Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. denied the alleged pork insertions by the House of Representatives (HOR) members on Tuesday, November 21 as he noted that those were just some “very unusual” belated orders. Andaya said that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and certain Cabinet members only had late requests as they pushed for the passage…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was urged by his critics on Tuesday, November 20 to defend the country’s claim and territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Former solicitor general Florin Hilbay said that the president must not put aside the country’s victory in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) as he cited the Social…
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday, November 20, for a two-day state visit to address the issues that tie the two countries together including the West Philippine Sea rift. As Xi arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, he was welcomed by Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos…
The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed on Tuesday, November 20, that among five specific countries, Filipinos’ public trust rating fared highest for the United States and lowest for China. The public trust rating for the five countries namely the U.S., China, Japan, Malaysia and Israel were all measured in September. A “very…
National Democratic Front (NDF) Peace Panel chairman Fidel Agcaoili, NDF Senior Adviser Luis Jalandoni and Peace Panel member Coni Ledesma canceled their scheduled return to the Philippines due to the impending arrest threat from President Rodrigo Duterte. Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Founding chairman Jose Maria Sison shared on the NDF website about how…
The Sandiganbayan on Friday, November 16, granted former first lady Imelda Marcos’ plea to post bail amounting to a total of P150,000 while the anti-graft court assessed her motion to leave on her conviction on seven counts of graft. In her plea, Marcos noted that she is suffering from “multiple organ infirmities” and was under…
The municipal government of El Nido on Thursday, November 15, announced that a total of 50 more tourism establishments are now facing closure for violating the three-meter coastal easement policy in the town. El Nido town administrator RJ de la Calzada said that the establishments that violated the environmental rules have been given a two-week…
After the United States Defense Department initiated the return of the historic Balangiga bells to the Philippines this week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte could be open to an official visit to the U.S., despite his past criticism of the country. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. revealed with the return of the…
Former first lady Imelda Marcos, widow of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, is not exempt from being arrested and jailed despite her advanced age, various lawmakers said on Tuesday, November 13. According to them, the police should enforce any order from the court to take her into custody after she was sentenced by the Sandiganbayan to up…
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday, November 13, expressed its disapproval of releasing the “narco list” of politicians allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. They echoed the sentiments of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) who chose not to publicly name accused officials. PNP Spokesperson Bong Durana said that doing such “is not…
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday, November 13, is set out to remove business establishments that violate environmental rules and guidelines in El Nido by the end of 2018. DENR for Region IV-B Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) Regional Executive Director Henry Adornado said that such move is done to…
The Department of Justice (DOJ) insisted on Tuesday, November 13, that President Rodrigo Duterte’s order regarding the amnesty revocation granted to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV by former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is legal. DOJ’s acting prosecutor-general Richard Anthony Fadullon is adamant on stating that the president’s decision to revoke Trillanes’ amnesty is a…
Reports about the U.S. returning the Balangiga bells to the Philippines were welcomed by the Malacañang on Wednesday, November 13. But officials have yet to comment until the actual arrival of the bells that were seized by American troops during the Philippine-American war in 1901. In a report by The Philippine Star, it was said…
THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has eased the guidelines for qualified Filipinos availing themselves of the duty- and tax-free privilege of consolidated balikbayan boxes. Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 18-2018, issued on Oct. 11, 2018, reduced the documentary requirements needed to obtain the duty- and tax-free privilege for balikbayan boxes. It supersedes CMO 04-2017. Under…
BE Grand Resort in Bohol, a 5.0-hectare resort situated on a clifftop and naturally surrounded by lush vegetation has been awarded as Southeast Asia’s hidden gem by receiving the award for excellence for Luxury Hideaway Resort by the 2018 World Luxury Hotel Awards. The award was given during the ceremony and gala event at Ayana…
FORMER Philippine first lady and current Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos on Friday, November 9 has been found guilty on several graft offenses that occurred during her husband’s regime. The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued its decision and sentenced the Marcos matriarch to imprisonment of six years and one month to 11 years for each count…
THREE contestants from Miss Earth have come forward about the sexual harassment they allegedly experienced in the Philippines throughout the competition. Miss Earth bets Jaime VandenBerg of Canada, Abbey-Anne Gyles-Brown of England, and Emma Sheedy of Guam recently took to Instagram to share how excited they were to compete, but the experience was tarnished when…
FIVE years after super typhoon Yolanda destroyed parts of the Philippines, Malacañang assured that the rehabilitation and recovery efforts are being fast-tracked. To date, P146.156 billion in funds have already been released for the rebuilding, according to the current administration. Presidential spokesperson and chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo cited the National Housing Authority (NHA)’s…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte said that casinos will not be built within the premises of the world-famous Boracay island to honor the wishes of the locals and residents of the said tourist spot. “If it is the wish of the population here that they do not want a casino, then it will be a no…
NATIONAL Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Thursday, November 8 said extending martial law in Mindanao should be a “last resort” as military rule in the restive region is set to lapse by the end of the year. According to him, extending the martial law should not be a priority in the mind of security…
THE Philippine Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) on Thursday, November 8, affirmed the P40.028 million tax deficiency of Jeane Catherine Napoles, the youngest daughter of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles. A petition for review was filed by Jeane before the tax court. In the said petition, the young Napoles questioned the assessment of…
Drug money could be in play in next year’s mid-term elections, according to President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, November 6. “Drug menace is the number one threat to national security linking drugs not only to its significant influence in the rise of heinous crimes but also it negatively affects the economy and the role it…
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Wednesday, November 7, admitted that there are extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the country but denied that these are state-sponsored. “We have to admit na mayroong mga EJKs, pero hindi in-order ng gobyerno (We have to admit that there are EJKs, but they were not ordered by the government),”…
According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Tuesday, November 6, the unchanged inflation print for the month — despite the growth of consumer goods’ prices remaining elevated in October — proves their assessment that price growth will start going down in the coming months. BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla Jr. said the print…
Clarification on the issue regarding Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello’s call for the agency to return the terminal fees and travel taxes collected from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has been made by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). Bello had reportedly sent letters to CAAP to reiterate his request to refund some P500 million…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, November 6, personally denied that he ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to take over the functions of Bureau of Customs (BOC) during his lecture to the Cabinet Members at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room. “When I called in the Army, the Bureau of Customs, there was…
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday, November 6, expressed his approval of the extension of martial law in Mindanao as he noted that the residents under it were in favor. “Based on the feedback of the people of Mindanao, I would rather opt for another extension,” he told reporters…
Plans to form task force to curb illegal drug trade Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, November 6, revealed that a move to intensify the anti-drug campaigns especially on illegal drug trade is on the works as a task force is about to be issued. “What we have is the moving forward to eradicate illegal…
A REPORT from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) revealed that the Philippines, for the second time in a row, remained fifth among the countries with the worst prosecution of journalist killers. In the recent CPJ’s 2018 Global Impunity Index report, the Philippines followed countries in the Middle East and African regions, namely Somalia, Syria,…
Three days after its reopening, Boracay island once again faced problems as visitors flocked the world-famous destination. Piles of trash were seen along its coastline while businesses and establishments were fined for violating environmental laws. Tourists and locals witnessed the improper trash disposal seen on the newly-rehabilitated island, which had been closed for the…
