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Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Philippine Military Chief Vows No Political Interference in Senate Crisis

The head of staff of the Armed Forces, General Romeo Brawner Jr., states that the military will remain neutral in political matters even though there is some concern among personnel.

The Philippines The head of the armed forces has taken steps to calm worries about political interference following a contentious Senate leadership conflict, which led to increased security measures, delayed military appointments, and raised concerns that factional groups might take advantage of internal dissent within the ranks.

Head of the Armed Forces, General Romeo Brawner Jnr recognized concerns among certain staff members but stated to This Week in Asia that the military would stay away from political matters.

On Wednesday, Brawner stated, 'Political involvement is not within our responsibilities.' 'We will remain a well-disciplined and professional military force,' he added.

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His remarks were made as the 24-person group Senate remained paralysed due to an ongoing dispute over leadership, with two senators each declaring themselves as the leader of the chamber and opposing groups claiming authority over its management.

The conflict has halted legislative progress, postponed the advancement of five generals and other military personnel, and increased tensions regarding the Senate's anticipated consideration of the Vice President. Sara Duterte-Carpio 's impeachment trial.

It has also taken place amid an escalating conflict involving the president Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and Duterte-Carpio, his 2022 vice-presidential candidate, whose partnership has disintegrated into the nation's most significant political divide.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who previously served as head of the national police and has strong connections within the military, called on the armed forces and national police on Tuesday to exercise caution.

Lacson stated that unprincipled, ambitious factions and those seeking instability aim to exploit the chaos or circumstances and might attempt to deceive some of our armed forces members.

I'm not claiming that our military personnel lack professionalism. However, during times of chaos, they might confuse unethical organizations with their allies.

Lacson stated that he felt the discomfort within the military was connected to a press event organized last week by 18 former military officials inside the Senate complex, during which they expressed concerns about the army and criticized the Marcos government.

He stated that both events seemed "related" and were part of larger initiatives aimed at undermining the administration.

Brawner acknowledged there was tension among the members, but described it as a combination of professional dissatisfaction and worries about the nation's political situation.

"Regarding the murmurs within the military, it's only normal for some of our staff to feel disappointed due to various factors like not receiving promotions or failing to secure their preferred roles, along with frustrations arising from the current political situation in our nation," Brawner stated.

However, these issues would not involve the military in political conflicts, he stated. "We have come a long way from the era of military adventures. Our soldiers are now more conscious of their appropriate roles."

Some influential individuals have encouraged the armed forces to choose a side in the intense political conflict between Marcos and Duterte-Carpio, an alliance that ended when she stepped down from her role in the presidential administration in June 2024. Following this, she openly warned that if something happened to her, the president, his spouse, and the Speaker of the House would be targeted—statements that formed part of the accusations used during her impeachment proceedings.

In November of last year, former air force commander Major General Romeo Poquiz headed a group of former military officials who openly urged troops to stop backing their top leader, Marcos, and instead pledge allegiance to Duterte-Carpio.

Brawner stated that these kinds of requests did not alter the military's duty to remain neutral in partisan politics, despite soldiers personally observing the nation's political unrest.

Soldiers are monitoring the political situation, and personally, they feel worried, yet their responsibility requires each one of us to stay away from party politics. We refrain from speaking openly. We simply carry out our tasks.

A top-level senior military official, who requested confidentiality, expressed a comparable sentiment, stating that the armed forces will stay neutral and adhere to the established hierarchy.

The officer stated to This Week in Asia, 'We obey instructions and remain dedicated to our mission of safeguarding our nation.'

He characterized internal complaints as "minor," noting that a working promotion process and a complaint procedure were available.

Numerous criticisms currently spreading were "merely partisan political chatter," he stated, blaming one political party for attempting to persuade troops to speak or behave in a way that made their movement seem supported by the military.

Security fears

The Senate leadership fight has increased the tension regarding the chamber's management of Duterte-Carpio's impeachment process, as opposing groups have also been fighting over control of its administration, funding, and security measures.

The heart of the conflict involves Alan Peter Cayetano, a strong supporter of Duterte who asserts he is still the Senate president, and Sherwin Gatchalian, the senator acknowledged by the Marcos government and the House of Representatives as the interim Senate president.

