Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in Metro-Manila for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
PHILIPPINE Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Friday, August 16, said that employing more traffic management personnel is a top priority to alleviate the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila. According to him, “Round-the-clock and rain-or-shine” supervision of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic personnel over major roads and critical intersections in the capital…
Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday, August 13, said she is keeping her options open regarding the 2022 presidential race. In a Bloomberg article written by Andreo Calozo, Robredo said she was ready for the presidency but would decide later on whether to stand as the opposition Liberal Party’s main candidate in elections three years…
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday, August 13, backtracked on his previous statement that he has banned foreign marine surveys in Philippine waters, explaining that the country cannot ban marine surveys under an international sea treaty. In a tweet, he said: “I am reliably informed that under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the…
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Monday, August 12, said he amended the restriction on marine survey ships to include China, explaining that granting exception to one country “will automatically lift ban universally” and will “invite bribes.” In a tweet, he said: “I banned marine survey ships, amending restriction to France and Japan by…
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Monday, August 12, said Malacañang will not meddle in the request of detained Sen. Leila de Lima for the court to allow her to visit her ailing 86-year-old mother in Camarines Sur. “Well ever since, the president has not interfered with any case involving anybody. He never interfered. So the…
The Philippine Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has successfully launched its first in-house professional Security and Control seminar held at the BJMP Regional Training Center in Barangay Turbina, Calamba, Laguna. Through meticulous planning initiated by Gen. Efren A. Nemeno, DPA, TLPE, Jail Superintendent and Regional Director of the Jail Bureau, he and his…
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has rescinded the public notice it issued on the security conditions at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). A news release on Thursday, August 8 said Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan has ordered “effective immediately, rescission of the Public Notice regarding security conditions at…
THE Philippine Department of Justice on Friday, August 9 began its preliminary probe into the sedition complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo and other personalities for allegedly being involved in a plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. Aside from Robredo, who is the chair of the minority Liberal Party, former senators and failed senatorial bets…
IN light of the Department of Health’s declaration of a dengue epidemic across the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte said he is open to reviving the government’s Dengvaxia vaccination program. “Yes, I am open to the use of Dengvaxia again. Maraming patay ’yan (There are so many deaths). It’s an epidemic,” he told reporters after leading…
MANILA — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has revealed part of the findings of their department’s investigation on the accident that eventually led to the death of veteran actor Eddie Garcia. In an interview with the press following a forum on Wednesday, Bello confirmed to reporters that GMA fell short in complying with the Department…
THE camp of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo on Thursday, August 8, asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to order the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to produce more evidence for the sedition complaint filed against her before she files her counter-affidavit. A motion asking for production and copying of evidence…
Graft, ursupation trial vs Aquino and others can now proceed THE PHILIPPINE Supreme Court on Wednesday, August 7, has lifted the temporary restraining order on the Mamasapano trial, paving the way for the Sandiganbayan to rule on the plea of Ombudsman Samuel Martires to withdraw the criminal charges filed by his predecessor Conchita Carpio Morales…
Malacañang on Saturday, August 3, slammed the New York Times (NYT) for spreading “false information” about the Duterte administration. In the NYT’s editorial entitled “In the fight to save the planet, its defenders are being killed,” the publication cited a survey by rights group Global Witness that named the Philippines as the most dangerous country…
Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday, July 31, said she is now more inclined to support the proposed divorce bill, after having a change of heart. The senator admitted that she initially supported making annulment more accessible, instead of legalizing divorce, but reconsidered after learning about the unfortunate cases of other women. “Subalit sa ngayon, pag…
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday, July 31, said the Philippine government has “fired off” a diplomatic protest over recent reports that some 113 Chinese vessels were spotted circling Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. Locsin said this on Twitter after National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. recommended the filing of such…
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday, July 29, ordered mayors nationwide to clear roads of illegal structures and illegally obstructing activities within 60 days. “All local officials are enjoined to exercise their powers essential to reclaim public roads which are being used for private ends and in the…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night, July 25 said he prefers using ropes to execute criminals instead of bullets, following his call earlier this week to reinstate the death penalty. Hanging is a cheaper alternative to execute criminals instead of employing a firing squad or using lethal injection, the president said. During his fourth State…
The Philippine Department of Justice on Friday, July 26 has sent out subpoenas for Vice President Leni Robredo and 35 others in connection to the “Bikoy” narco list videos. DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a statement the preliminary investigation will be set on August 9 at 10 a.m. This comes after the Philippine National…
Philippine Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday, July 25, said that once the death penalty bill is signed into law, law enforcers who are found guilty of planting evidence on suspects should also be sentenced to death. During his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, President Rodrigo Duterte asked Congress to…
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday, July 23, said he refuses to renegotiate the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States despite the Department of National Defense (DND) seeking a review. “I refuse to renegotiate the MDT to make it more specific as DND wants because I believe with sound authority…
Malacañang on Tuesday, July 23, clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte was referring to a liquor ban during certain hours when he called for the closure of establishments by midnight. In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, Duterte asked Congress to pass a law requiring business establishments to adopt a…
THE Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46 on Tuesday, July 23 opened trial for the cyber libel case against Maria Ressa, the chief executive and executive editor of online news site Rappler. Known as a staunch critic against the current Duterte administration and a Time Magazine ‘Person of the Year’ in 2018, Ressa is…
A recent survey revealed that 93% of adult Filipinos believe that it is important for the Philippine government to take back control of islands occupied by China in the West Philippine Sea According to the survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations from June 22 to 26, 74% of the respondents said this is “œvery…
Two separate bills seeking to promote local movies and film tourism have been filed by Senator Mary Grace Poe. Under the proposed Philippine Independent Film Incentives Act of 2019, up to P5 million in incentives will be granted to production outfits of award-winning movies. P5 million will also be granted to full-length award-winning films, while…
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday, July 9, justified the Philippines’ exit from the International Criminal Court (ICC), likening it to a ‘fairy tale endeavor.’ “Better we stick to real science instead of fairy tale endeavors like the ICC which like the Queen in Alice in Wonderland cries out, ‘First the judgment, then the…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, July 5, dared the United States to declare war against China following criticisms he received over his handling of the maritime dispute between Manila and Beijing. “We can never win a war with China. But I hope that China would not overdo things also because there is always America pushing…
President Rodrigo Duterte has reportedly accepted U.S. President Donald Trump’s invitation to visit Washington, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Romualdez said on Wednesday, July 3. In 2017, Duterte swore he would never step foot in America after a U.S. congressman said he should not be welcomed to the White House due to his lack…
Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao filed a measure this week seeking to establish a Department of Homeland Security to protect the country’s borders against terrorists and other transnational crimes. The bill, which was released to the media on Wednesday, July 3, said the government agency would “prevent terrorist attacks within, and the occurrence of transnational crimes…
Impeachment complaints against President Rodrigo Duterte are “baseless,” Malacañang said on Friday, July 5. In response to criticism over Duterte’s handling of the Recto Bank incident, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told media that any impeachment raps against the president may not have any merit. “An impeachment not only is misplaced, it is absolutely baseless in…
President Rodrigo Duterte’s critics will not be arrested for filing an impeachment complaint against the Chief Executive, Malacañang assured on Tuesday, July 2, after Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said the PNP was ready to arrest those who file an impeachment complaint against Duterte if they commit any violation of the law. According…
