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Tonight, the Philippine Commission on Higher Education vows to cooperate in a looming probe into the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan Province.

The Philippine Justice Department asks the Timor-Leste government to send fugitive lawmaker Arnulfo Tevez Jr. back to Manila.

The Philippine government prepares contingency measures for Filipinos in the Middle East if the violence there worsens further.

And three Filipinos are confirmed killed in historic flooding in the United Arab Emirates.

Good evening, I'm Tony Velasquez. And I'm Tia Gutierrez.

On our broadcast tonight...

Tonight, several Philippine lawmakers are accused by China of stoking tensions between Manila and Beijing.

This follows calls to investigate the increased presence of Chinese nationals in areas hosting joint military facilities of the Philippines and the U.S.

Here is tonight's top story.

Philippine Senator Risa Honteveros will call for a probe into the reported presence of Chinese nationals near EDCA sites.

The senator calls it a national security concern.

That must be addressed.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier said it will look into the influx of thousands of Chinese college students in the province of Cagayan.

Naval Base Camilo Osillas in Santa Ana, Cagayan was named as one of the four new sites for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA.

But it's not just Cagayan.

According to security analyst Chester Cabalza, other key strategic areas like Subic are also seeing an influx of Chinese students.

Subic is fronting the West Philippine Sea also.

So it's not only exclusive in Cagayan, but I think in some of the key strategic locations in Luzon basically.

They're not our enemies, we just have a strategic problem with them in the West Philippine Sea.

We have to put that into context, but at the same time, they should be transparent also in their businesses with us.

But the Chinese embassy in Manila brushes off the allegations.

It slams Philippine lawmakers for their malicious claims over the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan province.

The embassy says the lawmakers are hyping up maritime issues to serve their political agenda and self-interest.

It said these lawmakers' supposed concerns are intended to incite suspicion and hatred against China.

Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba for his part asserts the Chinese students in the province entered the country legally,

with visas issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Invitation extended to our foreign students is a program of the national government

in response to our president's call for good relations with our neighbors.

I don't want them to disappear in the midst of the good relationship.

They have contributed so much to our local economy.

He also said there is no concrete basis to link the presence of Chinese students to the ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea between Manila and Beijing.

I want to apologize because I feel that they should not be dragged in things like this unless there are complaints against them.

In a statement, Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero de Vera said,

based on their records,

there are no Chinese students in local colleges and universities in Cagayan province,

but there is a significant number of Chinese students enrolled in St. Paul University Philippines in Tuguegarao City.

He added,

SPUP has been granted autonomy by CHED.

It is also authorized by the Bureau of Immigration to accept foreign students.

De Vera clarified they have not received complaints regarding any violations committed by the university.

He added that,

The security concerns will have to be investigated by security agencies, and they are willing to cooperate.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines insists its joint military drills next week with the U.S. and France are not directed toward any country.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry earlier warned the drills will lead to greater insecurity in the West Philippine Sea.

The ministry also urged Manila to stop making maritime provocations.

AFP Spokesperson, Colonel Margaret Padilla also said,

The annual military drills have been going on for several years,

and is aimed at enhancing cooperation,

fostering training opportunities and strengthening regional stability.

More than a dozen countries will observe the military exercises,

among them Brunei, Indonesia, Japan and Canada.

The Philippine Justice Department asks Timor-Leste to immediately extradite

or deport fugitive ex-Congressman Arnolfo Tevez Jr.

The request was made following reports

the former lawmaker's son had offered $2,000 for Timorese Police

to ensure his father's safety in prison.

Tevez is in pre-trial detention after his arrest in March.

He's facing several murder charges

for the deaths of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel de Gamo

and nine other persons.

A former Philippine lawmaker files a petition

asking the Supreme Court to nullify a voting technology contract

between the country's Election Commission and a South Korean firm.

Adrian Ayalin reports.

Former Kalaokan City 2nd District Representative Edgar Eriza

went to the Supreme Court to file a petition for certiorari

with a prayer for temporary restraining order

against the Commission on Elections and MIRU systems.

