PNoy visit to South Korea on again as storm departs

President Benigno Aquino will go ahead with a visit to South Korea this week after the Philippines weathered its latest typhoon better than expected, his spokeswoman said Tuesday.

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Aquino Q4 satisfaction rating improves slightly – SWS

President Benigno Aquino III's satisfaction rating improved slightly in the fourth quarter of 2014 with a "good" net rating of +39 from the third quarter's +34 (59 percent satisfied and 25 percent dissatisfied), pollster Social Weather Stations said Tuesday.

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Purisima not keen on honoring ‘illegal’ suspension order –lawyer

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima will not honor the suspension order issued against him by the Office of the Ombudsman, as a portion of it was illegal, his lawyer said Tuesday.

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PNoy changes mind, to push through with SoKor trip

After initially canceling his trip, President Benigno Aquino III has decided to push through with his visit to South Korea this week.

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No need for law protecting male domestic abuse victims –Pia Cayetano

There is no need for a law providing protection to male victims of domestic abuse, Senator Pia Cayetano said Tuesday.

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‘Whiplash’ Typhoon Ruby a cruel blow for already poverty-stricken Visayas

The typhoon's international name was Hagupit, which means "whiplash" in Filipino, and for the poverty-stricken rice farmers, fishermen, village workers and children of the eastern central Visayas, it was an especially painful blow.

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NDRRMC: Official death toll from Ruby rises to 8

At least eight people have been confirmed and verified dead due to Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) as of Tuesday afternoon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

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PNP chief Purisima to seek CA help vs. suspension

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima will ask the Court of Appeals (CA) to stop the implementation of the six-month suspension slapped on him by the Office of the Ombudsman.

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Drilon: Enough allocations in 2014 budget for post-Ruby relief

There are enough allocations in the 2014 General Appropriations Act for the government to respond to the need for relief and rehabilitation in the wake of Typhoon Ruby, Senate President Franklin Drilon on Tuesday.

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US govt study challenges China’s claims in South China Sea

A United States government study has challenged China’s claims in the South China Sea.

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PNP chief Purisima charged before Ombudsman for alleged land-grabbing

Charges of estafa and graft were filed against Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima, his wife and a retired military official in connection with a disputed 9.5-hectare property in Talisay, Batangas.

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Singapore Red Cross donates P2M to Ruby relief efforts

International aid agency Singapore Red Cross has donated S$60,000 (roughly P2 million) to the victims of Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) which hit parts of the Visayas and Luzon over the weekend and early this week.

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Rescuers struggle to reach villages after Ruby ‘folded homes like paper’

DOLORES, Eastern Samar - Emergency workers struggled on Tuesday to reach coastal villages on an island hardest hit by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) where thousands of homes have been wrecked, suggesting the Red Cross's estimated death toll of 27 may rise.

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Gov’t funds not wasted on Yolanda bunkhouses damaged by Ruby –Palace

Malacañang on Tuesday confirmed that some bunkhouses built by the national government for Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) survivors were damaged by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), but denied government funds were wasted.

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Heads will roll over 2-storey mansion inside Bilibid compound –De Lima

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered an investigation into reports that two inmates have been able to build a two-storey house and a swimming pool inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

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Military plane carrying Ruby relief goods delayed by flat tire

One of the country’s only three C-130 planes failed to take off as scheduled from Borongan, Eastern Samar, when it encountered a flat tire, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Tuesday.

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Palace: Lag in Ruby casualty count due to verification process

The government’s count of Typhoon Ruby-related casualties tends to be slower compared to those being conducted by other groups due to a strict verification process, Malacañang said Tuesday.

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PNoy suffering from ‘very bad’ cold, skips Pasay event

President Benigno Aquino III is under the weather and decided to skip an event in Pasay City where he was scheduled to deliver a speech on Tuesday.

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VACC to file raps vs. suspended PNP chief Purisima over Batangas property

Another case is set to be filed against suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima, this time over his alleged 9.5-hectare property in Talisay, Batangas.

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Red Crescent and Red Cross provide aid to Typhoon Ruby victims

International aid agencies Red Crescent Movement and International Red Cross are now moving volunteers to provide aid to areas hit by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), especially to remote areas that have yet to recover from Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

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Ruby weakens further as clearing operations begin

DOLORES, Eastern Samar - Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) weakened further on Tuesday as the storm crawled across the central Philippines, while rescue workers struggled in its aftermath to reach towns in central provinces where thousands of homes were wrecked and at least 27 people killed.

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Ruby affects 2 million people, causes P1 billion in damage

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Tuesday said the number of people affected by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) had breached the two-million mark while damage breached the P1-billion mark.

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Coast Guard: 1,126 still stranded as Ruby moves away from PHL

While Tropical Depression Ruby (Hagupit) may have weakened and may be moving away from the country, more than 1,000 people are still stranded in various ports as of Tuesday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

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Ombudsman asks Drilon, nine others to answer raps on ‘overpriced’ ICC construction

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered Senate President Franklin Drilon, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, and seven other public officials and private individuals to answer the accusation of a former Iloilo official on the alleged overpricing of the Iloilo Convention Center.

