Latest news with #TheresaLazaro
GMA Network
14-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
DFA Chief to Pinoy sailors: Avoid Red Sea
Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro appealed to Filipino seafarers to avoid sailing to the Red Sea. (Photo by Michaela del Callar) Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro on Monday appealed to Filipino seafarers to avoid sailing to the Red Sea following the back-to-back deadly attacks against two cargo vessels by Houthi rebels. Both the MV Magic Seas and the MV Eternity, attacked by the Iran-backed Yemeni group a day apart, were manned by Filipino crew. The two ships sank off the Red Sea – a key trade route. 'We encourage our Filipino sailors to avoid sailing in the Red Sea while the situation remains dangerous,' Lazaro said in a press briefing. All 17 Filipino seamen from the Magic Sea survived the assault, while eight were rescued from the Eternity, including the Filipino captain. The fate of the rest of the 13 of the 21 Filipinos from the Eternity was unknown amid reports that the rebels took several hostages from the sunken vessel. Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships it claims have links to Israel and have vowed to step up attacks until the country ends its aggression in Gaza. Lazaro said the DFA and its diplomatic posts, along with the Department of Migrant Workers, are coordinating with relevant agencies for the rescue of the missing Filipinos. Manila is also in touch with Saudi Arabia and the UK, as well as the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), she added. 'The DFA continues to advocate for the rights, safety, and decent conditions for our seafarers,' Lazaro said. Piracy and ransom kidnappings of Filipino sailors, particularly in waters off Africa, have long been a problem for the Philippine government, as it cannot monitor their movements when at sea. The Philippines is one of the world's largest providers of shipping manpower. A bulk of Filipino seamen or more than 20 percent of the world's 1.2 million sailors are manning oil tankers, cargo ships, luxury liners, and passenger vessels worldwide, exposing them to attacks. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
The Star
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Philippines rejoining ICC not in motion, but discussed
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, March 12, 2025. - Reuters MANILA: Malacañang has yet to issue a directive regarding the country's bid to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), but discussions among agencies involved have transpired, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Sec. Ma. Theresa Lazaro said on Monday (July 14). Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Lazaro repeatedly clarified that there are no ongoing efforts to rejoin the ICC. 'There's no movement as far as cascading to the Department of Foreign Affairs, I'm sure there had been discussions with other agencies like the Department of Justice,' said Lazaro. In June, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. said he was open to discussions on the Philippines rejoining the ICC. On March 17, 2018, then President Rodrigo Duterte formally withdrew from the Rome Statute – the treaty that established the ICC. Despite the withdrawal, the ICC retained jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed in the Philippines between November 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019, covering the period when the country was still a member. The ICC currently has custody of Duterte, who was arrested on March 12 and sent to The Hague for crimes against humanity he allegedly committed during his administration's bloody war against drugs, which left at least 6,000 people dead. Human rights groups are reporting the toll could be as high as 20,000. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
The Star
13-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Philippines, US and Japan push to advance trilateral economic ties
MANILA (Bernama-PNA): The Philippines, the United States, and Japan are focused on developing their trilateral economic partnership to complement their growing security ties, the US State Department has announced. According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA), the foreign ministers of the three states - Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi - discussed the plan and the need to unlock more private sector investments in their flagship Luzon Economic Corridor. They met on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related foreign ministers' meeting in Malaysia on Thursday (July 10), the statement said. The State Department said Rubio highlighted Manila's wealth in critical minerals and stressed the need to diversify critical mineral supply chains. The officials proposed advancing trilateral cooperation in the Philippines on cyber security, energy (including civil nuclear energy), and investments in reliable and secure telecommunications networks. They concluded with an agreement to hold sectoral trilateral discussions at the senior officials' level in the coming months to advance their shared desire for peace and security in the region. In the same meeting, the officials reaffirmed their interest in advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific and agreed to coordinate cooperation on maritime security, including through Maritime Cooperative Activities, trilateral military exercises, and capacity building and assistance for the Philippine Coast Guard and other Philippine maritime authorities. -- Bernama-PNA
Free Malaysia Today
11-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Philippines' president to discuss tariffs in Trump meeting this month