Eriza stressed the Commission and MIRU systems

violated the procurement law

and the automated elections law

when they entered into the almost 18 billion peso contract

for the 2025 automated polls.

Maraming red flags.

Sanay lang sila sa mga authoritarian governments.

It's a robbery in progress.

Tingin ko kung mga 10 billion lang

maho-hold up ang mga Pilipino dito.

Nire-require po ng ating automated elections law

na bago maglabas ng terms of reference,

ang COMELEC,

bago maglabas ng bidding documents,

ang COMELEC,

kailangan mag-convene muna

ang Advisory Council.

Ngayon po,

naglabas po ng terms of reference

ang COMELEC

nang hindi po nakoconvene

ang Advisory Council.

Eriza also questioned the use of prototype machines

for the upcoming elections.

He, however, clarified Smartmatic,

another company which lost in the bidding process,

is not behind the petition.

The petition came after the Supreme Court's

said the COMELEC committed grave abuse of discretion

when it disqualified Smartmatic during the bidding process.

Eriza, however, emphasized that Smartmatic machines,

which are already owned by the government,

can be used for the 2025 polls.

Atin ito, in 2022, November,

sinertify ng COMELEC that the 97,000 machines

are all in good working condition.

Gumagana pa.

Pagkatapos,

in less than a year,

in less than a year,

diniklara nila unserviceable.

E samantalang gumagana pa

yung warranty ng Smartmatic.

The most logical to do

para makatipid ng Pilipinas,

hindi pinagawa nila libre.

COMELEC chairperson George Garcia said

he welcomes the petition

and they are ready to respond to the allegations.

Hindi naman natin lahat

masasatisfy ang lahat ng mga mamamayan

ng ating bansa.

Ang importante,

kaya namin i-defend ang aming ginawa

sapagkat transparent,

public,

at consistent and pursuant to the law

ang ating pong inobserve

doon sa ating procurement.

He also reiterated that Smartmatic machines

can no longer be used for the 2025 elections.

Unserviceable na po

yung mga machines na iyan

sapagkat meron na po siyang digital lines.

ABS-CBN is still trying to get a statement

from Miru Systems.

Aside from the petition

before the Supreme Court,

Eriza said he might file impeachment cases

against COMELEC officials.

Garcia said he will face a complaint

once it is filed.

Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News.

The Philippines and New Zealand have agreed

to deepen their defense ties

during the official visit of New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to the Philippines.

In a joint statement Thursday evening,

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

and Prime Minister Luxon acknowledged

the strong existing bilateral defense cooperation

between the two countries

as they also committed to further deepen it

by exploring new frameworks of cooperation.

This includes signing of a mutual logistics supporting agreement

and the possible conclusion

of a status of visiting forces agreement

by the end of 2024.

In their joint press conference,

President Marcos said that the two countries

are eyeing to institutionalize

a comprehensive maritime security cooperation

that will guide the two countries' respective

law enforcement and civilian agencies

in addressing common threats at sea.

Our comprehensive maritime cooperation

is envisioned to deal with a wide range of issues

from piracy to illegal, unregulated,

and unreported fishing,

terrorism in the maritime domain,

contraband smuggling,

wildlife trafficking, amongst others.

President Marcos also said

that the Philippines welcomes

New Zealand's commitment to advocate

for the peaceful resolution of disputes

in accordance with the international law,

including the United Nations Convention

on the Law of the Sea.

Your support, Mr. Prime Minister,

and that of the New Zealand government,

strengthens the overarching principles

on which our continued march to prosperity

and regional security are anchored.

We are delighted to acknowledge

the intent of our friends in New Zealand

to join our efforts towards a comprehensive

maritime security for our region.

The two leaders also expressed interest

to develop stronger economic ties

and acknowledged the ongoing cooperation

in the agriculture sector.

Likewise, the two leaders committed

to further eliminate trade barriers

and to utilize the benefits

of free trade agreements.

Prime Minister Locson recognized

the Philippines as the fastest growing economy

in Southeast Asia.

