Lorenzana: We can’t end insurgency this year
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday, January 8. said that despite the plans made by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), it is still impossible to end the communist…
Category: Metro-Manila
Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in Metro-Manila for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Lacson tells PNP to monitor expelled law enforcers, not teachers
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday, January 8, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) should focus their time and energy on monitoring expelled police and military personnel, not on teachers regarded…
Duterte jokes: Let’s kidnap, torture COA personnel
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, January 8, joked about kidnapping and torturing the Commission on Audit (COA) personnel who make life hard for local government officials. “Ah, p**t**g**a COA yan,…
Supreme Court sets oral arguments for third extension of martial law in Mindanao
The Supreme Court justices decided to hold its oral arguments on the third extension of martial law in Mindanao on January 22 and 23 in response to the petition filed…
Palace firm on criminalizing drug addiction
Malacañang has answered the Psychological Association of the Philippines’ (PAP) objection to the administration’s drive to curb drug addiction. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo remained firm in his belief that the…
Palace calls for 2019 budget approval ASAP
Malacañang on Monday, January 7, urged the lawmakers to expedite the approval process of the the 2019 budget noting that any further delay in the passing is not a feat…
Erring Cabinet men to be held accountable — Palace
Malacañang on Monday, January 7, assured the public that erring officials will be held accountable for their actions. This is after the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) announced that it is…
Makati court reopens Trillanes’rebellion case, upholds arrest order
The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 on Monday, January 7, reaffirmed its decision to reopen the rebellion case of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as it denied the senator’s plea…
Customs official to South Korea: ‘PH is not a dumping ground’
A Bureau of Customs (BOC) official on Wednesday, January 2 issued a statement to South Korean authorities to take a total of 6,500 tons of garbage illegally shipped to the…
Duterte’s household help story ‘made up’ – Palace
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s story about an incident of a supposed encounter between him and a household help was “made up,” according to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo. Panelo, in a statement…
Honest Duty Free Philippines guard rewarded
Manila, Philippines — A security guard of Duty Free Philippines (DFP) was lauded for returning 600 USD (Php 31,200) worth of items left behind by an unknown Chinese woman at…
Reward for information on Batocabe killers up to P50-M
IN light of Ako, Bicol Representative Rodel Batocabe’s murder this week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the increase of the reward from P30 million to P50 million for any information….
PH gov’t to prioritize security improvements after US deems security at NAIA inadequate
Malacañang said on Friday, December 28 that the Philippine government is prioritizing the implementation of tougher security measures after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that aviation security…
Defense chief on West PH dispute: ‘China is on my mind every day’
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted that the country’s issues with China over the West Philippine Sea will be best resolved through President Rodrigo Duterte’s strategy of…
Palace: Communists’ 50-year rebellion a ‘failure’
The communist insurgency in the country is dismissed by Malacañang as a “failed rebellion” on Wednesday, December 26, as the the rebel group celebrated its 50th founding anniversary. The statement…
PH DOTr vows to make improvements after US deems NAIA security inadequate
THE Philippine transportation department said it was committed to improving airport security measures after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a travel advisory on Wednesday, December 26, because…
Palace calls UN expert’s report ‘reckless and irresponsible’
Malacanang responded to the statement of the United Nations Special Rapporteur Michel Forst on Tuesday, December 18, claiming that the report is “reckless and irresponsible” for urging the government to…
Duterte thanks US for returning Balangiga bells
AFTER 117 years in the United States’ possession, the Balangiga bells made their way home to Balangiga, Eastern Samar. President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, December 15, witnessed the turnover of…
Trillanes leaves PH for US and Europe trip
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has reportedly left the country for trips to the United States and Europe on Tuesday, December 11, via an EVA Air flight at the Ninoy Aquino…
House seeks Diokno ouster over 2019 budget irregularities
The House of Representatives on Wednesday, December 12, adopted a resolution calling for the resignation of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to quit his post. This is a day after he…
Lorenzana: Paolo Duterte’s ouster list is ‘fake news’
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday, December 12, called the list of people allegedly conniving to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte posted by former Davao City vice mayor Paolo “Pulong” Duterte…
Pacquiao pushes for tobacco tax to aid healthcare bill
Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday, December 12, reiterated his call to increase the excise tax on tobacco products to P60 per pack as he pushed for the Senate Bill No….
PH among ‘least generous’ nations in Southeast Asia
A REPORT from Gallup’s “The World’s Most Generous” index revealed that Filipinos are among the least generous people in Southeast Asia in terms of donating money to a charity, volunteering…
Duterte on Ressa’s TIME cover: ‘You can have it’
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, December 13, alluded to the awarding of Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa as TIME Magazine’s “Person of the Year” during the birthday celebration of former Senator…
Palace to continue anti-crime drive amid flak from critics
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 9, promised to continue his campaign against illegal drugs, crime, corruption, terrorism and insurgency campaign despite being labeled as the “biggest threat to…
House OKs expanded VAWC bill
The House of Representatives on Monday, December 10, approved on third and final reading the Expanded Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (E-VAWC), a measure that criminalizes electronic violence and…
Sandiganbayan sets 2019 trial for Enrile plunder case
THE plunder trial of former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile for allegedly receiving P172.8 million in kickbacks from projects funded by his office’s pork barrel will finally start in 2019 by…
ICC continues initial review of Duterte, drug war despite PH withdrawal
The assessment of President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity will be continued by the International Criminal Court despite the Philippines’ withdrawal of its ratification from the Rome Statute. The…
Romualdez: Duterte visit to US appropriate after return of Balangiga bells
ACCORDING to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, it would be more appropriate for President Rodrigo Duterte to visit the U.S. once the Balangiga bells have been…
House okays bill to create PH space agency
The House of Representatives approved House Bill 8541 otherwise known as the Philippine Space Development Act on its third and final reading on Tuesday, December 4. The HB 8541…