Abbey M.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of 10-kilo rice packs, a meeting with 2,555 Presidential Scholars, and the turnover of ₱102.2 million in funds for 511 barangays in Tarlac this Thursday, July 30.

This is part of the continuing implementation of the priorities laid out by the President in his State of the Nation Address, including the strengthening of education, food security, and services directly felt by every Filipino family.

The President thanked the local government for its cooperation in programs focused on improving the livelihood and future of the youth.

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Vice President Sara Duterte criticized the way local media in the Philippines report the news.

This came after news reports emerged where her statement, made in a speech outside the International Criminal Court regarding her remark that 5,000 pesos is enough to hire a gunman in the Philippines, was allegedly quoted out of context.

She said the way local media report the news is very different compared to international media.

VP Sara elaborated on this, saying the quality of journalism in the Philippines still has a long way to go if it is to match international standards.

"Kung hanggang d'yan lang ang kakayahan ng journalism sa Pilipinas, then hindi talaga uunlad ang ating bayan. Kasi kung makita mo international media paano sila mag-present ng balita, paano sila naghahanap ng mga bagay o aktibidad o mga pangyayari na ibabalita napakalayo ng kalidad ng journalism."

[If the capability of journalism in the Philippines only goes as far as that, then our country will not really progress. Because if you see how international media presents the news, how they look for things, activities, or events to report on, the quality of journalism is very far apart.]

VP Sara also stressed that it is fortunate that social media now exists, allowing people to see the full context of her statements.

She added that, unlike traditional media reports, social media allows the public to verify for themselves what was truly said and meant.

"Buti na lang meron na tayong social media ngayon kung saan nakikita natin kung ano talaga ang katotohanan na nakita ng tao at lumabas sa bibig ng tao."

[It's a good thing we now have social media, where we can see the real truth of what people saw and what came out of a person's own mouth.

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Vice President Sara Duterte again called for the immediate release of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been detained at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands for over a year now.

According to VP Sara, the continued detention of her father is unjust and merely a result of politicking.

The Vice President again stressed that the Rome Statute has no basis for the continued detention of the former President.

She also criticized the ICC's assessment regarding former President Duterte being a flight risk.

VP Sara stressed that her father's continued detention has dragged on for over a year despite the lack of legal basis.

"He should be released and he should be released immediately.... This is not about justice. This is about politics in the Philippines." VP Sara said. 

"They are holding an 81-year-old who cannot make his own bed, who cannot even clean his own room, who has bedsores and who has so many aches and pains because of old age." the Vice President added. 

In her speech, the Vice President accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of allegedly supporting the international tribunal's proceedings.

The Vice President also called President Marcos Jr. and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged "puppets" of the ICC.

Malacañang, for its part, said these accusations by the Vice President have no basis.
"Ang lahat po halos ng sinasabi ng Bise Presidente sa ngayon ay walang basehan, walang saysay, useless at nonsense. Maaaring ito ay kaniyang nasasabi out of frustration dahil ang kaniyang ama ngayon ay nililitis sa ICC." Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro

[Almost everything the Vice President is saying right now has no basis, makes no sense, is useless and nonsense. She may be saying this out of frustration because her father is now being tried at the ICC.]

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The skin itchiness experienced by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is now healing, according to Vice President Sara Duterte.

They reportedly brought this to the attention of their lawyer in order to inform the International Criminal Court of the former President's condition.

This was aimed at preventing the further spread of the skin itchiness, since the former President is diabetic and they are trying to avoid him developing wounds on his body.

VP Sara gave an update on her father's condition. 

"Natuyo na yung mga bilog-bilog na pulo noong pagdating ko sobrang pula nila at para silang pimple looking, natuyo na s'ya. Nagpapasalamat kami kasi inaksyunan kaagad ng detention unit."

[The round, red spots have already dried up. When I arrived, they were very red and looked like pimples, but they've now dried up. We're thankful because the detention unit acted on it right away.]

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The implementation of the 85-peso wage increase for workers in Metro Manila has been temporarily halted by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court.

This came after the court issued a status quo ante order in response to a petition filed by two construction firms questioning the wage hike.

Although saddened by the development, Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said they respect and will comply with the court's order.

The Pasig RTC issued the decision on July 24, a day before the scheduled implementation of the first tranche of the wage increase on July 25.

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