unrestricted use of mobile devices in schools could expose learners to various risks, including digital misconduct, academic cheating, cyberbullying and unauthorized access to inappropriate content during school hours.

They also cited studies linking excessive or unrestricted mobile device use to declining academic performance among students.

School heads, administrators and teachers from public and private schools who participated in the public hearing earlier welcomed the proposed policy, saying clear guidelines could help promote a more focused and supportive learning environment for both students and educators.

Some stakeholders, however, proposed provisions that would allow community monitoring of compliance, stressing that the responsibility for educating and guiding children should be shared by schools, parents and the wider community.

Remulla confident of catching Dela Rosa, Roque

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the government was ‘on track’ to arrest Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

‘Our operations are ongoing. I can’t speak about what we’re doing, but we’re actively pursuing him,’ Remulla said of Dela Rosa in an interview on AM radio DZMM on Wednesday.

‘He knows all police procedures … So we can’t just use the usual techniques. So now, we’re employing other techniques and other strategies to get him,’ he added.

A former Philippine National Police chief, Dela Rosa has been ordered arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for being a ‘co-perpetrator’ in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.

The senator was last seen leaving the Senate premises with Sen. Robinhood Padilla in the early hours of May 14.

Before that, the Senate had placed him in its protective custody after he suddenly showed up in the chamber on May 11 after a six-month disappearance following reports that the ICC had issued a warrant for his arrest. The senator cast the crucial 13th vote that clinched the Senate presidency for Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

On the other hand, Roque is wanted by an Angeles City, Pampanga court on charges of human trafficking in connection with his alleged involvement in a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub linked to illegal activities.

Application denied

The former presidential spokesperson of Duterte reportedly left the country in September 2024 to avoid being arrested by the House of Representatives, which had cited him in contempt for defying its orders in connection with its investigation into the Pogo hub.

Roque later surfaced in The Hague, where Duterte is currently detained by the ICC. He applied for asylum, citing political persecution, but his request was denied.

‘He’s in Vienna. We have communication. He’s not hiding, but any time now, we can get him,’ Remulla said, adding: ‘I’m pretty confident we can get him.’

Aside from Dela Rosa and Roque, the government is also looking for another fugitive, gambling tycoon Charlie ‘Atong’ Ang, who is wanted for the kidnapping and killing of at least 34 ‘sabungeros’ or cockfight enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022.