Ombudsman may ask SC to disallow opening of Luy’s bank accounts

The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday said it might ask the Supreme Court to prevent the Sandiganbayan 5th division from opening the bank accounts of Benhur Luy and other witnesses in the supposed multi-billion anomaly.

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VP Binay’s camp wants Mercado’s testimonies stricken off record

The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday urged the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee investigating irregularities linked to him to strike out from its records all the testimonies of former Makati vice mayor Ernesto Mercado.

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House OKs bill barring bus stops from charging passengers for toilet use

Passengers may heave a sigh of relief after the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill prohibiting companies from collecting fees for the use of toilets and other sanitary facilities in bus stops and terminals.

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Cabinet execs dragged in Iloilo center issue for ‘media mileage’ – Palace

Cabinet officials are only being dragged in the alleged overpricing of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) so that the issue will get more attention from the media, a Malacañang official said Thursday.

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Prosecutors see more delays in Ampatuan bail hearing

The camp of the main suspects in the high-profile Maguindanao massacre case has been accused of trying to further delay the bail proceedings after the new defense lawyer asked the court to defer the hearings until December.

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Ombudsman justifies motion to secure Bong Revilla’s assets

The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday justified its decision to file a motion seeking to secure the assets of Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., one of the senators charged in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.

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Binay daughter’s Instagram posts used as evidence in Senate probe

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday presented photos posted on Instagram by Vice President Jejomar Binay's youngest daughter as evidence backing that Binay is the real owner of a sprawling farm estate in Rosario, Batangas.

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PNoy didn’t axe DOH chief Ona – Palace

Health Secretary Enrique Ona is not being eased out of the Cabinet, a Malacañang spokesperson said Thursday.

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House gives human rights victims until May 2015 to file claims

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure extending the period for the filing of claims by victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime from November 2014 to May next year.

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Itinerary for Pope Francis’ 2015 PHL visit to be released later this year

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle on Thursday said the itinerary for the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines in January 2015 will be released later this year, following a visit from representatives of the Vatican.

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Youth solon wants House to probe expensive funeral, burial services

Two days before All Saints Day, a lawmaker has asked Congress to investigate the local death care industry amid reports that some funeral parlors offer substandard but pricey burial services.

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SC inches closer to resolving JPEPA petition

The Supreme Court has gone a step closer to resolving a six-year-old petition seeking to stop the implementation of the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

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Audio tape of VP Binay claiming Batangas property submitted to Senate

The audio recording of the interview in which Vice President Jejomar Binay admitted owning the Batangas farm estate was submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee now looking into allegations of hidden wealth against the country's second highest official.

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VFA an imperfect but necessary agreement, DFA chief says

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario admitted Thursday that there are flaws in the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and United States, but said abrogating it at this time would interrupt the two allies’ ongoing defense cooperation.

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Quit with the delaying tactics, Bong Revilla tells prosecution

Detained Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla on Thursday appealed to government lawyers to stop delaying the proceeding of his bail hearing.

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DOH chief goes on leave due to health reasons

Health Secretary Enrique Ona has gone on leave "for health reasons," Undersecretary Janette Garin said Thursday.

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DAR chief: Batangas property leased, not owned, by Tiu

Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes on Thursday faced a Senate panel seeking to unmask the real owner of a sprawling farm estate in Batangas province being linked to Vice President Jejomar Binay.

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‘Key witness’ Laureano faces contempt, detention over failure to attend Senate probe

For failing to attend the Senate hearing on the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II and other corruption allegations, Laureano Gregorio, believed to be a key witness in the alleged ill-gotten wealth of Vice President Jejomar Binay, may be held in contempt and face detention.

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DOH on code white for Undas starting Friday

Hospitals and health development centers nationwide will be on Code White alert starting Friday, Oct. 31, for Undas (All Saints' and All Souls' Days), the Department of Health said Thursday.

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Sandiganbayan junks Jinggoy’s request to visit departed kin on Nov. 1

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Thursday denied Senator Jinggoy Estrada's request for a five-hour furlough to visit his departed relatives and friends on November 1.

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Arbitration ruling on sea row with China may come early 2016 – DFA chief

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Thursday said the Netherlands-based arbitral tribunal may hand down a ruling on the Philippines' complaint against China’s massive claim in the disputed South China Sea by the first quarter of 2016.

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Tiu submits 1-page document to prove ownership of Batangas property linked to VP Binay

Despite repeated requests to submit documents proving his ownership of the 350-hectare property in Rosario, Batangas, businessman Antonio Tiu submitted Thursday morning only a one-page agreement between him and the alleged former owner Laureano Gregorio Jr.

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BI issues deportation order vs. Sueselback, bars him from returning to PHL

The Bureau of Immigration has issued a deportation order against Marc Sueselbeck, fiancé of slain transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, allowing the German national to finally leave the Philippines and return to Germany.

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Leaving home for the cemetery this Undas? Heed these tips from PNP

Filipinos leaving home to spend Undas (All Saints' and All Souls' Days) at the cemeteries this weekend may want to heed six tips from the Philippine National Police on how to secure their homes.

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AFP won’t stop Laude fiancé from leaving PHL, but still wants him banned

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it will no longer pursue a case that will prevent Marc Sueselbeck, the German fiancé of slain transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, from leaving the Philippines.

