PHL rebuffs request to send medics to Ebola-hit areas

The Philippines has rebuffed a US request to dispatch medical workers to Ebola-hit regions, with the health ministry saying boosting the country's defences against any local outbreaks was the priority.

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Napoles lawyer says ‘pork’ projects implemented

The lawyer of alleged pork barrel fund scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles on Friday insisted that some projects funded by the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) of lawmakers were implemented.

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DFA: Subpoena for Pemberton on its way to US Embassy

The Department of Foreign Afairs is about to deliver the subpoena to the US Embassy in Manila for the US Marine who was tagged in the killing of Filipino transgender Jeffrey Laude.

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AFP reiterates: No negotiations with Abu Sayyaf holding 2 Germans

The Armed Forces of the Philippines remains firm against negotiating with the Abu Sayyaf group for the release of German nations who were abducted in Sulu.

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Mom of slain transpinay vows to fight case ‘until the end’

A fight to the end. The mother of slain transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude said in a television interview Friday that she will reject any attempts of an out-of-court settlement should the murder complaint against US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton reaches the court.

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Criticizing DOJ won’t prove VP Binay’s innocence, De Lima says

Crying "selective justice" and questioning the Department of Justice's jurisdiction over allegations of corruption will do Vice President Jejomar Binay no good, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said on Friday.

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NBI deploys 2 teams to probe Binays, others

The National Bureau of Investigation has deployed not one but two separate teams of agents to probe allegations of appropriation irregularities and ill-gotten wealth of Vice President Jejomar Binay, his family, and alleged cohorts.

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Anti-coal groups slam efforts to grant PNoy emergency powers

Thousands of Filipino environmental activists joining the Global Day of Action Against Coal on Friday called on the government to stop efforts seeking to grant President Benigno Aquino III emergency powers, purportedly to avert a looming power crisis.

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List of flights canceled due to bad weather on Oct. 17

At least two domestic flights were canceled Friday afternoon due to bad weather.

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Indian tries to enter PHL as a fake air traffic controller

Human smuggling rings at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport appear to have become more brazen, with those involved pretending to be airport employees to skip immigration checks.

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Pemberton summons sent to DFA, says Laude lawyer

Prosecutors have sent a summons for Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton over the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, according to the Laude family's lawyer, Harry Roque Jr., who said the summons will be coursed through the Department of Foreign Affairs.

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Napoles defends Revilla over alleged P87M unexplained wealth

Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the pork barrel scam, on Friday came to the defense of Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. over the alleged P87 million unexplained wealth found in his bank accounts at the height of the supposed scam.

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Spare us from controversy hounding VP Binay, Boy Scouts ask public

Spare us. This was the appeal Friday of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines to the public amid the controversy hounding their national president, Vice President Jejomar Binay.

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VP Binay asked PNoy to stop DOJ probe on Building II

Vice President Jejomar Binay tried to persuade President Benigno Aquino to stop the Department of Justice from probing the accusations against him, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Friday. Binay's camp promptly denied Trillanes' latest allegation.

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PNP to verify Sereno’s claim police fail to enforce court orders

The Philippine National Police on Friday said it will look into Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno's claim that police have been failing to enforce court orders in recent years.

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Napoles denies authorizing whistleblowers to withdraw pork funds

Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the multibillion-peso pork barrel fund scam, on Friday denied authorizing members of her staff to withdraw huge amounts of money from the bank accounts of several non-government organizations (NGOs).

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Palace assures Laude family: PHL govt intent on seeking justice

The Philippine government is "intent on pursuing justice" for slain transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, Malacañang assured the victim's family on Friday.

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Subpoena ready for suspect in Jeffrey Laude killing –De Lima

A subpoena may soon be served to the US serviceman accused of killing 26-year-old Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude in Olongapo City last weekend, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Friday.

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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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