Papal visit stamp design tilt gives Pinoys chance to show artistic talent

When Pope Francis visits the Philippines this January, he may see yet another show of Filipino talent, this time in the form of stamps designed by ordinary Filipinos.

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SC Chief Justice Sereno pushes to clear massive court backlog

The Supreme Court is overhauling its notoriously slow judicial system to speed up the resolution of cases from years to mere days, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said Thursday.

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Supposed ‘Oplan Stop Nognog’ meant to divert attention from Makati probe – Trillanes

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday said the United Nationalist Alliance's claim of a campaign by administration allies to discredit Vice President Jejomar Binay is meant to divert attention from corruption allegations against him.

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MNLF, MILF agree to coordinate on Bangsamoro issues – OPAPP

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Akbayan: Transgender victim didn’t deserve cruel death

Transgender woman Jeffrey Laude didn't deserve a cruel death just because of her sexual orientation and gender identity, the party-list Akbayan said on Thursday.

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No need to scrap VFA over Laude case – Magdalo party-list

A former military officer turned lawmaker sees no need to repeal the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States—for now—despite the alleged involvement of a US Marine in the death of a transgender woman in Olongapo City over the weekend.

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Leila De Lima courting disbarment—UNA

The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday warned Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that she could face disbarment should she pursue the investigation against the Vice President.

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Sereno frustrated over PNP's failure to enforce court orders

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Maria Lourdes on Thursday said that members of the Philippine National Police, especially in the provinces, have been failing to enforce court orders in recent years.

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Palace on PNoy-Binay meet: Nothing official

There was nothing official in President Benigno Aquino III's Tuesday night meeting with Vice President Jejomar Binay, Malacañang said Thursday.

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Miriam recovering but ‘not yet physically fit’ to attend Senate sessions

Despite her improving health, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago will not be on the Senate floor when sessions resume next week.

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LP stalwart: ‘Zero’ chance PNoy will endorse Binay in 2016

President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay may still be good friends, but there is zero possibility that Binay will get the Presdient's endorsement in 2016, an administration ally said Thursday.

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Sereno: No judicial overreach when SC ruled on DAP plea

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has finally addressed President Benigno Aquino III's accusation that the high court seemed to have committed judicial overreach when it struck down as unconstitutional certain acts under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

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Environmental activists ready for global action vs. use of coal as energy source

Acting in unison with environmental advocates throughout the world, members of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice are all set to join activities for the Global Day of Action Against Coal, simultaneously held in different parts of the world on October 17 (Manila time).

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Palace: PHL reviewed VFA but failed to amend treaty

The Philippines reviewed the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US as early during the first year of the Aquino administration but failed to get any change done in its provisions until the death of a over the weekend of Filipino transgender woman allegedly in the hands of an American soldier, Malacañang said on Thursday

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De Lima: Only PNoy, Ombudsman can stop NBI probe on Binays

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday said only President Benigno Aquino III or the Office of the Ombudsman can stop her from investigating Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family over their alleged unexplained wealth.

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Revilla's multiple bank accounts indicate money laundering, claims AMLC investigator

Government witness and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) investigator Leigh Vhon Santos on Thursday said the multiple bank accounts maintained by Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., where millions of pesos were withdrawn, may be an indication of money laundering.

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Slain transgender woman: Badly bruised, wounded, drowned

The Filipino transgender woman, who was allegedly killed by a US Marine on Saturday, suffered bruises and abrasions before drowning to death, an autopsy report completed on Wednesday showed.

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PNoy-VP Binay meeting will have no effect on Senate probe –Trillanes

The meeting between President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay will have no bearing in the Senate investigation on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall building II, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Thursday.

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Friend of slain Jeffrey Laude positively identifies US Marine suspect

The US serviceman tagged in the killing of a transgender woman in Olongapo City over the weekend was positively identified by a friend of the victim, a television report said.

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SC sets oral arguments for EDCA petitions

The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for the petitions contesting the legality of the Philippines' Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States. But Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno refused to divulge the exact date of the oral arguments, merely saying "malapit na."

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PNoy calls for govt coordination to keep tensions low in West PHL Sea

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday called for more coordination among government agencies to keep tensions low in disputed portions of the South China Sea, which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.

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Militant solons file joint resolution asking PNoy to end VFA

Progressive lawmakers on Thursday filed a joint resolution calling for the swift termination of the country's Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States following the killing of a Filipino transgender woman in Olongapo City allegedly by an American soldier.

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Coast Guard awards dog for helping in search ops after Bohol quake

A dog which helped during search-and-rescue operations in the wake of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol last year was recognized by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday.

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DFA to send diplomatic note seeking custody of US Marine Jeffrey Laude killing

The Department of Foreign Affairs will send a diplomatic note to the US Embassy in Manila seeking custody of a US Marine linked to the killing of a transgender woman in Olongapo City last weekend.

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Revilla confirms closing bank accounts amid pork scandal, denies stealing money

Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. on Thursday said he closed several banks accounts during the time when the pork barrel fund scam reached the attention of the media.

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Sereno: Sacked Sandiganbayan justice appealed his dismissal

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Thursday confirmed that sacked Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong has appealed his dismissal over his supposed links with alleged pork barrel fund scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

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German hostage in Mindanao appeals for help from PHL govt

One of the two German hostages of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Mindanao has appealed for help from the Philippine government for their release, saying they may be beheaded soon should Manila refuse to give in to the bandits' demands.

