Independence Day Diplomacy: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio marked the Philippines’ 128th Independence Day by reaffirming “ironclad” defense commitments and citing the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty as the backbone of the alliance. Mindanao Quake Response: After a 7.8 quake off Mindanao, officials said the death toll was adjusted to 46 with 38 still missing, as rain and aftershocks slowed rescue and shifted efforts toward recovery. China Sanctions Row: The Philippines condemned China’s entry ban on Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and said it’s an “unfriendly act,” while Teodoro vowed to keep defending Manila’s interests in the West Philippine Sea. Defense Cooperation: Canada and the Philippines signed new defense deals in Ottawa—an MLSA and a Statement of Intent—to deepen logistics support and interoperability under the SOVFA. Economy & Costs: The World Bank kept growth forecasts at 3.7% for 2026 and 5.6% for 2027, citing Middle East spillovers; Sun Life also warned rising living costs are eroding Filipinos’ financial resilience. Trade Impact: The US suspended crab meat imports from the Philippines, prompting exporters in Negros Occidental to urge talks to protect jobs and fishing communities. Public Safety: NCRPO reported a paint-spraying incident involving a protester and a plainclothes police officer during an Independence Day rally in Manila.