Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte came under fire after ordering the police and military to shoot quarantine violators dead during Luzon’s enhanced community quarantine due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). “I will not hesitate. My orders are to the police and military, also the barangay, that if there is trouble or the situation arises that people…
P200 billion will be allocated to low-income households affected by the enhanced community quarantine enforced in Luzon, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Monday, March 30. The quarantine was implemented in mid-March to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the country, but has left a dent in the livelihoods of thousands of Filipino families….
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte will start his self-quarantine over the weekend after several officials tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Malacañang said on Friday, March 27. “PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) will self-quarantine himself on his birthday tomorrow following the advice of the PSG as well as doctors for his protection following his exposure…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, March 25, signed a bill that grants him special powers to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) threat in the country. Under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act (Senate Bill 1418), the president is authorized to adopt several “temporary emergency measures” to contain COVID-19 as well as to mobilize…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will not abuse the special powers granted to him by Congress to address the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, Malacañang said on Tuesday, March 24. According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the president would use the special powers in accordance with the 1987 Constitution. “The Filipino people are assured that…
A bill granting President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Philippines has been approved in a House of Representatives committee. The committee passed House Bill No. 6616 or the “Bayanihan Act of 2020” on Monday, March 23, seeking to declare a national emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, March 20, appealed to the local government units (LGUs) to abide by the directives set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. “We are in a critical time [and] the national government needs your help during this time. Do not make this quarantine more…
President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the Philippines under a state of calamity in an attempt to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). He signed Proclamation 929 on Tuesday, March 17, which declares a state of calamity for a period of six months unless lifted earlier extended “as circumstances may warrant.” The declaration…
International airports in Luzon have a 72-hour window to accommodate foreigners seeking to leave the Philippines, the country’s Department of Transportation said on Tuesday, March 17. After that, all gateways from the mainland will be closed in compliance with the “enhanced community quarantine” enforced on the island. “Outbound passengers intending to depart the Philippines from…
Luzon has been placed on an enhanced community quarantine to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Monday, March 16. “I have come to the conclusion that stricter measures are necessary. For this reason, pursuant to my powers as President under the constitution and RA…
International flights to and from Manila not covered Metro Manila has been placed on a community quarantine for the next 30 days in response to the growing number of cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Thursday, March 12. The president’s orders — which will begin on Sunday,…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told Filipino Americans eligible to vote to support U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election efforts this November. “I’m telling the Filipino now: You’re getting the best deal with Trump,” Duterte said during a press briefing on Monday night, March 9. The Philippine president quipped about “interfering” in the U.S. election process by…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said the United States has been reaching out to the Philippine government for newer and stronger defense ties since the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the two countries. “It came to the fore na yung alitan ko sa kanila, tinanggal ko ‘yung VFA, sila naman ngayon ang lapit ng…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States may face some legal challenges as several senators this week voted on a resolution asking the Supreme Court to determine the Senate’s role in treaty abrogations. In a 12-0-8 vote, the Senate on Monday, March 2 adopted a resolution that…
LAWMAKERS have no business being members of Congress if they are influenced by the actions or statements of President Rodrigo Duterte, according to the presidential spokesperson. “You are there precisely because of the oath you have taken to enact laws, to investigate in aid of legislation — nothing more, nothing less,” said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador…
President Rodrigo Duterte believes United States President Donald Trump “deserves to be reelected” for understanding and respecting the Philippines’ decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Malacañang said. “PRRD (President Duterte) welcomes President Trump’s remarks and he is glad that the American President understands and respects his decision to end the Visiting Forces Agreement,”…
President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States does not need the concurrence of the Senate, Malacañang argued on Monday, February 17. “As far as we are concerned in the executive, there is no need for a concurrence in the Senate because the Constitution, if it’s…
Malacañang on Thursday, February 13, defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to terminate the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, saying the Philippines cannot forever rely on the protection its counterpart. “As the president said, if we keep on relying on the United States on our defense, our defenses will always remain stagnant…
The Philippines has formally sent a notice terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, Malacañang announced on Tuesday, February 11. President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Monday night to inform Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. to go ahead and send a notice ending the 20-year-old military pact with…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has formally ordered the government to send the United States a notice terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. Panelo told reporters on Friday, February 7 that the president has instructed Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to inform Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to send the…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, February 6, asked Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services where the money they allegedly stole from their consumers went, adding that he would entertain talks with them if they return the money. “So where is the money? Where is the money of the Filipino people? Where is the money…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, January 29, barred Cabinet members from traveling to the United States following his order to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the country and the U.S. “I will not allow any Cabinet member to go there at this time. No Cabinet member should be allowed to go to the…
THE Philippines’ lower ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has prodded the current administration to fire more corrupt officials. The CPI is released by Transparency International, evaluating countries using a scale of zero to 100 where zero translated to “highly corrupt” while 100 meant “every clean.” In the 2019 index, the Philippines ranked…
Malacañang on Monday, January 27, said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States was not made on a whim, claiming that the move was due to a series of disrespectful acts by several American senators. The VFA, which came into force in 1999, covers the conduct…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to reject United States President Donald Trump’s invitation to attend the Southeast Asian leaders’ summit in Las Vegas, Nevada this March, Malacañang said on Friday, January 24. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s visa cancellation reportedly prompted Duterte to decline the invitation, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced. In a chance…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the government to begin terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States, Malacañang said on Friday, January 24. Duterte threatened to terminate the VFA on Thursday, following the U.S.’ cancellation of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s visa. Though the U.S. Embassy did not give a…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte received a record-high satisfaction rating in the fourth quarter of last year, according to a new Social Weather Stations survey released Tuesday, January 21. Based on 1,200 respondents, 82% of adult Filipinos were satisfied with Duterte’s performance. On the other hand, 10% of the respondents were dissatisfied, while the remaining 8%…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte may be persuaded into accepting President Donald Trump’s invitation to an upcoming summit in the United States with Asian leaders, Malacañang said on Tuesday, January 21. Malacañang released a statement on Monday that Duterte was among the 10 Southeast Asian leaders invited by Trump to U.S.-ASEAN summit on March 14 in…
Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo defended the drug war report based on her findings as former co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) after receiving flak from administration allies. “If they dismiss it as a mere political [attack], it just means they did not read the report,” she said on her radio show…
DESPITE low ratings from individuals around the world, support for U.S. President Donald Trump remains its highest in the Philippines, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. Results from the nonpartisan fact tank’s latest survey found that 77% of Filipinos said they are confident that Trump would do the “right thing” concerning world affairs,…
