CHR calls for accountability in Mamasapano clash, recalls Al-Barka incident in 2011

The Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday called on the government to make accountable those who may have committed operational lapses when almost 400 members of the PNP-Special Action Force went to Mamasapano town to arrest two suspected terrorists over the weekend.

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Kin of slain Muslim cops in Mamasapano clash rush to bury loved ones

The bodies of two Muslim members of PNP-Special Action Force that perished in the Mamasapano "misencounter" have been transported to Zamboanga for immediate burial.

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Suspected Mexican cartel leader claims being framed up by PNP, PDEA

Suspected Mexican drug cartel leader Horacio Hernandez Herrera on Tuesday denied the allegations against him, claiming that he was framed up by the agents of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force (PNP-AIDSOTF) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

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Lay of the land added to PNP-SAF's woes in Mamasapano clash

While the lack of coordination is being blamed for the "misencounter" that resulted in the deaths of more than 40 policemen in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Sunday, several military commanders interviewed by GMA News said the unpredictable terrain at the encounter site also contributed to the higher number of casualties.

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PHL looked into bomb threat versus Pope Francis—DILG

The Philippines investigated a report that a Malaysian suicide bomber was planning to try to kill Pope Francis during the pontiff's visit to Manila this month, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas said Tuesday.

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BIFF denies brutality in killing of cops in Mamasapano clash

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) denied that brutality marked the killing of members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) during the bloody encounter in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao this past weekend.

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Only Roxas, Espina may give updates on Mamasapano clash—PNP spokesman

All questions pertaining to the tragic "misencounter" between the PNP-Special Action Force and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters will have to be referred to top officials Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director-General Leonardo Espina, the PNP spokesman said on Tuesday.

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DILG, AFP yet to explain presence of foreigners in Mamasapano aftermath

Both the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have yet to fully explain the presence of foreigners in Maguindanao in the aftermath of the Mamasapano clash between the PNP-Special Action Force and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters over the weekend.

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‘BIFF member’ answers cellphone of cop killed in Mamasapano clash

A man claiming to be a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters answered the mobile phone of one of the policemen killed in the Mamapasano clash over the weekend, GMA News' "24 Oras" reported on Tuesday.

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Peso rally extends to tenth straight day

The peso extended its rally for the 10th consecutive session on Tuesday, bolstered by the stock market's climb to new highs and the optimism on the Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter.

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Alphaland sues ex-Makati Vice Mayor for P100-M over kickback allegations

Alphaland Corp. on Tuesday filed a P100-million suit against former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado for claiming that Vice President Jejomar Binay earned P200 million in kickbacks from a land deal between Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) and the property developer.

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Magdalo solons want MILF to surrender rebels in Mamasapano clash

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front should turn in their members involved in the clash with the elite Philipppine National Police-Special Action Force and surrender the firearms and gadgets they had seized from the elite cops to prove their sincerity in pursuing the peace process, two former soldiers now in Congress said on Tuesday.

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PNP top brass unaware of Mamasapano operation—Roxas

The national leadership of the Philippine National Police was unaware when almost 400 policemen swooped down on Mamasapano, Maguindanao over the weekend to arrest suspected Jemaah Islamiya bomb maker Zulkifli Bin Hir and Abu Sayyaf member Abdul Bassit Usman.

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Will I see the sun while in Senate detention? Junjun Binay wants to know

Will Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. be able to see the sun when he is detained in the Senate?

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Canada saddened by bloody Mamasapano encounter

Canada’s top envoy to the Philippines on Tuesday said his government is saddened by the bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao between the PNP-Special Action Force and Moro Islamic Liberation Front which left at least 44 government forces dead.

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Alan Peter Cayetano blames MILF for killing BBL

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday blamed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for "killing" the Bangsamoro Basic Law due to its alleged lack of commitment to peace, development, and rule of law.

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IBP tells De Lima of rich inmates’ rights

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Tuesday reminded Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to observe the visitation rights of high-profile inmates recently transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) compound.

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PHL pays respects to late Saudi King Abdullah

Representatives of the Philippine government on Monday paid their respects to the late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Royal Court in Riyadh.

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Coordination, not permission, needed to enter MILF areas—govt peace panel chair

The Philippine government does not need to ask permission from Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to execute law enforcement operations under the decade-old ceasefire protocol between the two parties, according to the government's chief peace negotiator.

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Flags to be lowered to half-mast to mourn fallen policemen —AFP chief

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Catapang, Jr. directed the commanders of all military installations in the country to lower their flags to half-mast effective immediately to pay respect to the Special Action Force (SAF) officers killed Sunday in a clash in Maguindanao.

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Akbayan solon: Congress may be running out of time to amend EPIRA

There might not be enough time for Congress to repeal or amend Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001 because of the months it spent deliberating on President Benigno Aquino III’s request for emergency powers, which is still in limbo in the Senate.

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DOJ junks Pemberton’s plea to dismiss murder case

The Department of Justice has dismissed the plea of US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton to dismiss the murder case against him for the alleged killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude in Olongapo City last year.

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PNP-SAF chief relieved after Mamasapano ‘misencounter’

The head of the elite PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) has been relieved following the bloody 'misencounter' between government forces and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Mamasapano, Maguindanao over the weekend.

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Highest honors being prepared for Mamasapano casualties of PNP-SAF

The Philippine National Police is mourning the death of at least 43 Special Action Force members who perished in what officials called "a misencounter" with Moro Islamic Liberation Front members in Mamasapano, Maguindanao over the weekend.

