Rae Ann Varona

Mental Health Law finally in the Philippines

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the long awaited Philippine Mental Health Law, which would equip Filipinos with accessible and affordable mental health services. “Help is finally here,” posted Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday, June 21.  “Everyday, seven Filipinos turn to suicide.  One in five Filipino adults also suffer from a form of mental disorder.”…

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PH hopes for full Dengvaxia refund as study confirms its effects

A NEW study confirmed that the world’s first dengue vaccine, which was given to over 800,000 school children in the Philippines, poses risks of hospitalization and severe sickness in those who have not been infected by the virus before getting vaccinated. Now, the Philippine government hopes the new study will help amplify its demand for…

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Two Filipinos captured over 2012 stabbing of US Marine in PH

Two Filipino fugitives have been re-arrested for killing a U.S. Marine in the Philippines five years ago, announced the Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. embassy in the Philippines on Monday, June 18.  Another was arrested for obstruction of justice. “The U.S. embassy in the Philippines welcomes the arrests of Galicano Datu III…

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PH expresses hopes for denuclearization following US-North Korea summit

The Philippines has commended the historic meeting of President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un while affirming support for peace, stability, security, and denuclearization in the region. Acknowledging the remaining challenges, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday, June 12 said the meeting between Trump and Kim underscored the “importance and…

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De Lima’s appeal denied with ‘finality’ by Supreme Court

Dissenters say constitutional right violated The Philippine Supreme Court on Wednesday, June 6, said that detained Senator Leila de Lima’s appeal to reconsider an arrest warrant against her has been denied with finality, upholding that her arrest based on drug charges were valid. Through a 9-5 vote, the high court resolved “to deny with finality…

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Fil-Am wanted in connection to Azusa murder

A young Filipino-American man connected with the robbery, kidnapping, and murder of a 20 year-old in Azusa, California last month is still on the loose, said officials on Wednesday, June 6. Matthew Luzon Martin-Capiendo, a 21 year-old Fil-Am, remains wanted following the brutal beating and murder of Julian Hamori-Andrade, 20, on May 28. Martin-Capiendo’s wanted…

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Trump doubles down on MS-13 during immigration roundtable

For the second time in his presidency, President Donald Trump made way to Long Island on Wednesday, May 23 to convene a roundtable for tougher immigration laws.  Central to the discussion were the gruesome crimes of the notorious MS-13 gang. “It’s a menace, a ruthless gang that has violated our borders and transformed once-peaceful neighborhoods…

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Philippines and US want to move forward with a bilateral trade deal

The United States and the Philippines want to move forward with a bilateral free trade deal, said the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The consensus followed a visit to the Philippines on Wednesday, May 23 by Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jeffrey Gerrish and his delegation to further trade and investment ties…

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Justices oust Sereno from PH Supreme Court

THE Philippine Supreme Court on Friday, May 11 voted to oust its first female chief justice who has been critical of the country’s President Rodrigo Duterte and his controversial war on drugs. Resulting from an 8-6 vote, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was removed from the country’s highest court on the grounds that she allegedly…

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