Ad hoc panel holds executive session on Bangsamoro bill

The ad hoc committee tackling the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) decided to hold a closed-door session for the first time Tuesday.

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Bongbong questions P12.9B budget for projects not under DILG’s mandate

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Monday night questioned the P12.9 billion allotment for water supply, low-cost housing and other projects to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) which were contained in the errata submitted by the Department of Budget and Management.

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BI lifts ban on blacklisted HK journalists

The Bureau of Immigration on Tuesday lifted a ban on nine Hong Kong journalists, upon the recommendation of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

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Pag-IBIG clarifies: No multimillion-peso contracts with Omni Security

The Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) on Monday disputed reports it gave multimillion-peso contracts to Omni Security Investigation Inc. whose officers were contributors to Vice President Jejomar Binay's election campaign in 2010.

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39% of Pinoys see their quality of life improving – SWS

Nearly two out of five Filipinos or 39 percent were optimistic that their quality of life would improve in the next 12 months, a 2014 third quarter poll taken by the Social Weather Stations found.

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Lone bettor bags P70.1-M Grand Lotto jackpot

A lotto bettor is now P70 million richer after bagging the jackpot in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office's Grand Lotto draw Monday night.

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Miriam links ‘lopsided’ 2015 budget to 2016 polls

Senate Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday criticized the proposed 2015 budget, describing it as “very lopsided” and even linking it to the 2016 national and local elections.

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Jinggoy doubts authenticity of files in Benhur's hard drive

Benhur Luy, the principal witness in the 'Pork Barrel Scam' cases, admitted on Monday that for up to two weeks, he was not in possession of the hard drive that supposedly contains records of the alleged activities of lawmakers who transacted with businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

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Mothers of missing UP students ask CA to transfer Palparan to regular jail

The mothers of missing University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan have asked the Court of Appeals to have retired General Jovito Palparan Jr. transferred to a regular jail, saying he should not be in military custody.

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UP Diliman grad tops list of Chemical Engineer Licensure Exam passers

A total of 596 out of 871 passed the Chemical Engineer Licensure Examination, with a graduate from UP Diliman topping the list, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Monday.

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Sotto finally shakes Acting Health Sec. Garin’s hand

After almost three hours of grilling the Department of Health, acting Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III finally shook hands with acting Health Secretary Janette Garin, but not without telling her to be more careful next time.

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Conviction of 9 Chinese poachers will not affect PHL-China ties –DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday defended a local court’s decision to convict nine Chinese fishermen of poaching in Philippine waters, but stressed it will not further strain Manila's ties with Beijing.

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Miriam: Let Senate examine EDCA

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday urged Malacañang to bring the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement to the Senate for ratification after some Supreme Court justices said ruling on the deal would be premature.

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DFA verifying Chinese construction activity in South China Sea

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday said it is verifying reports that China’s reclamation activity on a Philippine-claimed reef in the disputed South China Sea is already in its advanced stages.

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House panel approves FOI bill

The House committee on public information approved on Monday the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill Monday, almost a year after a technical working group (TWG) began deliberating on the measure.

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Nine Chinese ‘poachers’ convicted despite Beijing’s warnings

A Palawan court on Monday found nine Chinese fishermen guilty of poaching and environmental crimes for fishing in disputed waters, in a case that has strained relations with China.

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DFA to ask for lifting of ban on HK journos

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it will ask for the lifting of travel ban on nine Hong Kong journalists who were barred from entering the country for heckling President Benigno S. Aquino III at an economic summit last year.

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Miriam urges colleagues: Reject House-approved definition of savings

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday urged her colleagues to reject the redefinition of ‘savings’ introduced by the House of Representatives, saying it is unconstitutional and diminishes Congress’ power over the ‘purse.’

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Palace asks BI to review blacklist order vs. 9 Hong Kong journalists

Malacañang has already requested the Bureau of Immigration to review the blacklist order issued against nine Hong Kong television and radio journalists who allegedly heckled President Benigno Aquino III last year.

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Sotto questions DOH’s plan to purchase ‘abortifacient’

Acting Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III on Monday questioned the inclusion of procurement budget for subdermal implants — which he claimed to be an abortifacient — in the proposed Department of Health (DOH) budget for 2015.

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Acting Health Sec. Garin attends Senate budget deliberations

Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin arrived at the Senate Monday morning to attend the deliberations on the budget of the Department of Health amid concerns from senators.

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Son of Taiwanese fisherman killed in 2013 encounter arrives in PHL for hearings

The son of a Taiwanese fisherman shot dead in an encounter between Philippine officials and a Taiwanese fishing boat off disputed waters in 2013 arrived in the Philippines over the weekend to testify in a court case against Coast Guard officers.

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Journalists remember 32 colleagues slain in Maguindanao Massacre

Dozens of foreign and local journalists lit candles on Sunday to remember the 2009 murder of 32 journalists in the southern Philippines, the biggest recorded killing of media workers in history.

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Treating churches like businesses scandalous, Pope Francis tells faithful

Pope Francis has criticized priests and laypeople who turn their parishes into a "business" by charging for baptisms, blessings, and Mass intentions.

