Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
Malacanañg on Tuesday, October 9, said President Rodrigo Duterte has tested negative for cancer. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Duterte’s top aide, made the statement amid the clamor for the president to publicly reveal the state of his health as required by the Constitution. “Sorry to disappoint his critics. the president is very healthy and in…
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a previously convicted master forger for allegedly falsifying documents once again. Dubbed as the “golden hand,” Manuel Bala has already served time in prison after being convicted in 2000 for violating Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code. Bala was arrested by operatives of the NBI’s Anti-Organized…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte revealed on Tuesday, October 9, that Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano is eyeing an elective position in the May 2019 elections. “Alan Peter Cayetano is also running and (Guiling) Mamondiong at TESDA is also running,” Duterte said in a Palace press conference as reported by Rappler. The…
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque at a press briefing assured China that the Philippines will not be joining the military exercises the United States is planning to conduct in the South China Sea. According to Roque, the naval drills, which will coincide with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Manila visit next month, were discussed at a meeting…
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has released its calendar of activities and listed prohibited acts for the 2019 midterm elections on May 13. Comelec Resolution No. 10429 sets the election period from January 13 to June 12, 2019. However, the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) and nominations for party-list representatives will run from October…
COMMISSION on Human Rights (CHR) chairman Chito Gascon on Thursday, October 4 said that more “confidential communications” containing information on the alleged human rights violations by President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration have been sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC). There are at least four other communications filed before the ICC in addition to those that…
SEVERAL universities in Metro Manila on Thursday, October 4, dared the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to prove its accusations that their institutions are breeding grounds for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA). and recruits for a destabilization plot against President Rodrigo Duterte. Joseph Noel Estrada, legal…
EVEN after leaving her post on Wednesday, October 3, former assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson will still face an investigation being conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman. Ombudsman Samuel Martires ordered Uson and her boss, PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar, to respond to complaints regarding the videos…
A RECENT study conducted by the IBON Foundation concluded on Thursday, October 4, that the first package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law burdens the poorest 17.2 million Filipinos nationwide. The said non-stock and non-profit organization found out that 76 percent or three out of four Filipino families are struggling to…
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday, October 2, excluded the Liberal Party (LP) and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV from any involvement in the presumed “Red October” — a plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. The AFP chief clarified that it is only the Communist Party of…
Recent conflict alert report released on Tuesday, October 2, showed that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law helped lessen violence in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) by discouraging armed groups from bringing out their weapons. Senior Peace and Conflict Adviser in Asia for International Alert Philippines Francisco Lara Jr. shared the…
Amid the revocation of the amnesty of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Malacañang and the Military, on Tuesday, October 2, do not seem to agree on whether the former mutineer applied for amnesty or not. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the senator has indeed applied…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, October 2, ordered the “neutralization” of the New People’s Army (NPA). He said that the communist rebels have done nothing for the country except to kill civilians and lawmen, and engage in extortion activities. “We are not into a crime prevention. Pati ‘yang pulis kasali na. It’s neutralization ang atin….
Facebook users in the Philippines are being advised by the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) to reinforce their capabilities to counter possible cyberattacks in the wake of recent identity theft reports and hacked social media accounts. Nearly 50 million Facebook accounts were compromised by an attack that gave hackers the ability to take over users’…
Islamic State (IS) fighters have reportedly fled Syria to return to Mindanao in efforts to establish a territory in Southeast Asia, according to The Washington Times on Sunday, September 30. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington released a report stating that more IS-affiliated fighters came from Southeast Asia, specifically from armed…
The Sandiganbayan has permitted former Senator Jinggoy Estrada to go with his mother, former Sen. Luisa “Loi” Ejercito, on a medical trip to Singapore this week. According to a two-page resolution released on Monday, October 1, the court’s Fifth Division allowed Estrada to leave the country from October 1 to 8. “The right to travel…
Malacañang on Monday, October 1, reminded government officials to never seek for special treatment. This is after ACTS OFW party-list Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz III received flak for allegedly disobeying security protocol and harassing a personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). In a viral video that has amassed more than 193,000 views as…
Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly held Saturday, September 29, in New York, saying that the country was on track to “salvaging” itself from becoming a narco-state. Cayetano said that the Philippines was “uncompromising” on the issues of rule of…
For years, the United Nations awards people from around the globe with the title “champion of the earth.” The said title is considered the institution’s highest environmental honor as it recognizes people both from the public and private sector who played a significant role in promoting ways to help the environment. This time, one Filipina…
MAJORITY of Filipinos want the current administration to immediately address rising prices of basic goods and services. The figures from the September 2018 Ulat ng Bayan revealed that 63 percent of the 1,800 respondents said controlling the rising costs of commodities is their top concern. “This is the predominant opinion in all geographic areas (53…
The Court of Tax Appeals dismissed the motion of Jaime Napoles, husband of priority development assistance fund (PDAF) scam alleged mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, to quash the lawsuit against him over National Internal Revenue Code violations, thus proceeding to trial. “Upon denial of petitioner’s Motion to Quash, the Court must proceed with the trial,” the…
Philippine Historical Association Secretary Jonathan Balsamo said on Monday night, September 24, that in order to address the impending historical revisionism among younger generation, the existing learning materials about the martial law period must undergo a thorough review. In his interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News, the historian explained that there…
In order to regulate the number of visitors in Boracay Island, tourists going to the island after its reopening may soon be required to wear access bracelets, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Registering in a tourist database may also become a requirement for visitors should the proposed measure be approved…
Latest data showed that 19 out of 154 children who died after receiving at least one dose of Dengvaxia, had dengue despite the vaccination as reported by the Department of Health (DOH). According to DOH Undersecretary Enrique Domingo, of the 19 individuals who had dengue, six were diagnosed clinically and 13 were confirmed to have…
There is a possibility that more former mutineers from the Magdalo group, who were granted amnesty by the previous administration, might have their amnesty like Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV revoked. This was hinted by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday, September 26, when he revealed that a review on the amnesty given to Magdalo soldiers…
In an effort to connect with Filipinos all around the globe, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched the Global Police Community Relations (PCR) program. According to the PNP PCR Group’s website, the program will allow Filipinos to report crimes from outside the Philippines and provides access to assistance from the PNP and “will truly…
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday, September 27, denied the claims that some of its officers are planning to oust President Rodrigo Duterte from office. AFP Spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalos vowed that the Philippine military would remain professional and obedient to the 1987 Constitution “that it has sworn to uphold and to…
Palace: President was not serious when he made the statement’ Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, September 27 said that the “only sin” he has committed in his two years in power is ordering extrajudicial killings (EJKs). “What are your sins? Me? I told the military ‘what are my sins?’ Did I steal money? Even…
Claiming that some government forces are involved with the opposition to oust him from his post, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is willing to step down if they give him a good reason to do so. “There are talks about coup d’état, mutiny, they want to oust me. The irony of it all is…
SENATOR Leila de Lima on Wednesday, September 26, urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to accede to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) in order to show their commitment to human rights. “The Senate urges the DFA to seriously consider the possible adherence to, and adoption…