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Comelec: Voter registration suspended Oct. 31. to Nov. 2

The voter registration for the 2016 elections will be suspended during the Undas (All Saints' and All Souls' Days), the Commission on Elections said Thursday.

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UNA execs barred from Senate probe on Makati building

Saying they were not invited, the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee on Thursday prevented two allies of Vice President Jejomar Binay from participating in the resumption of the hearing probing the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

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Church destroyed by Yolanda to get P13M reconstruction grant from USA

A church destroyed by super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) almost one year ago will benefit from a $300,000 (P13 million) grant from the United States government.

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Listed owners of parts of Batangas property have VP Binay ties

A map and documents from a group supporting former Makati vice mayor Ernesto Mercado identify different owners of parts of the Batangas property purportedly owned by Vice President Jejomar Binay. The listed owners, according to GMA News Research, have links to the vice president.

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Warning out on fake priests at cemeteries

Filipinos going to cemeteries to remember their dearly departed this Undas (All Saints' and All Souls' Days) may have to be wary of scammers disguised as priests.

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De Lima: DOJ to expedite legal opinion on land dispute between PCMC, NHA

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday assured the public that the Department of Justice would speed up preparing a legal opinion on a land dispute between the National Housing Authority and the Philippine Children's Medical Center.

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Senate panel wants age ceiling for SK raised from 17 years old to 24 years old

The Senate committee on local government has proposed raising the upper limit of the age range qualification for Sangguniang Kabataan posts from the current 15 to 17 years old to 15 to 24 years old.

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Almost a year after typhoon, PNoy OKs Yolanda rehab master plan

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday approved the P170.9-billion master plan to rebuild areas devastated by supertyphoon Yolanda, almost a year after the powerful weather disturbance hit parts of central Philippines.

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AFP readies complaint vs. Laudes’ lawyer Harry Roque

The Army will file a complaint against lawyer Harry Roque for allegedly encouraging German national Marc Sueselbeck, the fiancé of slain transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, to enter a restricted area in Camp Aguinaldo where the American suspect US Marine Pfc. Joseph Pemberton is being detained.

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House starts hearing on SIM card registration

Lawmakers and telecommunications firms on Wednesday took another step toward finally stopping those annoying and potentially text scams that plague more than 80 million mobile phone users.

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Solon hits Palace, DFA over ‘nonsensical’ statements on VFA

A minority lawmaker on Wednesday criticized Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs for their “nonsensical” comments regarding the review of the country's Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States.

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Amid allegations of corruption, VP Binay to air three ads

Three advertisements featuring Vice President Jejomar Binay are set to be released soon, United Nationalist Alliance interim president and Navotas City Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco confirmed on Wednesday.

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LTFRB allows 656 NCR buses to ply Undas routes

“Out of 896 units that applied for special permit, only 656 units were recommended for approval, 240 were denied for (a number of) reasons,” the PNA quoted LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez as saying.

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Army official ordered relieved for the second time in a month

An Army official who has been ordered relieved from his post has been given a new position in the AFP Medical Center — only to be relieved again.

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‘I’m excited’ to debate Trillanes, says VP Binay

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday said he is "excited" for the upcoming debate between him and vocal critic Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

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Trader Antonio Tiu yet to submit proof he owns Batangas property – Koko

Businessman Antonio Tiu has yet to submit to the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee the documents to prove his ownership of the farm estate in Rosario, Batangas which has been alleged to belong to Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Wednesday.

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House panel approves fair competition, anti-trust bills

A national policy prohibiting agreements that discourage business competition and other unfair trade practices is closer to becoming a law after hurdling the House Appropriations committee

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Increase in number of hungry Pinoys could’ve been higher—DSWD

The increase in the number of Filipinos who claimed to have gone hungry over the past three months doesn't mean that the government's anti-poverty efforts were ineffective, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said Wednesday.

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Govt eyes filtering system vs. online child abuse

A filtering system to control children's access to undesirable content on the Internet will soon be put in place through a joint effort by the government and telecommunication companies, according to Justice Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy, head of the DOJ Office of Cybercrime, on Wednesday.

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De Lima takes over supervision of Maguindanao massacre case

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima has taken on the task of supervising prosecutor in the nearly five-year-old trial of the accused in the Maguindanao massacre case.

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House minority vows to oppose passage of P2.6-T national budget for 2015

The 19-member minority bloc in the House of Representatives is bent on opposing the passage of the P2.6-trillion 2015 national budget over its supposedly questionable definition of savings and the accommodation of the errata submitted by the Department of Budget and Management.

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Despite dip in world ratings, PHL still Asia’s No. 1 in gender equality

The Philippines remains on top of the gender equality game in Asia, with the country being the only nation in Asia and the Pacific that has fully closed the gender gap in both education and health, according to the Global Gender Gap 2014 report of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

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PHL-China sea row won’t be tackled in APEC summit in Beijing

The Philippines' territorial dispute with China will not be tackled during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing next month.

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Drilon on raps over alleged overpriced Iloilo center: Baseless, malicious

Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday said the criminal charges filed against him in connection with the alleged overpricing in the construction of a convention center project in Iloilo has no basis and was done with malice.

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VP Binay willing to explain before Catholic bishops

While Vice President Jejomar Binay is yet to decide whether to attend the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, he has accepted the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ invitation for him to answer before Catholic leaders the allegations hurled against him and members of his family.

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