Palace considering live press briefing to dispel health rumors Malacañang on Thursday, August 27, said it is considering the possibility of holding a live press briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte to dismiss speculations over his health. “We’re talking about it,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said when asked if the president was willing to hold a…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, August 25, said there is no “magic bullet” to solve the country’s problems related to the novel coronavirus pandemic. “This is an update again, a weekly (report on) what we are trying to do. We will also continue to respond to the rising challenges in our pandemic, recalibrating our…
RESPONDING to the ardent plea from healthcare workers, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has relegated the country’s capital and its nearby provinces under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) beginning August 4 until August 18. Duterte approved the Cabinet’s recommendation to return to a more stringent lockdown in response to the medical community’s plea for a…
DESPITE the enforced nationwide lockdown to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27. “We live in a troubled time. Our dream of prosperity for our country was suddenly snuffed by a pandemic virulent virus. No nation was spared….
Members of Congress fear its ambiguity will be used against lawful protesters As the controversial anti-terror law in the Philippines continues to get international attention, 50 members of the United States Congress have called upon the Duterte administration to repeal the measure. U.S. Reps. Judy Chu (D-CA) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) announced in a virtual…
THE Philippine Supreme Court has ordered Malacañang to comment on the four petitions challenging the constitutionality of the anti-terrorism law recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. “The four petitions are Petitions for Certiorari and Prohibition with Prayer for Issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order and Writ of Preliminary Injunction. They all relate to Republic Act…
PHILIPPINE House lawmakers can vote on ABS-CBN’s new legislative franchise based on their “conscience,” Malacañang said on Tuesday, July 7. This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his “neutral” stance on the issue. “Ang Presidente naman po, ang sinabi niya (The president said) the members of Congress can vote according to their conscience dahil siya…
By Ritchel Mendiola and Rae Ann Varona / AJPress PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the controversial anti-terrorism bill into law on Friday, July 3, despite local and international concerns about the measure’s potential effects on free speech and opposition in the country. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed the signing,…
THE Philippines remains a top destination for foreign terrorists despite the government’s continued efforts to enforce measures against security threats, a recent U.S. State Department study found. In its Country Reports on Terrorism 2019 released on Wednesday, June 24, the United States found that the Philippine government struggled to apply a concerted approach to prevent…
A copy of the controversial anti-terrorism bill has been sent to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang confirmed on Tuesday, June 9. Earlier that day, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that he and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano have already signed the proposed bill. “[Cayetano] signed last night. Sending it to PRRD [President Rodrigo Duterte] this…
HUMAN rights abuses in the Philippines have reportedly worsened due to President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs, killing tens of thousands of Filipinos in the process, a new report from the United Nations Human Rights Office found. “A heavy-handed focus on countering national security threats and illegal drugs has resulted in serious human rights…
Despite growing criticism over the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte will run a “final review” before signing it into law to ensure that it complies with the 1987 Constitution. “Alam niyo, bagamat it’s certified urgent, hindi naman po automatic na pipirmahan yan ng presidente (You know, even if it was certified urgent,…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has not changed his decision to terminate the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, despite the suspension this week. “Ang nangyari lang po, nasuspinde ang termination. Hindi pa po niya sinasabi na hindi na tuloy ang termination, so wala pong nagbago sa pag-iisip ng ating pangulo (What happened…
Metro Manila will be shifting to a more relaxed general community quarantine on June 1, according to a recent announcement from President Rodrigo Duterte. “You know, the NCR (National Capital Region) will now be placed under the general community quarantine or the GCQ starting June 1,” he said in his public address aired over state-run…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered government agencies to bring some 24,000 repatriated overseas Filipino workers back to their home provinces by the end of the week. According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Duterte gave the order to officials from the Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and Department of Health after…
MALACAÑANG on Wednesday, May 13 released new guidelines for areas under a modified enhanced community quarantine. This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte the day before announced that Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City will continue operating under a modified quarantine until the end of the month, following his meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte will not reject ABS-CBN’s bid for a franchise renewal if the majority of lawmakers find valid ground to allow the country’s largest television network to operate again. Malacañang on Wednesday, May 6, assured the public that the president would not veto the bill that proposes renewing the network giant’s renewal. “Sa…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is willing to give a P20 million reward to any Filipino who can develop a durable respirator that will be used to help patients who contracted the novel coronavirus, Malacañang said on Tuesday, April 28. According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the respirators should “outlast” the lives of the patients. “Nagbigay ng…
Malacañang denied rumors that President Rodrigo Duterte is taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to declare martial law in the Philippines. “Nakakatawa po ‘yan kasi hindi naman lang naman sa Pilipinas ang merong pandemic (That’s funny because it’s not only the Philippines experiencing the pandemic),” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in an online briefing on…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has extended the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and other “high risk” areas in Luzon until May 15, following the recommendations of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. “The decision regarding the ECQ when May 1, 2020 comes: maintain the ECQ for…
THE United States government is slated to provide an additional $5.3-million (P269-million) in health assistance to the Philippines as it continues to grapple with the spread of the novel coronavirus. The U.S. Embassy in Manila said on Wednesday, April 22 that the aid builds on the previous $4 million the country has provided to the…
United States President Donald Trump has offered more aid to the Philippines as it continues to grapple with the spread of the novel coronavirus, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said on Tuesday, April 21. “President Trump expressed his solidarity and offered additional assistance to the Philippines as it continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic,” the…
President Rodrigo Duterte is weighing whether to “maintain, relax or lift” the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon following his meeting with health officials, Malacañang said on Tuesday, April 21. At the beginning of the week, the president met with health experts and former heads of the Department of Health, during which there was no suggestion…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte received a phone call from United States President Donald Trump on Sunday night, Malacañang revealed on Monday, April 20. “The call came in at 10:10 in the evening. It was initiated by the U.S. government. It lasted for about 18 minutes,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque during an online press briefing….
THE National Economic and Development Authority Secretary on Thursday, April 16, said that sustaining another extension for the enhanced community quarantine enforced in Luzon will be difficult. President Rodrigo Duterte in March placed Luzon under quarantine to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. It was supposed to end on April…
MEDICAL workers are urged to stay in the Philippines as the country continues to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday, April 13. The president appealed to health care professionals to remain in the country because of the shortage of personnel, but admitted that he cannot blame them if…
PHILIPPINES President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, April 14, called for the cooperation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic that has killed thousands of people and forced the lockdowns of major cities globally. “To effectively overcome the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN must collaborate and coordinate…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the release of a P50.8-billion wage subsidy for middle-income workers affected by the enhanced community quarantine enforced in Luzon, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday, April 14. During the Inter-Agency Task Force meeting on Monday night, Duterte reportedly approved the Small Business Relief Program to help 3.4 million…
President Rodrigo Duterte said he would consider selling government assets as a “ast resort” to generate funds to help address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country. “What is the endgame? We will run out of money. I’ll sell all the property of the government. That Cultural Center of the Philippines, PICC [Philippine International…
The enhanced community quarantine in Luzon will be extended until April 30 to further contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, a cabinet official said on Tuesday, April 7. Previously, the quarantine was set to end on April 14. President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for…
