The newly appointed Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu takes an oath during the 15th Cabinet Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room in Malacañang on Monday, May 8, 2017. https://youtu.be/N8uBte3MSks
National
Sandiganbayan junks graft case vs ex-Palawan gov
(Eagle News) — The Sandiganbayan has junked a case filed against former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes in connection with the fertilizer fund scam. In a 14-page decision, Associate Justice Rafael Lagos, chair of the fifth division, said the more than 10 years it took for the graft case to be filed against the former governor was a ground for it to be dismissed. A complaint was lodged against Reyes in the Ombudsman in 2004. The Ombudsman […]
Quiapo blast probe focuses on Shiite imam
(AFP) — The police believe a Shiite Muslim cleric was the likely target of explosions that killed two people in Manila, an official said Sunday, rejecting Islamic State claims of involvement. Six others were injured when two explosions rocked the office of the imam, Nasser Abinal, in Manila’s busy Quiapo district on Saturday. Oscar Albayalde, head of police forces in the National Capital Region, said the bomb was apparently intended for Abinal, who is also […]
Philippines, US launch scaled-down military exercises
by Mynardo Macaraig Agence France Presse MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The Philippines and the United States launched annual military exercises on Monday but the longtime allies scaled them down in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s pivot to China and Russia. Duterte in his 10 months in office has sought to weaken ties with the United States — the Philippines’ mutual defense treaty partner and former colonial ruler — saying its role as a global […]
“No new wave of killings,” says Cayetano as PHL defends Duterte’s war on drugs in Geneva
A high-level Philippine delegation presented the country’s human rights situation during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, and defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war. The meeting began with Filipino Senator Alan Cayetano, denouncing what he called a campaign by rights advocates and the media to distort perceptions of the government’s anti-drug effort. “There is no new wave of killings in the Philippines,” Cayetano told […]
April 28 Quiapo blast suspects identified, case still under investigation
(Eagle News)– Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel of the Manila Police District (MPD) on Monday (May 8) said the April 28 bombing in Quiapo is considered “solved” with the identification of some of the suspects, with one of them already in police custody. One of the suspects in the bombing, identified as Abel Macaraya, is already in police custody and was presented during the press conference. The police also said that the bombing was caused by […]
PHL joins forces with China to fight and stop illegal gambling
(Eagle News) — The Philippines has joined forces with China to tackle the problem of illegal gambling in the country. According to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division Chief, Martini Cruz, authorities are now preparing further raids, as part of the crackdown aiming to stop illegal betting and online fraud originating in the Philippines and targeting Chinese gamblers. Cruz said that a Chinese police team is in the country for the crackdown on illegal […]
Duterte retains ‘excellent’ net trust rating
(Eagle News)– President Rodrigo Duterte has maintained his “excellent” trust rating in the first quarter of 2017, according to a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. The survey showed that 80 percent of Filipinos have “much trust” with Duterte, 10 percent with “little trust,” and 11 percent undecided, yielding an overall “excellent” +72 trust rating which tops the +70 Duterte received in December 2016. SWS classifies net satisfaction rating of 70 and above as “excellent”; […]
UK issues travel warning after Quiapo twin blasts
(Eagle News) — The United Kingdom has issued a travel warning to its nationals after the twin explosion in Quiapo, Manila. The British government has advised its citizens to avoid the area, as well as areas of Mindanao and the south of Cebu province due to the threat of terrorism. “The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to western Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of terrorist activity and clashes between the […]
SC assigns Special Courts to handle cybercrime cases
(Eagle News) — The Supreme Court has assigned special courts to handle cybercrime-related cases. In a resolution, the highest court said that the regional trial courts (RTC) which were earlier designated as special commercial courts would also be tasked to try and decide cybercrime cases under Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act. In its resolution, the high tribunal said: “The RTC branches assigned as ‘special commercial courts’ in its administrative matter on […]
President Duterte congratulates newly-elected French President
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, May 8 congratulated the newly elected President of France, Emmanuel Macron, after winning the French presidential election. In a statement by Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that President Duterte extended his congratulations to Emmanuel Macron on his election as President of France. Abella said that France is one of the biggest trading partners of the Philippines, and the government is looking forward to boost its relations with […]
Big time rollback on petroleum products to be implemented on Tuesday, May 9
(Eagle News) — Big oil companies are set to implement a big time rollback on its oil products on Tuesday, May 8. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), the big-time rollback in the pump prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene was due to oversupply. Energy Spokesman and Undersecretary Felix Fuentebella said that the expected rollback would range from 70 to 90 centavos. This is the third consecutive week of oil price rollback conducted by […]
