Closed roads, suspended arrivals during Pope’s visit

Some roads around the Ninoy Aquino International Airport will be closed to traffic while no arriving flights will be allowed at certain times when Pope Francis arrives and leaves the Philippines this January.

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UNA exec: Pacquiao an able lawmaker despite missing House sessions

Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao frequent absences at the House of Representatives isn’t nessarily proof he’s taking his lawmaking duties lightly, his colleague and party-mate in the opposition United Nationalist Alliance said Monday.

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Pope Francis to meet with leaders of other religions at UST

Pope Francis will be meeting ten leaders from other religions during his visit at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, officials said Monday.

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LTO to bus operators: No standing passengers allowed for long trips

As the Christmas exodus continued to peak, the Land Transportation Office reminded bus operators against accommodating extra passengers who will be forced to stand during the long trip.

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Miriam goes after governors, mayors in new pork scam inquiry

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday sought a Senate inquiry on the reported misuse of some P2.7 billion in pork barrel funds by some governors and mayors in 2013.

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Cabinet to decide if Lacson should vacate his post – Palace

Cabinet officials will study Secretary Panfilo Lacson’s proposal to transfer rehabilitation and recovery duties being handled by his office to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), a Malacañang official said Monday.

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Pemberton runs to De Lima, seeks dismissal of murder case

Murder suspect US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton has asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to dismiss the case filed against him for the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude in Olongapo City.

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Prosecutors want Olongapo judge out of Laude murder case

Government prosecutors on Monday asked Olongapo City Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde to inhibit herself from hearing the murder charges filed against US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton in connection with the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, a television report said.

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PNoy to sign 2015 national budget on Tuesday

President Benigno Aquino III will sign the P2.606-trillion national budget on Tuesday, a Malacañang spokesperson said Monday.

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Convict files writ of amparo to contest transfer from Bilibid

The family of one of the convicts who were transferred from the New Bilibid Prison to another detention facility has filed a writ of amparo before the Court of Appeals, asking the appellate court to allow his loved ones to visit him especially over the Christmas holidays.

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Solon wants higher salaries for doctors in govt hospitals

A lawmaker, who is also a doctor, has proposed increasing the salaries of government physicians by more than double to encourage more of his colleagues to serve in public hospitals and medical centers.

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PNoy: Govt won’t commit same mistakes in handling disasters

After his administration drew flak last year for its supposedly slow response after Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), President Benigno Aquino III said Monday his government properly handled preparations for Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) this time around.

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It will be a lonely Christmas for me, Bong Revilla says

Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. expects his Christmas to be lonely after the Sandiganbayan recently denied his petition to post bail for the plunder charge he is facing in connection with his alleged involvement in the multi-billion peso pork barrel fund scam.

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SC: No work at courts on Jan. 2

Workers in courts may have a relatively uninterrupted Christmas break as there will be no work on the first Friday of 2015, the Supreme Court said Monday.

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PNoy visits Eastern Samar to provide temporary jobs to Ruby victims

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday visited towns in Eastern Samar hit by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) earlier this month.

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Grace Poe says 2016 polls not her priority; VP Binay grateful with SWS survey result

Despite being a consistent topnotcher among possible presidential bets, Senator Grace Poe reiterated Monday that planning for the 2016 presidential polls is not on her mind yet.

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Sandiganbayan grants Gloria Arroyo four-day Christmas furlough

Christmas would be merry for former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the Sandiganbayan's First Division allowed her to leave her detention for four days during the holidays.

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LOOK: NCR cops have service firearms sealed for the holidays

Police in several parts of Metro Manila had their service firearms sealed for the holidays on Monday, to make sure they do not use them to ring in the New Year.

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Phivolcs: No tsunami threat from mag-6.6 quake in Molucca Sea

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Sunday night allayed fears of a tsunami from a magnitude-6.6 quake that occurred in the Molucca Sea in Indonesia.

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Solon wants additional financial perks for barangay officials

A lawmaker has proposed granting additional allowances and financial incentives to barangay officials in recognition of their vital function in the enforcement of laws and implementation of government programs.

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Cleaning up Bilibid a government priority – Palace

Cleaning up the New Bilibid Prison is a priority for the government, a Palace official said Sunday after guns, drugs, and other contraband items were found during surprise inspections there.

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Solon wants equal application of adultery laws

A lawmaker has filed a bill to amend the Revised Penal Code to make provisions on adultery and concubinage applicable to both men and women.

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PNP to start taping cops’ gun muzzles Monday

Starting Monday, expect most members of the Philippine National Police to have their service firearm muzzles sealed for the holidays.

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Lacson to resign as rehab czar by Feb. 2015

Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery chief Panfilo Lacson is set to resign from his Cabinet post by February next year, as soon as his office completes the transfer of its post-Yolanda reconstruction and rehabilitation duties to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

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Holiday travelers reminded: Avoid colorum boats, keep cars roadworthy

Avoid taking colorum vessels and make sure your vehicles are roadworthy. These were among the pieces of advice transport officials offered to Filipinos joining the exodus to the provinces for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

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LOOK: Police release Pemberton mug shots

The Olongapo City police on Saturday officially released the mug shots of US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, who was charged with murder for the killing of transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude.

