Sison's greetings: NDFP open to resuming talks with government

A year after giving up on peace negotiations under the Aquino administration, the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is open to resuming talks with the Philippine government in 2015.

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In response to COA report: DSWD chief says agency cleaning up double entries in 4Ps list

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman on Thursday responded to issues raised by the Commission on Audit (COA) in its 2013 report on the agency.

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Firecracker injuries begin to mount as New Year approaches

The traditional New Year's Eve revelry is still a week away, but injuries related to firecrackers are already beginning to mount.

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Bong, Jinggoy want extended visiting hours on New Year’s Eve

Detained Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada are asking the Philippine National Police (PNP) to extend their visiting hours this coming New Year's Eve.

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SC asked to declare P2.6-trillion 2015 budget unconstitutional

A former Iloilo congressman has once again asked the Supreme Court to declare as unconstitutional the P2.606-trillion 2015 national budget which was approved by President Benigno Aquino III earlier this week.

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On eve of CPP anniversary, AFP renews call for NPA rebels to end armed struggle

On the eve of the 46th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Thursday renewed its call for the group and its armed wing, the New People's Army, to end armed struggle, saying they have been harmful to the very communities they purportedly wish to help.

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Chaplain says another convict’s NBP studio yet to be touched

Some inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) are puzzled because the holding area or kubol of convicted kidnapper Jaybee Sebastian was not raided by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

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NBI report on Bilibid’s wealthy inmates due in three months

The National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) probe on the anomalies in the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) will be finished in three to four months, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said on Wednesday.

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LP leaders not giving up on Mar Roxas

Ranking officials of the Liberal Party continue to keep their faith in Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II even though he continues to lag behind in voter preference surveys.

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Belmonte’s Christmas wish: For lawmakers to be more effective, responsive

For next year, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte wishes for "more effective, more responsive" lawmakers.

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Coloma: Ona given enough opportunity to explain self

Resigned Health Secretary Enrique Ona is given enough opportunity to explain his side on the controversy being linked to him, a Malacañang official said Wednesday.

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Prosecution not bothered by 60-day suspension of trial vs. Pemberton

Following the ruling by a Olongapo Regional Trial court suspending for 60 days the trial of the murder case against US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, the prosecution panel remains confident the proceedings will be completed within a year.

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P500k destroyed in QC fire

Some P500,000 in property was destroyed after a fire razed a house at Project 6 in Quezon City Wednesday afternoon.

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Laude kin upset with two-month suspension of Pemberton trial

The family of slain transgender Filipina Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude is expectedly upset over the Olongapo Regional Trial Court’s decision to grant the request of US Marine Lance Corpotal Joseph Scott Pemberton to suspend proceedings for two months, private prosecutor Harry Roque said Wednesday.

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Palace: There is enough time for Laude slay case despite suspension of trial

Malacañang on Wednesday expressed confidence there is enough time for the court to hear the murder charges against US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton for the alleged killing of transgender Jeffrey Laude, despite the court's decision to suspend the trial for two months.

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Jinggoy, Bong allowed to hold Christmas party while in detention

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has allowed Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. to hold a Christmas party at their detention facility inside Camp Crame, a radio report said Wednesday.

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Ecological group appeals to public: Conserve food at Xmas

With Christmas gatherings left and right in past weeks, an ecological group appealed to the public to conserve food.

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Rekindle goodness, DepEd chief asks teachers, students in Xmas message

As it feted them for overcoming threats this year, the Department of Education at Christmas urged teachers and students to "rekindle" the goodness amid the darkness of uncertainty.

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Look: Pinoys sleep on airport floor waiting for trips

On the last hours before Christmas Day, Filipinos went the extra mile to catch a last-minute trip to the provinces to be with their loved ones.

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PCSO: Lone bettor bags P32.685m Lotto 6/42 jackpot

A lotto bettor is now P32.685 million richer after bagging the jackpot of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office's Lotto 6/42 draw Tuesday night.

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UNA not longer looking at surveys for VP Binay’s vindication—Tiangco

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has ceased looking at surveys as a source of vindication for its presumptive standard bearer, Vice President Jejomar Binsay, amid the corruption controversies that have been hounding him in recent months.

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Bilibid inmates' transfer to NBI is legal, says DOJ Sec. de Lima

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday said on Tuesday there is nothing illegal in the transfer of 19 inmates from the New Bilibid Prisons to the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Manila.

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DOLE reminds employers of pay rules for Christmas, New Year

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday reminded employers to abide by the pay rules for Christmas and New Year.

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DOTC eyes suspending LRT-1 during papal visit - report

Citing security reasons, the Department of Transportation and Communications said it is inclined to suspend the trips of Light Rail Transit Line 1 during Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines in January.

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Napoles to Sandiganbayan: Order UCPB to submit Luy’s bank records

Detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the multi-billion peso pork barrel fund scam, has asked the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan to compel the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) to submit the bank records of Benhur Luy and the other whistleblowers.