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Yolanda deadliest of 2013 natural disasters – Red Cross

GENEVA - Natural disasters claimed over 22,000 lives last year, with Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines the deadliest of all, the Red Cross said Thursday.

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Revilla arrives at Sandiganbayan for bail hearing

Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. arrived at the Sandiganbayan Thursday morning for the continuation of his bail hearing over the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam.

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PRC: 4,123 of 11,137 examinees pass CPA board exam

The University of the Philippines - Diliman earned a 100 percent passing rate while 37 percent or 4,123 of 11,137 aspiring certified public accountants hurdled the licensure examination the Board of Accountancy recently gave earlier this month, the Professional Regulation Commission said early Thursday morning.

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Prosecutors ask court to deny Jinggoy Estrada’s plea to be allowed to conduct hearings

Government prosecutors on Wednesday asked the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan to deny the motion for reconsideration filed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada asking the court to allow him to conduct committee hearings while in detention.

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Binay says friendship even stronger after meeting PNoy

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday that he and President Benigno Aquino III remained close personal friends despite allegations of corruption that Binay attributed to Aquino's political allies.

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Sereno: PAO lawyers handled 7M indigent cases in 2013

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Wednesday lauded public attorneys nationwide for extending free legal services to more than seven million clients in 2013 alone, and rallied them to participate in the planned first-ever "Justice Zone" in the Philippines.

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Akbayan to US gov’t: Do the right thing, surrender Pemberton to PHL

Akbayan party-list on Wednesday urged the United States government to “do the right thing” and surrender to Philippine authorities a United States Marine tagged in the killing of a transgender woman in Olongapo City last October 11.

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UNA calls on De Lima to release video of her OsMak meeting with Napoles

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has dared Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to release what it claims is a five-and-a-half-hour video of her conversation with alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles in which the businesswoman disclosed the contents of the so-called “Napoles List.”

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Muslim commission head assures PNoy: Radical ideologies to be countered

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday received assurance from the head of National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) that radical ideologies will not be allowed in the country, amid reports of Islamic State jihadists' recruitment in Mindanao.

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Trillanes wants VP Binay go to jail

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Wednesday he wanted to see Vice President Jejomar Binay in jail rather than impeached.

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Olongapo bar’s cctv shows transgender going out with alleged killer

A closed-circuit television camera was a mute witness to the last time Jennifer Laude, the transgender woman found dead in Olongapo City earlier this month, was last seen alive.

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Stiffer penalties for hate crimes vs. LGBTs pushed after transgender’s killing

Senator Bam Aquino on Wednesday pushed for heavier penalties for hate crimes against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, following the killing of a transgender woman in Olongapo City over the weekend.

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Masked PHL gunmen linked to attack on fishing boat off Sabah

Alleged masked Filipino gunmen were tagged in an attack on a fishing boat off northern Sabah on Tuesday, a Malaysian news site reported Wednesday.

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Prosecution pushes for trial of Napoles’ kids

Government prosecutors on Wednesday insisted that the Sandiganbayan should push through with the trial of Jo Christine Napoles and James Christopher Napoles, children of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, for the graft charges filed against them.

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Charges filed vs. Ex-Ifugao officials over fertilizer fund scam

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against former Hingyon, Ifugao Mayor Alex Kindipan and five others in connection with alleged irregularities in the Arroyo administration's Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program.

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Sources: PHL warns US of public backlash vs. EDCA

The Philippine government has asked United States authorities to fully cooperate in resolving the killing of a Filipino transgender woman allegedly by a US Marine to avoid a public backlash on the recently signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, Filipino officials said on Wednesday.

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PNoy has no time for VP Binay’s tirades – Palace

President Benigno Aquino III is too busy with the country's problems to answer Vice President Jejomar Binay's tirades.

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PHL govt has one year to try US serviceman tagged in transgender slay –official

The Philippine government must complete the judicial proceedings on the killing of a transgender woman in Olongapo City allegedly by a US serviceman within one year, an official of the commission overseeing the implementation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) said Wednesday.

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Miriam calls for termination of VFA: ‘Was it made for a foreign power?’

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Wednesday called on the executive branch to do away with the Visiting Forces Agreement, saying the alleged involvement of a US Marine in the killing of a Filipino transgender woman again showed that the treaty was skewed in favor of visiting American troops.

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Prosecutors insist Revilla, Cambe should be transferred to ordinary jail

Government prosecutors had insisted that Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and his chief of staff, lawyer Richard Cambe, both charged in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam, should be transferred to an ordinary jail.

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De Lima willing to probe ‘Oplan Nognog’ too

To dispel accusations that her department has been practicing 'selective justice,' Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Wednesday she is willing to probe the alleged conspiracy against Vice President Jejomar Binay related to the 2016 presidential elections.

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Human rights lawyer to be slain transgender kin’s counsel vs. US Marine

A human rights lawyer will be the counsel of the family of a transgender woman killed in Olongapo City earlier this month.

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Miriam: What is VP Binay afraid of?

If Vice President Jejomar Binay has truth to tell, what is he afraid of? This was the question asked by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago Wednesday as the Vice President continues to refuse to attend the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee hearings on the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

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