The group led by Gatchalian announced on June 3 that all Senate positions were empty and appointed him as "Acting Senate President," whereas Cayetano has declined to relinquish his role.

The conflict has divided the Senate into opposing factions, with each side asserting control over a body where a simple majority can remove all leadership positions, yet at least 13 votes are required to elect a Senate president.

As of Wednesday, the Cayetano group numbered 11 members, whereas the Gatchalian faction consisted of 12.

On Wednesday, Gatchalian stated that the state-run Land Bank of the Philippines has acknowledged him as the authorized person responsible for issuing Senate checks, which he referred to as evidence of his "functional authority" over the committee.

"The most evident indication of his leadership is my administration and oversight of the Senate. The Land Bank has already finished transferring the signatures, so we will now proceed to sign the checks to deduct funds from the Senate account," Gatchalian said to journalists.

I believe this serves as obvious proof that we maintain authority over the Senate.

Gatchalian additionally directed Senate staff to operate remotely and enhanced security measures, stating that NBI Chief Melvin Matibag had cautioned that "an individual may cause unrest within the Senate and could be carrying weapons."

Cayetano ignored the alert in a Facebook post, alleging that the NBI was "obviously biased" and "involved in violence inside these premises."

He was talking about a May 13 shooting event within the Senate where security personnel opened fire on NBI agents who they alleged were attempting to gain entry to apprehend a senator. Ronald Dela Rosa regarding his supposed involvement in the International Criminal Court's charges of crimes against humanity related to the detention of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Former national police chief and staunch Duterte supporter Dela Rosa has disappeared.

Cayetano's comment was posted on Facebook but did not appear on the official Senate website, which currently lists Gatchalian as "Acting Senate President."

Exclusive: Yonsei Med Director’s $240M Allowance Triggers Outcry

A dispute has arisen among faculty members at Yonsei Medical Center, which manages Severance Hospital, following the disclosure that its director received an additional payment of 240 million South Korean won earlier this year, just after a controversy involving hospital management occurred.

As per reports from the healthcare sector released on the 10th, Yonsei Medical Center distributed a combined amount of 700 million South Korean won in bonuses to nine senior executives during January and February of this year. Director Geum Ki-chang was awarded 240 million South Korean won, with four hospital directors receiving between 60 million and 120 million South Korean won each, and four heads of departments/offices getting 40 million South Korean won apiece.

In order to achieve this, the center introduced new internal rules and categorized the payments as "hospital management allowance" and "administrative responsibility allowance." Nevertheless, certain senior hospital administrators allegedly contributed the entire sum back to the hospital right after becoming aware of the payments.

The recent disclosure has led academics to express worries. Last month, the faculty committee at Yonsei University School of Medicine convened and asked for verification of the details from the hospital.

A lecturer from Severance Hospital stated, "Throughout the administrative dispute in healthcare, 13,000 staff came together, rotated shifts for security duties, and voluntarily took unpaid time off to manage the emergency. However, according to reports, the hospital director supposedly received a 'personal incentive' (bonus based on performance). Such an occurrence has never been seen before during the medical facility's 140 years of operation."

The hospital responded by saying, "This was not a 'performance incentive' but an 'additional payment,' which was lawfully provided following established rules and processes. The wages and additional payments for the head of Yonsei Medical Center and others were less compared to leading hospitals, so extra support was needed. These figures were set after taking into account financial performance and salary structures at rival institutions."

It stated, "Nevertheless, we recognize the comments indicating that 'sufficient input from various members should have been collected' concerning the allowance. We will take feedback into account and implement enhancements moving forward."

Nightmare in the Deep: Employee Savaged by Shark While Snorkeling Near Naval Base

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A horrifying situation developed for an employee at a Florida A naval base was the scene on Monday when a shark disrupted his snorkeling session, causing alarming cries that were recorded on camera.

A civilian worker stationed at the Naval Warfare Center in Panama City was swimming near the coast at 11:45 am on Monday when he encountered a shark, as reported by Naval Support Activity.

A bystander recorded the incident, showing the victim yelling "help" as he struggled in the water. As he tried to flee from the sea creature, a fin surfaced from beneath the waves.

Commander Tristan Oliveria told NBC News that the worker was scuba diving during his midday pause when the incident occurred.