Philippines foreign secretary Theresa Lazaro attends the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference in Kuala Lumpur. (AP pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington this month, Manila's top diplomat said on Friday, with an increased trade tariff on one of Washington's top defence allies set to be discussed. Philippine foreign minister Theresa Lazaro, in an interview during a regional summit in Malaysia, confirmed the arrangement of what will be the first meeting between Trump and Marcos, whose nations have stepped up military engagements significantly of late. 'The issue of tariffs will be discussed among others…it's also very important to us. We have already sent negotiators to discuss this issue,' Lazaro told Reuters on Friday. A White House official earlier told Reuters the meeting was set for July 22, while the office of Marcos said he will visit the US from July 20-22. The Philippines is concerned over a 20% tariff rate announced this week by Trump, which was increased from the 17% threatened in April, without explanation. The US goods trade deficit with the Philippines widened to US$4.9 billion in 2024, a 21.8% increase from 2023. The Philippines has said it remains committed to continuing negotiations, and a delegation will travel to Washington next week to pursue a trade deal. Relations between Manila and Washington have soared under Marcos, who has pivoted closer to the US and allowed American soldiers to expand their presence at Philippine facilities. The former US colony is central to Washington's efforts to counter China's assertiveness in the South China Sea and towards Taiwan. The US and the Philippines have a seven-decade-old mutual defence treaty and hold dozens of annual exercises, which have included testing of a US Typhon missile system, angering China. Marcos' overtures to the US and defiant stand on China have riled Beijing, which has repeatedly accused Manila and Washington of trying to stoke tensions. Lazaro said negotiations on a code of conduct between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China were dragging out, and the Philippines would push for talks to finish when it becomes ASEAN chair next year. She said the code must be legally binding. The South China Sea remains a source of friction between China and the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia, with ties between Beijing and Manila at their worst in years amid frequent confrontations that have sparked concerns they could spiral into conflict. 'It is our view that it should not be taking so long. It is important that we have to deliver,' she said. 'So it is incumbent upon all of us, and actually China, to… endeavour to finish the negotiations, the discussions. And that's supposed to be in 2026.' Lazaro also said a planned election in military-ruled Myanmar, an ASEAN member in the grips of a civil war, would only be acceptable if it were inclusive and peaceful.
Reuters
11-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Philippines' president to discuss tariffs in Trump meeting this month, top diplomat says
KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington this month, Manila's top diplomat said on Friday, with an increased trade tariff on one of Washington's top defence allies set to be discussed. Philippine foreign minister Theresa Lazaro, in an interview during a regional summit in Malaysia, confirmed the arrangement of what will be the first meeting between Trump and Marcos, whose nations have stepped up military engagements significantly of late. 'The issue of tariffs will be discussed among others…it's also very important to us. We have already sent negotiators to discuss this issue," Lazaro told Reuters on Friday. A White House official earlier told Reuters the meeting was set for July 22, while the office of Marcos said he will visit the U.S. from July 20-22. The Philippines is concerned over a 20% tariff rate announced this week by Trump, which was increased from 17% threatened in April, without explanation. The U.S. goods trade deficit with the Philippines widened to $4.9 billion in 2024, a 21.8% increase from 2023. The Philippines has said it remains committed to continue negotiations and a delegation will travel to Washington next week to pursue a trade deal. Relations between Manila and Washington have soared under Marcos, who has pivoted closer to the U.S. and allowed American soldiers to expand their presence at Philippine facilities. The former U.S. colony is central to Washington's efforts to counter China's assertiveness in the South China Sea and towards Taiwan. The United States and the Philippines have a seven-decade old mutual defence treaty and hold dozens of annual exercises, which have included testing of a U.S. Typhon missile system, angering China. Marcos' overtures of to the U.S. and defiant stand on China have riled Beijing, which has repeatedly accused Manila and Washington of trying to stoke tensions. Lazaro said negotiations on a code of conduct between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China were dragging out and the Philippines would push for talks to finish when it becomes ASEAN chair next year. She said the code must be legally binding. The South China Sea remains a source of friction between China and the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia, with ties between Beijing and Manila at their worst in years amid frequent confrontations that have sparked concerns they could spiral into conflict. "It is our view that it should not be taking so long. It is important that we have to deliver," she said. "So it is incumbent upon all of us, and actually China, to... endeavor to finish the negotiations, the discussions. And that's supposed to be in 2026." Lazaro also said a planned election in military-ruled Myanmar, an ASEAN member in the grips of a civil war, would only be acceptable if it were inclusive and peaceful.
