A joint congressional resolution extending the validity of the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and capital outlays (CO) in the 2018 budget has been signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. He signed Joint Resolution No. 3 on December 28, 2018, and it was made public on Thursday, Jan. 3. It extends the validity of these…
A Philippine military official on Thursday, January 3 said Communist leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison is “hallucinating,” a day after Sison said that ousting President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019 was the “priority” of the communist rebels. “He must not only be dreaming, he is hallucinating. From here on, any moves by the CPP-NPA (New People’s…
Malacañang on Tuesday, January 1, said Catholics should not be offended by President Duterte’s remarks on their beliefs, instead they should regard his words as a means to strengthen their faith. Duterte, who has been at odds with Catholic bishops over the war he waged against drugs, questioned the doctrine of the Holy Trinity last…
IN light of Ako, Bicol Representative Rodel Batocabe’s murder this week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the increase of the reward from P30 million to P50 million for any information. “The reward is at this time P30 million. I’m raising the ante. I’m putting it at plus P20 to P50,” Duterte said during a chance…
AFTER 117 years in the United States’ possession, the Balangiga bells made their way home to Balangiga, Eastern Samar. President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, December 15, witnessed the turnover of the Transfer Certificate of the Balangiga Bells from U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission John Law to Philippine Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The…
Malacañang on Wednesday, December 12, said the “coldness” in the United States is stopping President Rodrigo Duterte to visit Washington even after the return of the Balangiga Bells. “What I know is he really doesn’t want to go to the U.S. apart from whatever reasons he has in mind. He cannot stand the temperature, the…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, December 13, alluded to the awarding of Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa as TIME Magazine’s “Person of the Year” during the birthday celebration of former Senator Manny Villar. “Time of the what, Time of the magazine, Time – ‘Woman of the Century’ and all, inyo na ‘yan (you can have it),”…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 9, promised to continue his campaign against illegal drugs, crime, corruption, terrorism and insurgency campaign despite being labeled as the “biggest threat to human rights” by activists and human rights group. Presidential Human Rights Committee and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a statement on the 70th anniversary of…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 10, warned all candidates for the 2019 midterm elections not to intimidate Filipino voters into voting for them or their allies regardless of their political affiliations to the president. “Ke kasama kita sa gobyerno, kasama kita sa partido o kalaban kita sa politika (Whether you’re a colleague in…
PHIlIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte urged the two legislative chambers — the Senate and the House of Representatives — to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2019. In a letter addressed to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dated December 6, Duterte noted that it is still necessary…
OVERSEAS Filipinos and organizations were recognized by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in a ceremony on Wednesday, December 5 at Malacañang Palace. Called the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO), 25 outstanding Filipino individuals and organizations from abroad were honored. Six families were also given the Model OFW Family of the Year Award…
The assessment of President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity will be continued by the International Criminal Court despite the Philippines’ withdrawal of its ratification from the Rome Statute. The ICC confirmed this in an annual report released this week months after a preliminary examination into the situation was opened by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda….
ACCORDING to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, it would be more appropriate for President Rodrigo Duterte to visit the U.S. once the Balangiga bells have been returned to the Philippines. Taken by American soldiers as war booty in 1901, the Balangiga bells are expected to arrive in Manila at Villamor Airbase…
MALACAÑANG on Thursday, December 6, defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent “kill the bishops” statement as only a hyperbole intended for a dramatic effect. Despite the president’s previous attacks on the Catholic Church and religious leaders, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters that the public should get accustomed to Duterte’s manner of speaking. “I think that’s…
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday, December 5, announced the creation of a new infantry division specialized to locate the whereabouts of Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups in Sulu. Military spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo announced the plan to ultimately defeat the threats to safety in Mindanao. However, he noted during…
Malacañang defended President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, December 4, stating that the leader can make jokes in public speeches just like everyone else. “Everybody is entitled to a joke,” Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said as reported by ABS-CBN News. This was after the top leader drew criticism for stating that he takes marijuana to keep…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 3, said he will not pardon the 3 policemen convicted of murdering Caloocan teenager Kian delos Santos. When asked by reporters if a pardon from him may be expected, he answered: “Of course not. Maybe one million years from now.” His promise to police and military personnel that he…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 3, said he uses marijuana to stay awake and keep up with the tight schedules along with the other heads of states. “It’s a killing activity,” he said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Singapore last month. “Me, [I don’t fall asleep] as much…
President reveals plans to form unit to counter NPAs Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s plans to establish an armed civilian unit to counter communist rebels would not violate due process, Malacañang said. Earlier this week, Duterte revealed that the armed unit would be formed to suppress the New People’s Army (NPA) “sparrow”, slang for Special Partisan…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, November 27, dismissed the public’s fears that he would declare martial law nationwide after he ordered the deployment of troops in several areas in the country as a means to contain the insurgency. “No, I am not going to declare martial law. There’s enough powers of the presidency that…
Malacañang on Tuesday, November 27, said President Rodrigo Duterte is in good physical condition amid health issues critics have raised because he had skipped a number of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) events. According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the president has had a grueling schedule prior the summit. “(Is he physically fit?) Oh…
Amid critics calling for transparency, Malacañang has promised it will issue the details concerning the deals signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s official two-day visit to the Philippines earlier this week. On Tuesday, November 20, Xi and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed 29 agreements, concerning oil and gas, trade and investment, banking and finance, infrastructure,…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, November 20, signed 29 agreements signifying a “milestone in the history of exchange” between the two countries. “Thanks to our joint efforts, we have made productive the results in cooperation in all areas bringing benefits to our two peoples and making a contribution to…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was urged by his critics on Tuesday, November 20 to defend the country’s claim and territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Former solicitor general Florin Hilbay said that the president must not put aside the country’s victory in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) as he cited the Social…
After the United States Defense Department initiated the return of the historic Balangiga bells to the Philippines this week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte could be open to an official visit to the U.S., despite his past criticism of the country. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. revealed with the return of the…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte said that casinos will not be built within the premises of the world-famous Boracay island to honor the wishes of the locals and residents of the said tourist spot. “If it is the wish of the population here that they do not want a casino, then it will be a no…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, November 6, personally denied that he ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to take over the functions of Bureau of Customs (BOC) during his lecture to the Cabinet Members at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room. “When I called in the Army, the Bureau of Customs, there was…
Plans to form task force to curb illegal drug trade Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, November 6, revealed that a move to intensify the anti-drug campaigns especially on illegal drug trade is on the works as a task force is about to be issued. “What we have is the moving forward to eradicate illegal…
Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Thursday, October 11 announced that he will be President Rodrigo Duterte’s next spokesman after Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque Jr. took an indefinite leave of absence. The chief legal counsel answered affirmatively when asked if he would replace Roque, who is reportedly vying for a Senate post in the midterm…
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…
