Phivolcs: No tsunami threat from mag-6.7 New Zealand quake

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Monday allayed fears of a tsunami from a magnitude-6.7 quake that jolted New Zealand.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Aquino govt satisfaction rating recovers in Q3 – SWS

The Aquino administration's satisfaction rating recovered in the third quarter of 2014, registering a "good" +35 in September from the "moderate" +29 in June, according to a poll taken by the Social Weather Stations.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Overpricing at Makati Science High School? Just lies – VP Binay

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Sunday denied alleged overpricing in the P1.33-billion Makati Science High School saying that the allegations were just "lies" by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Admin ally: LP-NP alliance ‘unbeatable’ in 2016

Even though the Liberal Party (LP) and Nacionalista Party (NP) have yet to formally join forces, an official of the ruling party said Sunday that a coalition between the two will spell victory for their candidates in the 2016 national and local elections.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Ending Iloilo Convention Center probe a betrayal of public trust, Mejorada warns

Former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada on Sunday said that ending the investigation into alleged overpricing in the Iloilo Convention Center "at a time when more questions emerged than were answered would be tantamount to betrayal of public trust."

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

House eyes approval of emergency powers for PNoy before end of 2014

With Luzon facing a looming power shortage next year, the majority bloc in the House of Representatives will exert all its efforts to expedite the approval of the joint resolution granting President Benigno Aquino III emergency powers before the end of 2014, House Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales II said Sunday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

DBM: Govt workers to receive bonus, cash gift, 13th month pay this week

Government employees will receive this week their year-end bonus, the last tranche of their 13th month pay, and a cash gift of P5,000, the Department of Budget and Management said Sunday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Twenty killed, including civilians in fresh clashes in southern Philippines

Twenty people died in a single day in the southern Philippines following a fresh outbreak of unrest in the strife-torn region, officials said Saturday. The military earlier said that 15 people were killed Friday after heavy fighting between government forces and al Qaeda-linked militants in the jungle region, where various Muslim extremist and bandit groups are active. A police report indicated civilians, including an eight-year-old girl were among fatalities in late last week's clashes.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace: DSWD team to look into conditions at vagrant children’s facility in Manila

A fact-finding team of the Department of Social Welfare and Development will look into the conditions at a center in Manila for rescued vagrant children operated by the DSWD, after a photo of a "severely malnourished boy" in the facility circulated online, a Palace spokesman said on Sunday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Peacekeeper with malaria to finish 21-day quarantine on Caballo Island

The Filipino peacekeeper who tested positive for malaria will be sent back to Caballo Island in a week’s time to complete the 21-day quarantine once he has recovered from malaria, the Department of Health said Sunday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Groups picket Hacienda Luisita to mark 10 years after massacre

Militant groups on Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of the Hacienda Luisita massacre with a picket seeking justice for seven farmers gunned down in the 2004 incident.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Organizers remind Pinoys: No tickets to Papal visit events

Organizers of Pope Francis' upcoming visit to the Philippines in January on Saturday reminded Filipinos to be wary of those selling tickets to events related to the papal visit.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace appeals to teachers not to go on mass leave

Malacañang on Saturday appealed to public school teachers not to push through with a reported plan to go on mass leave in an effort to acquire better pay and benefits.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Makati Science High issue prejudged on ‘mere say so’, ‘cursory’ inspection – Binay camp

Some senators may have already prejudged alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati Science High School, the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay said.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PNoy heading to Singapore Tuesday for 2-day working visit

President Benigno Aquino III will head for Singapore on Tuesday for a two-day working visit, Malacañang said Saturday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace asks public for understanding over inconveniences from papal visit preps

Malacañang on Saturday asked the public for understanding over the inconveniences that may be caused by ongoing preparations for the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines in January.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Three dead after ambush in Basilan

Lamitan City chief Senior Insp. Gean Gallardo identified the victims as Noel Alvarez, his son Nolie, and their co-worker Alen Pioquinto.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

DOH: Pinoy peacekeeper negative for ebola, positive for malaria

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday that the Filipino peacekeeper who experienced fever and chills earlier Friday tested negative for the Ebola virus, but was instead infected by malaria.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace condoles with families of soldiers slain in Sulu encounter

Malacañang on Saturday condoled with the families of at least five soldiers killed in an encounter with the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu province on Friday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

2 civilians killed, two others hurt in Cotabato mortar attack

Two people were killed and three others hurt in an alleged mortar attack by the memebers of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Pikit town in North Cotabato early on Saturday morning.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Bishops to Methodist members: Discuss LGBT issues openly

For the first time, bishops of the United Methodist Church have called on its clergy and lay members to start openly discussing the issue of human sexuality, including the controversial issues concerning the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace renews appeal not to panic over Ebola as final info on isolated peacekeeper due Monday

As it expects the Department of Health to provide by Monday "final information" on a Filipino peacekeeper isolated due to fever symptoms, Malacanang on Saturday reiterated its appeal to the public not to panic over a possible Ebola threat.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

DOTC: 2 flights canceled due to bad weather

At least two domestic flights were canceled Saturday due to bad weather, the Department of Transportation and Communications said.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Phivolcs: No tsunami threat to PHL from Indonesia quake

State seismologists on Saturday noon assured the public there is no tsunami threat to the Philippines from a magnitude-7.1 quake that hit Indonesia earlier.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Trillanes: Makati Science High School classrooms should not have cost P24.6M each

After conducting an ocular inspection of the Makati Science High School building on Saturday, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said the new classrooms were "good but ordinary" and should have cost less than what was paid.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Phivolcs monitors possible tsunami from magnitude-7.1 quake in Indonesia

