De Lima: ‘Heads will roll’ for convicted drug lords’ luxurious lifestyle in Bilibid

After leading a surprise inspection of the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison earlier Monday, Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that those who allowed convicted drug lords to live luxuriously inside the penitentiary are "definitely" at risk of losing their jobs.

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DOJ: Significant portion of drug trade may be traced from inside NBP

The surprise inspection at the New Bilibid Prisons on Monday was meant to help the government's cause against the "significant" contribution of convicted and incarcerated drug traffickers to the trade of narcotics at large.

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Jinggoy’s furlough request in limbo after justices recuse themselves from his case

Detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada has asked the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division for a Christmas and New Year’s furlough, but the chances of its being granted are slim to none.

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Laude murder case a test for court system taking on LGBT case—groups

The murder case of transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude is a case test on how the Philippine justice system would respond to crimes against the members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

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Erap: Binay still opposition’s bet despite lower ratings

Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada on Monday expressed his support to Vice President Jejomar Binay for the upcoming 2016 general elections even if the latter's survey results continued to drop in recent polls.

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CA grants Ted Failon plea for admin raps vs. two PNP generals

The Court of Appeals has ruled that two Quezon City police officers should face administrative charges for arresting without warrant relatives and househelpers of broadcaster Ted Failon - Mario Teodoro Failon Etong in real life - in connection with the death of his wife.

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Despite Erap’s support, Grace Poe still undecided on 2016 plans

While she welcomed Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada's pronouncement that he would choose her as the one to campaign for in 2016, Sen. Grace Poe on Monday said she is not yet ready to make a decision as to her political plans in the next elections.

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PNoy signs open distance learning law

President Benigno Aquino III has signed a law seeking to provide government support for open distance learning programs in the country.

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Laude camp: Murder case vs. Pemberton a victory

A big victory, and yet only the first hurdle. This was how the family of slain transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude described the prosecutors' decision to file murder and not homicide charges against the suspect, US Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton.

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Murder raps filed vs. Pemberton in Jennifer Laude slay

The Olongapo City Prosecutor's Office on Monday has found probable cause to file a murder case against US Marine Private First Class Scott Joseph Pemberton for the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude.

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Palace vows to capitalize on Pinoys’ optimism for 2015

Malacañang on Monday pledged to capitalize on Filipinos’ positive outlook for the coming year as shown in a recent Pulse Asia survey.

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Coast Guard on heightened alert for holiday exodus starting Dec. 17

The Philippine Coast Guard will go on heightened alert starting Wednesday, Dec. 17, in anticipation of Filipinos starting to flock to their home provinces to celebrate the holidays.

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Drug lords at Bilibid transferred to ‘undisclosed’ facility

At least 20 drug convicts at the New Bilibid Prison have been ordered transferred to an "undisclosed" facility, amid reports that they managed to continue their drug-related transactions despite being incarcerated in the NBP's Maximum Security Compound.

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PNoy approves holiday ceasefire with NPA

President Benigno Aquino III has approved a Christmas ceasefire with the communist New People's Army, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Monday.

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Sandiganbayan justices ask for recusal in Jinggoy’s plunder case

Justices of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division have inhibited themselves from the trial of the pork barrel scam case of detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada “for personal reasons”

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PNoy to new AFP officers: Resist corruption

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday enjoined new officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to resist corruption.

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VP Binay: Mercado trying to convince more friends in US to testify against me

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday alleged that his former ally turned enemy, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, was trying to convince their common friends in the United States to testify against him.

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DepEd reminds schools of no collection policy for Christmas party

No collections for Christmas parties. This was the stern reminder to public schools from the Department of Education, which also exhorted them to keep such parties simple.

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Pulse Asia: 88% of Pinoys facing 2015 with hope, more see prosperous Christmas

Despite the problems they faced this year, nearly nine out of 10 Filipinos or 88 percent will face the coming New Year with hope, according to a new survey by pollster Pulse Asia.

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Justice Sec. De Lima holds surprise inspection at Bilibid

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday morning held a surprise inspection of facilities at the New Bilibid Prison.

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CBCP head pushes state, society to move vs. trafficking

The head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines over the weekend pushed for efforts by the state and society to thwart human trafficking, even as he echoed Pope Francis' concern on the scourge.

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Palace: PNoy will miss most of Pope Francis' events

A Malacañang official on Sunday said that while Pope Francis will be meeting President Benigno Aquino III when the pontiff visits the country in January, they will spend less than two hours together.

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Solon wants unclaimed lotto prize money donated to DSWD

A lawmaker has proposed channeling the billions in unclaimed lotto prizes that have accumulated through the years to pay for the Department of Social Welfare and Development's programs.

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PHL to get $500-M development loan from ‘fruitful’ Busan summit – Palace

President Benigno Aquino III brought home a $500-million development loan the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit in Busan, South Korea, a Palace official said on Sunday.

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MIAA announces updated list of canceled flights for December 14

The Manila International Airport Authority announced the cancellation of the following flights due to bad weather conditions.

