Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in Metro-Manila for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
Vice President Leni Robredo urged the House of Representatives to find ways to bring down prices and give more jobs to Filipinos rather than change the Constitution. “Imbes na maghain ng mga solusyon sa mga problemang dulot ng batas na ito, malinaw na usap-politika ang mas mahalaga para sa liderato ng Kamara, na siya nitong ipinakita…
Malacañang defended President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, December 4, stating that the leader can make jokes in public speeches just like everyone else. “Everybody is entitled to a joke,” Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said as reported by ABS-CBN News. This was after the top leader drew criticism for stating that he takes marijuana to keep…
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday, December 3, said that it is not physically possible to approve the P3.757-trillion budget for 2019 by mid-December due to time constraints. “Not physically possible. Printing alone takes days. Assuming we are able to pass [the bill] by next week, how about the [bicameral conference committee and printing]?”…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 3, said he uses marijuana to stay awake and keep up with the tight schedules along with the other heads of states. “It’s a killing activity,” he said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Singapore last month. “Me, [I don’t fall asleep] as much…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, November 27, dismissed the public’s fears that he would declare martial law nationwide after he ordered the deployment of troops in several areas in the country as a means to contain the insurgency. “No, I am not going to declare martial law. There’s enough powers of the presidency that…
According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., there is a need to tighten coordination between the coast guards of the Philippines and China. This is after a Filipino TV network crew was barred by the Chinese from filming at Scarborough Shoal. During his confirmation hearing by the Commission on Appointments…
THE proposed General Appropriations Act or the P3.757-trillion budget for 2019 has been passed on its third and final reading by the House of Representatives. The P3.757 trillion budget is meant to fund government projects and spending for the upcoming fiscal year, as reported by CNN Philippines. Lawmakers on Tuesday, November 27, approved the House…
Malacañang on Tuesday, November 27, said President Rodrigo Duterte is in good physical condition amid health issues critics have raised because he had skipped a number of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) events. According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the president has had a grueling schedule prior the summit. “(Is he physically fit?) Oh…
Manila, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has accredited at least 13 tour guides whose first assignment was to shepherd 30 students from the Philippine School for the Deaf (PSD) to Manila’s historical spots, including Rizal Park, National Museum, and Fort Santiago. Such specialized tour, which is the first of its kind, was curated…
Pasay City, November 25, 2018—Following its success in China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Thailand, the Business Innovation Congress opened its first congress in the Philippines at Conrad Manila with the theme: “Business Transformation in a Digital Ecosystem.” “Business Innovation Congress aims to support local businesses in exploring future industrial trends as well as promote Philippines as…
Amid critics calling for transparency, Malacañang has promised it will issue the details concerning the deals signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s official two-day visit to the Philippines earlier this week. On Tuesday, November 20, Xi and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed 29 agreements, concerning oil and gas, trade and investment, banking and finance, infrastructure,…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, November 20, signed 29 agreements signifying a “milestone in the history of exchange” between the two countries. “Thanks to our joint efforts, we have made productive the results in cooperation in all areas bringing benefits to our two peoples and making a contribution to…
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday, November 20, for a two-day state visit to address the issues that tie the two countries together including the West Philippine Sea rift. As Xi arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, he was welcomed by Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos…
The Sandiganbayan on Friday, November 16, granted former first lady Imelda Marcos’ plea to post bail amounting to a total of P150,000 while the anti-graft court assessed her motion to leave on her conviction on seven counts of graft. In her plea, Marcos noted that she is suffering from “multiple organ infirmities” and was under…
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday, November 13, expressed its disapproval of releasing the “narco list” of politicians allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. They echoed the sentiments of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) who chose not to publicly name accused officials. PNP Spokesperson Bong Durana said that doing such “is not…
The Department of Justice (DOJ) insisted on Tuesday, November 13, that President Rodrigo Duterte’s order regarding the amnesty revocation granted to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV by former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is legal. DOJ’s acting prosecutor-general Richard Anthony Fadullon is adamant on stating that the president’s decision to revoke Trillanes’ amnesty is a…
THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has eased the guidelines for qualified Filipinos availing themselves of the duty- and tax-free privilege of consolidated balikbayan boxes. Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 18-2018, issued on Oct. 11, 2018, reduced the documentary requirements needed to obtain the duty- and tax-free privilege for balikbayan boxes. It supersedes CMO 04-2017. Under…
THREE contestants from Miss Earth have come forward about the sexual harassment they allegedly experienced in the Philippines throughout the competition. Miss Earth bets Jaime VandenBerg of Canada, Abbey-Anne Gyles-Brown of England, and Emma Sheedy of Guam recently took to Instagram to share how excited they were to compete, but the experience was tarnished when…
THE Philippine Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) on Thursday, November 8, affirmed the P40.028 million tax deficiency of Jeane Catherine Napoles, the youngest daughter of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles. A petition for review was filed by Jeane before the tax court. In the said petition, the young Napoles questioned the assessment of…
According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Tuesday, November 6, the unchanged inflation print for the month — despite the growth of consumer goods’ prices remaining elevated in October — proves their assessment that price growth will start going down in the coming months. BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla Jr. said the print…
Clarification on the issue regarding Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello’s call for the agency to return the terminal fees and travel taxes collected from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has been made by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). Bello had reportedly sent letters to CAAP to reiterate his request to refund some P500 million…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, November 6, personally denied that he ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to take over the functions of Bureau of Customs (BOC) during his lecture to the Cabinet Members at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room. “When I called in the Army, the Bureau of Customs, there was…
Plans to form task force to curb illegal drug trade Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, November 6, revealed that a move to intensify the anti-drug campaigns especially on illegal drug trade is on the works as a task force is about to be issued. “What we have is the moving forward to eradicate illegal…
President Rodrigo Duterte announced the takeover of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Sunday, October 28, days after he fired BOC officials and executives. “They will be replaced, all of them, by military men. It will be a takeover of the Armed Forces in the matter of…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, October 25 fired all commissioners and department heads of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) amid controversy that P6.8 billion worth of shabu was uncovered. Upon the discovery of shabu in four magnetic lifters in Cavite, Duterte commanded the dismissal of BOC executives in his speech during the anniversary of…
SOCIAL networking site Facebook on Tuesday, October 23, has shut down a total of 95 pages and 39 accounts linked to President Rodrigo Duterte and Imee Marcos, daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos for operating as a “spam network.” According to a statement from Facebook, the said pages and accounts were “encouraging people to…
ON October 29, 2018, 4-Star carrier Philippine Airlines will mark another milestone in aviation history as the first airline to mount a direct nonstop service to the Big Apple from the Philippines. A brand-new PAL Airbus A350-900 will commence the historic flight when it departs as PR126 from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport for a…
A Philippine lawmaker on Thursday, October 11, revealed that House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has “readily agreed” to bring back the vice president as the first successor to the presidency in the draft federal constitution. Cebu City First District Representative Raul del Mar said that he urged the House speaker to put back the vice president…
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a previously convicted master forger for allegedly falsifying documents once again. Dubbed as the “golden hand,” Manuel Bala has already served time in prison after being convicted in 2000 for violating Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code. Bala was arrested by operatives of the NBI’s Anti-Organized…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte revealed on Tuesday, October 9, that Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano is eyeing an elective position in the May 2019 elections. “Alan Peter Cayetano is also running and (Guiling) Mamondiong at TESDA is also running,” Duterte said in a Palace press conference as reported by Rappler. The…