State seismologists are monitoring Philippine coasts for possible tsunami waves stemming from a magnitude-7.1 quake that jolted Indonesia Saturday morning.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Magnitude-7.3 quake jolts Indonesia; no destructive tsunami expected

A magnitude-7.3 quake was recorded at Indonesia Saturday morning, the United States Geological Survey said.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

CBCP blames ‘high traffic’ for papal visit website woes

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on Saturday blamed high traffic for the inaccessibility of the Papal Visit portal (www.papalvisit.ph) Friday night.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Sandiganbayan upholds ruling, will try VP Binay’s wife for graft

The Third Division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Friday uphold its earlier ruling finding probable cause to try Dr. Elenita Binay, the wife of Vice President Jejomar Binay, on charges of malversation and graft in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of hospital beds worth P36 million in 2001 when she was the mayor of Makati City.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

No Ninja Turtle: Suspected killer nabbed in QC sewer

A man suspected of killing a hairstylist and a taxi driver in Quezon City last Wednesday was found hiding in the sewers on Friday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Isolated PHL peacekeeper ‘stable,’ resting at RITM

The peacekeeper was brought to the RITM in an ambulance shortly before 5 p.m., GMA News' Saleema Refran reported on "24 Oras" Friday evening.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Napoles camp tries to cast doubt on Sula testimony

The lawyer of Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the multibillion-peso pork barrel fund scam, on Friday questioned the properties allegedly owned by the detained businesswoman's former employee Marina Sula, one of the whistleblowers in the pork barrel fund scam.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Drilon accuser a ‘big dud,’ should be cited for contempt –Miriam

The accuser of Senate President Franklin Drilon should be cited for contempt for allegedly wasting the time of the Senate by making accusations that he can't prove, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said Friday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace: Some people want to pit executive vs. Senate

President Benigno Aquino III's spokesman on Friday said there seems to be a deliberate attempt to pit Malacañang against Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III in connection with the Senate probe on corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Ombudsman, AFP sign MOA on soldiers’ cases

The Office of the Ombudsman and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Friday to "fast-track" case disposition by assigning jurisdiction over crimes and administrative charges.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

DOH: Isolated peacekeeper no longer has fever, still weak

The Filipino peacekeeper who had to be isolated for fever symptoms no longer had a fever on Friday afternoon but was feeling weak, the Department of Health said.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

DOH: ‘Reorganization’ unrelated to vaccines probe

Officials close to Health Secretary on-leave Enrique Ona will either have their titles removed or leave the Department of Health central office but Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin swears the move is unrelated to the ongoing investigation into the P833-million purchase of vaccines in 2012, GMA News TV's Balitanhali reported on Friday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Poe for VP? Palace says PNoy to base his 2016 picks on LP processes

Will President Benigno Aquino III annoint Senator Grace Poe as the administration's bet for vice president in 2016? Aquino's spokesman, Secretary Edwin Lacierda, said Friday that the President will base his picks for the coming national elections on the processes of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

De Lima to DOH execs: Keep quiet on vaccine mess amid NBI probe

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has appealed to Department of Health officials not to make public pronouncements about the P800-million vaccine mess, pending completion of the National Bureau of Investigation's probe on the matter.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Drilon: Probes take backseat as Senate tackles P2.6-T budget

Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate President Franklin Drilon could rest a little from their critics as the Senate inquiries on the allegations of corruption against them take a backseat to the Senate's plenary deliberations on the P2.26-trillion proposed national budget for 2015.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Methodist Church agency starts PHL consultations on social concerns

The Philippine leg of the series of worldwide consultations on the "social Principles" of the United Methodist Church kicked off on Friday in Pansol, Laguna, where the bishops of the three Philippine episcopal areas and some 30 church representatives nationwide are expected to attend.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace lauds Drilon’s facing probe, says it’s up to Binay to do the same

Malacañang on Friday praised Senate President Franklin Drilon for facing the Senate probe on corruption charges against him, adding that it was up to Vice President Jejomar Binay to do the same.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Binay could be guilty of rebellion over alleged plan to join 2007 Manila Pen siege –Miriam

Vice President Jejomar Binay could be guilty of “conspiracy to commit rebellion” for allegedly conniving with rebel soldiers to overthrow the Arroyo administration in 2007, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said Friday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Govt has proper, enough protective suits vs. Ebola —Palace

The Philippine government has stockpiled enough supplies of the appropriate protective gears against Ebola, Malacañang said Friday amid questions about the country's preparedness against the deadly virus.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PNoy chided for refusal to raise Laude’s death with Obama

A militant group on Friday rebuked President Benigno Aquino III for refusing to raise with US President Barack Obama the issue of the death of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, allegedly by a US Marine who took part in joint military exercises in the country.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

DOH: 1 of 133 quarantined peacekeepers isolated for fever

One of 133 Filipino peacekeepers who returned from Ebola-stricken Liberia last Wednesday has been isolated after showing symptoms of fever, the Department of Health said Friday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PNP maps out security plans for papal visit, forms task force

The Philippine National Police has set up a task force to coordinate security for Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines this January.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Osmeña: Drilon’s presence in Senate hearing a signal for VP Binay to attend probe

After Senate President Frankin Drilon, it is now the turn of Vice President Jejomar Binay to defend himself from the allegations hurled against him before the Senate, Senator Sergio Osmeña III said on Thursday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

No confirmed report of Ebola symptoms among Pinoy peacekeepers in quarantine —AFP

No report of Ebola symptoms has been confirmed among Filipino UN peacekeepers who are currently in quarantine, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Friday, amid speculations that one of them has fever.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Cops, families join magnitude 7.2 quake drill

Police personnel joined ordinary families on Friday in a nationwide drill simulating a magnitude-7.2 quake.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation