2015 can be extraordinary, CBCP head says in New Year message

While Pope Francis' upcoming visit promises a momentous start for the year, the rest of 2015 can be extraordinary for Filipinos as well, the head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said Saturday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace hopes for positive outcome from meeting over delayed, canceled flights

Malacañang is hoping something positive will come out of a meeting on Monday that will take up complaints of canceled or delayed flights against at least one airline.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace: PNoy to spend New Year with family

President Benigno Aquino III will likely follow a family tradition and spend the New Year with his relatives, Malacañang said Saturday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace: No plan at this time for a fact-finding body on Bilibid ‘anomalies’

At least for now, there is no plan by Malacañang to form a fact-finding body that will look into alleged anomalies inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace: PHL prepares for big events in 2015 before int’l community

The Philippines continues to prepare for at least two major events that will put international focus on the Philippines in 2015, Malacañang said Saturday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

US to boost PHL labor inspection capacity with $1M grant

Philippine workers stand to benefit from a $1-million technical assistance grant from the United States to boost the Philippine government's labor inspection capacity.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Atty. Samson Alcantara, 2013 senatorial candidate, dies

Atty. Samson Alcantara, a law professor at the University of Santo Tomas and candidate for senator in the 2013 elections, died Friday afternoon.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Two soldiers freed by NPA now at military camp

Following their release by the New People's Army, two soldiers were brought to a military facility for medical examination.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PNP warns: Some banned fireworks contain animal, human feces

Animal and human feces were found in some of the fireworks banned by the Philippine National Police, GMA News TV's "QRT" reported on Friday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

WATCH: DOH ready to treat firecracker injuries but...

We can treat injuries caused by fireworks, but we can't restore futures broken by them.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Filipino Muslim leader backs Pope Francis' call for peace

A Filipino Muslim leader this week urged Filipinos to set aside religious affiliations and give all-out support to Pope Francis, especially in his advocacy for global peace through interreligious dialogue.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

DSWD chief Soliman won't resign over COA findings

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said Friday that she will not quit her post over adverse findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) on her agency.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

US Embassy online appointments down for maintenance on Dec. 29 and 30

Those wanting to set up a visa-related appointment with the United States Embassy via the Internet may not be able to do so this coming week.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PNP willing to participate in Sotto’s fact-finding committee for Bilibid anomalies

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is willing to lend a hand when the suggestion of Sen. Vicente Sotto III for a third party fact-finding committee to investigate the anomalies in New Bilibid Prison (NBP) materializes.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Gloria Arroyo returns to VMMC after Christmas furlough

Former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo on Friday afternoon returned to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City as her Christmas furlough ended.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

DSWD: Sendong survivors given proper housing despite delays

Survivors of Tropical Storm Sendong (Washi) in northern Mindanao were given proper housing despite delays primarily caused by difficulties in securing land for relocation sites, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said Friday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

DSWD: Bulk of unaccounted DAP funds in COA report already liquidated

Most of the P1.8 billion from the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) allocated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that were reported unaccounted for by the Commission on Audit (COA) had already been liquidated, Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said Friday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

DOH: 73 injured due to fireworks incidents, lower than same period last year

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said 73 persons have been injured by firework-related incidents across the country since the agency officially started last December 21 its annual monitoring of casualties caused by igniting firecrackers.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

DSWD: Missing CCT beneficiaries in COA report all accounted for

Over 364,000 beneficiaries of the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program that the Commission on Audit (COA) reported to have been missing in database entries are all accounted for, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Friday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Andrea Rosal seeks Pope Francis’ intercession for release

Suspected communist leader Andrea Rosal has ought Pope Francis' intercession for her release from detention, a militant rights group said Friday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Sen. Sotto: Form fact-finding committee to probe Bilibid anomalies

Senator Tito Sotto urged President Benigno Aquino III to form a fact-finding committee to investigate the rampant anomalies inside the New Bilibid Prison, a report on GMA News TV's News to Go said on Friday.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

No selfie with Gloria Arroyo this Christmas

Unless you are a relative of former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, you won't be able to have a Christmas selfie with her at her home in La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PNP issues tips vs. criminals posing as taxi drivers

With the yearend shopping season not quite over, the Philippine National Police issued tips against criminals posing as taxi drivers.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PNP: 11 indisciminate firing incidents from Dec. 16 to 25

The Philippine National Police has intensified its efforts against indiscriminate firing with just one more week to go before the New Year revelry.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Seizure of artworks illegal, Imelda Marcos insists

Former First Lady Imelda Marcos, now Ilocos Norte representative, expressed on Christmas Day her disappointment with the government for siezing her family's art collection last September.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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).

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

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.

Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation