'Ang kuryente, may spark... tayo wala': Miriam takes on PHL energy issue with trademark humor

Senator Miriam Santiago weighed in on the issue of using renewable energy in the country by opening with her trademark punchlines.

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Govt matching education with jobs to lower underemployment –Palace

The government is taking steps to ensure that Filipinos have proper education and training to land them jobs in the future, Malacañang said Friday.

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Australia sends kits for pregnant, lactating moms in Ruby-hit areas

Some 3,000 pregnant and lactating women in areas affected by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) will get health and dignity kits from Australia.

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De Lima on running for Senate: ‘I really don’t know yet’

Some individuals have been prodding her to run for Senate in 2016. Even Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has teased her to become a lawmaker. But Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has not yet made up her mind whether to secure a seat in the upper chamber.

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US condemns Bukidnon bus bombing

The United States on Friday condemned last Tuesday’s bombing of a passenger bus in Bukidnon province which killed 10 people and injured dozens others.

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Mudslinging won’t distract VP Binay, spokesman says

Vice President Jejomar Binay remains focused on his work in the Cabinet as adviser on migrant workers' affairs and housing czar even after the lates Pulse Asia survey showed a steep decline in his approval and trust ratings, his camp claimed on Friday.

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Sandiganbayan allows Tokyo trip of VP Binay’s wife

The Fourth Division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has granted the motion of Elenita Binay, wife of Vice President Jejomar Binay to travel to Tokyo, Japan this month.

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Palace hopes Aquino’s popularity would rub off on 2016 bet

Malacañang is hoping President Benigno Aquino III’s improving trust and approval ratings would rub off on the candidate he would endorse for the presidential elections in 2016.

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Miriam: PNP chief Purisima should vacate White House out of ‘delicadeza’

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Friday said Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima should leave his official quarters, dubbed as the White House, inside Camp Crame as he has been preventively suspended from his duties.

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Ruby victims to get P8.2M worth of relief goods from Japan

Victims of Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) stand to benefit from some P8.2 million worth of emergency relief goods from Japan.

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Supplemental budget may be used to ‘go around’ SC ruling on DAP – Miriam

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Friday said the proposed supplemental budget may be a strategy to circumvent the Supreme Court ruling partially striking down the administration's Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

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APO frat to seek respect for rule of law in Oblation Run in UP Diliman

Respect for the rule of law and a reexamination of the pork barrel system will top the calls of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity in this year's Oblation Run at the University of the Philippines Diliman Friday.

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Pulse Asia survey: PNoy most trusted official

President Benigno Aquino III is the country's most trusted official, according to a new survey by pollster Pulse Asia.

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US govt providing $750,000 aid for Ruby victims

The United States government is providing $750,000 (at least P33 million) in aid and emergency humanitarian assistance to victims of Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

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Special task group formed to probe ambush on Iligan solon

The Philippine National Police has formed a special task group to investigate an ambush that wounded Iligan Rep. Vicente Belmonte and killed three people in Laguindigan town in Misamis Oriental Thursday afternoon.

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NDRRMC: Damage from Ruby up to P3.339B

The total Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) damage estimate rose to P3.339 billion as of Thursday night, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

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Aquino, Singaporean PM meet South Korean President

President Benigno Aquino III and South Korean President Park Geun-hye held a bilateral meeting on Thursday (December 11) in Busan, a port city of South Korea, on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-South Korea Commemorative Summit.

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SC upholds Robredo’s transparency policy for LGUs

The Supreme Court has upheld the legality of a policy introduced by the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo requiring local government units (LGUs) to post their budget and transaction reports in public places, local newspapers, or websites.

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House realigns SC’s P715-M supplemental budget allocation to Yolanda housing

The House Appropriations committee has scrapped the P715.4-million budget for the Supreme Court’s Enterprise Information System plan in the proposed P22.4-billion supplemental budget to augment funds for the construction of emergency shelters for typhoon Yolanda victims.

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UP Diliman grad tops 4,021 passers in Civil Engineer Licensure Exam

A UP Diliman graduate topped the 4,021 passers of the recent Civil Engineer Licensure Examination, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Thursday.

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Govt working to make Pinoys to feel benefits of credit rating upgrades – Palace

Malacañang on Thursday said that the government is working towards making more Filipinos feel the benefits of credit rating upgrades that the Philippines has been getting.

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Sandiganbayan allows GMA to undergo mammogram at Makati Med

Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been allowed to leave her place of detention to undergo a digital mammogram, her lawyer said Thursday.

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For the 3rd time, Cudia asks SC to resolve plea vs. dismissal from PMA

For the third time, dismissed Cadet Jeff Aldrin Cudia has asked the Supreme Court to finally resolve his petition seeking to overturn his dismissal from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

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Jinggoy to Sandiganbayan: Make AMLC comply with subpoena

Detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada has asked the Sandiganbayan to flex its legal muscle and order the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to present numerous bank records of whistleblowers as requested by the lawmaker's camp.

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UN exec: ISIS not yet in PHL, but gov’t should remain alert

A ranking official of the United Nations on Thursday assured Filipinos that the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has not yet penetrated the Philippines, despite earlier reports that the group was recruiting students in Mindanao.

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Osmeña, Escudero still not sold on PNoy emergency powers

A day after the House of Representatives approved President Benigno Aquino III's request for special powers to address a looming power crisis, two senators said they are not keen on doing the same.

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Iligan Rep. Belmonte, 2 others wounded in ambush, 4 killed

Iligan Rep. Vicente Belmonte was wounded in an ambush that killed four people in Laguindigan town in Misamis Oriental province Thursday afternoon.

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CHR chair says torture ‘prevails up to now’ in PHL

Just like in the United States, torture allegedly committed by authorities on suspects or prisoners “prevails up to now” in the Philippines, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Etta Rosales said Thursday.

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State lawyers oppose Gloria Arroyo’s request for Christmas furlough

Government lawyers have asked the Sandiganbayan to deny the requested Christmas furlough of former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, saying it has no legal basis and will set a dangerous precedent for other detainees.

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PNoy’s Busan trip to cost gov’t P11.2M

The government will spend P11.2 million for President Benigno Aquino III’s visit to Busan to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian and South Korean leaders, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said Thursday.

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NDRRMC lowers Ruby death toll to 18

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Thursday corrected its official death toll from 19 to 18, with its head, Alexander Pama, owning up to reading one of the names of the fatalities twice.

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AFP confirms Abu Sayyaf release of abducted fish breeder

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Thursday confirmed the release by the Abu Sayyaf bandit group of a fish breeder abducted in Sabah last June.

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Roxas: Situation in Eastern Samar post-Ruby now stable

The situation in Eastern Samar, one of the areas hit by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), is now "stable," Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said at a press briefing Thursday.

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PNoy directs Cabinet to ensure recovery of Ruby-hit areas

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday directed Cabinet officials to ensure the recovery of areas hit by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

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NDRRMC: Ruby death toll jumps to 19

The official death toll from Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) jumped to 19 as of Thursday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

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PNP in ‘quandary’ over who will lead while Purisima is suspended

Philippine National Police officials are in a “quandary” on who will lead the agency while their chief, Director General Alan Purisima, is on a six-month preventive suspension.

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PNoy leaves for Korea for ASEAN-Korea Summit

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday morning left for Korea to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Republic of Korea Summit.

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Sans TRO, CA orders Ombudsman to comment on Purisima plea

Without issuing a restraining order, the Court of Appeals has ordered the Office of the Ombudsman to comment on a plea by Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima to stop his preventive suspension.

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CCTV Footage: Pagsabog ng Bus 10 patay, 42 sugatan

Video courtesy of GMANews.tv via Youtube

Enough Funds Available For Typhoon ‘Ruby’ Affected Areas

Malacañang said on Tuesday the government has enough additional funds in case there is a need to augment assistance in areas affected by Typhoon ‘Ruby’.

“Meron po tayong sapat na pondo mula sa 2014 national budget, at meron din po sa 2015 proposed National Expenditure Program, na ngayon po ay dinidinig sa Kongreso,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters during a press briefing at the Palace.

The Office of Civil Defense has estimated damages to farms in the Bicol region at P90.46 million.


Typhoon ‘Ruby’ made its first landfall in Dolores, Eastern Samar at 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, then passed through Masbate, Sibuyan Island, Romblon and Tablas Island on Sunday, and Oriental Mindoro on Monday.

Valte said so far, Dolores appears to be the worst hit.

“Yung visible damage po doon ay parang ‘yung naging damage sa Panay ‘nung dumaan ang bagyong Yolanda,” she said, noting that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has begun conducting aerial inspections to see the extent of damage caused by the typhoon.

The national government frontline team, she said, has begun relief distribution in Eastern Samar. (PCOO/PND/ag)

See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1781418116598/enough-funds-available-for-typhoon-ruby-affected-areas-says-palace#sthash.fJtf1182.dpuf

Bohol quake survivor excited, nervous to meet Pope Francis

A survivor of last year's powerful earthquake in Bohol province couldn't help but get excited — and nervous — about her scheduled face-to-face meeting with Pope Francis in January.

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AFP not ruling out bus explosion link to Pope Francis’ visit

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is not ruling out the possible connection of the bus explosion in Maramag, Bukidnon to a bigger terrorist plot related to the visit in January of Pope Francis, GMA News' 24 Oras reported on Wednesday.

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DOH exec advises pinoys attending papal events to bring own food, water, medicines

Filipinos wanting to attend events during Pope Francis' visit in January should bring their own food, water and medicine, a Department of Health official advised Wednesday.

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UNA lauds Grace Poe’s gain but hints she’s not ready to be president

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Wednesday welcomed Senator Grace Poe’s jump to second place in the latest Pulse Asia survey on possible presidential candidates, but stressed that she might not be ready for the presidency.

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Abu Sayyaf releases kidnapped fish breeder, Malaysian news site reports

The Abu Sayyaf bandit group has released a fish breeder it abducted last June, a Malaysian news site reported Wednesday.

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GMA to have direct access to Comelec’s data in 2016 elections

GMA Network will have direct access to the Commission on Elections' data during the May 9, 2016 national elections. This was after GMA top executives and Comelec commissioners on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to set up the Comelec-GMA transparency server.

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PNoy hands off Purisima’s suspension –Palace

Although he asked Health Secretary Enrique Ona to take a leave of absence over alleged irregularities, President Benigno Aquino III will keep his hands off Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima’s suspension.

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Rising popularity rating bothers Grace Poe

Senator Grace Poe is more bothered than encouraged by her rise in the popularity rankings, saying that the presidency is not a joke and not for the unprepared.

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Suspect in Bukidnon bus bombing identified –police

Authorities have already identified a suspect in Tuesday night's bus bombing in Bukidnon province that killed 10 people and injured 31 others.

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New complaints vs. Abad likely to be junked – Palace

Malacañang on Wednesday confidently belittled the latest malversation raps filed against Budget Secretary Florencio Abad over the administration’s controversial disbursement acceleration program (DAP).

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