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Ruby death toll rose to 27 – Red Cross

The death toll from a giant storm crossing the Philippines rose to 27 on Tuesday, the Red Cross said, but there was widespread relief after it brushed the capital without causing major damage. But data from the National Disaster Coordinating Council showed only three fatalities so far, with eight reported deaths still being verified.

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NDRRMC confirms 3 Ruby-related deaths, verifying 8 more

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Tuesday confirmed a third fatality in the wake of Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), and is presently verifying at least eight more.

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Bettor wins P9M Megalotto 6/45 jackpot – PCSO

A lotto bettor won the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Megalotto 6/45 jackpot of P9 million Monday evening.

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PNoy to skip ASEAN-Korea Summit in Busan due to Ruby

President Benigno Aquino III is skipping the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Republic of Korea summit so he could focus on efforts for victims of Tropical Storm Ruby (Hagupit).

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Car almost hits baby's wake in Las Piñas

Two people were reported injured in a freak accident in Las Piñas City, where a car went out of control and nearly hit a funeral parlor where a wake for a baby was being held.

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ASEAN chief commends PHL for early warning efforts on Ruby

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Monday commended the Philippines for its early warning efforts and disaster preparedness in dealing with Tropical Storm Ruby (Hagupit).

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Amid Amnesty findings, De Lima says gov't monitoring torture cases

The government is keeping an eye on torture cases in the Philippines amid a recent Amnesty International report that said torture, especially by the police, is still prevalent in the country.

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UNICEF: Swift evacuation saved many during Ruby’s onslaught

Prompt evacuation efforts in provinces on the path of Tropical Storm Ruby saved many lives a little over a year after Super Typhoon Yolanda killed thousands on almost the same track, the United Nations Children's Fund said on Monday.

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Palace: Nothing wrong with Mar’s presence in Eastern Samar

Malacañang on Monday defended Interior Secretary Mar Roxas' presence and motorcycle ride in Eastern Samar, one of the areas hit by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

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Organizers extend media accreditation for papal visit

Organizers of Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines this January have extended to Dec. 10, Wednesday, the deadline for applications for media accreditation.

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Typhoon Ruby kills 21 in Eastern Samar – Philippine Red Cross

At least 21 people were reported dead, many of them drowned as flood waters rose in Borongan, the main town in Eastern Samar, where Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) made first landfall, the Philippine National Red Cross said on Monday.

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PHL insists on arbitration to end sea dispute with China

Arbitration is the only route to achieving a just and durable solution to disputes over the South China Sea, the Philippines said on Monday, opposing China's contention that a UN court had no jurisdiction to hear a complaint.

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La Mesa Dam ‘will not overflow’ if other dams keep gates closed, says PAGASA

Despite the anticipated amount of rainfall to pour over Metro Manila on Monday, state weather agency PAGASA said La Mesa Dam will not overflow as long as the other dams do not release water.

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PNoy to meet with South Korean president in Busan

President Benigno Aquino III will meet with South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Thursday to strengthen ties between the two countries.

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US govt extends condolences to PHL over Ruby devastation

The United States government on Monday extended its condolences to the Philippine government over the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Ruby (Hagupit), and expressed readiness to extend help.

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Walang Pasok: List of December 9 class suspensions due to Typhoon Ruby

These areas have suspended classes on Tuesday, December 9 due to Typhoon Ruby. Keep checking back on this page for updates.

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122 new prosecutors to boost DOJ’s zero backlog policy –De Lima

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has expressed hopes of further achieving “zero backlog” in cases handled by the Department of Justice (DOJ), following President Benigno Aquino III's recent appointment and promotion of a total of 122 prosecutors in the country.

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NCR, Rizal should prepare for flooding due to Ruby —NDRRMC

Rizal province and Metro Manila, particularly cities located in the eastern part of the region, should prepare for flooding due to Tropical Storm Ruby, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Monday.

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Sigh of relief in PHL as Typhoon Ruby crawls west

Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos began to return to their homes battered by a powerful typhoon over the weekend, but the nation collectively breathed a sigh of relief as a massive evacuation plan appeared to minimize fatalities.

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Australia providing 800 tons rice for Ruby victims

Australia is providing 800 metric tons of rice for families affected by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop announced Monday.

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Fishermen barred from Manila Bay as Ruby nears

Fisherfolk were barred from heading out to Manila Bay Monday morning due to the possible threat from Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

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No break for cops from Dec. 15 to Jan. 10

There will be no holiday break for police personnel after the Philippine National Police canceled their leaves from Dec. 15 to Jan. 10, 2015.

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Vatican lauds papal visit preps in PHL

The Vatican is pleased with the ongoing preparations in the Philippines for Pope Francis' visit in January, the University of Santo Tomas' student publication reported.

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CAAP watching weather conditions in 9 airports; Naga still closed

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is watching weather conditions in nine major airports in areas that have been affected or may be affected by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

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IN PHOTOS: See the effects of Typhoon Ruby's wrath

A year after Super Typhoon Yolanda tore through the central part of the Philippines in less than a day, a weaker but still a strong typhoon Ruby enters its second day of wreaking havoc on the archipelago.

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ASEAN calls for food, water, family kits for Ruby victims

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Sunday called for food, water and family kits for Filipinos affected by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

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