Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to declare a “revolutionary war” and arrest his critics until the end of his term. In a speech on Thursday, April 4, the president warned that he would suspend the writ of habeas corpus and go after those who dare critique his methods to end criminality. “I have enough…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, April 4 demanded that China back off from Pag-asa Island in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), which has been swarmed by hundreds of Chinese ships this week. The president told reporters that he would not let China “occupy” the island as it belongs to the Philippines. “Pag-asa…
Philippine Senator Antonio Trillanes IV denied his involvement in a viral video alleging presidential son Paolo Duterte is linked to illegal drugs. Trillanes on Friday, April 5 said he would “congratulate” the people behind the nearly seven-minute video circulating online that links the president’s family to drugs. “The accusations of the witness were very serious,…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, April 2, said Beijing just wants to become a friend of the Philippines in lieu of defending his administration’s relationship with the country. Duterte, since taking post as the highest official in the country, has set aside Manila’s dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea to foster stronger and…
THE large-scale annual joint military exercises between Filipino and American troops officially started on Monday, April 1, participated in by 7,500 soldiers. The 12-day military exercise, dubbed “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder), includes naval drills off the coast of Luzon island facing the disputed South China Sea. It is held mostly in the northern part of the Philippines…
The Sandiganbayan dismissed the motion for reconsideration filed by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and upheld their verdict of finding her guilty of acquiring P124.5 million from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). The anti-graft court released the 16-page resolution dated March 13 on Monday, April 1. They recalled the decision last December…
Palace: Cases have “nothing to do with freedom of expression or the press” Veteran journalist and Rappler Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maria Ressa posted bail on Friday, March 29 after being arrested upon her arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The Pasig City police welcomed Ressa with an arrest warrant as she set foot…
For President Rodrigo Duterte’s 74th birthday, his only wish is a more “prosperous and progressive” Philippines. “My wish is that we will just continue to progress and prosper, hindi tayo masali dyan sa mga gulo-gulo ng ibang bayan (we won’t be involved in the troubles of other nations),” he said before blowing out the candle…
Philippine Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday, March 27, called for a stricter firearm regulation policy as he compared the country’s crime condition to that of the 19th century America’s “Wild, Wild West.” “Dapat sa 18th Congress, palagay ko, pagtuunan ng pansin [ang gun control] kasi talagang halos araw-araw na ‘pag nakakapanood ka ng news,…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, March 26, said he would rather sleep than hold a party for his birthday, The Philippine leader celebrated his 74th birthday last Thursday, March 28. During the campaign rally of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Koronadal, South Cotabato, he said, “Historically, ayaw ko talagang mag-celebrate ng…
Former President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday, March 26, gave out a warning to the government about the China-offered loans, saying the Philippines should have already learned from the past. This is after Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Beijing could seize oil and gas-rich Philippine assets in the South China Sea if the…
Malacañang on Monday, March 25, vowed to protest any unjust actions of the Chinese Coast Guard if the complainants would present justifiable evidence to back their claim. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo responded to a video released by senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares explaining how the Filipino fishermen were mistreated by the Chinese Coast Guard, despite the…
QUOTE FROM ERNEST: “We at Globe would like to support this (tourism) industry because this industry needs a lot of updating in terms of the digital world. Digital is changing how thing are done. Aside from promoting, there’s infrastructure that we need to bring. I was personally involved in helping a resort owner in Busuanga,…
Makati City, Philippines – One of the biggest and most established global freight forwarding networks, Combined Logistics Networks (CLN) has successfully brought more than 260 freight forwarders from across the globe under one roof in a 4-day conference being held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Manila, Philippines from March 25 to 28, 2019 in…
The Department of Tourism (DOT) announces the holding of the Philippine Harvest at the Central Square Mall at Bonifacio High Street, Global City in Taguig City from March 29-31, 2019. It is a trade fair that will feature the country’s farm and food destinations in line with the government’s sustainable tourism development program. “The overarching…