We are both determined to grow two-way trade

by at least 50% in the next few years.

And it's great to see bilateral trade

between New Zealand and the Philippines

not only recover to pre-pandemic levels

but continue to increase.

The two leaders also recognized

opportunities for New Zealand

and Philippine companies

to work together in the areas

of agriculture, technology and innovation,

agribusiness, renewable energy,

education and skills,

digital infrastructure, among others.

They also discussed climate change

and the efforts of the two nations

to contribute to the goals

of the Paris Agreement,

which is an international treaty

on climate change.

Joyce Balancho, ABS-CBN News.

Philippine First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos

bared her feelings about her strained relationship

with Vice President Sara Duterte.

She spoke to broadcaster Anthony Taberna

on his YouTube channel.

The First Lady said she was always kind

to the Vice President,

but she said Duterte crossed the line.

The First Lady admitted she was hurt

when the Vice President attended

a Davao City prayer rally

and laughed when her father,

former President Rodrigo Duterte,

accused President Marcos Jr.

of taking drugs.

The First Lady pointed out

that her husband's 2022 election rival,

former Vice President Leni Robredo,

never did that.

There have been speculations

of a rift between the two women

after the First Lady seemingly ignored

Vice President Duterte

during a send-off ceremony last month.

Dangerously high temperatures

are forecast in the Philippines next month.

The country's weather agency says

parts of the Philippines may experience

a heat index of 52 degrees Celsius

or higher in the coming weeks.

It says this could put the public

at risk of heat strokes.

Up next, Israel says it will make its own decision

on defending itself against Iran.

More stories when The World Tonight returns.

The World Tonight is brought to you by

the U.S. Department of State.

The U.S. Department of State.

For Back on the World tonight, the Philippine government says it's ready to bring home Filipinos in Israel as tensions rise in the Middle East.

But it has yet to receive any request for emergency repatriation.

Vivian Gulia has this story.

Around 50 more overseas Filipino workers in Israel are set to be repatriated on May 9, according to the Department of Migrant Workers.

DMW officer-in-charge Hans Kakdak says this batch signed up for repatriation before Iran launched a retaliatory attack on Israel last weekend.

So far, the Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv has yet to receive emergency repatriation requests due to Iran's strikes on Israel.

But the government is open to accommodating more OFWs.

Who wish to return home?

Other than normal routine repatriations, kasi nawalan na ng trabaho, wala ng employer, yung kababayan natin,

no Filipino has requested for repatriation dahil natatakot po sila sa rockets ng Iran.

And then, no similar requests for emergency repatriation from our embassy in Tehran, in Iran.

My own personal observation is that our Filipinos in Israel,

are safe and they're calm.

When we had that town hall last Tuesday night,

they all expressed the view that they are safe where they are.

During a congressional briefing, the DFA, DMW, and other relevant government agencies assured the House panel

that contingency plans are in place to respond to overseas Filipinos in the Middle East

in case a security situation worsens following Iran's attack.

The DFA says the plan has already been disseminated to Filipino communities,

in these areas, but it is kept confidential from the general public for now.

We do not want these details to fall into the wrong hands because we need to protect the escape routes,

the contact points, the airport routes, the sea routes of our nationals.

They are always done in coordination with the host government.

Israel remains under Alert Level 2 despite the developments last weekend.

This restricts it.

This restriction has taken a toll on the deployment of Filipinos to Israel

but the government has yet to call for voluntary repatriation.

More than 800 overseas Filipino workers have been repatriated so far

since the Israel-Gaza war broke out in October last year.

But Migranta International raised concern on the emergency hotline for Filipinos in Israel

Since the war began in Gaza,

we have been receiving reports from our chapters in the middle east

that first of all,

these major Ri- sign reports

that our borders are seems of power,

are Forward Re 몰�ings.

sorry for interrupts.

Wala nang maayos na hotline.

Apologies po kung mayroong pagkakataon na hindi nasagot yung telepono.

But we assure our community here that we have another way to call us just in case wala pong hindi po available yung telepono.

