Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
FORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday, August 4, came to the defense of President Rodrigo Duterte following the public backlash he received over the government’s supposed inefficiency in handling the novel coronavirus pandemic. In her Facebook post, Arroyo called Duterte’s critics “Monday morning quarterbacks,” a term used for people who criticize something and offer alternative…
HOUSE Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday, August 5, assured that addressing the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country is the priority of the House of Representatives. According to him, while discussions on the reimposition of the death penalty is allowed, the COVID-19 pandemic would take precedence in the chamber. Cayetano listed the proposed Bayanihan…
THE Philippine economy will not be able to withstand a prolonged modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Mega Manila, Malacañang said on Tuesday, August 4. “Tatapatin ko po kayo, hindi na po kaya ng ekonomiya ang mas matagalan pang lockdown (I will be blunt, the economy cannot withstand a longer lockdown),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque…
TEN overseas Filipinos have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected individuals to 9,607, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Tuesday, August 4. “On day one of modified ECQ in Manila and other parts of Luzon, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad passes the 9,600 mark…
Newly-appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay wants to regulate social media use through the recently signed Anti-Terrorism Law. According to him, terrorists are reportedly using social media to radicalize and recruit younger members. “We’ll be providing some inputs on countering violent extremism and likewise, maybe regulating, even regulating social…
RESPONDING to the ardent plea from healthcare workers, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has relegated the country’s capital and its nearby provinces under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) beginning August 4 until August 18. Duterte approved the Cabinet’s recommendation to return to a more stringent lockdown in response to the medical community’s plea for a…
Bloggers, social media influencers, and other Internet personalities have joined lawyers, journalists and human rights advocates who are rallying against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which recently became a law. Under the group called “Concerned Online Citizens,” 19 vloggers (video bloggers), bloggers, advocates, artists, writers and community managers filed the 21st petition against the controversial…
PHILIPPINE Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, July 29, presented her list of suggestions on how the country may combat and contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country. According to Robredo, waiting for a vaccine will not stop the spread of COVID-19. “The pandemic won’t be stopped by just waiting for a…
The Philippines was the deadliest country in Asia for land and environmental defenders in 2019, according to conflict and corruption watchdog Global Witness. In its report released on Wednesday, July 29, the UK-based group documented 212 murders of defenders — with over half of the killings occurring in Colombia and the Philippines. “On average, four…
The Philippines’ Bureau of The Treasury issued an invitation to overseas Filipinos to invest in Retail Treasury Bonds (RTB) in a Zoom presentation last Thursday, July 23. The presentation was a joint effort by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), and included…
THE Philippines has failed to beat the prediction of the University of the Philippines (UP), which projected 85,000 cases of the novel coronavirus by July 31, Malacanang admitted on Wednesday, July 29. “The forecast happened and I see no reason why we should celebrate. It’s very sad,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. However, he maintained…
Broadcast giant ABS-CBN this week offered the government its transmission network for the broadcast of educational programs. “In response to the educational thrust of the government in this time of the pandemic, we are offering the use of our transmission network to broadcast educational programs all over the country,” said the network in a statement…
THE imposition of the death penalty would deter crimes in the country, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa argued on Wednesday, July 29. “The PNP believes that with this kind of imposition, there would be a deterrence on crime,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the destruction of 800 kilograms of shabu…
PHILIPPINE Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon denied that he was defending the Lopez family, owners of media network ABS-CBN, after President Rodrigo Duterte called him out in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27. “I was defending freedom of the press, not the Lopezes. The closure of the ABS-CBN sent…
A day after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, several Filipino lawmakers and key public figures publicly reacted to the points highlighted in the chief executive’s speech. Senator Grace Poe noted that reviving the death penalty without judicial reforms would put…
THE United States will not return to its former naval base in Subic Bay in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte said. During his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 27, the Philippine leader said that he would not allow American forces to reestablish a military base in the country. According to the…
DESPITE the enforced nationwide lockdown to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27. “We live in a troubled time. Our dream of prosperity for our country was suddenly snuffed by a pandemic virulent virus. No nation was spared….
The United States recently donated P14.8 million ($300,000) worth of personal protective equipment to the Philippine General Hospital and other coronavirus treatment centers in the Philippines. The U.S. Embassy in Manila said that the donation was made through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)….
Determining the legality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 would be up to the Philippine Supreme Court, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Friday, July 24. The justice secretary argued that resolving the legal challenges is under the purview of the high court based on the merits of the suits, not the number of petitions…
Rappler co-founder and chief executive officer Maria Ressa on Wednesday, July 22, pleaded not guilty to her fifth tax evasion case before the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC). Ressa was arraigned by Pasig RTC Branch 157 Judge Ana Teresa Cornejo-Tomacruz over her alleged failure to supply correct information to Rappler’s value-added tax (VAT) return for…
A MAJORITY of Filipinos in the Philippines are still worried about being infected with COVID-19, according to a survey released on Thursday, July 23. The latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that 85% of Filipinos were worried that anyone in their immediate family might get COVID-19. Of the total percentage, 67% were “worried a…
Malacañang on Thursday, July 23, announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management for Emerging Infectious Diseases has once again suspended non-essential outbound air travel of Filipinos. According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, only one travel and health insurance company agreed to cover rebooking and accommodation expenses should a traveler contract the novel…
OVER 400 Princeton University alumni on Tuesday, July 21, took out a full-page ad in the Washington Post calling on the United States government to convince Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration to drop all charges against Rappler, its co-founder Maria Ressa and former staffer Reynaldo Santos Jr. The letter, signed by a number of journalists,…
The Philippines can’t afford to test every Filipino for the novel coronavirus, Malacañang admitted on Tuesday, July 21. “If we can afford it, why not? But the reality is, hindi natin maa-afford ang testing sa lahat ng 110 million Filipinos (We cannot afford testing for all 110 million Filipinos),” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. “Pero…
Malacañang on Tuesday, July 21, reminded Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan that passing a legislation that will ban political dynasties is the job of Congress, not President Rodrigo Duterte. “Parang mali po yung paghamon niya kasi ang pagpapasa po ng batas ay isang katungkulan ng lehisletibo (I think he’s challenging the wrong branch of government because…
LAWMAKERS from the Makabayan bloc have asked the Philippine House Committee on Legislative Franchises to allow plenary action on the franchise bid of media giant ABS-CBN. In a letter addressed to Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez dated July 20 and released Wednesday, July 22, the lawmakers asked for the technical working group report as well as…
ONLY foreigners with permanent or existing immigrant visas are allowed to enter the Philippines starting August, the country’s Bureau of Immigration clarified on Tuesday, July 21. The entry of foreign tourists, non-immigrant visa holders, and other categories of travelers are still prohibited. Anyone attempting to land in any of the Philippines’ ports of entry will…
A new survey by the Social Weather Stations revealed that the Filipinos’ trust in the United States, Australia, and China suffered a drop in the first half of the year. The U.S. earned a net trust rating of “good” +42, while Australia got “moderate” at +27. China, on the other hand, received a net trust…
The controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 took effect on Saturday, July 18 in the Philippines, despite the lack of implementing rules and regulations. “Considering that the law was published on July 3, it will take effect on July 18, which is the 15th day,” said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday, July 17. He added that…
Malacañang this week said that the Philippines will continue to “assert’’ its rights in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). “As we have said in previous occasions, the Philippine government continues to assert our rights over the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea in accordance with the 2016 Arbitral Ruling,” said Presidential Spokesperson…
