National

MILF says it is willing to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians caught in crossfire in Marawi

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s appeal for them to help government troops in their fight against Islamic State-inspired groups in Mindanao. According to MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, their group was willing to give humanitarian assistance to civilians who are still caught in the fire fight, particularly in Marawi City. The MILF leadership made the statement in a meeting with  Duterte, his security advisers, and Armed […]

Continue Reading →

House approves reso expressing support for martial law declaration in Mindanao

(Eagle News) — The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a resolution expressing support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao. The approval of the Lower House convening as a Committee of the Whole was made after 249 congressmen attended an executive session, which saw defense officials explaining the situation in Marawi, and the basis for the President’s proclamation. The approval came a day after the Senate approved an amended resolution that […]

Continue Reading →

Defense chief Lorenzana: Martial law proclamation in Mindanao “imperative”

(Eagle News) — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana emphasized on Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte’s imposition of martial law in Mindanao was “imperative.” Lorenzana issued the statement after minority bloc senators noted the defense secretary had said in a May 29 executive session that security forces could contain the Maute group in Marawi even without the martial law proclamation. The senators made the revelation in arguing for the convening of a joint session of Congress that […]

Continue Reading →

89 Islamist terrorists killed in Marawi City; 90 percent of city cleared of extremists by gov’t forces

91 firearms from Maute group recovered by gov’t forces (Eagle News) — At least 89 members of the Islamist terrorists, including the Maute group, had been killed and about 90 percent of Marawi City had been cleared of the extremists, according to government authorities in their latest report. In the MIndanao Hour briefing on Wednesday, May 31, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that the 89 Maute casualities were confirmed by eyewitness accounts and body count. […]

Continue Reading →

President Duterte OKs setting up of “peace corridor” to hasten humanitarian, rescue ops in Marawi; MILF to help secure the “safe space”

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the creation of a “peace corridor” to hasten humanitarian and rescue operations for those trapped in Marawi, where government troops continue to fight terrorists. Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella  said in a Mindanao Hour briefing on Wednesday that the peace corridor was a “secure space” that would allow goods to reach Marawi residents, and allow safe passage of retrieved bodies, among others. He said the Moro Islamic Liberation […]

Continue Reading →

PAGASA confirms onset of rainy season

(Eagle News) — The country’s weather bureau has confirmed the onset of the rainy season after recording the “occurrence of widespread rainfall” in most of its stations in the last five days. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that there had been “intermittent to continuous rains and thunderstorms” that it had monitored in the past few days. “The occurrence of widespread rainfall recorded in most PAGASA stations monitored in the last […]

Continue Reading →

Several congressmen urge support for President Duterte, as House holds session on martial law declaration in Mindanao

(Eagle News) — Several congressmen took up the cudgels for President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, as the Lower House held a session that is expected to determine the fate of his martial law proclamation in Mindanao. House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said Duterte was “correct” in saying he would listen to the military and the police in connection with the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. According to Fariñas, it was “not the duty” of the […]

Continue Reading →

Voting 12-9, senators junk resolution for joint session on martial law

(Eagle News) — Voting 12-9, the Senate on Tuesday night junked the resolution of the minority bloc requesting a joint session to review and revoke the martial declaration in Mindanao. The 12 senators who voted to junk the minority bloc’s resolution are the following: 1. Sonny Angara 2. Nancy Binay 3. JV Ejercito 4. Richard Gordon 5. Gringo Honasan 6. Panfilo Lacson 7. Loren Legarda 8. Manny Pacquiao 9. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III 10. Cynthia […]

Continue Reading →

Senate: No revocation of martial law in Mindanao at this time

(Eagle News) — The Senate adopted on Tuesday night an amended resolution that emphasized there would be no revocation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao at the moment. Seventeen senators–all from the majority bloc— adopted Senate Resolution no. 388, which incorporated amendments introduced by Senator Francis Escudero. Of the Senate majority bloc, only Escudero and Senator Grace Poe did not sign the earlier version of the resolution. Those who did not vote […]

Continue Reading →

President Duterte cannot ignore Congress and Supreme Court on implementation of martial law – Sen. Escudero

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — Senator Francis Escudero said that President Rodrigo Duterte cannot set aside the decision of Congress and the Supreme Court on the implementation of martial law. Escudero reiterated that the constitutional provisions about martial law were put in place in order to safeguard against possible abuses. “Sa ilalim kasi ng Saligang Batas, sa totoo lang wala naman na ngipin ‘yung martial law. Mas psychological ‘yun more than anything else,” Escudero […]

Continue Reading →

Malacañang will respect Congress and Supreme Court on implementation of martial law in Mindanao – Abella

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) – Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella has clarified a recent statement by President Rodrigo Duterte that he would follow the assessment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in connection with the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. “The President meant that those who really, are truly aware of the situation, are the military and the police. This is not meant to bypass the Supreme Court or the legislative,” […]

Continue Reading →

Authorities urge terrorists fighting gov’t troops in Marawi to surrender

Authorities on Tuesday urged the terrorists fighting government troops in Marawi to surrender. “We are giving those inside an opportunity to surrender. There is still a chance to lay down your arms,” military spokesperson Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said over dzbb radio. “If you do that, it will be better so no one else will be dragged into this, no more buildings will be destroyed.” According to Ernesto Abella, presidential spokesperson, the call for the terrorists to surrender was made “to […]

Continue Reading →
1 … 1,334 1,335 1,336 1,337 1,338 … 2,174