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Govt vows justice five years after Maguindanao massacre

Top officials vowed on Sunday to deliver justice as the Philippines marked the fifth anniversary of a political massacre that killed 58 with no one yet convicted and several would-be witnesses murdered.

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Palace lauds victorious Pacquiao for exhibiting Pinoys’ unwavering spirit even amid adversity

Malacañang lauded Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao for his unanimous victory against undefeated American boxer Chris Algieri in their fight in Macau Sunday.

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SC doing all it can to speed up Maguindanao Massacre trial – Chief Justice Sereno

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno assured the public Sunday that the Supreme Court is doing everything it can to speed up the Maguindanao Massacre trial

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Sereno: SC doing everything to speed up trial on Maguindanao massacre case

On the 5th anniversary of the worst election-related violence in Philippine history that left 58 people dead, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno assures the public that the high court is doing everything to fast-track the proceedings of the Maguindanao Massacre case, according to a "Balintanghali" report on Sunday.

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DTI steps up surprise inspections in provinces

With the holidays drawing closer, the Department of Trade and Industry stepped up its surprise inspections in stores selling Noche Buena items in the provinces.

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PhlPost issues Philippine festival masks stamps

Stamp collectors, get ready: The Philippine Postal Corp. has issued another set of stamps, this time celebrating the colorful Philippine festival masks.

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PHL can deny entry to foreigners who disrespect authorities – Immigration bureau

The Bureau of Immigration can blacklist foreigners for disresepcting symbols of Philippine authority but this can be subject to an appeal, a bureau spokespeson said Saturday.

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‘Concerned’ Hong Kong to contact PHL over reporters' blacklisting

Hong Kong authorities will contact their Philippine counterparts over the supposed blacklisting of nine Hong Kong journalists from covering the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that the Philippines will host in 2015.

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4 papal stamp tilt winners announced, may personally present work to Pope Francis

Four more lucky people may get to meet Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines from Jan. 15 to 19.

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WHO briefs AFP chief Catapang on Ebola

World Health Organization representatives in the Philippines on Friday briefed Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. on the Ebola virus disease.

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Pacquiao bout to be live-streamed on Caballo Island

The much-awaited fight between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and American slugger Chris Algieri will be live-streamed on Caballo Island, where Filipino UN peacekeepers who came from Ebola-hit Liberia are quarantined as a safety precaution against the virus that killed thousands in West Africa.

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Palace: Cops, DTI to provide twofold protection for Xmas shoppers

Malacañang on Saturday expressed confidence the Philippine National Police and the Department of Trade and Industry can provide two-fold protection for Christmas shoppers as the holidays draw closer.

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PNoy to consider best replacement for retiring Comelec chief

President Benigno Aquino III will consider the best replacement for Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. when he retires in February 2015, Malacañang assured the public Saturday.

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UP-CMC laments culture of impunity beyond media killings

While many associate the culture of impunity with the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, such a culture goes way beyond the heinous murder that took place five years ago.

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China building South China Sea island big enough for airstrip – report

Satellite images show China is building an island on a reef in the disputed Spratly Islands large enough to accommodate what could be its first offshore airstrip in the South China Sea, a leading defense publication said on Friday.

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Palace on supposed APEC 2015 media blacklist: Accreditation hasn't even started

Malacañang on Friday denied that it is barring Hong Kong journalists who yelled at President Benigno Aquino III last year from covering the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be hosted by the Philippines next year.

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Ozone fire victims' 18-year wait for justice an isolated case—De Lima

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday said the delay incurred in the 18-year-old Ozone Disco fire trial was an "isolated case."

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AFP chief to skip Pacquiao fight to honor fallen soldier

Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. will skip the much-awaited fight between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and American slugger Chris Algieri on Sunday to honor a fallen soldier.

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Mercado challenges Binay to a debate

After backing out of a debate with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday got another challenge from another of his critics—former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado.

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Maguindanao massacre victims’ kin write Pope Francis for justice

Two days before the fifth anniversary of the infamous Maguindanao Massacre, relatives of the victims turned to Pope Francis to help them get justice.

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QC court junks bail plea of cop suspect in Maguindanao massacre

A suspended municipal police chief said to be involved in planning the November 2009 Maguindanao Massacre will have to remain behind bars for the remainder of the five-year-old murder trial.

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Beijing’s cold caught up with PNoy?

President Benigno Aquino III on Friday suffered a coughing fit while delivering a speech lauding the Araneta family of Quezon City.

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Get masterminds or kidnap groups will be ‘back with a vengeance’, group tells PNP

A crime watchdog group reminded the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group to go after the masterminds behind abductions — 43 incidents have been reported this year — to make sure kidnapping rings will not "come back with a vengeance."

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PNoy goes to the mall

President Benigno Aquino III went to a Quezon City mall on Friday afternoon, a photo posted on Twitter by Radio Television Malacañang showed.

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PNoy wants to step up counter-terrorism efforts –Palace

President Benigno Aquino III wants security officials to step up counter-terrorism efforts, Malacañang said Friday, after the Philippines ranked higher in the Global Terrorism Index Report.

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PNP records 43 kidnap cases since January

A total of 43 kidnapping cases have been recorded in the country from January to November this year, according to records from Philippine National Police's anti-kidnapping unit, with most cases already solved.

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