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PHL now only 3rd deadliest for journos, CPJ says

While the Philippines has only one confirmed case of media killing in 2014, the country remains third deadliest place in the world for journalists to work, according to the international watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

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COA sees red flags in DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilya Program

The Aquino government’s flagship anti-poverty program suffers from a long list of problems, among them some P330 million in unpaid cash disbursements.

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Court grants Pemberton’s motion to suspend proceedings for two months

The Olongapo City court has granted US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton’s motion to suspend his trial, in a murder case that could test the strength of security ties between the Philippines and the United States.

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PNoy agrees to wind up Lacson’s duties as Yolanda rehab adviser

President Benigno Aquino III has “agreed in principle” to wind up Secretary Panfilo Lacson’s duties as presidential adviser on rehabilitation and recovery in areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

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Graft raps filed against ex-GOCC exec for unauthorized hires

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Tuesday approved the filing of graft charges against Danilo Crisologo, former president of Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation (PADC), a state-owned defense technology company, in connection with the unauthorized hiring of additional employees.

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PNP to cancel some trips this holiday season

The Philippine National Railways' Metro Commuter line will cancel some late trips on Christmas and New Year's Eves, and some early trips on Christmas and New Year's Days.

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2 more Bilibid inmates contest transfer to NBI headquarters

Two more convicts uprooted from the New Bilibid Prisons following a raid that exposed their VIP treatment have run to the Court of Appeals to contest their supposed illegal transfer from the national penitentiary.

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Grenade, firearms, drugs found under cemented bench at Bilibid – De Lima

The discovery of prohibited items and other contraband inside the New Bilibid Prison does not seem to stop.

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Lawyer in Laude case: Enough evidence for murder

Saying the Olongapo prosecutors had enough evidence to allege murder in the killing of Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, a lawyer for her family on Tuesday said they will oppose the appeal suspect Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton has filed before the Department of Justice.

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Mar can still catch up in pre-election presidential polls – Abad

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who is being groomed to be the administration’s standard-bearer in the 2016 polls, can still catch up in pre-election presidential surveys, Liberal Party (LP) stalwart and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Jr. said Tuesday.

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Sandiganbayan denies Dennis Cunanan’s motion to travel to US

After receiving favorable rulings from the two divisions of the Sandiganbayan, on-leave Technology Resource Center (TRC) director general Dennis Cunanan's planned month-long trip to the United States will still not push through.

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Solon wants Jan. 23 declared First Philippine Republic Day

A lawmaker from Bulacan wants January 23 of every year declared a special working holiday in the Philippines to commemorate the declaration of the the first Philippine Republic at the Barasoain Church.

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MMDA man dragged by SUV dies after days in a coma

The traffic constable who went into a coma after being dragged by the SUV of a motorist he tried to apprehend on Friday, died of his injuries on Tuesday afternoon.

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Lack of authority made Yolanda rehab work most difficult—Lacson

Even with 30 years as a law enforcer and 12 years as a lawmaker, outgoing presidential adviser for rehabilitation and reconstruction Secretary Panfilo Lacson finds the job he has held for less than a year the most difficult.

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Ombudsman to file raps vs. ex-MWSS exec over unliquidated funds

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the filing of charges against former Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) deputy administrator Cristeto Dinopol for allegedly failing to liquidate funds amounting to P26,652.

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VP Binay hopes worst of corruption allegations is over

Hounded by corruption allegations, Vice President Jejomar Binay is looking at 2015 with hopes that the worst is over, but still not that optimistic.

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No work in NCR on Jan. 15, 16 and 19 due to papal visit –Palace

Malacañang has declared Jan 15, 16 and 19, 2015 as special non-working days in Metro Manila due to Pope Francis' visit.

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DOH: 6 children injured by firecrackers so far

More than a week ahead of the New Year's Eve revelry, the Department of Health has reported that six children have been injured by firecrakcers since the department and select public and private hospitals started the annual 16-day anti-firecracker campaign last Sunday.

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AFP to be on alert during CPP anniversary

The Armed Forces of the Philippines will be on alert right after Christmas as the Communist Party of the Philippines (AFP) commemorates its 46th anniversary.

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16 passed Technical Evaluation for the Upgrading as Professional Electrical Engineers

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Tuesday announced that 16 passed the Technical Evaluation for the Upgrading as Professional Electrical Engineers given this month.

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US cautions nationals worldwide vs Sydney lone wolf attack

United States nationals in the Philippines and around the world were warned this week against a possible repeat of the so-called lone wolf attack in Sydney, Australia last Dec. 15.

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Gloria Arroyo convoy leaves VMMC

A convoy bearing former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City at 10:17 a.m., radio dzBB reported.

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PNoy signs 2015 national budget redefining savings in wake of DAP ruling

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday signed the P2.606-trillion national budget, which contained a modified definition of savings after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled the administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as partly unconstitutional.

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NLEX asks motorists: Bring exact change for toll

With the holiday exodus expected to peak this week, the North Luzon Expressway advised motorists on Monday to bring exact change for their toll.

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No more special holding areas for convicts removed from NBP

The 20 convicts who were removed from the New Bilibid Prison after a raid by the Department of Justice will be detained in common holding areas together with other inmates upon their return to the national penitentiary, the new NBP superintendent said on Monday.

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