Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States does not need the concurrence of the Senate, Malacañang argued on Monday, February 17. “As far as we are concerned in the executive, there is no need for a concurrence in the Senate because the Constitution, if it’s…
The Philippine Senate will proceed with its first hearing on the franchise renewal of broadcasting network ABS-CBN this month, ahead of the House of Representatives, which has yet to discuss the matter. The first hearing on February 27 was confirmed by Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services. She clarified that…
Malacañang on Thursday, February 13, defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to terminate the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, saying the Philippines cannot forever rely on the protection its counterpart. “As the president said, if we keep on relying on the United States on our defense, our defenses will always remain stagnant…
Philippine House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano vowed that there will be fair hearings into the bills seeking to renew the franchise of media giant ABS-CBN. According to him, the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN is among the issues that the House has been carefully studying from day one of the 18th Congress, even as some of…
THE fate of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal lies upon Congress and the Supreme Court, Malacañang said on Tuesday, February 11. This comes a day after Solicitor General Jose Calida on Monday, February 10 filed a petition before the Supreme Court for the cancellation of ABS-CBN’s 25-year franchise, alleging that the TV network reportedly violated rules set…
Former Philippine Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and 10 others have been indicted for “conspiracy to commit sedition” for their involvement in videos that linked President Rodrigo Duterte and his family to the illegal drug trade, the Department of Justice said on Monday, February 10. Aside from Trillanes, whistleblower Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy,” former Police…
The Philippines has formally sent a notice terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, Malacañang announced on Tuesday, February 11. President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Monday night to inform Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. to go ahead and send a notice ending the 20-year-old military pact with…
The number of people under investigation in the Philippines for the possible novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has risen to 178, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday, February 6. “Of the total 178 [people under investigation (PUIs)], 147 are admitted in hospitals, 10 have refused admission and 16 have already been discharged under strict monitoring,”…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has formally ordered the government to send the United States a notice terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. Panelo told reporters on Friday, February 7 that the president has instructed Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to inform Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to send the…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, February 6, asked Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services where the money they allegedly stole from their consumers went, adding that he would entertain talks with them if they return the money. “So where is the money? Where is the money of the Filipino people? Where is the money…
THE Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, February 5, confirmed the third case of the novel coronavirus in the Philippines — a 60-year-old Chinese woman who came from Wuhan and traveled to Cebu City via a flight from Hong Kong on January 20. “The DOH confirms that a sample from a 60-year-old female tested positive…
Controversial healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez on Tuesday, February 4, died due to an apparent heart attack while playing tennis at Alabang Country Club. “Our healing priest, si Fr. Fernando Suarez, has collapsed and died of a heart attack, massive heart attack while he was playing tennis… It was a yearly tournament for priests. All…
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a temporary travel ban on travelers coming from mainland China as well as Hong Kong and Macau amid the threat of the novel coronavirus in the Philippines, Malacañang said over the weekend. The ban will cover all foreigners arriving from China and its territories, including those who visited the region…
Representatives of the Philippine Department of Health and the World Health Organization on Monday, February 3, expressed optimism that the country can prevent the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from further spreading. During the Senate hearing on the government’s response to and preparedness for the new virus, Senators Nancy Binay, Risa Hontiveros and Joel Villanueva asked whether…
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday, February 3, urged President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement between the country and the United States until the Senate has time to review the impact of withdrawing from the deal. The VFA, which came into force…
World Health Organization declares outbreak a ‘global emergency’ THE first case of the novel coronavirus (nCov) has been confirmed in the Philippines, the Department of Health said on Thursday, January 30. “Today the DOH is confirming that a Chinese female patient under investigation is positive for novel coronavirus 2019 after her lab results arrived from…
THE American soldier convicted of killing Filipina transgender Jennifer Laude will stay under the jurisdiction of the Philippines even after the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States is formally terminated, Malacañang on Thursday, January 30 said. According to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the country won’t lose custody of U.S. Marine Joseph Scott…
MORE Filipinos expect their lives and the country’s economy to improve in the next 12 months, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. The poll, conducted from December 13 to 16 last year among 1,200 respondents nationwide, found that 48 percent of Filipinos were optimistic that the quality of life would improve this…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, January 29, barred Cabinet members from traveling to the United States following his order to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the country and the U.S. “I will not allow any Cabinet member to go there at this time. No Cabinet member should be allowed to go to the…
THE Philippines’ lower ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has prodded the current administration to fire more corrupt officials. The CPI is released by Transparency International, evaluating countries using a scale of zero to 100 where zero translated to “highly corrupt” while 100 meant “every clean.” In the 2019 index, the Philippines ranked…
Malacañang on Monday, January 27, said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States was not made on a whim, claiming that the move was due to a series of disrespectful acts by several American senators. The VFA, which came into force in 1999, covers the conduct…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to reject United States President Donald Trump’s invitation to attend the Southeast Asian leaders’ summit in Las Vegas, Nevada this March, Malacañang said on Friday, January 24. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s visa cancellation reportedly prompted Duterte to decline the invitation, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced. In a chance…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the government to begin terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States, Malacañang said on Friday, January 24. Duterte threatened to terminate the VFA on Thursday, following the U.S.’ cancellation of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s visa. Though the U.S. Embassy did not give a…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte received a record-high satisfaction rating in the fourth quarter of last year, according to a new Social Weather Stations survey released Tuesday, January 21. Based on 1,200 respondents, 82% of adult Filipinos were satisfied with Duterte’s performance. On the other hand, 10% of the respondents were dissatisfied, while the remaining 8%…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte may be persuaded into accepting President Donald Trump’s invitation to an upcoming summit in the United States with Asian leaders, Malacañang said on Tuesday, January 21. Malacañang released a statement on Monday that Duterte was among the 10 Southeast Asian leaders invited by Trump to U.S.-ASEAN summit on March 14 in…
Business as usual after Taal Volcano eruption It is business as usual for most companies operating in the Calabarzon Region (Region IV-A) following the eruption of the Taal Volcano last Sunday, January 12. “After a temporary disruption of one to two days, our factories in the Calabarzon Region have resumed operations,” Trade Secretary and Board…
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines will once again have its nonstop Cebu-Los Angeles flight starting this May. In a press release on Tuesday, January 21, PAL said this flight is the “only direct air link between the Visayas and Mainland USA.” Residents of various cities in the Visayas and Mindanao will enjoy convenient connections via Cebu…
Former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has to accept the 2016 election results if he plans to run for a national post in the 2022 elections, Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo said on Monday, January 20. “If he wants to run again, he can. That’s his right,” she said in Filipino during an interview. She added,…
GROUND fissures near the Taal Volcano are widening in four areas after the recent explosion, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Friday, January 17. In its 8 a.m. update, Phivolcs said existing fissures or cracks in barangays located in the towns of Lemery, Agoncillo, Talisay, and San Nicolas have widened by…
Following the Taal Volcano eruption in Batangas, Philippines this week, members of the Filipino American community and various American public figures have raised funds for those affected by the disaster. The Taal Volcano began spewing clouds of ash on Sunday, January 12. The ash — which has spread more than 62 miles — has created…
