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Duterte may attend commemoration of Marawi siege anniversary

Duterte may attend commemoration of Marawi siege anniversary

May 22 2018, 4:36 pm

MANILA -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte may attend the commemoration of the first anniversary of the day when ISIS-inspired Maute Group laid siege to Marawi City, Malacañang said on Tuesday. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that there have been plans for the President to visit Marawi… Read More

AFP: Martial law helped improve Mindanao economy

AFP: Martial law helped improve Mindanao economy

May 22 2018, 4:35 pm

MANILA -- The implementation of martial law in Mindanao has contributed to further economic activity and development in the region, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said Tuesday. "There is a sense of security in terms of commerce, which means our economy is… Read More

Retired Batanes prelate dies

Retired Batanes prelate dies

May 22 2018, 3:40 pm

MANILA -- Former Apostolic Nunciature in Manila assistant secretary and retired Bishop Camilo Gregorio of the Batanes Prelature passed away Monday evening due to cardiac arrest, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said Tuesday. In a report posted on the CBCP news website, the… Read More

DFA confirms death of missing Filipina student in Ireland

DFA confirms death of missing Filipina student in Ireland

May 22 2018, 3:21 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday confirmed the death of Jastine Vadez, a 24-year-old Filipina student in Ireland who was earlier reported kidnapped. Authorities found the body of Valdez, an accountancy student, in South County Dublin on Monday following a massive search… Read More

Duterte to certify BBL as urgent ‘anytime soon’

Duterte to certify BBL as urgent ‘anytime soon’

May 22 2018, 3:18 pm

MANILA -- Malacanang on Tuesday assured that President Rodrigo Duterte will certify the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as urgent “anytime soon”. “The President promised to certify it,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing. Roque, however, said there is… Read More

641 Marawi veterans promoted to next higher rank

641 Marawi veterans promoted to next higher rank

May 22 2018, 3:16 pm

MANILA -- Around 641 Philippine Army (PA) enlisted personnel, who took part in the five-month battle to liberate Marawi City from the clutches of the Maute Group terrorists, were promoted to next higher rank Tuesday. Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva, PA spokesperson, said the pinning of ranks took place… Read More

Gov’t poised to suspend excise tax once oil price reaches USD80

Gov’t poised to suspend excise tax once oil price reaches USD80

May 22 2018, 3:15 pm

MANILA -- Malacañang on Tuesday assured that measures will be in place to protect consumers from incessant increase in oil prices including suspending the excise tax on fuel. “Excise taxes will be suspended if they reach a certain amount, if I'm not mistaken, (USD) 80,” presidential… Read More

PH won’t give up claims in WPS, Palace assures

PH won’t give up claims in WPS, Palace assures

May 22 2018, 3:14 pm

MANILA -- Malacanang on Tuesday assured that the Philippines will not give up any of its territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid China’s alleged militarization of the highly-contested area. “Right now, our position is still the same: whatever happens there, no territory will… Read More

Election gun ban nets over 1,200 unauthorized firearms

Election gun ban nets over 1,200 unauthorized firearms

May 22 2018, 2:40 pm

MANILA -- More than a thousand firearms have been confiscated for violation of the gun ban in the recently-concluded barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections which was lifted Tuesday midnight. In a statement Tuesday, Philippine National Police (PNP) said up to 1,250 firearms were confiscated… Read More

House panel okays P1.16-B supplemental budget for Dengvaxia vaccinees

House panel okays P1.16-B supplemental budget for Dengvaxia vaccinees

May 22 2018, 2:13 pm

MANILA -- The House of Representatives' committee on appropriations on Tuesday approved the proposed PHP1.161-billion supplemental budget for Dengvaxia vaccinees. The supplemental budget, based on the proposal submitted by the Department of Health (DOH), shall fund the following programs or… Read More

A Tale of Two Presidents: Normalization of relations with Japan

A Tale of Two Presidents: Normalization of relations with Japan

May 22 2018, 1:55 pm

MANILA -- The governments of the Philippines and Japan officially signed the Memorandum of Cooperation for the Recovery and Repatriation of the Remains of Japanese Soldiers last 8 May 2018. The concluded agreement is a cooperation in the humanitarian repatriation of the remains of World War II… Read More

Maynilad bares water service interruption in 5 Novaliches barangays

Maynilad bares water service interruption in 5 Novaliches barangays

May 22 2018, 1:34 pm

MANILA -- Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI) has announced a 19-hour water service interruption in five populous barangays in Novaliches, Quezon City from 9 p.m. on May 23, 2018 until 6 p.m. of the following day in connection with its continuing water service improvement projects in the northern… Read More

2 DOTr-CAR regional officials suspended for alleged corruption

2 DOTr-CAR regional officials suspended for alleged corruption

May 22 2018, 12:22 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has suspended two officials of its regional office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for alleged extortion and other corrupt activities. The department has filed formal charges and imposed 90-day preventive suspension orders Monday… Read More

Sunny with isolated rains Tuesday: PAGASA

Sunny with isolated rains Tuesday: PAGASA

May 22 2018, 12:21 pm

MANILA— It will be a sunny Tuesday as the easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific continue to affect the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said. In its 24-hour forecast, Pagasa said Metro Manila and the rest of the country will… Read More

PH facilitating repatriation of 2 Pinoys killed in Saudi fire

PH facilitating repatriation of 2 Pinoys killed in Saudi fire

May 22 2018, 12:05 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Monday night said the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah is now in touch with the employer of two Filipino workers who died in a fire that razed their construction site in Saudi Arabia. The two fatalities were identified as Jessie Alata Pacetes… Read More

Kidnapping accusation vs. Pinoys in Costa Rica 'misunderstanding'

Kidnapping accusation vs. Pinoys in Costa Rica 'misunderstanding'

May 22 2018, 12:02 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday night said no Filipinos were involved in any attempted kidnapping in Costa Rica, following reports that two Filipinos disguised as missionaries plotted an apparent kidnap in Alajuela province. The DFA told the Philippine News Agency… Read More

85% of unexploded ordnance in Marawi City cleared: AFP spox

85% of unexploded ordnance in Marawi City cleared: AFP spox

May 22 2018, 10:52 am

MANILA -- Military units in Marawi City have cleared 85 percent of the ordnance that did not explode during the fierce fighting between government forces and Maute-Group terrorists last year. Col. Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson, said the clearing and… Read More

Air, maritime patrols off WPS continue: AFP

Air, maritime patrols off WPS continue: AFP

May 22 2018, 10:22 am

MANILA -- Philippine maritime and air patrols off the West Philippine Sea (WPS) are still ongoing despite developments in the region, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said. "Lagi nating sinasabi na pagkukumento tungkol sa mga nagiging development sa West… Read More

Banner stories of Manila's leading newspapers, Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Banner stories of Manila's leading newspapers, Tuesday, May 22, 2018

May 22 2018, 7:11 am

BUSINESS MIRROR – Solon prompts Duterte: Brace for $100 oil shock INQUIRER – Palace concerned but not threatened MANILA BULLETIN – Sotto assumes Senate leadership MANILA TIMES – Sotto vows vocal, cooperative Senate MANILA STANDARD – Court judges unite vs Sereno PHILIPPINE STAR – Rody… Read More

Privacy Commission to launch year-long campaign on data privacy

Privacy Commission to launch year-long campaign on data privacy

May 22 2018, 6:36 am

MANILA -- The National Privacy Commission (NPC) will be conducting its year-long advocacy campaign to create public awareness on data privacy rights. The initiative which will be called the “Privacy, Safety, Security and Trust (PSST!) Online seeks to equip Filipinos with information and… Read More