Int’l lawyers note ‘severe’ rights violation vs PH lawyers
A panel of international lawyers on Monday, March 18, said there has been a “sharp increase” of rights violations against Filipino lawyers, prosecutors, and judges since the start of the…
Category: Across the Islands
Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories throughout the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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PWDs in PH continue to face discrimination
ACCORDING to the U.S. State Department in its annual human rights report released Thursday, March 14, persons with disabilities (PWD) in the Philippines “continued to face discrimination”in 2018 as a…
Duterte withdraws marijuana legalization bid
Malacañang announced on Tuesday, March 12, that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will no longer push for the legalization of medical marijuana because he felt that it might go out of…
First batch of Philippine National ID registration to start in September
The leadership of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 12, said the first batch of registration for the implementation of the National Identification System Law will begin in September….
Low water supply to continue due to El Niño
Water concessionaires and the weather bureau recently announced low to no water supply will continue to be experienced by several areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces due to El…
PH out of ICC by March 17
As the Philippines’ withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) becomes official on Sunday, March 17, it vowed to continue its probe on President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs even…
Tulfo draws flak for calling Filipino workers ‘lazy’
Labor leader and senatorial candidate Leody de Guzman on Sunday, March 10, said special envoy to China Ramon Tulfo is all talk while Filipino workers labor for the country’s growth….
SWS: 76% of Filipinos satisfied with Duterte administration
According to the Social Weather Stations’ (SWS) fourth-quarter survey, more Filipinos appear to be satisfied with the performance of the Duterte administration. The poll, which was released on Monday, March…
Catholic priests amid death threats: The response is not silence
Priests remained firm in their criticism of the alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines as they shared the hateful messages they received from calling out the flaws in the government….
DOT, MCIAA welcome Routes Asia 2019 delegates to Cebu
CEBU – The Department of Tourism (DOT) congratulated the winners of the 2019 edition of the Routes Asia Marketing Awards during the Routes Asia Networking Evening held at the Radisson…
11 PH cities have cleanest air in Southeast Asia
A GREENPEACE report has revealed that 11 of the cities in Southeast Asia with the cleanest air are in the Philippines. Switzerland-based IQ AirVisual and Greenpeace’s 2018 Air Quality Report…
Labor Department: Foreign workers must secure working visa before entry to PH
The Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) revealed this week that it would require foreign employees to secure a working visa before being allowed to work in the country….
China vows to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea
CHINESE Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua assured that Beijing will not launch any attacks in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). “We are worried about possible attacks from…
Forbes names businessman Manny Villar PH’s richest man
Forbes Magazine named real estate tycoon and self-made billionaire Manuel Villar Jr. as the Philippines’ richest man as he topped the country’s list and ranked 317th among the 2,153 global…
Duterte insists on PH name change, drops Maharlika
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, March 3, insisted on changing the name of the country but seems to have dropped his suggestion to rename it Maharlika. “Kaya sabi ng…
Officials to parents: Monitor children’s online activities amid Momo challenge
Philippine government officials in the education, health and law enforcement sectors urged the public, especially the parents of young children, to keep an eye on their kids’ online activities after…
Princeton newspaper calls out PH Senate candidate Imee Marcos for false degree claim
An independent student newspaper at Princeton University released an article entitled “Filipino governor, Senate candidate falsely claims to have graduated from U,” in response to claims that Philippine Senate candidate…
PNP ready to provide protection for priests facing death threats
The Philippine National Police on Thursday, February 28 offered to protect priests who are facing death threats. Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David earlier confirmed that he had been receiving death…
‘Anti-palo’ bill vetoed by Duterte
A bill prohibiting parents from using corporal punishment to discipline their children has been vetoed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Malacañang on Thursday, February 28 released documents that showed the president…
SWS: Most Filipinos believe cops involved in illegal drugs, EJKs
The latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey revealed that most Filipinos believed that some police officers are involved in the illegal drug trade, extrajudicial killings (EJKs), and are often planting…
Duterte: ‘Don’t harm priests or you will answer to me’
Instead of launching into another series of tirades against Catholic Church officials and the religion itself, President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, February 24 issued a warning to anyone who would…
Duterte signs law providing health care to all Filipinos
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 20, signed into law the Universal Health Care (UHC) Bill, which seeks to give all Filipinos health care coverage and benefits. In his speech…
Duterte: I will not allow my country to be destroyed by drugs
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 20, vowed that he will not allow anyone to destroy the Philippines with illegal drugs. “I will not allow my country to be destroyed…
Palace maintains no ransom policy amid Abu Sayyaf threats
Malacañang on Friday, February 22, stood firm on its “no ransom policy” despite the hostage-taking of three foreign nationals by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Mindanao. Presidential Spokesperson…
DOH: Measles outbreak could affect tourism, OFWs
THE Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, February 19, said that the measles outbreak in the country could negatively affect the tourism and overseas labor sectors if not contained…
Senators eye first daughter Sara Duterte for presidential bid
AS the presidential daughter and Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) chairwoman Sara Duterte-Carpio increased her public presence for her political party, the public buzzed anew with talks of her possibly succeeding…
Dengvaxia permanently banned in PH
Dengvaxia’s certificates of product registration (CPRs) have been “permanently revoked,” the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Tuesday, February 19. This is due to the continued failure of the anti-dengue…
Palace: First daughter Sara Duterte could be the next president
Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said that first daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio might become the next leader of the country, following his father President Rodrigo Duterte’s footsteps. “I…
DOT relaunches PH tourism campaign
THE country’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” tourism campaign was relaunched on Monday, February 18, by the Department of Tourism (DOT). The repurposed campaign, which would now use crowd-sourcing…
Rappler chief Maria Ressa released on bail after arrest
Arrest of 2018 TIME Person of the Year sparks international outrage, questions about press freedom ONE day after her arrest for “cyber libel” charges, Filipina journalist Maria Ressa of Rappler…