National
Senate eyes to end 2019 budget delibs this week
January 14, 2019, 7:28 pm
MANILA -- The Senate leadership is eyeing to finish the plenary deliberations for the proposed 2019 national budget within the week to meet its deadline of third reading approval by January 21. In an interview, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said senators agreed to finish… Read More
PNP welcomes surrender of 20 NPA rebels in Laguna
January 14, 2019, 7:12 pm
MANILA -- A total of 20 New People's Army (NPA) rebels have surrendered to the police in Laguna, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said Monday. Upon their surrender, Albayalde said the rebels turned in several high-powered firearms and various grenade… Read More
Palace hopes Pinoys eventually see China’s sincerity
January 14, 2019, 7:00 pm
MANILA -- Malacañang on Monday expressed hope that more Filipinos will see the sincerity of China with respect to the agreements it signed with the Philippines, after a survey showed majority of Filipinos distrust China. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said it was “understandable”… Read More
SC asked to order gov't workers pay hike
January 14, 2019, 6:43 pm
MANILA -- House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. asked the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday to compel the release of the fourth tranche of pay hike of state workers ahead of the approval of the 2019 national budget or the reenactment of the 2018 budget. In a 28-page petition, Andaya, who led the… Read More
LPA unlikely to turn into typhoon: PAGASA
January 14, 2019, 6:25 pm
MANILA -- The chance for a low-pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) to become a tropical depression in the next 24 hours is still low, the weather bureau said Monday. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather… Read More
19 areas in Luzon, Mindanao in poll watchlist
January 14, 2019, 6:18 pm
MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday bared that 19 towns, cities and municipalities in Luzon and Mindanao were placed under the election watchlist areas (EWAs) for the upcoming 2019 midterm polls. PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, said among the areas of concern are… Read More
Pinoy couple on honeymoon drowns in Maldives
January 14, 2019, 6:17 pm
MANILA-- A newly-married Filipino couple drowned on Sunday while on their honeymoon in Maldives, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday. The 29-year-old wife and her 30-year-old husband, who were not identified by the agency, were guests in a resort in Dhiffushi island. According to… Read More
Sotto to mediate between Duterte, Catholic Church
January 14, 2019, 6:05 pm
MANILA -- Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday said he will try to mediate in the feud between President Rodrigo Duterte and the Catholic Church. In an interview, Sotto noted that a lot of Filipinos are growing uncomfortable with the intensifying conflict between the President and church… Read More
Palace backs Diokno explanation on gov't workers pay hike
January 14, 2019, 5:47 pm
MANILA -- Malacañang on Monday shared the position of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno that the fourth tranche of government workers’ pay hike can only be released once Congress approves the proposed 2019 national budget. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark after House… Read More
Rude foreigners face blacklisting: BI
January 14, 2019, 5:23 pm
MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reminded on Sunday disrespectful foreign passengers that their rude behavior does not only bar them from entering the country but they will be also included in the agency's blacklist. BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the Bureau has been strictly… Read More
Panelo wants to ‘clear up’ alleged passport data breach
January 14, 2019, 4:54 pm
MANILA -- Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Monday said that he will write the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), and a sub-contractor involved in the reported passport data loss caused by a previous contractor of the DFA to find… Read More
No need for bicam on Road Board abolition: Senate
January 14, 2019, 4:52 pm
MANILA -- The Senate has maintained its position that there is no need for a bicameral conference committee on the bill abolishing the Road Board, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Monday. He said this was the general sentiment among senators following an all-member caucus. Sotto,… Read More
Exec hopes for fair, peaceful polls in Quezon City
January 14, 2019, 4:48 pm
MANILA -- Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday called on all local election aspirants in the city to observe a peaceful and orderly midterm elections. Belmonte, who is seeking the top post in Quezon City, made the appeal a day after the start of the election period on Sunday. “I am… Read More
PCOO chief cites media's role in Duterte's high rating
January 14, 2019, 4:32 pm
MANILA -- Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar cited the importance of government and the private media’s contribution to President Rodrigo Duterte’s high trust and performance ratings. In a recent press gathering in Cebu City, the PCOO chief expressed… Read More
Comelec checkpoints net 25 violators, 27 firearms
January 14, 2019, 4:24 pm
MANILA -- A total of four persons were killed, 25 were arrested and 27 firearms were seized in checkpoints nationwide on the first day of election period and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban on Sunday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported Monday. The PNP said an hour after… Read More
Sacked Bacolod police execs assured of due process
January 14, 2019, 4:16 pm
MANILA -- Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Monday assured there would be due process in the cases of the Bacolod City police chief and four other cops relieved by President Rodrigo R. Duterte for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs. Albayalde said… Read More
DND to monitor possible investors in Hanjin
January 14, 2019, 4:04 pm
MANILA -- While it would defer to the government's economic team regarding the entry of possible investors in Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHIC-Phil), Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday said they will monitor those who have expressed… Read More
PNP open to help DFA on passport data mess
January 14, 2019, 4:02 pm
MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is willing to assist the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the alleged passport data mess involving a former contractor, Director General Oscar Albayalde said Monday. PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, considered the incident a threat… Read More
Ex-Maguindanao town exec gets P30-K fine for graft, ethics raps
January 14, 2019, 3:22 pm
MANILA -- For failing to declare his properties in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALNs) for 2011, 2013 and 2014, the Sandiganbayan has slapped a former Maguindanao town mayor with a PHP30,000 fine. The anti-graft court 6th Division, in a decision dated Jan. 10, 2019, found… Read More
Printing of plebiscite ballots almost complete
January 14, 2019, 2:37 pm
MANILA — The printing of the close to 3 million official ballots for the referendum on the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) is almost complete, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday. Maria Victoria Dulcero, vice chair of the Comelec Printing Committee said the… Read More
