Air Force: All systems go for Pope’s arrival

It's all systems go for the arrival of Pope Francis at Villamor Air Base, the Philippine Air Force said Thursday morning.

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Canada advises nationals in PHL on large crowds, traffic disruptions during papal visit

Canada on Wednesday advised its nationals in the Philippines to expect large crowds and traffic and flight schedule disruptions during Pope Francis' five-day visit.

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POEA offers online services for recruiters, manning firms

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration now offers online services for recruiters and manning agencies, to speed up the deployment overseas Filipino workers abroad.

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Catholic faithful start flocking to Nunciature to wait for pope

More than 12 hours before Pope Francis arrives in the Philippines for his five-day visit, Filipinos started flocking to the Apostolic Nunciature to wait for him.

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Roads around Nunciature closed for papal visit

Roads around the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila were closed at midnight Wednesday in time for Pope Francis' five-day visit to the Philippines.

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UNA asks: Who paid for Alan Peter Cayetano's TV ads?

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) again asked Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday to reveal who paid for his television ads after a Taguig City official criticized UNA interim president and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco for claiming local government funds were spent for the commercials.

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PHL Navy, Coast Guard secure Leyte Gulf, nearby waters for papal visit

Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard vessels were on patrol Wednesday to secure Leyte Gulf and coastal areas in Samar and Leyte, in time for Pope Francis' visit there Saturday.

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Sandiganbayan orders end to Enrile pre-trial proceedings

The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Wednesday officially ordered the termination of the pretrial proceedings in the plunder and graft charges of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and his co-accused.

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IN PHOTOS: Kara David covers Pope Francis from Rome to Sri Lanka

As the Philippines enthusiastically prepares to welcome Pope Francis, the wait is over for Sri Lanka. Thousands of devotees greeted the Pope as he set foot in the first stop of his Asian journey this year.

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People counters installed at Quirino Grandstand grounds

At least 90 units of people counter gadgets, those used to determine the number of people in a specific area were installed in Luneta, a report from GMA's “24-Oras” program said Wednesday.

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Leyte residents eager to see Pope despite threat of rain—solon

The possibility of rains affecting Visayas over the weekend has not dampened the spirits of Leyteños who are more than eager to welcome Pope Francis, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said.

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Tacloban residents can’t watch Pope from second-floor windows, balconies

Authorities in Tacloban City have banned residents from watching Pope Francis' 10-kilometer motorcade from their homes' second floor windows and balconies, GMA News' “24-Oras” reported on Wednesday.

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Lack of clergymen, churches hounds Catholicism in PHL –Archbishop Cruz

According to Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, the Catholic Church in the Philippines has gone way below the ideal 1:2,000 priest-faithful ratio, with one priest leading 20,000 people.

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As rains threaten Leyte, organizers prepare Plan B for Pope Francis

Amid expected heavy rains over Leyte on Saturday, organizers of Pope Francis’ trip to Tacloban City and Palo town are looking at a Plan B that will have the pontiff staying in either Cebu or Samar before proceeding to the Yolanda-stricken areas to hold mass and break bread with survivors.

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LIVE TRACKER: Where is Pope Francis right now?

To help people follow Pope Francis on his travels through the country, GMA News Online will be regularly updating his current location on the following map based on in-house field reports.

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Congress urged to heed Charter framers’ call to pass Bangsamoro law

Congress leaders should heed the call from framers of the 1987 Constitution to set aside politics and immediately pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), President Benigno Aquino III’s peace adviser said Wednesday.

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Pope well-wishers advised: Keep balloons, confetti, tarps away from power lines

Well-wishers lining the streets to get a glimpse of Pope Francis should make sure to keep items like balloons, confetti and tarpaulins away from power lines.

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Comelec reminder: Voter registration in NCR to push through during papal visit

Voter registration and validation in Metro Manila will continue this week during the visit of Pope Francis, the Commission on Elections said Wednesday.

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Recto, prominent personalities asked to speak out vs. hazing

The father of 18-year-old hazing victim Guillo Cesar Servando on Wednesday asked Senator Ralph Recto and other prominent personalities to speak out against hazing, perhaps in a television ad.

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Andal Jr. fails to send Dureza, Devanadera to witness stand

Massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. has failed to convince a Quezon City court to summon former presidential adviser on Mindanao affairs Jesus Dureza and former Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera to testify in the five-year-old murder trial.

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Archbishop: Pope wants to 'simplify, shorten' Catholic marriage nullity process

Pope Francis wants to make a process of seeking the declaration of nullity of Catholic marriage simpler and quicker, Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz said in an interview Wednesday.

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No smoking during papal events –Roxas

There will be no designated areas for smokers during the public events of Pope Francis during his five-day visit to the Philippines.

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'Dangerous levels of lead' found in some Pope Francis souvenir items

An ecological group on Wednesday warned against some souvenir items for Pope Francis' visit containing "dangerous levels of lead."

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Palace ready to take criticisms from Pope Francis

Malacañang on Wednesday said it is ready to listen to Pope Francis’ message during his Philippine visit, even if it will include criticisms against the government.

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If we were able to secure Obama, we can secure the Pope –Roxas

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas on Wednesday assured the public of their and Pope Francis' safety when the pontiff visits the Philippines for five days, or from January 15 to 19.

