POLL: Which Mamasapano hearing are you more interested to follow?

Both chambers of the Philippine Congress are currently conducting hearings on the Mamasapano clash, which claimed the lives of 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force. Which Mamasapano hearing are you more interested to follow?

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Arguing among lawmakers delays questioning at House hearing on Mamasapano

With so many lawmakers present at the House of Representatives’ first hearing on the Mamasapano clash, legislators argued among themselves on when to quiz the resource persons because there was just so little time on their hands.

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Emotional Espina decries 'overkill' of SAF men, seeks clear answers from MILF

Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Director General Leonardo Espina on Wednesday became emotional over the "overkill" of the 44 Special Action Force troopers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

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De Lima: Video of alleged SAF shot at close range could be evidence

A video purportedly of one of the 44 elite policemen being shot at close range could be used as evidence against armed rebels involved in the January 25 bloody clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

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Senators: Blame for Mamasapano clash should go beyond Napeñas

Senators agree that the buck on the Mamasapano clash does not stop with relieved Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napeñas, but are divided whether it was President Benigno Aquino III or resigned Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima who should be blamed for the alleged lack of coordination.

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I did not break chain of command, Napeñas insists during House probe

Relieved Special Action Force (SAF) head Chief Supt. Getulio Napeñas on Wednesday insisted that he did not break the chain of command when he communicated with suspended national police chief Director General Alan Purisima for the planning of the January 25 Mamasapano operation.

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PNP Board of Inquiry head: Arrest orders vs. Marwan, Usman ‘rightfully pursued’

The arrest orders against international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias "Marwan" and Filipino bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman had been rightfully pursued by state authorities, the head of the Philippine National Police-Board of Inquiry said Wednesday.

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DOH: Pinay nurse confirmed afflicted with MERS-CoV

The Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed that the Philippines has at least one case of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

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PNoy may be liable for deaths of 44 SAF men —legal experts

President Benigno Aquino III may be held liable for the January 25 encounter in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao that left 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force dead, legal experts said Wednesday.

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Roxas reiterates commitment for quick, transparent probe on Mamasapano clash

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Wednesday vowed proper, quick and transparent investigation by the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry into the bloody Mamasapano clash that left 44 elite police commandos dead.

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Basilan solon urges peace amid calls for all-out war in Mindanao

A lawmaker from Mindanao renewed calls for peace amid certain sectors’ clamor for an all-out war following the bloody Mamasapano clash that left 44 PNP-Special Action Force personnel dead.

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As House probe on Mamasapano incident starts, solon pushes more hearings

Barely had the House of Representatives' investigation into the Jan. 25 Mamasapano, Maguindanao clash that killed 44 Special Action Force troopers started when a lawmaker moved to hold further hearings on the incident.

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MILF chief negotiator Iqbal begs off from House hearing on Mamasapano clash

Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal on Wednesday begged off from the House of Representatives' hearing on the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash whiclh left 44 elite members of the PNP-Special Action Force dead.

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Group finds mercury in more than 300 skin products

More than 300 skin whitening products being sold in the country may have potentially toxic mercury, an ecological group said.

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The Armed Forces did not sacrifice the SAF 44 to save the peace process – AFP

Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Gregorio Catapang, defended the Armed Forces' actions during the Mamasapano clash during Tuesday's Senate hearing, denying that the AFP sacrificed the the 44 Special Action Force police commandos killed in the clash in order to save the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

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'Time on target' coordination of SAF with AFP: Decisions and consequences

Former police Special Action Force (SAF) director Getulio Napeñas said on Tuesday his "time on target" coordination with the military involved the army units near Mamasapano, Maguindanao, but he "banked on" the pledge of former police chief Alan Purisima for the link up with Armed Forces chief of staff Gregorio Pio Catapang.

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MILF is not a terrorist group – Jaafar

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is not a terrorist group, MILF Vice Chairman for Political Affairs Ghadzali Jaafar stressed in the wake of the deadly clash between the Philippine National Police's Special Action Force and rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that claimed the lives of 44 police officers.

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Peace agreement can’t stand in the way of holding MILF accountable – De Lima

The existing peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) cannot stand in the way of prosecuting the MILF members who were involved in the bloody Mamasapano clash, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Tuesday.

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Marwan’s wards expanding terror network in Mindanao —report

Foreign terrorists associated with Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan continue to expand their network in southern Philippines as they continue to roam freely in Mindanao, an exclusive report on GMA News "24 Oras" said on Tuesday.

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Ex-solon asks Sandiganbayan to junk plunder case filed against him

A former lawmaker on Tuesday asked the Sandiganbayan to drop the plunder charge filed against him in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam for supposedly being baseless and not fulfilling the requirements for such a case.

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Gabriela solon likens Mamasapano operation to ‘suicide mission’

After a visit to the site of a deadly encounter between elite policemen and rebel groups that resulted in the death of 44 cops, two minority solons bemoaned the lack of foresight in planning the operation.

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Purisima’s role in ‘Oplan Exodus’ uncalled for –lawmakers

Resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima’s involvement in the January 25 covert police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, was uncalled for and a violation of the chain of command, two lawmakers said Tuesday.

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AFP, PNP deny receiving intelligence reports on assassination plot vs. Pope

Officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday denied receiving intelligence reports from foreign authorities supposedly detailing a plot to kill the Pope during his five-day visit in the Philippines last month.

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Catapang to Senate inquiry: AFP had own missions vs. Marwan

The Armed Forces of the Philippines had its own operations against international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir also known as Marwan, AFP Chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. admitted during a senate hearing on Tuesday.

