Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) is planning to file a second impeachment complaint against Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista. Earlier this week, former Negros Oriental Representative and current VACC member Jacinto Paras requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for copies of documents related to the allegations made by Bautista’s…
SENATE Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III on Monday, August 14, took a swipe at United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Agnes Callamard and two other UN executives for criticizing the drug war and human rights situation in the Philippines. The Philippine senator described Callamard and UN special rapporteurs Michel Forst and Maud de Boer-Buquicchio…
The Philippine Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, August 16, rejected the ad interim appointment of Judy Taguiwalo as the country’s Social Welfare Secretary. Taguiwalo is President Rodrigo Duterte’s third cabinet official rejected by the appointments body. The other two were Gina Lopez as Environment Secretary and Perfecto Yasay Jr. as Foreign Affairs Secretary. While…
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) called on Filipinos outside the country to remain vigilant, following the recent series of terror attacks abroad. In a statement released Tuesday, August 15, Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano encouraged Filipinos overseas remain prepared against unforeseen “senseless acts of violence.” According to the DFA, there are more than…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is going to support any move—including impeaching any official regardless of position—that would help in ridding the government of corruption, Malacañang said on Monday, August 14. Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella stressed that keeping the administration clean from any irregularities has been among Duterte’s major campaign promises. “Without making references to any…
MANILA — The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has acquitted Philippine Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito of technical malversation in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of P2.1 million-worth of firearms during his term as the mayor of San Juan City in 2008. In its decision promulgated on Thursday, August 10, the court’s Sixth Division granted the…
Beijing sets precondition before talks MANILA – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have agreed to adopt a “framework” for further negotiations on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the disputed South China Sea. In a news conference on Sunday, August 6, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that he and his…
Unfazed by the criticism coming from the government of the United States, Malacañang on Friday, July 21 said the ‘real judge’ of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war is no one else but the Filipino people. In a press conference hours after a U.S. Congress hearing on the Philippines’ anti-illegal drug campaign, Duterte’s spokesperson, Ernesto…
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is encouraging Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to use the tax-free “Balikbayan Box” program, saying that no one has availed of it yet as of this month. “We are encouraging the OFWs to avail of this program. Isa itong pagpaparangal sa ating mga OFWs (This is one way of recognizing our…
President Rodrigo Duterte will soon have his highest-ranking representative in Washington to serve as the Philippine ambassador to the United States, replacing the previous envoy who stepped down from his post more than a year ago. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano in a television interview revealed that the department is eyeing…
SOME Mindanao leaders were in defense and even expressed their optimism despite the recent snubbing by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of its rival Moro group, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). On Monday, July 17, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim did not mention MNLF as he acknowledged the different groups that helped in…
For his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is set to deliver a “direct to the point” speech that will run for about 50 minutes, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar disclosed on Friday, July 21. Andanar, who was present during Duterte’s rehearsal at the presidential guest house in Davao City on…
THE Philippines’ ruling political party is open to the possibility of learning new ideologies, policies — this time, from China’s sole governing party. Speaking before visiting Filipino journalists in Fujian province in China, Communist Party of China (CPC) officials said that in December 2016, the Philippines’ ruling political party PDP-Laban entered into an agreement with…
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said on Wednesday, July 19, that the Ombudsman’s indictment against former president Benigno Aquino III over the botched Mamasapano operation in 2015 is “weak.” Last week, the Ombudsman indicted Aquino for violation of the anti graft law and usurpation of authority for allowing his friend, suspended former Philippine National Police (PNP)…
The alleged police-suspects for killing an accused drug lord and an inmate have not yet served their suspension orders, Philippine National Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa revealed on Monday, July 17. Dela Rosa said Psupt. Marvin Marcos, head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Eastern Visayas (CIDG-8) and his co-accused men filed their…
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales clarified that her “goading people to kill” comment was her own personal view and not something dictated by the law. “Her answer was ‘goading people to kill’ irrespective of the context is, to me, unacceptable.’ She did not say anything about any law against threatening criminals,” the Office of the Ombudsman said…
ON some rare occasions, President Rodrigo Duterte can be soft toward his critics and their harsh remarks. Duterte, in his speech during former president Fidel Ramos’ book launching on Monday, July 17, said that he “accepts” the advice and “respect” the criticisms the former president throws against him. “I respect your criticism. I accept…
DAVAO CITY — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte addressed about 200 Filipino-American visitors in this city on Friday, July 14, urging them to be “ambassadors” bearing the message of change under his administration. Despite various travel advisories and the recent pronouncement of martial law in Mindanao, Fil-Ams from across the United States came to the Philippines this…
For Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, his first year in the office thus far has been filled with unpredictable highs and lows. It’s been 12 months since the tough-talking former Davao mayor was sworn in as the 16th president of the country, becoming the first Mindanaoan and the oldest — at 72-years old — to take…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte emphasized the need of eradicating drug impunity during the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Thursday, May 11, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In his keynote speech, Duterte urged the international leaders to pursue a drug-free community to protect the younger generation from harm brought…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s net worth went up by over P3 million during his first six months in the office, according to his latest statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) released by the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday, May 12. In his SALN, Duterte declared a net worth of P27.43 million as…
US reaffirms alliance with incoming PH president US President Barack Obama on Tuesday, May 17, personally called presumptive Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to congratulate him on his victory. “President Obama noted that the successful election and record voter participation were emblematic of the Philippines’ vibrant democracy,” the White House said in a statement released Tuesday,…
IN a video released this week by Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf, captors of three foreign nationals and a Filipino woman held hostage say the foreigners will be killed in a month if families don’t meet their demands. The Philippine military, however, said it is standing by the government’s no ransom policy. “We will just…
THE body of a missing German adventurer was found inside an abandoned yacht off the coast of Barobo in Suigao del Sur. Two Filipino fishermen over the weekend discovered the body of 59-year-old Manfred Fritz Bajorat inside a 40-foot yacht called Sayo, which had been sailing around the world for the past two decades. Bajorat’s…
DAYS after Nike dropped its endorsement contract with Manny Pacquiao due to his controversial remarks on same-sex couples, the Filipino boxer has reportedly begun negotiating new deals with other sports apparel companies. “There are several already now in the pipeline,” Pacquiao’s business manager, Eric Pineda, told Agence France-Presse without identifying the companies. “They [the Pacquiao…
Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach returns to the Philippines FANS lined the streets of Manila to Makati City as Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, the newly-crowned Miss Universe 2015, traveled by float in her homecoming parade on January 25. The float traveled for more than three hours from the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila, down Roxas Boulevard…
THE Philippines and the United Kingdom are looking to sign a revised defense agreement before the end of the year, British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad said Monday, Jan. 18. The new agreement would expand both countries’ cooperation on military, security and disaster response, GMA News reported. Ahmad did not provide specific details on…
AS world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao prepares for what he has said will the final bout of his boxing career, he looks ahead to a political career where he can serve his countrymen. On April 9, the Filipino boxer will face WBO/WBC Jr. Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, Jr. in the ring for a third time….
THE Philippine Supreme Court on Tuesday, Jan. 12, upheld the constitutionality of an executive agreement between the Philippines and the United States that permits increased rotational presence of US military troops in the country. In a 10-4-1 vote, the top court ruled in favor of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which was signed by…
The People’s Champ to focus on politics THE People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao will hang up his boxing gloves after a bout against Timothy Bradley on April 9 to focus on a career in politics. “My April 9 fight against Timothy Bradley will be my last. I’m retiring from boxing to focus on my new job,”…