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US Embassy in Manila closed Jan. 16, 19

Some embassies in Manila will be closed on some days of Pope Francis' five-day visit to the Philippines.

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Pia Cayetano: PNoy vetoed budget provision allowing cultural agencies to retain income

President Benigno Aquino III has vetoed items in the 2015 national budget which would allow government cultural agencies to fully retain their income, Senator Pia Cayetano said Wednesday.

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Cardinal Tagle expects Pope to talk on poverty and inequality in PHL

Messages on the "daily disaster" of poverty and inequality will be among the things Filipinos await from Pope Francis during his five-day visit in the Philippines, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said Wednesday.

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SC upholds ban on live coverage of Maguindanao massacre trial

The Supreme Court has upheld its earlier ruling barring radio and television coverage of the five-year-old Maguindanao multiple murder trial.

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SC junks Bilibid inmates’ amparo, habeas data pleas

The Supreme Court has denied the requests seeking the issuance of a writ of amparo for two high-profile convicts taken out of the New Bilibid Prison after a series of surprise raids by authorities last December.

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BI installs new passport readers, equipment at NAIA for visitors

The Bureau of Immigration has installed 171 passport readers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for visitors in 2015, including those coming for major events this year.

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AFP Medical Center head reinstated

The head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (AFPMC) has been reinstatement, months after being relieved from his post over an alleged anomalous procurement of medical supplies worth P80 million.

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Epal tarps? More ‘welcome’ tarpaulins mushroom as papal arrival nears

With just a day before Pope Francis arrives, posters and tarpaulins bearing names and even images of politicians continued to surface.

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Aquino inspects Pope Francis arrival dry run

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday night personally inspected the dry run of the convoy that would secure Pope Francis upon his arrival in the Philippines on Jan. 15.

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SWS: 72% of Pinoys have 'much trust' in Pope Francis

When he arrives in the Philippines on Thursday, Pope Francis would be glad to know he enjoys "much trust" from a little over seven out of 10 Filipinos, according to a survey conducted Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 by pollster Social Weather Stations.

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GMA News coverage of Pope Francis visit to screen live at malls, buses and on Mercury Quiapo video wall

GMA News has partnered with various malls and establishments nationwide to present the special coverage of Pope Francis' visit from January 15 to 19.

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CBCP chief urges Pinoys to line the streets to welcome Pope Francis

The head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on Tuesday night urged Filipinos to line the streets to welcome Pope Francis.

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CAAP grounds flying schools Jan. 15 to 19

Flying schools' aircraft will be grounded during Pope Francis' visit, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said Tuesday.

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Church leaders, cops on lookout for fake priests as Pope’s visit nears

Not all priests are vested equally and some of them may be assassins in disguise, church officials and policemen warned on GMA 7's "24 Oras" Tuesday.

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Pope Francis’ Volkswagen SUV: Simple, sturdy, safe

During instances when Pope Francis will not be using the popemobiles in a motorcade, he will be riding in a German SUV—one without tint and in which he would still be quite visible to the faithful while seated in the backseat.

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MMDA to implement 5-day truck holiday during papal visit - PNA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will implement a five-day truck ban in the metropolis during the visit of Pope Francis, state-run Philippines News Agency reported Tuesday.

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COA finds misuse of P110-M DOJ compensation fund

The Commission on Audit has taken to task the Department of Justice for failing to remit back to the National Treasury some P110 million in funds meant for the Victims' Compensation Fund. The DOJ has also failed to utilize the money to actually compensate its intended beneficiaries, the COA added.

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Drug raps filed vs. Bilibid inmate that yielded 11 grams of shabu

The National Bureau of Investigation has filed drug-related charges against one of the 19 high-profile inmates removed from the New Bilibid Prison and transferred to Manila.

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Solon hopes Pope Francis will convince PHL govt to resume talks with NDF

A lawmaker hopes Pope Francis will help convince the government to resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) and iron out any lingering issues with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during his visit to the Philippines.

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Ona: There are better qualified people to head the DOH than Garin

As far as former Health secretary Enrique Ona is concerned, there are individuals who are more qualified to head the Department of Health than Janette Garin.

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Manny Pacquiao, Jules Ledesma most absent congressmen in 2014

With a total attendance record of seven session days, Manny Pacquiao and Julio Ledesma IV are tied as the lawmakers with the most number of absences in the lower chamber.

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AFP to airlift Pope Francis from Tacloban to Palo if motorcade disrupted

If an emergency arises, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is prepared to airlift Pope Francis from Tacloban City to Palo town when he visits Leyte Saturday.

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Australia, UK nationals in PHL advised: Prepare for large crowd, traffic during papal visit

Prepare for large crowds and possible disruptions in traffic and business this week, during Pope Francis' five-day visit to the Philippines.

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Joma Sison thumbs down ex-AFP chief Bautista as govt peace negotiator

The government's supposed plan to designate former Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista as its chief negotiator with the communist rebels does not sit well with Jose Ma. Sison, the communist party's chairman.

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FULL TEXT: Pope Francis’ arrival speech in Sri Lanka

Pope Francis arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Tuesday, January 13, for the first stop in his week-long, two-country Asian tour that will also bring him to the Philippines. He delivered a speech in English calling on Sri Lanka to uncover the truth of what happened during its bloody civil war as part of a healing process between religious communities. Here is the full text of that speech.

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