Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Sunday, March 23, 2025.

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READ: Pentagon chief's visit signals strong alliance

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit the Philippines, the first stop in his first trip to Asia next week, for talks that will include increasing deterrence against aggression in the disputed South China Sea, Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Friday. Hegseth will be in Manila on March 28-29 to meet his Philippine counterpart, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Talks will touch on increasingly assertive actions by Beijing in the South China Sea and "more significant support" to Philippine security forces by the Trump administration, Romualdez said. In the US, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell later said Hegseth will visit Hawaii to meet civilian and military leaders in the Indo-Pacific Command then tour US military facilities in Guam and receive briefings on capabilities before flying to the Philippines and Japan. Hegseth would "advance security objectives with Philippine leaders and meet with US and Philippine forces."

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READ: Former, current Duterte wives visiting him for his birthday

THE current partner and the ex-wife of former president Rodrigo Duterte are expected to arrive in The Hague in the Netherlands to celebrate his 80th birthday on March 28, his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, said Friday. Duterte also said a second lawyer with 19 years of experience in the International Criminal Court (ICC) is poised to become the second member of the legal team of her father, who is facing trial for crimes against humanity in connection with his bloody war on drugs. In a chance interview with reporters at The Hague on Friday afternoon (Central European time), Duterte said the second lawyer, whose only legal experience has been as a trial lawyer for the ICC, as "intelligent." She did not name the person, however.

READ: Serve with integrity, Marcos tells soldiers

AMID the current political noise, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday reminded the military that they should listen, act and serve with integrity "to rise above adversities and move forward as a people." In his speech during the 128th founding anniversary of the Philippine Army in Taguig City, Marcos said that when peace and order are in place, the country "can work towards prosperity."

READ: Duke Frasco files libel raps vs Times columnist Tiglao

DEPUTY Speaker and Cebu 5th District Rep. Vincent Franco Frasco filed four counts of cyber-libel against The Manila Times columnist Rigoberto Tiglao for his allegations that Frasco was "bribed" to sign the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte in his column last Feb. 14, 2025. The 46-page complaint was filed at the National Bureau of Investigation-Cebu City on March 19.

Frasco said that Tiglao maliciously claimed that he, alongside 239 signatories, were bribed to vote in favor of the complaint and which was spread through the columnists own public Facebook page and X account. In a statement, Frasco said that such accusations were not only false, but also tarnished his reputation as deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

BUSINESS: PH told: Seize business opportunities in China

In business, the Philippines has significant opportunities to benefit from China's economic transformation, particularly in entrepreneurship, technology and tourism, a prominent Filipino Chinese relations advocate said. Speaking at a forum organized by Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute on Friday, Austin Ong, co-founder of the Philippines-China Friendship Society, highlighted the opportunities available for the country amid China's market expansion, that were presented in recently concluded China's Two Sessions. While geopolitical tensions persist over maritime disputes, Ong urged Filipinos to take a pragmatic approach and focus on economic opportunities.

SPORTS: Eala shocks Ostapenko in Miami Open

Over to sports, Philippine tennis star Alex Eala once again made a surprise at the Miami Open after upsetting former Grand Slam champion Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday (Philippine time). At the round of 64, Eala, currently ranked 140th, shocked the singles world No. 25 (and the doubles world No. 5) in two sets, 7-6, 7-5. Prior to meeting Ostapenko, the Filipina star defeated world No. 70 Katie Volynets of the United States in the round of 128 in two sets, 6-3, 7-6.

READ: Opinion and editorial

Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, asking if the rule of law can reverse the stasis on foreign direct investments.

Today's editorial calls for swift immigration reforms. Read more on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

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