Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories throughout the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. has officially declared that the war is over between the Philippine military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). “I can now declare that the war between the Armed Forces and the MILF is finally over,” Galvez said as reported by The Manila Times….
Malacanañg on Tuesday, October 9, said President Rodrigo Duterte has tested negative for cancer. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Duterte’s top aide, made the statement amid the clamor for the president to publicly reveal the state of his health as required by the Constitution. “Sorry to disappoint his critics. the president is very healthy and in…
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque at a press briefing assured China that the Philippines will not be joining the military exercises the United States is planning to conduct in the South China Sea. According to Roque, the naval drills, which will coincide with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Manila visit next month, were discussed at a meeting…
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has released its calendar of activities and listed prohibited acts for the 2019 midterm elections on May 13. Comelec Resolution No. 10429 sets the election period from January 13 to June 12, 2019. However, the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) and nominations for party-list representatives will run from October…
COMMISSION on Human Rights (CHR) chairman Chito Gascon on Thursday, October 4 said that more “confidential communications” containing information on the alleged human rights violations by President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration have been sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC). There are at least four other communications filed before the ICC in addition to those that…
SEVERAL universities in Metro Manila on Thursday, October 4, dared the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to prove its accusations that their institutions are breeding grounds for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA). and recruits for a destabilization plot against President Rodrigo Duterte. Joseph Noel Estrada, legal…
A RECENT study conducted by the IBON Foundation concluded on Thursday, October 4, that the first package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law burdens the poorest 17.2 million Filipinos nationwide. The said non-stock and non-profit organization found out that 76 percent or three out of four Filipino families are struggling to…
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday, October 2, excluded the Liberal Party (LP) and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV from any involvement in the presumed “Red October” — a plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. The AFP chief clarified that it is only the Communist Party of…
Recent conflict alert report released on Tuesday, October 2, showed that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law helped lessen violence in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) by discouraging armed groups from bringing out their weapons. Senior Peace and Conflict Adviser in Asia for International Alert Philippines Francisco Lara Jr. shared the…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, October 2, ordered the “neutralization” of the New People’s Army (NPA). He said that the communist rebels have done nothing for the country except to kill civilians and lawmen, and engage in extortion activities. “We are not into a crime prevention. Pati ‘yang pulis kasali na. It’s neutralization ang atin….
Facebook users in the Philippines are being advised by the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) to reinforce their capabilities to counter possible cyberattacks in the wake of recent identity theft reports and hacked social media accounts. Nearly 50 million Facebook accounts were compromised by an attack that gave hackers the ability to take over users’…
Islamic State (IS) fighters have reportedly fled Syria to return to Mindanao in efforts to establish a territory in Southeast Asia, according to The Washington Times on Sunday, September 30. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington released a report stating that more IS-affiliated fighters came from Southeast Asia, specifically from armed…
Malacañang on Monday, October 1, reminded government officials to never seek for special treatment. This is after ACTS OFW party-list Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz III received flak for allegedly disobeying security protocol and harassing a personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). In a viral video that has amassed more than 193,000 views as…
For years, the United Nations awards people from around the globe with the title “champion of the earth.” The said title is considered the institution’s highest environmental honor as it recognizes people both from the public and private sector who played a significant role in promoting ways to help the environment. This time, one Filipina…
MAJORITY of Filipinos want the current administration to immediately address rising prices of basic goods and services. The figures from the September 2018 Ulat ng Bayan revealed that 63 percent of the 1,800 respondents said controlling the rising costs of commodities is their top concern. “This is the predominant opinion in all geographic areas (53…
The Court of Tax Appeals dismissed the motion of Jaime Napoles, husband of priority development assistance fund (PDAF) scam alleged mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, to quash the lawsuit against him over National Internal Revenue Code violations, thus proceeding to trial. “Upon denial of petitioner’s Motion to Quash, the Court must proceed with the trial,” the…
Philippine Historical Association Secretary Jonathan Balsamo said on Monday night, September 24, that in order to address the impending historical revisionism among younger generation, the existing learning materials about the martial law period must undergo a thorough review. In his interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News, the historian explained that there…
In order to regulate the number of visitors in Boracay Island, tourists going to the island after its reopening may soon be required to wear access bracelets, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Registering in a tourist database may also become a requirement for visitors should the proposed measure be approved…
Latest data showed that 19 out of 154 children who died after receiving at least one dose of Dengvaxia, had dengue despite the vaccination as reported by the Department of Health (DOH). According to DOH Undersecretary Enrique Domingo, of the 19 individuals who had dengue, six were diagnosed clinically and 13 were confirmed to have…
There is a possibility that more former mutineers from the Magdalo group, who were granted amnesty by the previous administration, might have their amnesty like Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV revoked. This was hinted by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday, September 26, when he revealed that a review on the amnesty given to Magdalo soldiers…
In an effort to connect with Filipinos all around the globe, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched the Global Police Community Relations (PCR) program. According to the PNP PCR Group’s website, the program will allow Filipinos to report crimes from outside the Philippines and provides access to assistance from the PNP and “will truly…
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday, September 27, denied the claims that some of its officers are planning to oust President Rodrigo Duterte from office. AFP Spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalos vowed that the Philippine military would remain professional and obedient to the 1987 Constitution “that it has sworn to uphold and to…
Claiming that some government forces are involved with the opposition to oust him from his post, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is willing to step down if they give him a good reason to do so. “There are talks about coup d’état, mutiny, they want to oust me. The irony of it all is…
SENATOR Leila de Lima on Wednesday, September 26, urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to accede to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) in order to show their commitment to human rights. “The Senate urges the DFA to seriously consider the possible adherence to, and adoption…
THE Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Tuesday, September 25, ordered the arrest of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on revived charges against him for failed uprisings in 2003 and 2007. Trillanes is the second opposition senator to be arrested under the Duterte presidency. Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati RTC Branch 150 issued the arrest warrant…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte claimed he was displeased that some soldiers are in cahoots with the opposition to oust him from his post. Duterte on Monday evening, September 24, told reporters in Jolo, Sulu that some of his troops were supporting Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, and were involved in plans to remove him from power. “Ang…
FORMER Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday, September 24, decided to once again return to public office and run as the second district representative in Makati City in the upcoming May 2019 elections. Binay’s spokesperson Joey Salgado confirmed that the former vice president is eyeing for a government position along with three of his family…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s eldest son Paolo Duterte told Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to prove in court that he was involved in the P6.4-billion drug smuggling case on Monday. “Dakdak na naman (You’re all talk). See you in court!,” he responded after Trillanes issued a statement on Sunday, September 23, saying he has a plan to…
AMID the recent commemoration of the atrocities brought by the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, Malacañang on Monday, September 24, refuted the accusations that former senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. could twist what transpired in history. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that in order to change the facts on what…
The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority Regulatory Office (TIEZA RO) eyes to work more closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the existing Water Service Providers (WSPs) in Boracay Island – the Boracay Tubi System Inc. (BTSI) and the Boracay Island Water Company, Inc. (BIWC), to institute more accountability and…
