National

Chinese air force patrol South China Sea

CCTV — The People’s Liberation Army air force recently conducted a combat air patrol in the South China Sea, said a military spokesperson on Thursday. A team of various bombers completed the routine patrol, said spokesman Shen Jinke. Chinese bombers also conducted training exercises after passing over the Bashi Channel and Miyako Strait. The H-6K bombers took off from an inland airport in north China, according to Shen. “The H-6K bombers flying over the Miyako […]

CPP founder Sison calls Duterte “the no. 1 terrorist in the PHL”

(Eagle News) — The “no. 1 terrorist in the Philippines.” This was how Jose Maria Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, described President Rodrigo Duterte, following his decision to cancel peace talks with the CPP-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front and his announcement he would declare them and their “legal fronts” as terrorists. In a statement, Sison said his former student was “culpable for the abduction, torture and mass murder of an increasing […]

4.3-magnitude quake hits Quezon

(Eagle News) — A 4.3-magnitude earthquake hit Quezon on Thursday. The Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology said the quake took place three kilometers west of Calauag at 8:02 p.m. Depth of focus was at 21 kilometers. An Intensity V was felt in Calauag and Guinayangan. No aftershocks were expected.  

Transportation Secretary Tugade denies having hand in Chavez’s resignation

(Eagle News) — Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Thursday  clarified that he had nothing to do with Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez’s resignation. “For the record and contrary to the insinuations of others, I did not cause (his resignation)…We have been doing plans and strategies together up and until yesterday,” Tugade said in a brief statement. He said Chavez, the Department of Transportation’s undersecretary for rails, “has (his) full trust and confidence.” “I am surprised by […]

Crew of capsized trawler in Pacific found alive, well in PHL

KOROR, Palau (AFP) — The crew of a Japanese trawler found capsized in remote Pacific waters have been located safe and well in the Philippines, the US Coast Guard said Thursday. The abandoned Gyotoku Maru No.1 was found drifting 350 kilometers (220 miles) southwest of Palau on Monday after it sent an SOS message. With no word on the fate of the seven-man crew — five Indonesians and two Japanese — a major international search effort was launched. […]

Presidential Spokesperson Roque dismisses claims MRT, LRT ride was “media publicity”

(Eagle News) — Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque  dismissed claims his ride of the Metro Rail Transit and the Light Rail Transit on Thursday, Nov. 22, was nothing but media publicity. According to Roque, his sole objective was to bring the woes of commuters to the government. “Inaalam talaga ng Pangulo ‘tong kalagayan talaga ang ating mga pasahero…I think we have sent a message na alam natin ang pulso ng bayan, ang hirap ng mga mananakay. […]

Palace rejects BURI request to meet with President Duterte

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) – Malacanang has rejected the request of Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI), the former maintenance provider of MRT 3, to have an audience with President Rodrigo Duterte so they could explain the numerous failures of the MRT. In a press conference, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that they found “no reason” to meet with BURI officials, as the contract was already terminated on November 6. “We find no reason to […]

Makabayan bloc dismayed with government’s cancellation of peace talks with NDFP

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives expressed dismay over the cancellation of peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. According to the group, the poorer members of society will be the most affected by the cancellation because the socio-economic reforms included in the agenda of the peace talks will no longer push through. https://youtu.be/Pbz5J2Rqmpo

After spike in rape-slays, President Duterte considers returning police into the govt’s drug war

  (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte is considering returning the police into the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, after authorities noted a spike in drug-related crimes, including rape, robbery hold-ups, and murder. The President said that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), which only has 2,000 officers, was incapable of doing the job. “Whether I like it or not, I have to return that power to the police,” he said in a speech on […]

Gordon says Faeldon can only leave Senate detention if he commits to appear before Senate hearings

By Meanne Corvera Eagle News Service The charges for drug trading against him may have been dropped, but a senator believes ex-Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, who is detained in the Senate for his refusal to attend subsequent hearings on corruption in the Bureau of Customs, will not be a free man just yet. “I can see it going on for seven years. That’s what happened in one case,” Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the blue […]

Duterte designates ex-presidential spokesperson Abella as Foreign Affairs undersecretary

(Eagle News) — Ernesto Abella is now Foreign Affairs undersecretary. The appointment was made by President Rodrigo Duterte himself in a letter dated Oct. 27. The mild-mannered Abella was presidential spokesperson until he was replaced by then-Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque on Oct. 28. Roque, however, assumed his new post only on Nov. 6. Duterte had said removing Abella from the presidential spokesperson post was his “personal decision.”  

Massive search expands for US sailors after Philippine Sea air crash

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Eight warships joined a US aircraft carrier and scores of helicopters and planes Thursday to search for three American sailors who went missing after their plane crashed in the Philippine Sea. The families of the missing sailors were notified after a C-2A “Greyhound” aircraft with 11 people on board went down Wednesday afternoon around 930 kilometers (500 nautical miles) southeast of Okinawa, the US Navy said in a statement. Eight sailors […]