Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
MEMBERS of the legislation who pushed for the measure to address the rising cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the country, said that the new law recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, would “offer new hope to generations.” Senator Risa Hontiveros and Dinagat Island Representative Kaka Bag-aolauded…
The Supreme Court justices decided to hold its oral arguments on the third extension of martial law in Mindanao on January 22 and 23 in response to the petition filed last week by the group led by Albay Representative Edcel Lagman. The opposition group led by Lagman included lawmakers who challenged the necessity of extending…
A politician from Mindanao urged President Rodrigo Duterte to be true to his words and create the promised federal government as soon as possible in line with the upcoming plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on January 21. Abdusakur “Sakur” Tan, a candidate vying for a seat in the upcoming gubernatorial race in Sulu,…
Malacañang has answered the Psychological Association of the Philippines’ (PAP) objection to the administration’s drive to curb drug addiction. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo remained firm in his belief that the criminalization of drug addiction by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is an effective strategy to ultimately eliminate the drug problem in the country. “Ineffective…
Members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines on Monday, January 7, swarmed the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame to protest and announce that they are filing a case against the police force for allegedly profiling their members. ACT Philippines Secretary-General Raymond Basilio voiced out the group’s concern on reports that…
Malacañang on Monday, January 7, urged the lawmakers to expedite the approval process of the the 2019 budget noting that any further delay in the passing is not a feat acceptable to the Filipino public. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that the “unreasonable delays” of the legislation in the approval of the General Appropriations Bill…
Malacañang on Monday, January 7, assured the public that erring officials will be held accountable for their actions. This is after the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) announced that it is investigating three officials accused of irregularities. The three officials namely Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, former Customs commissioner and now Technical Education and Skills Development…
The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 on Monday, January 7, reaffirmed its decision to reopen the rebellion case of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as it denied the senator’s plea to reverse the ruling. In a six-page decision dated December 18 of last year, Makati RTC Judge Elmo Alameda explained that the senator failed to…
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Friday, January 4 that P12.5 million has been provided to families in the Bicol region that were affected by Tropical Depression Usman. Usman made landfall in Eastern Samar last Friday, December 28, 2018, bringing heavy rains across the eastern Visayas and southern Luzon regions, and triggering…
PHILIPPINE Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, January 2, pledged to provide psychological assistance to landslide survivors in Iraya village after tropical depression Usman ravaged their area. “Apart from psychological therapy, they also need help to start over, especially those who lost their parents,” Robredo said according to reports. Robredo visited Barangay Iraya to distribute…
DEPARTMENT of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol relieved the entire quarantine team of the Bureau of Animal Industry in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for failing to follow protocol on Friday, January 4. “The whole Quarantine Group assigned at the country’s main airport of entry, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, will be relieved effective 5 pm…
A bronze statue depicting a “comfort woman” was taken down on Sunday, December 30, 2018 in the Laguna province after the Japanese government expressed disappointment in its construction. The statue — reported to have been a one-meter tall seated girl with a vacant chair next to her — was unveiled just two days before on…
ONCE the Philippine Senate session resumes on January 14, the senators will have their hands full as they target to pass several priority measures to improve public services like the controversial proposal on the security of tenure and end of contract (endo) system. In an interview on dwIZ, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the…
The Philippine National Police (PNP) recently listed 18 towns and cities as “areas of grave concern” in the upcoming 2019 midterm elections. The said municipalities and cities were concentrated in Luzon and Mindanao. No particular area in Visayas mainland was listed. There are seven places in the list for Luzon while 11 from Mindanao. Among…
A joint congressional resolution extending the validity of the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and capital outlays (CO) in the 2018 budget has been signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. He signed Joint Resolution No. 3 on December 28, 2018, and it was made public on Thursday, Jan. 3. It extends the validity of these…
A Philippine military official on Thursday, January 3 said Communist leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison is “hallucinating,” a day after Sison said that ousting President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019 was the “priority” of the communist rebels. “He must not only be dreaming, he is hallucinating. From here on, any moves by the CPP-NPA (New People’s…
THE House on Thursday, January 3, began its probe into the alleged anomalies in the current 2018 budget and the proposed P3.8-trillion budget in 2019 — both of which were prepared under Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. The first public hearing was held at the Avenue Plaza Hotel in Naga City, Camarines Sur at 10 a.m….
POPE Francis appointed Fr. Rex Andrew Alarcon from the Diocese of Daet as a new Philippine bishop in Camarines Norte, Bicol on Wednesday, January 2. The 47-year-old bishop served as a superintendent of the parish schools and a spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Caceres. He was also a member of the College of Consultants and…
Malacañang on Tuesday, January 1, said Catholics should not be offended by President Duterte’s remarks on their beliefs, instead they should regard his words as a means to strengthen their faith. Duterte, who has been at odds with Catholic bishops over the war he waged against drugs, questioned the doctrine of the Holy Trinity last…
A Bureau of Customs (BOC) official on Wednesday, January 2 issued a statement to South Korean authorities to take a total of 6,500 tons of garbage illegally shipped to the Philippines back to their country by next week. Mindanao International Container Terminal (MICT) BOC port collector John Simon stated that the South Korean authorities have…
THE United Kingdom and Australia issued a warning to their citizens, cautioning them not to travel to areas in Mindanao affected by terrorist threats and insurgency due to last Monday’s bomb explosion in Cotabato City. The UK travel advisory stated that visiting Mindanao could pose a risk considering the incidents that transpired in the area….
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s story about an incident of a supposed encounter between him and a household help was “made up,” according to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo. Panelo, in a statement on Sunday, December 30, said the “laughable anecdote” was made by the president to “dramatize the fact of sexual abuse that was inflicted on him…
Manila, Philippines — A security guard of Duty Free Philippines (DFP) was lauded for returning 600 USD (Php 31,200) worth of items left behind by an unknown Chinese woman at the parking area of the Fiestamall. Leoncio Laylo, 37 years old, was the guard on duty on February 17, when he spotted an unattended push…
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Friday, December 28 placed the Mayon Volcano on Alert Level 2 — indicated a moderate level of unrest — as it continuously spews out ashes. “Alert Level 2 currently prevails over Mayon Volcano. This means that Mayon is at a moderate level of unrest,” Phivolcs said…
MEMBERS of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and New People’s Army (NPA) gathered on Wednesday, December 26 to commemorate the 50th founding anniversary of the CPP-NPA. As the members proceed with their parade, press conference and cultural presentations, supporters of the movement were notably absent. Officials said that military threats made them opt…
IN light of Ako, Bicol Representative Rodel Batocabe’s murder this week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the increase of the reward from P30 million to P50 million for any information. “The reward is at this time P30 million. I’m raising the ante. I’m putting it at plus P20 to P50,” Duterte said during a chance…
Malacañang said on Friday, December 28 that the Philippine government is prioritizing the implementation of tougher security measures after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that aviation security at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was not up to par with international security standards. Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on Friday that…
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted that the country’s issues with China over the West Philippine Sea will be best resolved through President Rodrigo Duterte’s strategy of not provoking China. “China is on my mind every day because of what they are doing in the West Philippine Sea. I wish I could…
A recent study revealed that the majority of Filipino jobseekers — students and fresh graduates — have to go through additional training to become work ready and employable. The Philippine Talent Map Initiative conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) showed that 31.7 percent of job seekers or a total of 18,928 have…
The communist insurgency in the country is dismissed by Malacañang as a “failed rebellion” on Wednesday, December 26, as the the rebel group celebrated its 50th founding anniversary. The statement was made by presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo who criticized leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison’s previous comment about the Philippines’ deterioration under President Rodrigo Duterte. “The…
