Without naming China directly, Marcos said his administration would continue defending the arbitration award, which invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims over much of the South China Sea. He described the ruling as a final and legally binding decision under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and pledged to uphold it through peaceful and lawful means.

“Your government will do all that is necessary to continue upholding this award, utilizing every peaceful and legal means available to the republic against any attempt, foreign or domestic, to undermine this achievement,” Marcos said.

He added that Filipinos “do not yield” to conquerors.

Marcos Reaffirms Support for Arbitration Ruling

Marcos’ remarks came amid continued maritime disputes between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, where the two countries have repeatedly confronted each other over competing territorial claims.

The Philippines initiated international arbitration in 2013 following a prolonged standoff with Chinese vessels in disputed waters. In 2016, the tribunal ruled that China’s expansive claims had no legal basis under international law.

China refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings and continues to reject the ruling.

Territorial confrontations have persisted in recent years among Chinese, Philippine and Vietnamese coast guard and fishing vessels in the strategically important waterway, which is also claimed in part by Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan and serves as one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.

China Daily Editorial Sparks Diplomatic Protest

Marcos’ speech followed a diplomatic dispute triggered by an editorial video and cartoons published by the Chinese state-owned newspaper China Daily, which portrayed Filipinos as monkeys while criticizing the arbitration ruling.

The Philippine government condemned the AI-generated images as racist and dehumanizing, demanded their removal and summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to the presidential palace in Manila last week.

China’s Foreign Ministry later distanced itself from the publication. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the editorial did not represent the Chinese government’s official position but reiterated Beijing’s longstanding rejection of the arbitration decision, describing it as “a political farce disguised as a legal proceeding” and maintaining that the award is illegal, null and void.

Marcos Says Corruption Charges Will Proceed

Turning to domestic issues, Marcos disclosed that a special anti-corruption prosecutor is preparing to file charges against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, his cousin and longtime political ally.

Although Marcos did not identify Romualdez by name during the address, he said no personal relationship would shield anyone from accountability.

“This is painful to me, but we have to do the right thing,” Marcos said. “I’m not a president for my family. I’m not a president for my friend.”

Romualdez, who resigned as House speaker last year but remains a member of the House of Representatives, denied any wrongdoing and said he is prepared to defend himself against any charges.

Government and congressional investigations have linked Romualdez and several lawmakers to alleged kickback schemes involving flood control projects.

Marcos said authorities have recovered or frozen nearly 25 billion pesos ($410 million) in cash and assets connected to suspects in the broader investigation, with part of those funds already returned to the national treasury.

President Raises Prospect of Nuclear Energy

Marcos also highlighted energy security as a national priority, citing higher fuel prices linked to the conflict involving Iran and their impact on Filipino households.

He said the Philippines should reconsider developing nuclear power as part of its long-term energy strategy, while emphasizing that any future program must meet strict safety standards and receive public support.

“We will make sure it’s safe,” Marcos said. “We will also make sure that we can explain well to the public the good benefits of nuclear power.”

The Philippines completed the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant during the 1970s, but the facility was never commissioned because of safety concerns, corruption allegations and changing government policy.

Marcos said any future decision on nuclear energy would prioritize public safety while strengthening the country’s long-term energy security.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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The shooting occurred at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where both the suspects and victims were enrolled. Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, were taken into custody following the attack.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident and directed law enforcement agencies to strengthen security at schools, workplaces, and other public spaces, according to Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.

Investigation Focuses on Motive and Firearms Access

Police said investigators are working to determine what led to the shooting.

During initial questioning, the two suspects reportedly told authorities they had experienced bullying at school, Capoy said. He did not provide additional details regarding those claims.

Officials stated that neither suspect had a criminal record. Authorities are also examining how the firearms were obtained.

According to police, one of the teenagers used a 9mm pistol that had belonged to an aunt who serves as a police officer. The officer is now under investigation. The second suspect was armed with a .38-caliber revolver.

Capoy said the students were able to enter the campus with the weapons because only one security guard was monitoring multiple entrances and exits at the school, which has more than 1,500 students.

Attack Spread Across Multiple Classrooms

Police said the gunmen entered more than one classroom during the attack.

“The suspects barged into two rooms because after the shooting in the first, the children scampered and the suspects apparently ran after some victims into another room,” Capoy told reporters.

Most of those killed or wounded were female students, according to police. Investigators recovered at least 40 shell casings from the scene.

Videos circulated online appeared to show students sheltering beneath desks while gunfire echoed outside their classroom. Other footage showed frightened students leaving the campus, some embracing one another as they fled.

One suspect was apprehended on school grounds shortly after the shooting. The second fled the campus and hid in a nearby residence before being located by police after local residents alerted authorities.

Government Response

The Philippine government has pledged a full investigation into the attack.

Castro said President Marcos was deeply affected by the incident and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families.

“The president was saddened by this incident. Anybody, especially the parents of the victims, will feel sad and terrified,” Castro said.

Police have urged members of the public to cooperate with investigators and provide any information that may assist the ongoing inquiry.

Following the investigation, the two suspects are expected to be turned over to government welfare authorities because they are minors.

Under Philippine law enacted in 2006, children under the age of 15 are generally exempt from criminal prosecution. Authorities must also determine whether a minor understood the nature and consequences of an offense when assessing criminal liability.