Manila, Philippines — Duty Free Philippines (DFP) on Friday gathered about 150 female Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and employees to celebrate the National Women’s Month through an inspirational talk to uplift women in the workplace and across its community. For 32 years, Duty Free Philippines has always taken the great strides to ensure that its…
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Wednesday, March 20, granted the motion for leave of court that allowed senatorial candidate Jinggoy Estrada and plunder convict Janet Lim Napoles to file a demurrer to evidence over the multibillion-peso “pork barrel” scam. “After a careful examination of the totality of the evidence presented by the prosecution, both testimonial…
Malacañang on Wednesday, March 20, said President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an executive order that would give government workers their salary increases despite the stalled 2019 national budget. Executive Order No. 76, signed by Duterte on Friday, March 15, amends EO 201 or the 2016 Salary Standardization Law (SSL) to modify the salary schedule and…
A top Philippine veterinarian has warned that the deadly African swine fever (ASF) virus may enter the Philippines through products like pork dumplings being sold by Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen to their local counterparts in the West Philippine Sea. Dr. Eugenio Mende, president of the Philippine Veterinary Drug Association, on Wednesday, March 20, gave the…
A United States State Department official said there has yet to be a request to renegotiate the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the U.S. and the Philippines. This comes despite recent calls for amending the 1951 treaty. Patrick Murphy, State Department Principal Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia, told reporters that “there is no request from…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night, March 19, threatened to sack officials from Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Maynilad and Manila Water for the water supply shortage experienced in certain areas of Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo disclosed among the media what transpired during the 40-minute meeting of the…
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law an act that abolishes the Road Board that he had once referred to as a “milking cow” of corrupt officials. Duterte on March 8 signed Republic Act No. 11239, which dismantled the board and required the government to channel the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) into the National…
Lawyers on Monday, March 18, blocked Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s motion for partial reconsideration before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office on his sedition case over his alleged provoking comments in 2018. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary Jacinto “Jing” Paras, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner Manuelito Luna; lawyers Nasser Marohomsalic, Eligio Mallari and Alvaro Bernabe…
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday, March 18, started to step up its drive against the trafficking of Filipino minors in the wake of reports that trafficking syndicates are once again recruiting minors to work in other countries. BI Commissioner Jaime Morente ordered immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and…
Filipino-American Joel Aquino Pasay was arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga on Saturday, March 16, due to his indictment from the United States District Court of Nevada for child pornography charges. The U.S. court indicted Pasay on May 2, 2017, with his receipt of child pornography as it is in violation of the TItle 18 in…
DOT Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat leads oath-taking ceremony Officers and Directors of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) for 2019-2020 took their Oath of Office on March 11 at the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Makati City. DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, as inducting officer, administered the oath and bore witness to the organization’s promise…
MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Tourism (DOT), in partnership with the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) and the Municipality of Puerto Galera, will be holding the Inaugural Hong Kong to Puerto Galera Yacht Race on April 17 to 21, 2019. The race will start in RHKYC’s Kellett Island Clubhouse located in Causeway Bay, racing for…
Malacañang on Monday, March 18, said International Criminal Court (ICC) officials and prosecutors would be barred from entering the Philippines if the nature of their visit is for conducting a probe into President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. “If they say ‘We will be investigating.’ Perhaps they will be denied [entry] by the [Bureau of]…
A panel of international lawyers on Monday, March 18, said there has been a “sharp increase” of rights violations against Filipino lawyers, prosecutors, and judges since the start of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. The panel included lawyers from Belgium, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands and the United States, belonging to international lawyers’ groups…
Water supply concessionaire Manila Water on Monday, March 18, apologized to its customers for the unexpected water service interruptions that affected many households in Metro Manila and Rizal province. Manila Water Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ferdinand de la Cruz appeared before the congressional hearing to take responsibility for the water shortage that affected most of…