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Sister of slain SAF officer hurt, upset with govt over Mamasapano clash

Relatives and colleagues of the 43 police officers killed in what authorities call a misencounter with are now deep in mourning for their loved ones and comrades.

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PHL condemns apparent murder of Japanese hostage by Islamic State militants

The Philippines on Monday condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the apparent brutal murder of a Japanese hostage by Islamic State militants, a killing that Japan has already called "outrageous and unforgivable".

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Sandiganbayan denies Estrada’s request to fix bail

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Monday denied detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s Motion to Fix Bail, calling it premature.

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PNP: 43 cops dead, 1 missing in Mamasapano ‘misencounter’

At least 43 police officers belonging to the elite group Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police were confirmed dead from an 11-hour firefight with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Sunday, PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said.

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Maguindanao clash sets back Bangsamoro bill discussions – House panel chair

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Maguindanao clash shouldn’t derail peace process with MILF – Palace

The deadly clash in Maguindanao involving the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) should not derail the peace process with Moro rebels, Malacañang said Monday.

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Camp preparing to question arrest order vs. Junjun Binay

Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco said the opposition supported Makati Mayor Junjun Binay's decision to surrender to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee but added that the Binay camp was also studying legal remedies to nullify the arrest order.

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Nancy Binay sad for Junjun’s already mother-less kids

Teary-eyed Senator Nancy Binay expressed concern Monday on what would happen to the four children of her brother Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr once he is detained at the Senate after being cited in contempt for continued refusal to attend hearings.

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MILF official on Maguindanao clash: It was self-defense

The attack launched by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) against elements of the PNP-Special Action Force in Maguindanao over the weekend was "self-defense" on their part, the Moro group's chief peace negotiator said Monday.

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Junjun Binay says he’s ready to be detained by Senate panel

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr on Monday expressed readiness to turn himself in to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee as a consequence of his continued refusal to attend the hearings of the Senate subcommittee on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II and other alleged anomalies.

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29 bodies from Maguindanao clash site brought to AFP camp

At least 29 bodies of elite police officers who were killed in a clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have been brought to the military headquarters at Camp Siongco in Maguindanao.

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Ad hoc panel suspends discussions on BBL provisions following PNP-MILF clash

The ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) has decided to suspend the discussions on the measure’s provisions pertaining to national defense and public order following the clash involving suspected members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Philippine National Police (PNP), which has left at least 30 elite policemen dead.

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Senate committee cites Junjun Binay, 5 others for contempt, orders arrest

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Monday ordered the citing in contempt and arrest of Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay Jr. and five other personalities for their continued refusal to attend the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II and other alleged anomalies despite the issuance of subpoenas and show cause orders.

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Tension eases at clash site in Mamapasano town—AFP

Tension in Mamasapano town started to subside a day after a dawn to dusk firefight between the police and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Sunday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has said.

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JI leader Marwan believed dead in Mamasapano clash

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the military is now confirming reports that Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir also known as Commander Marwan was killed in a day-long firefight between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao on Sunday.

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Ex-SC Justice: Bangsamoro territory will reduce PHL govt sovereignty

The establishment of the Bangsamoro territory will reduce the sovereignty of the Philippine government, a former Supreme Court justice said Monday.

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PNP-MILF clash shows challenges to peace process – govt panel chief

The deadly clash between elements of the PNP-Special Action Force and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Maguindanao on Sunday showed "security challenges" to the peace process with Moro rebels, the government's peace panel chair admitted Monday.

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Bongbong condemns MILF violence vs. PNP in Maguindanao, suspends BBL hearings

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday condemned the use of violence by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front against forces of the Philippine National Police who were on the trail of suspected terrorists on Sunday. Marcos, chair of the Senate committee on local government, announced he is suspending discussions and hearings related to the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

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CBCP youth commision official calls for more classrooms, teachers

With the school year drawing to a close, a Catholic priest is urging government to formulate concrete plans to improve the quality of education of the Filipino youth - starting with more classrooms.

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CBCP chief: Keep papal visit spirit alive even if euphoria wanes

As the euphoria over Pope Francis' recently concluded Philippine visit begins to wane, the head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines asked the faithful to keep the spirit of the visit alive.

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MIAA: At least 6 flights canceled due to bad weather

At least six domestic flights were canceled as of Sunday afternoon due to bad weather, the Manila International Airport Authority said.

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PNoy arrives in Zamboanga City in wake of blast that left 2 people dead

President Benigno Aquino III arrived Sunday in Zamboanga City to check the security there after the deadly car blast last friday that left two people dead and hurt 52 others. According to a report on dzBB radio, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman were with the President upon arrival at 10:30 a.m. in the city.

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Yellow flowers adorn Cory tomb on birth anniversary

Yellow flowers on Sunday adorned the tomb of former President Corazon Aquino on what would have been her 82nd birthday.

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DepEd issues guidelines on respecting indigenous culture

The Department of Education has issued guidelines on activities and materials involving indigenous peoples' culture.

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PHLPost: Papal visit commemorative stamps available online

Citing high demand, the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) is making available online the commemorative stamps of Pope Francis' recently concluded visit to the Philippines.

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CBCP eyes reading materials on Pope Francis’ messages during PHL visit

To make sure the faithful remember Pope Francis' messages during his visit to the Philippines, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines is eyeing distributing reading materials containing such messages.

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