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Susan Roces expressed hopes Grace Poe has lived up to supporters’ expectations

On the 10th anniversary of her husband Filipino action King Fernando Poe Jr's death, veteran actress Susan Roces expressed hopes their daughter Senator Grace Poe has lived up to her supporters' expectations, but remained mum on the lawmaker's plans for the 2016 polls.

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Palace asks Pinoys: Avoid using ‘dangerous’ firecrackers

Malacañang on Sunday urged Filipinos to avoid using firecrackers during the New Year's festivities.

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DOTC: 6 more domestic flights canceled due to bad weather

At least six more domestic flights were canceled Sunday due to bad weather, the Department of Transportation and Communications said.

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MIAA: 2 flights canceled due to bad weather

At least two domestic flights were canceled due to bad weather conditions on Sunday, the Manila International Airport Authority said.

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CBCP official calls on parishes, barangays to work together vs. human trafficking

A Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines official is pushing for closer coordination between parishes and barangays to fight human trafficking.

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PNoy on Pulse Asia survey: Let's wait for surveys closer to election day

President Benigno Aquino III has shrugged off the latest Pulse Asia poll on probable presidential candidates, where the administration Liberal Party's presumptive standard bearer, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, did poorly.

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South Korea pledges aid for PHL's disaster risk reduction measures

The South Korean government has promised to provide financial support for the Philippine's disaster risk reduction and rehabilitation activities, President Benigno Aquino III said.

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PNoy: Ona in hot water over other questionable DOH projects

Aside from the issue on the controversial purchase of more than P800 million worth of anti-pneumonia vaccines in 2012, Health Secretary (on leave) Enrique Ona also faces investigation on at least three more questionable procurement transactions, President Benigno Aquino III said on Saturday.

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Miriam on Pulse Asia ratings: No. 3 is always a good place to be

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Friday said ranking third in Pulse Asia's latest poll among probable presidential candidates "is always a good place to be."

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Palace hopes Pinoys starting to develop a ‘culture of preparedness’

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said such a culture is needed in dealing with an average of 20 cyclones that pass through the country every year.

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Suspect in Iligan solon’s ambush arrested, state-run media reports

A suspect in the ambush that wounded Iligan Rep. Vincent Belmonte Jr. last Thursday was arrested Saturday morning, state-run Philippines News Agency reported.

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Purisima to comply with Ombudsman’s suspension order —spokesman

Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima will now comply with the preventive suspension order issued against him by the Office of the Ombudsman, after President Benigno Aquino III asked him to do so, PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said Saturday.

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Sketches of 2 suspects in ambush on Iligan Rep. Belmonte out

The National Bureau of Investigation has produced sketches of at least two suspects in the ambush on Iligan Rep. Vicente Belmonte Jr. last Thursday.

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UK reminds nationals vs. travel to parts of Mindanao following bus bombing

Following the deadly bombing of a bus in Bukidnon Tuesday, the United Kingdom over the weekend reminded its nationals against travel to parts of Mindanao.

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Distributor of anti-dengue ActRx TriAct disputes DOH criticisms

The local distributor of the ActRx TriAct, an herbal drug that is claimed to be effective against dengue and malaria, on Friday disputed assertions made by the Health Department that the clinical trials of the drug were illegal and that the drug could have long-term harmful effects.

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Miriam on VP Binay’s Pulse Asia ratings decline: Nowhere to go but down

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Friday said Vice President Jejomar Binay's ratings may continue to slide down as he suffered another decline in Pulse Asia's latest poll among probable presidential candidates.

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PNoy: No failure in having loved and having been loved

For President Benigno Aquino III, who is still single at 54, it is better to have loved and lost.

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PNoy: Authorities to ‘harden’ buses, terminals in wake of Bukidnon blast

Security forces are working to minimize risks to passengers in the wake of a bomb explosion on a bus in Bukidnon on Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino III said on Friday.

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PNoy: China tried to block S. Korea from selling jets to PHL

President Benigno Aquino III said that China tried to pressure South Korea to not sell a squadron of brand new FA-50 fighter jets to the Philippines worth P18.9 billion, a report from GMA News TV's “State of the Nation” program said Friday.

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Special services for PWDs and senior citizens readied for 2016 polls – Comelec

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens will again be given preferential services such as special voter registration and accessible polling places for the 2016 elections, the Commission on Elections said on Friday.

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Alan Purisima’s fate decided on PNoy’s return

Suspended Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima's fate will be discussed upon President Benigno Aquino III return from an ASEAN summit in Korea.

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BI hikes alert as Pope Francis visit nears

With just one month to go before Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration has heightened its alert against possible foreign terrorists and human traffickers.

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Soliman: No double insertions in DSWD budget for Yolanda housing projects

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman on Friday assured the public that there was no double insertion in her department's budget for the shelter programs for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

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Meeting with families: Pope to hear about poverty, migration and disability

Pope Francis will be hearing how the Filipino family life is affected by poverty, migration, and physical disabilities, organizers of the papal visit said on Friday.

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Implementing rules for prison modernization law signed

The transfer of the New Bilibid Prison to Laur, Nueva Ecija. A prison guard for every 60 inmates. A 100-percent salary grade increase for jail personnel. And a new training academy in Metro Manila for jail officials, and personnel from other attached agencies of the Department of Justice.

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