This includes the embassy's social media page as well as through the leaders of the Filipino communities.

Mandap meanwhile notes it is not feasible to build a centralized bomb shelter for Filipinos in Israel

because people do not usually have enough time to travel long distances once the alarms are sounded.

There are some 30,000 Filipinos in Israel and about 2,000 Filipinos in Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked visiting foreign ministers of Germany and Britain for their support

but stressed that Israel would reach its own decisions on security.

I thank our friends for their support in the defense of Israel and I say this,

both support in words and support in actions.

They also have all kinds of suggestions and advice.

I appreciate it but I want to make it clear.

We will make our own decisions and the state of Israel will do everything necessary to defend itself.

This comes as world powers strive to prevent a wider outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.

The situation is very...

It's very concerning.

It's right to show solidarity with Israel.

It's right to have made our views clear about what should happen next

but it's clear the Israelis are making a decision to act.

We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible.

Cameron and Germany's foreign minister met Netanyahu

days after Iran's retaliatory missile and drone attacks on Israel.

Vivian Gulia, ABS-CBN News.

Three Filipinos are confirmed.

Killed in massive flooding in the United Arab Emirates.

The head of the Migrant Workers Department, Hans Kakdak, says

two of the victims died of suffocation inside their vehicle.

A third victim died after his vehicle fell into a sinkhole at the height of the flooding.

Kakdak assured full support and assistance to the families of the victims.

The UAE received a year's worth of rain in just one day.

The heavy rainfall killed 19 people in neighboring Oman.

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote this weekend

on an aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific.

The House Appropriations Committee unveiled a measure

proposing over $95 billion in security assistance.

There's new urgency to pass the bill after Iran's first direct assault on Israel over the weekend.

House Speaker Mike Johnson says he's giving congressmen 72 hours to review the measure.

A vote on the bill's final passage is expected.

The bill is expected to be held Saturday evening.

The Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate rejects a Republican bid

to oust the Biden administration's top border official.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was accused of failing to enforce immigration laws

and lying to Congress.

Mayorkas denied both charges.

The Senate swiftly disposed of the two articles of impeachment

and rejected them as being unconstitutional.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump vows to get tough on crime

if he returns to the White House.

Trump told his supporters in New York

how he would address rising crime rates in the city.

A North America correspondent, Len Almadin Thornhill, has the details.

Former President Donald Trump was in Harlem on Tuesday

to visit a convenience store to speak to workers

and officials about New York City's crime.

Trump, who is on trial in Manhattan,

charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records

for his alleged role in a hush money scheme before the 2016 election,

once again said he did nothing wrong.

This is ridiculous.

And also, there's no crime.

You know where the crime is?

In the bodegas where they come and rob them every week.

There has been an increase in robberies and assaults.

In New York City, in the past three months,

according to a recent NYPD crime statistics report.

Michael Alcazar, who worked at the NYPD for more than 30 years,

says he's seen what works when it comes to tackling crime.

The key is to address crime while it's small

before it becomes a bigger problem.

It means we have to address quality of life issues.

If you see peddlers,

you have to summon them.

If you see panhandling,

you have to summon them.

If you see street prostitution,

we have to arrest them.

If there's disorderly groups,

we have to disband them.

And when we don't address them,

it just emboldens the criminals.

When they see that the police are neglecting smaller violations,

they graduate to bigger crimes.

And I think that's what's happening now.

There have been some efforts to ease worries

among the city's 8 million population,

including getting people to go to school,

and getting help from the state.

The governor last month deployed hundreds of National Guard members

and state police officers to help patrol the subway systems.

Overall crime, according to the NYPD,

dropped 5% in March 2024 compared to the same month last year.

Murder and shooting incidents are down 17% and 18% respectively

in the last three months.

There are hundreds of murderers all over the city.

They know who they are.

They don't pick them up.

They go after Trump.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee

says his visit to the store was to show his commitment

to keeping law and order in the city.

We're going to work with the mayor.

We're going to work with the governor.

Democrats.

I'll work with Democrats.

We have to straighten out New York.

Meanwhile, the jury selection process in his criminal trial continues this week.

Opening statements are expected to happen next week.

The trial itself may take two months.

Justice Merchant said he could hold hearings on Wednesdays,

which previously was going to be an off day.

Laila Amadin-Thornhill, ABS-CBN News, Manhattan, New York.

The economic team of the Marcos Jr. administration

holds an investors' dialogue in Washington, D.C.

They presented the Philippines as a compelling place

and a compelling destination of choice for investors.

They highlighted efforts to improve the country's investment climate,

such as the streamlining of government processes

and prudent fiscal management.

The economic managers also touted the accelerated rollout

of the $160 billion infrastructure program

of the Marcos Jr. administration.

The socio-economic planning secretary, Arsenio Balizacan,

said the Philippine government is taking a proactive approach

to seek out investments and trade opportunities,

despite various external risks.

The corporation managing the sovereign Roth Fund of the Philippines

unveils its official logo.

The design is inspired by the Philippine eagle

and the colors of the Philippine flag.

Marlica Investment Corporation President and CEO,

Rafael Consing Jr. says it signifies the fund's commitment

to realizing an economically vibrant Philippines.

Consing told ANC in February,

the MIC would announce its first investments

in the next three to four months.

Philippine shares continue their recovery

thanks to bargain hunting.

Thursday's market action from Michelle Ong.

Most regional Asian markets bounced back on Thursday,

with Asian currencies rallying

as authorities pushed back against a stronger dollar,

helping restore a sense of confidence in financial markets.

A global stocks gauge ticked higher,

now on track for its first advance

in a week.

Here at home,

Philippine shares extended their rebound on bargain hunting,

with a PSE index adding 1.1% or 73 points

to close at 6523.

All things being equal,

we maybe have a side towards the 7,000-7,200 levels.

Even if we just chug along where we are,

the down tide is really, you know,

external events,

like the Middle East,

the Quantic,

continued or sustained high inflation,

and, you know,

US and the Philippines

not acting on interest rate movement.

So, towards maybe the second half of the year,

when these are expected and they don't come in,

then we probably will either not meet our targets

for the PSE.

In corporate stories,

after shattering records

by posting the highest ever income

in Philippine corporate history last year,

BDO is at it again,

firing the opening salvo

for first quarter earnings season.

The country's largest bank posted 12% growth in bottom line

at 8.5 billion pesos

as net interest income and total loans grew 13% each.

Even non-interest income rose 11%

on steady growth of fee-based and treasury FX businesses

and the recovery and life insurance premiums.

Still in earnings,

but for 2023,

Lopez-led Rockwell Land reports a 31% jump

in consolidated net income after tax of 3.4 billion pesos,

exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

Residential development revenue grew 18% to 14.4 billion,

citing strong market reception of Edades West in Makati

and expansion projects including the Lincoln

at IPI Center in Cebu,

Cluster 5 of Rockwell South in Canlubang,

and Phase 5 of Terreno South in Batangas,

while retail revenue grew 27% to 2.2 billion pesos

due to improved occupancy and rental rates

on top of new retail store openings.

Michelle Long, ABS-CBN News.

Time magazine includes Philippine President Marcos Jr.

in its list of the 100 most influential people for 2024.

Time cited efforts by the son of the late dictator

Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

to rehabilitate his family's name.

It also hailed his success in stabilizing

the Philippines' post-pandemic economy

as well as elevating the country on the world stage.

Malacanang says Marcos Jr.'s inclusion in Time magazine's list

reflects a brand of leadership that puts national interest

and the welfare of Filipinos above all else.

Our final word tonight is a quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The greatest security for any people,

lies in their freedom.

And the greatest freedom,

lies in secure policies.

And that is The World Tonight,

the 18th of April, 2024.

I'm Pia Guchetz.

I'm Tony Velasquez from the Philippines.

Thank you.

Mabuhay!

Thank you for watching!

Thank you for watching!