The deceased remains unidentified. The Navy base stated that the worker suffered significant arm injuries, yet he was ultimately helped by bystanders.

No additional injuries were mentioned. The worker was taken to a nearby hospital with severe health issues.

A 911 call made during the event showed an anxious bystander informing the dispatcher that the victim's arm "was there, but it isn't," in response to whether body parts had been cut off.

A video depicting the terrifying assault spread rapidly across social media, prompting one individual to write, "My deepest fear has become reality. It’s exactly like the opening scene from Jaws. This is truly horrifying. His life was completely altered in an instant. I'm sending my thoughts and prayers to this young man."

Requests for a complete healing," one person added. "A frightening way to spend midday.

"That was an intense midday break. Just one swim. Just one bite. Everything changed from that moment," said another person.

The horrifying assault marks the second one in the Florida Panhandle over the past week. The event took place only a few days after a bull shark attacked a fisherman, the Pensacola News Journal reported.

Rescue personnel and first aid workers reached the location where a bull shark attack occurred, and the angler was transported by air to a nearby medical facility with injuries that were not immediately dangerous.

"He caught a bull shark, then made his way to the shore and attempted to remove the hook, only to be bitten on the thigh," said Dave Greenwood, chief of water safety for Escambia County, to the source.

Although there were consecutive assaults, specialists have warned that encounters with sharks are rare.

Dr. John Carlson, a research biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shared information with a local CBS station, WJHG which means sharks travel to coastal regions such as the Florida Panhandle to have their young around this time of year.

"The truth is, the chances are extremely small; you're more probable to get hurt using your lawn mower, you're more likely to be bitten by a dog, there's a higher chance of you being struck by a TV than experiencing a shark attack," he said when questioned about the incidents.

Carlson advised swimmers to stay away from murky water and to refrain from entering the ocean during early morning or late evening hours, as this increases the likelihood of sharks confusing people with their usual food sources.

The Daily Mail has contacted the Navy Warfighting Development Command for information regarding the latest incident.

KITAKYUSHU — The sale of kangaroo-themed trading cards, which started this spring in a major local park home to around 350 kangaroos, has exceeded expectations, leading to a new batch being released.

The individual responsible stated, 'We would be pleased if this could enhance supporters' excitement.'

Zoo staff from the municipal Hibikinada Ryokuchi "Green Park," situated in Wakamatsu Ward of the city, suggested the idea of trading cards. This park, which offers multiple attractions, houses the largest number of kangaroos in Japan and attracts many frequent visitors, including devoted kangaroo enthusiasts who often visit just to catch sight of their preferred animals.

The park houses approximately 350 animals belonging to four different species: eastern gray kangaroos, yellow-footed rock-wallabies, common wallaroos, and brush-tailed rat-kangaroos. The collectible cards showcase 20 of the park’s 93 eastern grey kangaroos, including 10 male and 10 female individuals.

The facility started offering postcards in 12 different designs showcasing kangaroos captured through photographs taken by zoo staff back in September of last year. However, following a suggestion from one of the keepers who said, "It might be intriguing to also offer trading cards," these were launched earlier this April. These card-size items are colored prints displaying an image of each animal’s face along with their name, date of birth, notable features, and preferred diet.

Twenty kangaroos were primarily selected from the animals preferred by the keepers. Although their typical life expectancy in captivity is approximately 15 years, the group includes individuals spanning a broad age spectrum, ranging from the nation's eldest at 21 to those as youthful as 5.

Selling started on April 4, aiming for 200 cards within two months. This objective was achieved ahead of schedule, as 247 cards were sold by May 6. As sales remain strong, a second batch of 20 kangaroos will be released on June 13.

A 38-year-old zookeeper supervisor named Shogo Uemura, who knows the facial features and names of each eastern grey kangaroo at the facility, stated, "Every individual has a distinct appearance and character, so I encourage people to focus on each one and choose a preferred kangaroo. Our objective is to issue trading cards featuring all 93 eastern gray kangaroos in five installments."

Trading cards can be purchased at the gift store located close to the entryway of the kangaroo exhibit. One individual card is priced at 100 yen (approximately 62 cents). Sets containing five cards are available for 400 yen (roughly $2.50), while packs with ten cards cost 800 yen (around $5.00). For further information, reach out to Green Park via phone number 093-741-5545 (in Japanese).

