PNoy wants Poe to be Roxas’ VP – Osmeña

President Benigno Aquino wants Senator Grace Poe to run as Interior Secretary Mar Roxas’ running mate in 2016, a senator said Thursday.

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

INFOGRAPHIC: Gentle reminders for Pope Francis' visit

With high anticipation for Pope Francis' upcoming trip to the Philippines, organizers issued a set of "gentle reminders" for those partaking in Papal Visit activities from January 15 to 19.

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

Palace: Bilibid explosion perpetrators to be held liable

Perpetrators of the explosion inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) which killed an inmate earlier in the day will be held liable, Malacañang said Thursday.

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

PNoy won’t suspend MRT, LRT fare hikes – Palace

President Benigno Aquino III is unlikely to heed Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s appeal to suspend fare hikes on the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT), a Malacañang spokesman said Thursday.

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

Trial sought for proponents of controversial anti-dengue drug

Proponents of and researchers connected with the clinical trials of an experimental but controversial anti-dengue drug must face trial for their alleged unethical acts against children, a Filipino doctor involved in medical science research ethics said Thursday.

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

PNoy won’t ask Alcala to explain alleged link to garlic cartel – Palace

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala may have been tagged both in the pork barrel and garlic cartel controversies, but he is not about to receive the same treatment given by President Benigno Aquino III to resigned Health chief Enrique Ona.

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

Palace vows to prosecute killer of Bataan reporter

Malacañang on Thursday assured that tabloid reporter Nerlita 'Nerlie' Ledesma’s killer will be hunted down and prosecuted.

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

Senators to honor ‘no epal’ appeal during papal visit

At least two senators vowed to honor Philippine Catholic bishops' “no politicians” appeal during Pope Francis' five-day visit to the country next week.

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

Lessons from past papal visits, Wowowee stampede to be applied during Pope’s PHL trip

The government is looking at past events that drew a huge number of Filipinos – including previous papal visits and even the “Wowowee” stampede in 2006 – to come up with the best way to manage the crowd expected during Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to the Philippines.

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

No bags, backpacks, umbrellas during Pope’s Luneta Mass –Palace

Keep calm, and leave your bags, backpacks and umbrellas behind. Malacañang on Thursday gave this advice to Filipinos planning to attend Pope Francis’ Mass at the Luneta Park on January 18, the fourth day of the pontiff's five-day state and apostolic visit to the country.

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

Pope Francis practicing English speeches for PHL visit, Vatican says

Pope Francis has been honing his English speaking skills for his upcoming visit to the Philippines on January 15 to 19, the Vatican said on Wednesday.

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

Senate to start tackling constitutional issues surrounding BBL

The Senate is set to start this month the discussion on the constitutional issues surrounding the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, parallel to hearings to be held in Mindanao, to expedite the approval of the bill before Congress adjourns its sessions in March.

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

Sandigan ‘sekyu’ denies soliciting from Napoles lawyer

The Sandiganbayan security guard accused of soliciting money from the lawyer of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles has denied the allegation, saying it came from individuals with sinister intentions.

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

Bilibid exec sacked for interfering in confiscation of prohibited items

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has dismissed a New Bilibid Prison official for interfering with the Bureau of Corrections' confiscation of prohibited items inside a "kubol" at the national penitentiary last year.

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

DOTC chief Abaya skips House hearing on MRT, LRT fare hikes

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya was a no-show at the House transportation committee’s hearing Thursday on the fare increase for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT).

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

PNoy not quite satisfied with papal visit security

Government agencies may spend the next few days fine-tuning security arrangements for Pope Francis' five-day visit to the Philippines next week.

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

PHL condemns attacks in Paris

The Philippine government on Thursday joined worldwide condemnation against an attack by gunmen on the offices of French magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris.

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

PNP to go on full alert Jan. 12 for papal visit

The Philippine National Police will go on full alert on Jan. 12, Monday, in time for the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines.

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

Black Nazarene image brought to Quirino Grandstand

The Quiapo Church's image of the Black Nazarene was brought to the Quirino Grandstand in Manila before dawn Thursday for the yearly Pahalik and vigil.

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

Ona insists nothing wrong with anti-dengue ActRx TriAct clinical trials

Former Health Secretary Enrique Ona on Wednesday insisted that there was nothing wrong with the controversial anti-dengue drug clinical trials.

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

Outgoing Comelec chair likely to help Grace Poe if she runs in 2016

Outgoing Commission on Elections chair Sixto Brillanes has said that he would likely help Sen. Grace Poe if she decides to run for higher office in 2016.

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

UNA: Trillanes accusing Binay of Pag-IBIG graft to set up VP’s impeachment

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has accused Senator Antonio Trillanes IV of laying the groundwork for Vice President Jejomar Binay’s impeachment by implicating him in alleged anomalies in the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund).

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

MRT-LRT petitions raffled off, CJ Sereno awaits word from assigned justice

The Supreme Court has already assigned a justice to handle the first batch of petitions contesting the rate fare hike in the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit.

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

CAAP to strictly implement drone ban in papal visit venues

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will strictly implement its “no drone policy” during the papal visit with fines ranging from P300,000 to P500,000, a report from GMA's “24-Oras” said Wednesday.

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

Former Corona spokesperson is VP Binay’s next

One of impeached former Chief Justice Renato Corona's spokespersons will soon be speaking for Vice President Jejomar Binay, the official's camp said on Wednesday.

