Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Philippines a “very important partner of Russia” during the bilateral meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte in Sochi on Thursday, October 3. “I would like to highlight that the Philippines is a very important partner of Russia in Asia. Our bilateral cooperation is constructive and mutually beneficial but our friendly…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, October 1, said that it is impossible to stop hazing, advising those who are in fraternities to “just don’t overdo it.” “To be frank about it, you cannot eliminate [hazing]. Just don’t overdo it,” he said during a press conference before leaving for Russia on Tuesday evening. “I really can’t…
Malacañang on Monday, September 30, said President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Department of Agriculture (DAR) to stop the spread of African swine fever. “Contain it, stop it,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said, quoting Duterte’s order to Agriculture Secretary William Dar, when he was asked for a reaction in regard to the confirmed cases of the…
Davao City – City mayors expressed their gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte following the latter’s announcement that he is exploring options for local governments to immediately avail their share of the national revenue as ruled by the Supreme Court in the petition filed by Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas. President Duterte’s statement was met with a…
BROADCAST and online journalists are now covered by a bill protecting journalists from being forced to disclose their sources. According to a copy of the measure made public by Malacañang on Wednesday, September 25, Republic Act (RA) No. 11458, an amendment to RA No. 53 or the Sotto law, was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte…
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday, September 24, said President Rodrigo Duterte will evaluate his directive suspending aid agreements with countries in favor of the Iceland-led resolution seeking a probe into the Philippines’ war on illegal drugs. This is after the defense department made an appeal to exempt military deals from Duterte’s memorandum. “The president…
FILIPINOS remain satisfied with President Rodrigo Duterte’s three-year war on illegal drugs, a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed. The poll, conducted from June 22 to 26, found 82% of adult Filipinos satisfied with the government’s anti-narcotics campaign. Those dissatisfied accounted for 12% and 6% were undecided — resulting in a net satisfaction score…
President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to suspend aid agreements with countries in favor of the Iceland-led United Nations resolution seeking a probe into his anti-drug campaign will not harm the Philippine economy, Malacañang assured on Monday, September 23. During a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo clarified, “At the outset, we assure the nation and its…
Malacañang on Monday night, September 16, said President Rodrigo Duterte met with Chongqing party chief Chen Min’er and other members of Communist Party of China (CPC) in a courtesy call at the Palace’s Music Room. In a press statement, Malacañang described Chen as “a protégé of Chinese President Xi Jinping,” and that he “is seen…
Malacañang on Thursday, September 12, assured the public that President Rodrigo Duterte is not abandoning the 2016 arbitral court ruling after he revealed that China and the Philippines are looking into joint oil and gas exploration in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). The clarification comes after the president said both countries have…
Malacañang on Wednesday, September 11, clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte will certify as urgent the proposed law against discrimination, not the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression (SOGIE) bill. On Tuesday, September 10, Duterte said he will certify as urgent the SOGIE bill, which seeks to shield the LGBT community against hate and prejudice. …
Malacañang on Sunday, September 1, deemed President Rodrigo Duterte’s official visit to China as “successful” and “highly productive” despite Chinese President Xi Jinping rejecting the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea. “With the conclusion of President Duterte’s official visit to China, we wish to inform the public…
China ‘sorry’ for Recto Bank incident, 6 agreements signed The Philippines and China signed six agreements during the bilateral meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, however, missing was a resolution on the ongoing West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) territorial dispute. During the much-anticipated meeting on Thursday, August 29,…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, August 27, reiterated his support for family planning and pushed for the program’s revival in the next three years. “Ang isang kulang na lang natin actually na how to get it started and you know get it rolling beginning at least in the next three years, ‘yang ibalik ninyo ‘yung…
A budget of P184.9-billion for next year is being eyed by the Philippine National Police to help improve the peace and order situation in the country — which includes the hiring of 37,000 officers. Included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2020, which was submitted to the Senate by the executive department…
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday, August 19, defended its proposal to restore the law against subversion. According to DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya, the Duterte administration is different from the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, who used the law to prosecute thousands of critics. “This is not the authoritarian…
At least 6,847 suspected drug offenders have been killed in alleged shootouts in association with President Rodrigo Duterte’s three-year crackdown on illegal drugs, according to the latest count by the Philippine National Police (PNP). Data from July 1, 2016 to July 31 of this year — presented during the National Summit on Crime Prevention at…
Malacañang on Monday, August 13, defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s stance on police officers accepting gifts given out of gratitude or generosity. According to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, police officers can accept gifts of “nominal value” for as long as these are not “excessive.” “What is important is hindi yun binigay (that is not given) in…
IN light of the Department of Health’s declaration of a dengue epidemic across the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte said he is open to reviving the government’s Dengvaxia vaccination program. “Yes, I am open to the use of Dengvaxia again. Maraming patay ’yan (There are so many deaths). It’s an epidemic,” he told reporters after leading…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, August 5, admitted that he has been praying to God to spare the Philippines from possible attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS). According to him, the thought of the extremist group harming the country makes him nervous. He said he is afraid that a lot of Filipino will lose their…
Malacañang on Saturday, August 3, slammed the New York Times (NYT) for spreading “false information” about the Duterte administration. In the NYT’s editorial entitled “In the fight to save the planet, its defenders are being killed,” the publication cited a survey by rights group Global Witness that named the Philippines as the most dangerous country…
Malacañang on Tuesday night, July 30, announced that the suspension order imposed on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) lotto operations has been lifted by President Rodrigo Duterte. “The suspension of lotto operations is lifted immediately,” said presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo in a TV interview. However, the rest of the PCSO’s games with franchises, licenses…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night, July 25 said he prefers using ropes to execute criminals instead of bullets, following his call earlier this week to reinstate the death penalty. Hanging is a cheaper alternative to execute criminals instead of employing a firing squad or using lethal injection, the president said. During his fourth State…
Malacañang on Tuesday, July 23, clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte was referring to a liquor ban during certain hours when he called for the closure of establishments by midnight. In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, Duterte asked Congress to pass a law requiring business establishments to adopt a…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 22, delivered his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) that lasted for an hour and 33 minutes. He arrived 55 minutes late at the Batasang Pambansa Complex and started his speech at exactly 5:15 p.m. After the initial pleasantries, Duterte thanked his supporters, threatened erring government agencies, and…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, July 17, has called on the United States to invoke its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines amid the maritime tension in the disputed West Philippine Sea. “I’m calling now America. I’m invoking the RP-U.S. pact. I would like America to gather all their 7th Fleet in front of…
Malacañang on Tuesday, July 16, said that President Rodrigo Duterte will be the first to follow the recently signed “Bawal Bastos” law, which penalizes catcalling and other gender-based harassment in public spaces and online. According to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Duterte recognized the need to prevent gender-based sexual harassment when he signed Republic Act 11313…
‘Anti-bastos’ bill seeks to prevent sexual harassment, including catcalling President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the anti-bastos bill, which seeks to prevent gender-based sexual harassment from occurring in streets, public places, online workplaces, and educational and training institutions. Senator Risa Hontiveros, one of the law’s principal authors, said in late May that the bill…
The Philippines on Thursday, July 11 rejected a United Nations resolution that mandates a “comprehensive” international review of the drug war that has been ongoing since President Rodrigo Duterte took office three years ago. The United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) resolution seeks an investigation into the rising death toll, which has been disputed, ranging…
A recent survey revealed that 93% of adult Filipinos believe that it is important for the Philippine government to take back control of islands occupied by China in the West Philippine Sea According to the survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations from June 22 to 26, 74% of the respondents said this is “œvery…
