Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, June 7, ordered the authorities of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to hold officials accountable for allowing fraudulent payments that led to a P154-billion loss. “The president directs the management of the PhilHealth to institute criminal actions against those officials and employees who wittingly or unwittingly allowed such…
The dispute regarding Senate chairmanships for the 18th Congress was deemed “95 percent resolved,” according to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Thursday, June 6. Sotto said that there are only a few committees left for discussion and resolution following a dinner meeting at Senator Manny Pacquiao’s residence in Dasmariñas Village, Makati on Wednesday,…
The United States State Department on Friday, May 31, issued a policy that requires visa applicants to provide the details of their social media accounts including their usernames, previous email addresses and phone numbers. In an article from Rappler, the U.S. embassy’s visa application portal was revised to cover the “social media identifiers” that would…
Malacañang assured the public on Monday, June 3, that it would oppose any move by the kin of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to block the sale of the jewelry trove labeled as the “Hawaiian Collection.” Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier announced that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gave his go-signal to sell the Marcos jewelry and…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte approved the sale of P700-million worth of jewelry from the alleged ill-gotten wealth of late President Ferdinand Marcos, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced on Thursday, May 30. “He wants the people to benefit from the proceeds of the sale of the jewelry. So I asked him, ‘Are you going to…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, May 30, once again slammed the United States for its “lack of word of honor” when it recalled its rifle sales due to the alleged human rights violations in the country. The strong-mouthed leader slammed the U.S. government during his speech among the Filipino community in Tokyo, Japan. Duterte…
The Columbia Journalism School in New York City awarded Rappler Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Editor Maria Ressa with the 2019 Columbia Journalism Award on Thursday, May 23 for her “singular journalistic performance in the public interest.” Ressa along with Rappler and its reporters received a total of 11 cases filed by the administration…
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr on Tuesday, May 28, announced in a Twitter post that the garbage from Canada is set to leave the Philippines on May 30. “All containers containing garbage cleaned and ready to go. Waiting for a couple of documents and routine permission from China for transshipment…
Davao del Norte First District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez revealed on Monday, May 28, that two House speaker aspirants were offering money in exchange for the legislators’ votes for the speakership post. “My colleagues told me that someone offered P500,000 per congressman and then this was countered by another with P1 million per congressman,” Alvarez said…
Following the proclamation of winners, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to face a Senate investigation on the technical glitches reported during the recent midterm polls. Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas said on Thursday, May 23, that the commission will have a post-election assessment in preparation for the Senate investigation. However, he maintained that the…
United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim on Thursday, May 23, said maintaining the good relationship between U.S. and Philippine forces is essential for the stability of the region. Though the United States is not directly involved in the claims, Kim told reporters that the country has a “very serious interest” in the area. …
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared the winners of the recently concluded 2019 midterm elections on Wednesday, May 22, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. Topping the list is incumbent Senator Cynthia Villar from the Nacionalista Party (NP) who was endorsed by the administration’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago party (HNP). Villar garnered…
THE Philippine Commission on Elections on Friday, May 17, said that the proclamation of winners for the senatorial and party-list races will be done at the same time. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that the plan to announce them simultaneously is seen as “more efficient [and] better for everyone.” “One of the directions we’re going…
AS the upcoming midterm elections draw near, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday, May 10 raised the red alert status in order to ensure national security on Monday, May 13. AFP chief General Benjamin Madrigal Jr. announced that they raised the red alert status early on Friday to express their support for…
THE scheduled Senate investigation on Friday, May 10, regarding the allegations presented by Bikoy, the hooded figure in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos will no longer push through. In a Twitter post on Wednesday, May 8, Senate Committee on Public Order Senator Panfilo Lacson announced the cancellation of the said Senate hearing noting “enough of…
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar ensured the Filipinos that they will fight disinformation on Friday, May 3 as they commemorate the World Press Freedom Day. “Tayo naman po sa PCOO ay patuloy ang kampanya natin laban sa disinformation o pagpapakalat ng fake news sapagkat isa po ito sa sumisira sa malayang pamamahayag…
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with the Philippine government, is set to finance the construction of sidewalks in Metro Manila. The ADB is said to provide $100 million in loans to implement the Greenways project in the Philippines. This would lead to the construction of elevated walkways for pedestrians, with the possibility of…
Three United Nations special rapporteurs on Wednesday, May 1, urged the government to refrain from linking their colleague Victoria Tauli-Corpuz to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). “We call on the Philippine Government to immediately stop these unacceptable attacks on the human rights work of Corpuz, and to ensure her physical safety,” the UN…
A VAST majority of Filipinos are seen to dominate the field of nursing in the United States, with registered nurses (RNs) making up the largest segment of the country’s health care workforce. Many often attribute such numbers to the common notion that those who hail from the Philippines are hospitable and accommodating. However, beyond that…
NDRRMC warns public of circulating text hoax about ‘the big one’ Another tectonic earthquake with a 4.7 magnitude hit the Philippines at 11:43 a.m. Wednesday, April 24, in the Mindanao region specifically in Banganga, Davao Oriental as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The seismology agency said that the epicenter was…
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck parts of the Visayas at 1:37 pm on Tuesday, April 23, following the 6.1 magnitude tectonic earthquake in Luzon at 5:11 pm on Monday, April 22. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs) said that the epicenter in the region was located in San Julian, Eastern Samar. Philvocs Director…
The Philippines’ Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) questioned the United States State Department list of countries with high kidnapping list as it included the country among the 35 countries in the travel advisory. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año doubted the accuracy of the list as he emphasized that the kidnapping cases decreased significantly…
As the overseas absentee voting (OAV) program commenced on Saturday, April 13, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) eyed the possibility of fake news proliferation as observed in the previous elections. COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez assured the public that the commission is on the alert for those who plan to spread false information as a propaganda…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, April 11 threatened to veto the entire P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 if found to be problematic. During a campaign rally in Bacolod City, the president said that the budget has been submitted, but is pending his review. “Kita mo ‘yung budget. Ang budget kasa-submit lang. I have to…
Malacañang said martial law victims are entitled to compensation, following a United States federal judge’s approval to transfer the proceeds from the late President Ferdinand Marcos’ ill-gotten assets earlier this week. New York City district court Judge Katherine Polk Failla on Tuesday, April 9 signed the order that mandates the transfer of $13.75 million (P715…
A United States federal judge approved the transfer of proceeds from late President Ferdinand Marcos’ ill-gotten assets to compensate the human rights victims of the martial law regime on Tuesday, April 9. New York City district court Judge Katherine Polk Failla signed the order that mandates the transfer of $13.75 million or about P715 million…
Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio on Tuesday, April 9, urged her brother Paolo, not to show the tattoo on his back unless a court issues an order mandating him to do so. During a Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) campaign sortie in Surigao, Duterte-Carpio told the reporters that she would not show her…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to declare a “revolutionary war” and arrest his critics until the end of his term. In a speech on Thursday, April 4, the president warned that he would suspend the writ of habeas corpus and go after those who dare critique his methods to end criminality. “I have enough…
Philippine Senator Antonio Trillanes IV denied his involvement in a viral video alleging presidential son Paolo Duterte is linked to illegal drugs. Trillanes on Friday, April 5 said he would “congratulate” the people behind the nearly seven-minute video circulating online that links the president’s family to drugs. “The accusations of the witness were very serious,…
LAST month, Marvel Comics announced that a Filipina superhero will be gracing its pages soon. Wave, Marvel’s newest heroine will appear for the first time in “War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas” in May. Filipino artist Mico Suayan, one of the illustrators behind Wave, revealed that actress Nadine Lustre was the inspiration behind…
