National

Nograles eyed as next Cabinet Secretary: Panelo

Nograles eyed as next Cabinet Secretary: Panelo

October 30, 2018, 7:19 pm

MANILA – Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed on Tuesday that President Rodrigo Duterte is eyeing Davao City Representative Karlo Nograles as the next Cabinet Secretary. “He is one of those being considered,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing when asked to confirm Justice… Read More

2 senatorial bets, more than 400 others face disqualification cases

2 senatorial bets, more than 400 others face disqualification cases

October 30, 2018, 6:43 pm

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has filed perpetual disqualification cases against more than 400 individuals for failure to file their Statements of Contribution and Expenditures (SOCEs) twice. Data from the Comelec-Campaign Finance Office (CFO) showed that a total of 460 people… Read More

‘Rosita’ weakens, but rains to continue over Luzon

‘Rosita’ weakens, but rains to continue over Luzon

October 30, 2018, 6:27 pm

MANILA -- Typhoon Rosita (international name “Yutu”) weakened further after passing through Northern Luzon but several areas will continue to experience rainy weather despite its exit from the country’s landmass. In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and… Read More

Gordon backs PRRD on 'lawless violence’ remark at BOC

Gordon backs PRRD on 'lawless violence’ remark at BOC

October 30, 2018, 6:26 pm

MANILA -- Senator Richard Gordon said Tuesday President Rodrigo Duterte was right when he said there is “lawless violence” at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), stressing that the Philippines is now “under siege” due to the seemingly unrestricted entry of illegal drugs in the country’s ports.… Read More

Japanese prelate is Pope's envoy to Manila Cathedral rehab celebration

Japanese prelate is Pope's envoy to Manila Cathedral rehab celebration

October 30, 2018, 6:12 pm

MANILA -- A Japanese bishop will represent Pope Francis at the 60th anniversary of the Manila Cathedral's post-war reconstruction in December. Cardinal Thomas Aquinas Manyo Maeda, Archbishop of Osaka, will represent the Holy Father during the occasion. He will celebrate Mass at the Minor basilica… Read More

Coast Guard set to deploy 115 personnel to Customs

Coast Guard set to deploy 115 personnel to Customs

October 30, 2018, 6:07 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is set to deploy around 115 personnel to take over positions at the Bureau of Customs (BOC). This, after President Rodrigo Duterte decided to place the agency under military control due to the issue of the multi-billion shabu that slipped into the… Read More

More than 2K passengers stranded in ports due to ‘Rosita’

More than 2K passengers stranded in ports due to ‘Rosita’

October 30, 2018, 6:06 pm

MANILA -- More than 2,000 passengers were stranded in ports across Luzon and Visayas on Tuesday as Typhoon ‘Rosita’ moves out of the country. In its latest advisory, the Philippine Coast Guard said a total of 2,267 passengers, 139 rolling cargoes and 15 sea vessels were suspended in the ports… Read More

Ex-Customs intel officer in P6.8-B shabu haul turns state witness

Ex-Customs intel officer in P6.8-B shabu haul turns state witness

October 30, 2018, 6:02 pm

MANILA -- Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday confirmed that former Bureau of Customs (BOC) intelligence officer, Jaime Guban, is now under the protective custody of the Department of Justice (DOJ). "Yes, Mr. Guban has been admitted into the WPP (Witness Protection Program). But that's… Read More

MMDA suspends number coding Oct. 31-Nov. 5

MMDA suspends number coding Oct. 31-Nov. 5

October 30, 2018, 5:50 pm

MANILA -- The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will suspend the implementation of the number coding scheme in Metro Manila in line with the exodus of motorists to the provinces for the All Saints' and All Souls' Day break, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5. In text message to the media, MMDA… Read More

BOC work ‘is no impossible task’ for military personnel

BOC work ‘is no impossible task’ for military personnel

October 30, 2018, 5:30 pm

MANILA -- It is not an ‘impossible task’ for military personnel to work at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) if they are willing to learn, a Customs official said Tuesday. “Learning is very generic, it’s open to everyone. For as long as they have the open mind to learn,” Lilibeth Bonifacio,… Read More