(By Takeshi Saito, Kyushu News Department)

Gold drops sharply as markets react

Vietnam gold prices continued to fall on Thursday, reaching the lowest point since September 28, even as international prices bounced back from a six-month low.

The Saigon Jewelry Company reported a decrease of 1.66% in the price of its gold bars and rings, now at VND136 million (US$5,166.88) per tael. Overall, gold rates have fallen by 11% this year within Vietnam.

Gold prices worldwide recovered from a six-month trough on Thursday due to covering of short positions, as investors awaited an important U.S. inflation data release that might provide further insight into the Federal Reserve's monetary strategy. Reuters reported.

Gold prices increased by 0.4% to reach $4,089.12 per ounce, following a drop to its lowest level since November 21 at $4,022.09 during the session. U.S. gold contracts for August shipment declined 0.5% to $4,111.10.

"With prices rapidly approaching $4,000, this is clearly a key point where supporters might rush to secure gains or encourage struggling buyers to return," noted Matt Simpson, a senior analyst at StoneX.

The U.S. dollar index did not make significant progress after Wednesday's CPI data. Therefore, provided there are no unexpected issues in the PPI - gold might experience a short-term technical rebound.

Dollar Climbs in Black Market Amid Turmoil

The American currency increased slightly compared to the Vietnamese đồng in the unofficial market early Thursday.

unofficial currency exchanges priced the dollar at 0.15% more, reaching VND26,400. Vietcombank maintained its rate steady at VND26,410.

The U.S. dollar experienced fluctuations on Thursday due to fresh American military actions in the Middle East, which affected market confidence. Additionally, a rise in May’s U.S. consumer inflation to a three-year peak left investors concerned about the Federal Reserve's approach to monetary policy. Reuters reported.

This week, the foreign exchange market has remained calm, with traders considering the unstable truce in the Middle East alongside an ongoing series of retaliatory attacks between the United States and Iran, which has weakened expectations for a short-term resolution.

The euro reached $1.1553, moving slightly away from the 10-week low it recorded last week, although it has lost much of its increase following an agreement for a truce at the beginning of April. Attention will focus on the European Central Bank’s monetary policy meeting later today as it appears set to increase interest rates to address rising prices.

Sterling stood at £1.33905. The dollar index, used to gauge the U.S. currency versus six key rivals, dropped to 99.903 following reports from U.S. forces stating they have finished attacks on several locations in Iran.

Vietnam's Hidden Beach Cracks Global Top 100 for First Time

Soi Sim, an almost untouched shoreline within Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, has made its debut on the list of the world's 100 most stunning beaches.

Situated on the island with the same name within the core area of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, this beach was the sole Vietnamese location to secure a spot on the most recent Beach 100 list published by the U.S.-owned Corona Beach 100 on June 8.

In contrast to several more famous coastal spots in Vietnam, Soi Sim Beach stays relatively unknown due to its remote setting and limited tourist infrastructure.

The 2026 edition showcases shores from 22 nations and incorporates 27 new entries that are appearing for the first time in the yearly selection.

"Our aim is for Beach 100 to inspire individuals to rediscover their connection with nature and explore the incredible shorelines that Earth provides," stated a member of the group.

The shores were chosen according to factors such as visual attractiveness, environmental significance, historical importance, and opportunities for engaging with natural settings. The list also emphasizes the environments that contribute to the charm of these locations.

Soi Sim Beach. Image provided by the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu Management Board

Soi Sim Island covers approximately 8.7 hectares and is located about 12 kilometers away from Tuan Chau International Cruise Port. Tourists usually arrive at the island through a boat trip lasting around 90 minutes.

The island is temporarily not open to visitors while it experiences development and improvements to its facilities.

One notable aspect of Soi Sim is its well-preserved natural environment.

The island hosts regions of untouched forests which shelter many native plant species located within Ha Long Bay.

The Top 100 Beaches list includes famous locations from Southeast Asia like Alegria, Cloud 9, and Nacpan in the Philippines, Koh Mak and Railay in Thailand, and Padar Island and Pink Beach in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia.