Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on May 8 accepted the resignation of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo who was reportedly forced to tender her resignation amid corruption allegations.
Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo who has recently resigned amid corruption allegations. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine PresidentRodrigo Duterte on May 8 accepted the resignation of Tourism Secretary WandaTeo who was reportedly forced to tender her resignation amid corruptionallegations.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed that Teosubmitted her resignation letter before the cabinet meetingon May 7 night.
Calls for Teo'sresignation mounted following a Commission on Audit finding that the Departmentof Tourism (DOT) placed 60 million pesos (1.2 million USD) worth of advertisementson a television programme produced and hosted by her brothers. But Teo hasdenied the allegations.
The Office of the Ombudsman said itwould investigate Teo over the DOT's controversial ads deal. Ombudsman ConchitaCarpio Morales said her office "will do a fact-finding" investigationover the deal.
Teo is the latest government officialfired over corruption allegations. In April, president Duterte also fired thenJustice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.
The Philippine president, who has vowed not to tolerate even a "whiff ofcorruption", has removed dozens of bureaucrats over graft allegations.
Last week, he warned public servantserring anew to just leave their posts quietly as he stressed that he would notlet up in his anti-corruption campaign.-VNA
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has lauded efforts made by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) to streamline administrative procedures, helping to increase national competitiveness.
Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court Nguyen Hoa Binh is on a visit to China from May 3-5 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Zhou Qiang to boost the Vietnam-China judicial relations.
The Supreme People’s Court on May 7 began the appeal trial of the case on “asset embezzlement” and “deliberately violating State regulations on economic management, causing severe consequences” at PetroVietnam Construction JSC (PVC), a subsidiary of the national oil and gas giant PetroVietnam (PVN).
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has underlined the critical importance of the salary policy, which, he said, is closely related to other policies in the system of socio-economic policies.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo who has recently resigned amid corruption allegations. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