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Probe on allegations vs. Binay gives way to Mamasapano clash inquiry

The Senate blue ribbon subcommittee probing the corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family has given way to the chamber’s investigation on the bloody Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash.

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‘White plane’ seen over Mamasapano during January 25 clash –mayor

A “white plane” was seen flying over the area of the bloody clash between policemen and Moro guerillas in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on January 25, the town's mayor told a Senate committee on Tuesday.

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Mamasapano mayor unaware Marwan was in his town

The mayor of Mamasapano, Maguindanao said Tuesday he was unaware that Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan was hiding in his municipality.

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PNoy didn’t violate any law when he consulted Purisima – De Lima

President Benigno Aquino III did not violate any law when he consulted then-suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima late last month about the Mamasapano operation which left 44 police commandos dead, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Tuesday.

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PHL files new diplomatic protest over China’s reclamation in Mischief Reef

The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest against China after its discovery of Beijing's massive land reclamation on the Manila-claimed Mischief Reef, saying such activity raises tensions in the area.

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Bayan: Aquino ‘lying’ about Mamasapano involvement

Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Tuesday said President Benigno Aquino III has not been fully honest with the public regarding the events surrounding the events before, during and after the deadly Mamasapano clash.

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Solons to MILF: Prove sincerity, attend congressional probes on Mamasapano clash

More than returning the firearms of the slain 44 PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) members, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) should attend the congressional inquiries into the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash to show its sincerity to the peace process, two lawmakers said Tuesday.

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Trillanes: Don’t blame AFP for Fallen 44

Former military officer and now senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV on Tuesday came to the defense of the Armed Forces of the Philippines saying that the military should not be blamed for the deaths of the 44 fallen elite cops who died in the hands of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

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SC junks plunder plea vs PNoy, Soliman, Abad

The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking to hold President Benigno Aquino III liable for the alleged illegal diversion of government funds, including those used for the conditional cash transfer program.

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I sought US help to rescue trapped commandos —Napeñas

Relieved Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napenas admitted Tuesday that he sought the help of the United States forces in the Mamasapano clash but only in extricating injured police commandos locked in a firefight with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Mamasapano on Jan. 25.

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Palace to wait for concrete steps from MILF on return of Fallen 44’s firearms

Malacañang on Tuesday said it will just wait for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to take “concrete” steps on its commitment to return the firearms of the 44 police commandos slain during an operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

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The war in Mindanao will continue if BBL is not passed, Sulu congressman warns

The long-running war in Mindanao will continue if Congress fails to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the House of Representatives said on Tuesday.

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MILF’s alleged ties with terrorists raised during Senate hearing

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) alleged ties with terrorist groups was brought up during Tuesday's Senate hearing on the deadly January 25 Mamasapano clash.

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Napeñas: Purisima brought us to Malacañang for Oplan Exodus briefing

Relieved PNP-Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napenas said Tuesday it was then- suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima who brought him and other officials to update President Benigno Aquino III on Oplan Exodus.

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Govt peace negotiator: PHL, MILF truce panels acted immediately to stop clash

Government peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer on Tuesday said the joint ceasefire mechanism of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) responded immediately upon learning about the bloody clash in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

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Iqbal: MILF still a ‘revolutionary organization’

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No request for reinforcement during Mamasapano clash –military official

A ranking military official on Tuesday disclosed that the Philippine National Police did not request for reinforcement on the morning of January 25 when close to 300 of its elite personnel figured in a clash with Moro guerillas in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, while on operation to arrest two suspected terrorists.

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Napeñas: PNoy, Purisima gave ‘implied’ order to continue Mamasapano ops

President Benigno Aquino III and resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima "implied" that the Jan. 25 operations to get two wanted suspected terrorists in Mamapasano, Maguindanao should continue, relieved PNP-Special Action Force commander Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. said Tuesday.

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Letter of MILF’s Iqbal to Senate requesting for executive session

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Tuesday sent the Senate committee probing the Mamasapano clash a letter saying it wants to have an executive session with the Senate instead of appearing in a congressional inquiry, even as it reiterated its assurance that the firearms of the 44 fallen Philippine National Police-Special Action Force commandos will be returned.

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MILF to return firearms of fallen 44 SAF troopers

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front will return the firearms of 44 Special Action Force police troopers killed in a clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

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Still no word if MILF leaders will attend Mamasapano clash hearing at the Senate

There is still no word from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front if their leaders will attend the Senate probe on Mamasapano clash which resulted to the deaths of 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force commandos and 17 MILF fighters.

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This week's fuel price hikes, cold weather could send flower prices rising

Bad news for lovers this Valentine's: fuel price hikes this week could send flower prices rising.

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Senate hearing reveals communication gaps, reliance on SMS in Mamasapano ops

During the Mamasapano operations, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines lacked communications “interoperability”, used different radio systems, and relied more on text messages than on calls and radio during their exchanges while the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos were pinned down and dying.

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WATCH: SAF team leader's account vital to Mamasapano probe – Board of Inquiry

Special Action Force (SAF) assault team leader Supt. Raymond Train's account of the Mamasapano clash was vital to the investigation into the gunbattle, Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief and Board of Inquiry chairman, Director Benjamin Magalong, said on Monday.

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TIMELINE: Scrambling for a ceasefire in Mamasapano

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Questions of fallen SAF troopers' kin still unanswered after Senate hearing

Some of the families of 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) killed in the Mamasapano clash on Jn. 25 found statements from officials at a Senate hearing on the incident lacking.

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