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PHL orders crackdown on privileged jailbirds

Philippine authorities have given privileged inmates in the country's main prison until Christmas Eve to turn over their hidden guns, drugs and other contraband or the notorious facility will face a major shakedown.

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Palace: Aquino studying recommendation to pardon elderly inmates

Malacañang on Saturday assured the public it is studying a recommendation to grant executive clemency to elderly inmates.

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Ombudsman to probe Bilibid controversy

The Office of the Ombudsman has created a panel to investigate the alleged special treatment of some rich inmates at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

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Palace: No discussion yet on who will replace retiring Comelec chief

There is still no discussion—at least officially—at this time on who will replace Sixto Brillantes Jr., who is due to retire as Commission on Elections chairman in February, Malacañang said Saturday.

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No permanent replacement yet for Ona, Garin remains acting DOH chief

Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin will continue to run the Department of Health following President Benigno Aquino III's acceptance of Secretary Enrique Ona's resignation, a Malacañang spokesman said Saturday morning. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said, "Wala pa po, the president has not yet decided on who to appoint the successor to Sec. Ona. Undersecretary Garin will be the acting Health chief until any permanent appointment has been announced."

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Govt hospitals on code white starting Saturday

Government hospitals are going on Code White alert starting this weekend to prepare for revelry-related injuries or medical conditions.

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Holidays ‘prime time’ for thieves and snatchers, US reminds nationals in PHL

Saying the holiday season is a prime time for pickpockets and thieves, the United States Embassy in Manila on Friday advised its Americans in the country to take precautions against theft, robbery, and even violent crimes.

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A bigger music studio inside Bilibid for Colangco's rival gang leader?

The series of raids inside the maximum security compound in New Bilibid Prison have brought to light various gang rivalries inside the facility.

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LP official pushes for Mar Roxas-Grace Poe tandem for 2016

An official of the ruling Liberal Party on Friday floated the prospect of Sen. Grace Poe being tapped to be Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II's running mate for 2016.

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DepEd joins world in mourning Peshawar attack victims

The Philippine Department of Education on Friday joined the world in mourning the massacre of innocent students in a school in Pakistan by the Taliban.

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‘Ninong’ Noy plays Santa Claus to street kids

President Benigno Aquino III on Friday played Santa Claus to around 1,000 street children from Metro Manila, hearing their Christmas wishes and giving them Noche Buena packs.

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Sandiganbayan convicts ex-Misamis Oriental governor over missing car parts

The Second Division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has convicted a former governor of Misamis Oriental in a malversation case in connection with missing spare parts and accessories from the province's two service vehicles amounting to more than P2 million.

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VACC to Pope Francis: Open your heart to death penalty

A Philippine anti-crime group on Friday appealed to Pope Francis to “open your heart and mind on the issue of death penalty,” noting the country's “alarming culture of impunity.”

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Did inmate singer Herbert Colangco have concert outside Bilibid without authorization?

Herbert "Ampang" Colangco, a convicted bank robbery gang leader who appeared to have turned his kubol inside the New Bilibid Prison into a recording studio, held a concert in a hotel in Pasay City last September despite having no authorization.

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De Lima to gang leaders: Surrender contrabands or we’ll turn NBP ‘upside down’

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday warned to turn the New Bilibid Prison "upside down" if gang leaders will not surrender all remaining contrabands in the facility before Christmas.

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Three prison officials sacked amid New Bilibid mess

Three prison officials were relieved from their posts Friday, days after surprise inspections that yielded items ranging from a jacuzzi to firearms in the national penitentiary's maximum security area.

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More prohibited items found during De Lima’s 2nd visit to Bilibid

More prohibited items were found during Justice Secretary Leila de Lima's second inspection at some quarters of the New Bilibid Prsion, a television report said Friday.

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PNoy accepts DOH chief Ona’s resignation

President Benigno Aquino III has accepted Health Secretary Enrique Ona's resignation, Malacañang announced Friday.

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Senate bill seeks to make poll duty non-compulsory for teachers

A bill giving public school teachers the right not to render service during elections has been filed in the Senate.

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Laude camp wants Pemberton moved to Olongapo City Jail

The camp of slain Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude on Friday asked the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to transfer murder suspect Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton to the Olongapo City Jail.

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Sandiganbayan denies Jinggoy’s Christmas furlough

Senator Jinggoy Estrada will be spending the holidays in detention after the Fifth Division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan denied his request for a three-day Christmas and New Year furlough for lack of merit.

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Laude camp wants media coverage for murder case proceedings

The camp of slain Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude on Friday said they will ask the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to allow media to cover the proceedings of the slay case.

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Under VFA, US has custody rights of Pemberton —San Beda Law dean

Amid calls for Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, suspect in the killing of Filipina transgender Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, to be placed under the custody of the Philippines, a law professor on Friday said the United States government has more authority to do so.

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CAAP: No-fly zone in effect Jan. 15, 17, 19 for papal visit

Metro Manila chilled early Friday morning at 19.4 degrees Celsius, the lowest since the Amihan, or Northeast Monsoon started in the second half of October.

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