PAGASA warns of flooding in Pampanga, Bulacan even after 'Rosita' exit

PAGASA warns of flooding in Pampanga, Bulacan even after 'Rosita' exit

October 30, 2018, 5:14 pm

MANILA -- Flood threats will continue looming in Pampanga and Bulacan provinces in Central Luzon, even after Typhoon Rosita exits landmass and batters Northern Luzon. "Both provinces may experience flooding in the forthcoming days," weather bureau hydrologist Richard Orendain told the Philippine… Read More

Third batch of Dengvaxia cases filed before DOJ

Third batch of Dengvaxia cases filed before DOJ

October 30, 2018, 4:41 pm

MANILA -- A new batch of 10 criminal complaints were filed Tuesday with the help of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against former and current health officials and others over the Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccine scandal, bringing the total number of such… Read More

Jeepney, bus fare hikes to push through in November

Jeepney, bus fare hikes to push through in November

October 30, 2018, 4:27 pm

MANILA -- Jeepney and bus fare hikes will take effect in November as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) turned down Tuesday an appeal filed by a commuters’ group seeking to stop the implementation. In its decision, the LTFRB said the motion for reconsideration filed… Read More

Palace mourns death of Rico J. Puno

Palace mourns death of Rico J. Puno

October 30, 2018, 4:26 pm

MANILA -- Malacañang has joined the music industry in mourning the passing of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) legend Rico J. Puno. “We express our condolences to the legend that is Rico J. Puno. He has contributed a lot to the music industry,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a… Read More

Don't pay for tomb blessing in cemeteries: CBCP

Don't pay for tomb blessing in cemeteries: CBCP

October 30, 2018, 3:57 pm

MANILA -- The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Tuesday urged the faithful to refrain from giving money to priests or any person offering to bless the tombs of their departed loved ones on All Saints' and All Souls' days. “Kung gusto nila magdasal, salamat at nagdadasal… Read More

Palace cites ‘lawlessness' in fielding military in BOC

Palace cites ‘lawlessness' in fielding military in BOC

October 30, 2018, 3:56 pm

MANILA -- Malacañang on Tuesday said the "state of lawlessness" in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to deploy military personnel in the graft-ridden government agency. In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the multi-billion… Read More

Manila-China, domestic flights canceled due to bad weather

Manila-China, domestic flights canceled due to bad weather

October 30, 2018, 3:47 pm

MANILA -- Two flights between Manila and China, and several domestic flights were canceled Tuesday due to bad weather, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said. These flights were Air China (CA) 180 Manila-Peking, and Xiamen Air (MF) 828 Manila-Xiamen. Domestic flights canceled were… Read More

SC affirms ex-Isabela guv's indictment over P25-M rice mess

SC affirms ex-Isabela guv's indictment over P25-M rice mess

October 30, 2018, 3:34 pm

MANILA -- The Supreme Court (SC) affirmed the indictment of former Isabela Governor Grace Padaca and two others over the 2006 award of PHP25-million project to Economic Development for Western Isabela and Northern Luzon Foundation, Inc. (EDWINLFI). In a 12-page decision dated Oct. 24 penned by… Read More

DSWD chief monitors disaster response efforts for 'Rosita'

DSWD chief monitors disaster response efforts for 'Rosita'

October 30, 2018, 3:05 pm

MANILA -- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista is now in Isabela province to monitor the impact of Typhoon Rosita which made a landfall early Tuesday morning in the province. Bautista shared over a radio interview that he is with Isabela Gov. Bojie Dy to… Read More

Ejercito files bill boosting fight vs. cancer

Ejercito files bill boosting fight vs. cancer

October 30, 2018, 2:41 pm

MANILA -- Significant steps have been taken in the fight against cancer with the passage of a bill seeking to institutionalize a national integrated cancer control program in the country. Senate Bill No. 1850, sponsored by Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, is expected to pass on third and final… Read More