Rare School Violence in the Philippines

While firearm-related crimes remain a persistent concern in the Philippines, often linked to the circulation of unlicensed weapons, shootings inside schools are relatively uncommon.

A previous high-profile campus shooting occurred in 2022 when an armed man opened fire at a university in the Manila metropolitan area ahead of a graduation ceremony. Authorities said the attack killed a former town mayor and two other people. The suspect was later arrested.

The latest shooting has renewed scrutiny of school security procedures and access to firearms as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Tags: Philippines, Tacloban City, School Shooting, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Philippine Police, Public Safety, Education, Firearms

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Published: October 10, 2025, 23:30 EDT

Two Major Quakes Rattle the Southern Philippines

Two powerful offshore earthquakes struck southern Philippines hours apart on Friday, killing at least seven people, setting off landslides, and prompting mass evacuations amid tsunami warnings. The tremors, which originated off the coast of Davao Oriental, were among the strongest to hit the region this year.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that the first quake, measuring magnitude 7.4, occurred around 43 kilometers (27 miles) east of Manay town. A second tremor, magnitude 6.8, followed several hours later in nearly the same area.

Separate but Related Quakes Along the Philippine Trench

Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol confirmed that both earthquakes were triggered by movements along the Philippine Trench, a deep-sea fault line known for producing strong seismic activity.

“The second one is a separate earthquake, which we call a doublet quake,” Bacolcol told the Associated Press. “Both happened in the same area but have different strengths and epicenters.”

He added that the second nighttime quake may have further weakened structures already damaged by the earlier one, raising fears of additional collapses or landslides.

At Least Seven Dead and Hundreds Injured

Authorities confirmed that at least seven people were killed as a result of the first earthquake. Two hospital patients in Davao Oriental reportedly died of heart attacks during the tremor, while one resident in Mati City was fatally struck by falling debris.

Three miners were also killed and several others injured in a landslide triggered by the quake in Pantukan, a gold-mining village in Davao de Oro province. Another fatality was reported in the port city of Davao, where hundreds sustained injuries from falling debris and collapsing walls.

“The scale of destruction is extensive, and we are still conducting search and rescue operations,” said Ednar Dayanghirang, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) for Davao Region.

Widespread Structural Damage Across the Region

Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy administrator of the OCD, said several buildings sustained visible cracks, including Davao International Airport, though flights continued as scheduled.

Eyewitness Jun Saavedra, a disaster volunteer, described the quake’s intensity: “I was driving my car when it suddenly swayed. Power lines were swinging wildly, and people ran out of buildings as the ground shook violently.”

Saavedra added that several schools suffered damage. “We’ve had earthquakes in the past, but this was the strongest. About 50 students were taken to hospitals for fainting and dizziness after the tremor,” he said.

Schools and Offices Closed, Thousands Evacuated

Local authorities in Davao City, home to around 5.4 million people, suspended classes and government work. In nearby Governor Generoso town—roughly 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the epicenter—all levels of schooling were canceled as a precaution.

Evacuation centers across Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro have since been opened to accommodate displaced residents, according to local government units.

Tsunami Scare Prompts Coastal Evacuations

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu reported minor sea-level fluctuations along the coasts of the Philippines and Indonesia following the first quake. Although the initial tsunami alert caused panic in several provinces, the warning was lifted roughly two hours later.

Phivolcs confirmed that small waves—measuring only a few centimeters—were detected, and no significant tsunami occurred.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) also recorded waves of 3.5 to 17 centimeters (1.3 to 6.7 inches) in North Sulawesi province, affecting several coastal districts.

President Marcos Orders Immediate Disaster Response

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to assess the damage and mobilize relief efforts. “Rescue teams and relief operations are on standby and will be deployed as soon as conditions are deemed safe,” he said.

The president, who has faced multiple natural disasters in recent months—including typhoons and another deadly earthquake in September—stressed that “saving lives and restoring critical infrastructure” remain the top priorities.

The Philippines’ Seismic and Climatic Vulnerability

The Philippines sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to tectonic activity. On September 30, a 6.9-magnitude quake struck Cebu province, killing at least 74 people and displacing thousands.

The archipelago also experiences an average of 20 typhoons annually, making disaster preparedness a core government function.

Experts say the proximity of populated areas to fault zones like the Philippine Trench and the Cotabato Fault poses a continuous risk of major seismic events.

Regional Impact and Ongoing Monitoring

Authorities warned residents to remain alert for aftershocks, which could continue for several days. Engineers are inspecting bridges, airports, and schools across Davao Oriental and neighboring provinces to assess structural integrity.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported a separate magnitude-6.0 quake off Papua New Guinea on Friday, centered in the Bismarck Sea, roughly 414 kilometers (257 miles) northeast of Lae. No damage or tsunami was reported there.

Relief Efforts Underway

Disaster response teams, including soldiers and civilian volunteers, are assisting in clearing debris and providing first aid. The Department of Social Welfare and Development has started distributing food packs and temporary shelters to affected communities.

Health officials are monitoring hospitals for a possible surge in trauma cases, while local governments are conducting rapid assessments to identify unsafe structures.

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Source: AP News – Two powerful quakes strike off southern Philippines, killing at least 7 people

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