Pre-trial hearing of Tiamzon couple deferred anew; rallyists outnumber cops

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 81 on Tuesday deferred the pre-trial hearing of suspected communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon over the kidnapping and serious illegal detention cases filed against them.

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9 Fil-Am groups to get $100k for projects in Yolanda-affected areas

At least nine Filipino-American groups will get $100,000 (P4.485 million) grants from a group seeking to help victims of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) rebuild their lives and communities.

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Picket prompts suspension of work at QC Hall of Justice

No thanks to an early morning picket by militant groups, court hearings at the Quezon City Hall of Justice were suspended for the day on Tuesday. The militants picketed the facility to demand the release of so-called political prisoners - including Communist Party of the Philippines "power couple" Wilma and Benito Tiamzon.

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Cops, barricades secure Olongapo Hall of Justice for Pemberton prelim probe

Barricades and uniformed police personnel secured the Olongapo City Hall of Justice for the preliminary investigation of US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton over the killing of transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude.

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PHL has primary custody over US servicemen involved in crimes in the country —lawyer

A lawyer clarified that the Philippines has the automatic jurisdiction over a US serviceman involved in a crime in the country, a report on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho aired on Monday said.

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Violence against gays ‘contrary to Gospel spirit’, CBCP head reminds Catholics

Violence, whether verbal or physical, against homosexuals is an offense against God, the head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said Sunday night.

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PNoy: Yolanda rehab taking time because of procedures

The rehabilitation of areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) is taking time to complete because the government wants to do it right, President Benigno Aquino III said Monday.

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Speaker Belmonte: VFA needed for PHL’s defense posture

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Monday thumbed down proposals to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) despite the alleged involvement of a US Marine in the recent death of a transgender Filipina, saying the incident should not affect the Philippines’ defense strategy.

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CA allows De Lima to resolve review plea of Gerry Ortega kin

The Court of Appeals has allowed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to resolve the petition filed by the family of slain environmentalist Gerry Ortega against the junking of complaint against the suspects, which include former Palawan governor Joel Reyes.

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Show up at Senate probe, Belmonte urges Binay

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Monday urged Vice President Jejomar Binay to finally appear at the Senate to answer allegations of corruption raised against him and his family at hearings there.

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Laude’s fiancé emotional at wake, continues to seek justice

Marc Sueselbeck turned emotional the moment he saw the remains of Jeffrey (Jennifer) Laude in Ologanpo City, a report on 24 Oras on Monday showed.

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Chief NDFP negotiator accuses military of war crimes in Abra

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) committed "atrocious war crimes" during military operations in Lacub, Abra last September, the chairman of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) negotiating panel said Monday.

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Senate OKs bill prohibiting chemical weapons

Voting 15-0, the Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to prohibit the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons in the country.

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JV Ejercito: VP Binay should answer allegations before Senate panel

Even an ally of Vice President Jejomar Binay believes he should answer the allegations of corruption being hurled against him at the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee.

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