Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in Metro-Manila for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
The camp of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said that Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo should cease from making accusations harming the integrity of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET). Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, spokesperson of Marcos, said the vice president should stop accusing the Supreme Court (SC), sitting as PET, “of systematically reducing her…
The Supreme Court (SC) may decide on the quo warranto petition against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s appointment next month, according to Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday, April 19. “We hope to decide as soon as we can. I cannot talk on that yet but we hope to finish it by end of May….
There is no crackdown of foreigners who were critical of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte Malacañang said, as it justified the recent detention of 71-year-old Australian Catholic missionary Patricia Fox. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, April 19, Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. stressed that the law banning foreigners from participating in political activities in…
Malacañang on Thursday, April 19, stressed that foreigners are prohibited by law to engage in any political activity in the country. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. in a Palace press briefing mentioned this prohibition in relation to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s order to conduct a probe against Australian nun Sister Patricia Fox. Roque said the…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday led the change of command rites of the Philippine National Police and renewed his warning against those involved in illegal drugs. “Before acknowledging everybody and anybody, I’d like to just issue a warning, not give, but issue talaga. That kayong mga pulis nasa droga, nasa kidnap for ransom kung ano-anong…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, April 18, reiterated that he is against the legalization of divorce and dissolution of marriage in the country. Duterte said he could not support House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s bill because his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, is “not happy” with his proposed law. “I’m sorry but I cannot…
Senator Leila De Lima will remain in detention after the Supreme Court (SC) dismissed her motion for reconsideration on the arrest warrant against her issued by Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC). In a ruling penned by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., the SC upheld the arrest order against the senator, which was issued by Muntinlupa…
The construction of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) storage facility in Basa Air Base in Pampanga began on Tuesday, April 17. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and United States Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the warehouse, which is one of five projects under the Enhanced…
President Duterte to new gov’t officials: Resist any temptation President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, April 17, called on newly appointed government officials to stand up to any temptation that may hurt their good name. The President administered the mass oath taking of officials from various government offices at the Rizal Hall of Malacañan Palace….
Outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa bade goodbye to police service in tears on Monday, April 16. During his final flag-raising ceremony at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Dela Rosa thanked the police force for their hard work in implementing the anti-illegal drugs campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte. Dela…
Senator Nancy Binay has signed a draft committee report on the Dengvaxia controversy recommending the filing of charges against former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and his officials. “I signed already,” Binay told reporters on Monday, April 16. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Richard Gordon, is seeking the prosecution of Aquino and his…
The Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, April 16, justified the detention and deportation of a European politician, explaining that it is illegal for a tourist to engage in any “partisan political activity.” Giacomo Filibeck, the deputy secretary general of the Party of European Socialist (PES) and a native of Italy, was detained at…
The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has ordered Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to explain why they should not be cited in contempt for disclosing information on the vote recount. The PET, in a resolution made public on Thursday, April 12, issued a…
A Filipino-American group has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to file a motion seeking the revocation of the approval of former senator Jinggoy Estrada’s trip to United States. In a letter dated April 9, the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG) clarified that they did not invite Estrada to speak before its members in…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, April 13, lashed out anew against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, calling her “ignorant” and “dumb.” As he continued his series of word attacks against the top magistrate, Duterte said Sereno — who is currently facing a possible impeachment trial — should have quit her position a long time…
The Sandiganbayan has denied the plea of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles to be to be transferred from Camp Bagong Diwa to the custody of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Witness Protection Program (WPP). In a resolution dated April 5, the anti-graft court’s First Division denied Napoles’ motion due to lack of merit,…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte formally declared war against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, calling the latter his “enemy.” In a press conference on Monday, April 9, at the Davao International Airport, Duterte vowed to do everything in his power to remove the top magistrate from her office. “I’m putting you on notice that I’m now…
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Some one million visitors, local and foreign tourists alike, traveled to the Walled City of Intramuros for the observance of the Holy Week. The Department of Tourism (DOT) and its attached agency, the Intramuros Administration (IA), welcomed the visitors with a series of events to promote the Walled City as a holistic…
The Philippines is monitoring the reported combat drills conducted by China in the South China Sea. This, according to Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, following a recent Reuters report that said Beijing was holding exercises in a large “show of force” off Hainan Island in the South China Sea. “Of course. Our Navy and Air…
The Philippines will not participate in any joint expeditions with the United States, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday, March 21. Duterte remarked that the Philippines would “stand on our own,” saying the country had enough of getting nothing but “brutality and agony.” “I’m addressing America right now, whatever expeditions that you will conduct, any…
MALACAÑANG on Monday, February 5, downplayed Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s latest request for a Senate investigation into the alleged unexplained wealth of President Rodrigo Duterte and his family. In a briefing, Presidential Spokesperson harry Roque dismissed Trillanes’ accusations as old news. “Lumang tugtugin, lumang balita para ng sirang plaka (It’s old news that sounds like a…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 7 said that the country will never reach any progress if he refrains from using a “dictatorial style” of leadership. Speaking before former communist rebels in Malacañang, Duterte said he needed to act like a dictator for the sake of the country’s development. “Sabi mo diktador, diktador talaga…
The recent findings of an international organization stating that the rule of law in the Philippines has “deteriorated significantly” were “not based on reality,” Malacañang argued on Thursday, February 1. In the newly released World Justice Project (WJP)’s 2017–2018 Rule of Law Index, the Philippines saw its biggest decline in the rankings after plummeting 18…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte wants Congress to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) ahead of the possible Charter change, Malacañang clarified on Tuesday, January 30. Over the weekend, reports saying that Duterte wanted the revision of the 1987 Constitution first before the BBL passage have surfaced. Malacañang, however, said that the president’s statements last…
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales may face administrative and criminal sanctions for refusing to enforce Malacañang’s suspension order against Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang. President Rodrigo Duterte’s chief legal counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo made the warning on Wednesday, January 31. In a statement, Panelo noted that Duterte’s order of preventive suspension against Carandang is “presumed to…
“GOOD luck to them.” This was Malacañang’s short message to online news site Rappler on its efforts to invalidate the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s revocation of its license. Rappler on Monday, January 29, filed a petition before the Court of Appeals (CA) seeking to reverse an earlier SEC ruling that voided the news organization’s…
A FILIPINO lawmaker has been charged for supposedly organizing a violent rally against United States President Donald Trump during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit held in Manila last year. Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate was accused of inciting “attack” against police officers during an anti-Trump rally held on November 13, 2017 along…
The camp of Philippine Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday, January 26 dismissed the latest criminal complaint filed against her as a “desperate stunt” by lawyer Atty. Lorenzo Gadon. Sereno’s camp expressed confidence that Gadon “will fall flat doing this latest stunt.” “Indeed, desperate times call for desperate measures. Gadon knows that he still…
Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim, chair of the Philippines’ Islamist group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), strongly hopes that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be passed to avoid the rise of extremism in the southern region. In a press conference on Thursday, January 25, Ebrahim recalled that the cancellation of the 1996 peace agreement…
THE Philippine government has formally rejected assistance projects amounting to at least P380 million or 6.1 million euros being offered by the European Union (EU), according to EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen. Jessen made the confirmation on Wednesday, January 24, during the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum. According to him, the…
