National

21 teachers nabbed, over 2K minors rescued in anti-drug ops: PDEA

21 teachers nabbed, over 2K minors rescued in anti-drug ops: PDEA

June 29, 2018, 7:20 pm

MANILA -- A total of 21 teachers from primary and secondary schools were arrested for drug-related offenses while 1,208.67 grams of shabu worth PHP8.3 million were seized nationwide as part of the government's s intensified campaign against illegal drugs from July 2016 to June 15, 2018, the… Read More

Provincial buses to be banned on EDSA on weekdays

Provincial buses to be banned on EDSA on weekdays

June 29, 2018, 7:17 pm

MANILA -- Provincial buses will be prohibited from plying along EDSA on weekdays, starting July 15 due to simultaneous road works that will be conducted in various parts of Metro Manila during the second half of the year. The Metro Manila Council has released a resolution, banning all provincial… Read More

DILG sees momentum in federalism push

DILG sees momentum in federalism push

June 29, 2018, 7:14 pm

MANILA -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is more driven to push for constitutional reform following the release of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey and the huge turnout of the federalism roadshows held in Dumaguete and Baguio. DILG Assistant Secretary for… Read More

Over 1-M new voters expected to register for 2019 polls

Over 1-M new voters expected to register for 2019 polls

June 29, 2018, 6:42 pm

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said it is expecting more than 1 million new voters in the forthcoming May 2019 midterm polls. In an interview, Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said they are now looking at 1.5 to 2 million new registrants during the three-month period.… Read More

ASEAN sectoral bodies craft gender mainstreaming action plan

ASEAN sectoral bodies craft gender mainstreaming action plan

June 29, 2018, 5:01 pm

MANILA -- Senior officials from 12 sectoral bodies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) convened on Thursday to craft a gender mainstreaming action plan in their respective offices. The ASEAN executives identified and discussed some of the gaps and… Read More

Palace bares new set of appointees including Abas

Palace bares new set of appointees including Abas

June 29, 2018, 4:53 pm

MANILA – Malacañang on Friday released a new batch of presidential appointees including Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson Sheriff Manimbayan Abas and 39 Department of Education (DepEd) assistant school division superintendents. President Rodrigo Duterte reappointed Abas as Comelec… Read More

Chinese national nabbed for mauling Pinay

Chinese national nabbed for mauling Pinay

June 29, 2018, 3:54 pm

MANILA -- The Makati police arrested Thursday a Chinese man for allegedly mauling a Filipina following a heated work-related argument. In a report to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), the Southern Police District identified the suspect as Yao Xu Dong, 28, and temporarily residing… Read More

Tier 1 ranking validates PH’s commitment to address human trafficking

Tier 1 ranking validates PH’s commitment to address human trafficking

June 29, 2018, 3:19 pm

MANILA -- The Philippines has retained its Tier 1 ranking in the State Department's 2018 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report after meeting "fully" the US minimum standards against trafficking. From 2011 to 2015, Manila was in Tier 2 of the TIP report, meaning the government is making significant… Read More

Gov’t eyes localized peace talks in wake of Joma’s threat to withdraw

Gov’t eyes localized peace talks in wake of Joma’s threat to withdraw

June 29, 2018, 2:58 pm

MANILA -- Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday said the table is now set for localized peace talks. Lorenzana's remarks came after Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria "Joma" Sison announced that they will no longer seek peace negotiations with the government. "Mr.… Read More

Rainy weekend in Northern Luzon as storm 'Florita' enhances monsoon

Rainy weekend in Northern Luzon as storm 'Florita' enhances monsoon

June 29, 2018, 2:46 pm

MANILA -- Residents in extreme Northern Luzon would have to brace for a rainy weekend, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Friday. In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said tropical storm 'Florita' will enhance the southwest monsoon… Read More

DOTr to launch fuel subsidy program for PUVs

DOTr to launch fuel subsidy program for PUVs

June 29, 2018, 2:41 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will launch a fuel voucher program for public utility jeepney (PUJ) operators and drivers this July to cushion the impact of recent oil price and excise tax hikes as a result of the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion… Read More

PH's 1st cube satellite to be launched Friday

PH's 1st cube satellite to be launched Friday

June 29, 2018, 2:33 pm

MANILA -- The Philippines' first cube satellite, Maya-1, is set to be rocket-launched to the International Space Station (ISS) at 5:41 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time) on Friday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato dela Peña… Read More

Fadullon is new acting Prosecutor General

Fadullon is new acting Prosecutor General

June 29, 2018, 2:07 pm

MANILA -- Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday designated Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon as Acting Prosecutor General. In Department Order No. 384, the DOJ chief said Fadullon will replace Jorge Catalan Jr., who is concurrently Makati City Prosecutor, as head of… Read More

No Pinoy victims in Maryland newsroom shooting: DFA

No Pinoy victims in Maryland newsroom shooting: DFA

June 29, 2018, 1:58 pm

MANILA-- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday confirmed that no Filipino was among the fatalities in the shooting at the headquarters of the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland. Officials at Anne Arundel County had confirmed that five people were killed while several… Read More

PRRD on talks with Reds: ‘If they’re not willing, that’s fine’

PRRD on talks with Reds: ‘If they’re not willing, that’s fine’

June 29, 2018, 1:49 pm

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte finds no problem if the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) would no longer talk peace under his administration. “If they are not willing to talk to me, that’s fine. I don’t have problem,” Duterte said in a media interview after gracing… Read More

Duterte to consult law experts on Chief Justice pick

Duterte to consult law experts on Chief Justice pick

June 29, 2018, 1:48 pm

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he will appoint the next Chief Justice based on the recommendation of the people, particularly those from the law profession. “It would depend on the recommendation of people. I have to consult not only the Justices themselves but also the law… Read More

Banner stories of Manila's leading newspapers, Friday, June 29, 2018

Banner stories of Manila's leading newspapers, Friday, June 29, 2018

June 29, 2018, 8:01 am

BUSINESS MIRROR – Tax effort in Jan-May grows at record rate INQUIRER – Sison: Reds ending talks with Duterte MANILA BULLETIN – 40% back federalism MANILA TIMES – CPP closes doors to peace talks MANILA STANDARD – CBCP: No oust-Duterte plot PHILIPPINE STAR – Rody: I have faith in God… Read More

CEB transfers int'l flights to MCIA Terminal 2 effective July 1

CEB transfers int'l flights to MCIA Terminal 2 effective July 1

June 29, 2018, 7:15 am

MANILA -- Local carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) announced Thursday afternoon that all its international flights to and from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport MCIA will be at the recently-inaugurated MCIA Terminal 2, effective July 1, Sunday. The resort-themed MCIA terminal 2 building was… Read More

CA junks cop's plea to reverse Pampanga RTC ruling on Jee Ick Joo case

CA junks cop's plea to reverse Pampanga RTC ruling on Jee Ick Joo case

June 28, 2018, 10:40 pm

MANILA -- The Court of Appeals (CA) denied the petition filed by a policeman who is a suspect in the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo in October 2016 seeking to reverse the ruling of the Angeles City Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Pampanga which granted the motion… Read More

Topacio opposes Batacan's bid as next Ombudsman

Topacio opposes Batacan's bid as next Ombudsman

June 28, 2018, 10:38 pm

MANILA -- Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio formally expressed his opposition to Atty. Edna Herrera-Batacan’s bid to become the country's next Ombudsman. In a two-page letter dated June 18 addressed to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), Topacio urged the body to disqualify Batacan over her alleged… Read More