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

New DOTC tool vs. colorum vehicles: Yellow license plates

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on Wednesday launched new yellow license plates as part of its efforts to eliminate colorum vehicles.

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

DFA launches digital pamphlet about West PHL Sea

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released on Wednesday a digital pamphlet about the West Philippine Sea as an "accessible and comprehensible" resource material on the contested area.

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

Another petition vs 2015 budget filed with SC

Another petition has been filed with the Supreme Court seeking to declare as unconstitutional the P2.606-trillion national budget approved by President Benigno Aquino III last month.

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

DOJ: Manila court junks drug convict’s plea vs. transfer

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday said a Manila court has junked a plea from a Bilibid inmate contesting his transfer to the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Manila.

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

De Lima ready to face raps over Bilibid inmates’ transfer

Despite being sued before a commission she once headed, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima maintains there was nothing illegal in the transfer of 19 high-profile New Bilibid Prison inmates to the National Bureau of Investigation compound.

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

Solon wants to hike P200 fine for indiscriminate firing

A former police official and incumbent lawmaker wants to increase the P200 fine for indiscriminate firing to discourage owners from firing their guns for no acceptable reason.

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

Palace considers Bilibid raids ‘effective’ despite NBI security breach

Although high-profile inmates still managed to smuggle money after being transferred to new detention cells, Malacañang on Wednesday said the raids in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) can still be considered “effective.”

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

Jinggoy insists on need to post bail

Detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday urged the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division to grant his earlier motion to set a fix amount for his temporary freedom, despite the ongoing hearing of his bail petition.

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

House to probe PNP’s ability to trace indiscriminate firing cases

Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said the PNP’s ability to go after perpetrators of indiscriminate firing and other gun-related crimes has been limited because only two Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) have been bought for the crime laboratory.

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

Cayetano: ‘I still dream of changing the country’

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano still has his eyes on the presidency despite his low ranking in some surveys.

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

CA upholds Celdran’s conviction for ‘offending religious feelings’

The Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Manila tour guide and reproductive health advocate Carlos Celdran for "offending religious feelings" when he disrupted an ecumenical service at the Manila Cathedral in September 2010 to protest the Catholic Church's opposition to the then Reproductive Health Bill.

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

CA upholds Celdran’s conviction for ‘offending religious feelings’

The Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Manila tour guide and reproductive health advocate Carlos Celdran for "offending religious feelings" when he disrupted an ecumenical service at the Manila Cathedral in September 2010 to protest the Catholic Church's opposition to the then Reproductive Health Bill.

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

DOTC execs should resign if they fail to fully explain MRT, LRT fare hikes –Cayetano

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday said transportation and other concerned government officials should resign if they fail to fully explain the recently implemented fare increases on the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit.

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

Palace on rise in HIV cases: Some just don’t follow safe way of doing it

After health officials reported more cases of Filipinos with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Malacañang on Wednesday maintained that the government did not let up in the fight against the virus that may progress to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

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

Solons demand P6B refund from Manila Water, Maynilad before hiking rates

Manila Water and Maynilad should first refund their customers the more than P6 billion collected for unimplemented water projects before hiking fees, Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate said Wednesday.

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

NDRRMC: Seniang death toll goes up further to 65

The death toll from Tropical Storm Seniang went up further to 65 as of Wednesday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

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

Little Swiss Guards to welcome Pope Francis at Manila Cathedral

Several young boys dressed as Swiss Guards will welcome Pope Francis when he arrives at the Manila Cathedral next Friday to celebrate mass.

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

P600B needed for AFP modernization —Defense Usec.

A Defense official on Wednesday disclosed that the military needs at least P600 billion for the modernization of the country's armed forces.

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

PNoy sees 2015 as chance to showcase PHL on world stage

For President Benigno Aquino III, 2015 is a “pivotal” year for the Philippines, as the government would have a chance to project the country in the international arena, while preparing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation-World Leaders’ Summit in November.

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

Pinoys’ faith caught Pope’s attention even before Yolanda, says Jesuit researcher

The Filipinos' Catholic faith may have drawn Pope Francis to visit the country even before the Bohol earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda, a seminarian researching on his life said Wednesday.

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

Solon wants police to stop naming criminal gangs after towns, ethnic groups

A lawmaker wants to put an end to police authorities’ practice of naming criminal gangs after their hometown or ethnic community, saying the reputation of innocent townsfolk shouldn’t be soiled just because of the sins committed by a few.

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

NDRRMC: Storm Seniang death toll up to 57; missing boy found alive

The death toll from Tropical Storm Seniang rose to 57 as of Tuesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

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

Pope Francis wanted to meet Yolanda survivors as soon as he could

Pope Francis was originally scheduled to visit the Philippines in January 2016 instead of this month, but the devastation supertyphoon Yolanda left changed that. "Lagi niyang sinubaybayan yung paguunlad ng rehabilitation process ng Yolanda-affected areas. Naramdaman niya bilang pastor na kailangan siyang lumapit sa mga tao,” said Fr. Luciano Felloni, who had then Fr. Jorge Bergoglio as priest-confesor.

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

Miriam Santiago still has most number of bills and resolutions filed

Despite her failure to attend most of the Senate sessions and hearings due to her battle with lung cancer, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago was able to file the most number of bills and resolutions among her colleagues.

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

Trillanes: Agencies probing VP Binay for graft in housing projects

Government agencies are investigating Vice President Jejomar Binay of unduly making money from the government's housing projects, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has said.

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