Senators meet to decide which info from executive sessions will be made public

Senators adjourned their session early Wednesday afternoon to conduct an all-party caucus to discuss what had been tackled regarding the January 25 Mamasapano clash during their executive sessions.

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Ex-PCSO exec asks Sandiganbayan for one-day furlough for eye check-up

A former budget official of the Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office (PCSO) on Wednesday appealed to the Sandiganbayan to be allowed to leave his detention for one day to undergo a thorough eye examination.

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Police probers to visit Mamasapano clash site soon

The Philippine National Police's Board of Inquiry looking into the clash between elite police commandos and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Mamasapano, Maguindanao is set to visit the clash site sometime this week or next week.

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Man who uploaded Mamasapano video goes to NBI in Davao

A man from Davao City on Wednesday showed up at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to admit being the one who uploaded the viral video of an elite police commando being shot to the head at close range allegedly during the January 25 armed clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

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VP Binay camp: Senate inquiry fails to prove anomaly in BSP-Alphaland deal

The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay claimed Wednesday that the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee is now on a witch-hunt after former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado allegedly failed to prove that the Vice President had a role in the land deal between Boy Scouts of the Philippines and Alphaland.

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Appeals court affirms estafa conviction of ‘pyramid queen’

The Court of Appeals has affirmed the estafa conviction of "pyramiding queen" Rosario Baladjay, infamous for duping victims into investing in her company, Multi-national Telecom Investors Corporation (Multitel).

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Palace: MILF’s return of SAF 44’s weapons a sign of trust, but not enough

A Palace official on Wednesday said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s decision to return some of the weapons of the slain PNP-Special Action Force commandos is one way to build the trust President Benigno Aquino wants from them, in order for the peace process to move forward.

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VP Binay urges PNoy to convene NSC to assess country's peace and security situation

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday urged President Benigno Aquino III to convene the National Security Council (NSC) to assess the peace and security situation in the country and define appropriate measures.

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Cavite solon denies suspected drug pusher is his grandson

Dasmariñas Rep. Elpidio Barzaga has belied reports that suspected drug pusher Harrel Barzaga Gatuz is his grandson, although he admitted that they were distant relatives.

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Alphaland owner Ongpin: Boy Scouts to benefit from land deal

The owner of Alphaland Corp. on Wednesday belied former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado’s claim that the Boy Scouts of the Philippines got shortchanged in the land deal it entered into with his property development firm.

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Returned firearms to be tested, inventoried, sealed before turnover to SAF

The 16 firearms of PNP-Special Action Force commandos killed in a clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25 and returned Wednesday by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will be tested, inventoried and sealed before they are turned over to the Philippine National Police.

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Iqbal denies MILF issued call to prepare for all-out war if BBL is shelved

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Boy Scouts exec: Mercado’s accusations vs. VP Binay driven by politics

Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado’s accusations against Vice President Jejomar Binay are only driven by “politics and personal vendetta,” an official of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) said during a Senate inquiry on Wednesday.

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MILF to formally turn over to govt ‘15 to 20’ firearms of slain SAF men

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Wednesday is set to over to the government the firearms of Special Action Force troopers slain in a clash in Mamasapano in Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

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VP Binay got up to P651M from Boy Scouts land deal, ex-ally Mercado claims

Vice President Jejomar Binay got up to P651 million from a land deal between the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and property developer Alphaland, his former ally and former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado said Wednesday.

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Alphaland, Boy Scouts execs face Senate probe on VP Binay’s alleged P200-M kickback

Officials of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) and property developer Alphaland Corp. on Wednesday faced a Senate inquiry to answer accusations that Vice President Jejomar Binay received P200-million kickbacks from their joint property development venture in Makati City.

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LOOK: Catholics in Visayas, Mindanao observe Ash Wednesday

Filipino Catholics in the Visayas and Mindanao on Wednesday started the Lenten season by going to church to have ash placed on their foreheads.

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PHL gets P87-M compensation from US over Tubbataha damage

The Philippines has received P87.03 million from the United States for the damage caused to Tubbataha Reef by the minesweeper USS Guardian in 2013, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.

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Australia ratchets up pressure on Indonesia over executions

SYDNEY - Indonesia owes it to Australia not to execute two Australian drug offenders on death row, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Wednesday, ratcheting up a diplomatic war of words that is threatening to sour relations between the neighbors.

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During El Shaddai gathering, SAF police officer reveals details of Mamasapano ordeal

A member of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force who was part of the January 25 Mamasapano operation shared his survival story at a weekend gathering of the Catholic religious group El Shaddai.

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SAF survivor recalls moments of despair, courage during Mamasapano clash

A police officer of the Special Action Force who survived the Mamasapano clash on Tuesday recounted how he and fellows despaired during the day-long gunbattle in which 44 troopers were killed, but nevertheless continued to fight.

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Superlotto 6/49 combination hits jackpot of P42.6M

A lotto bettor is now P42.6 million richer after bagging the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office's Superlotto 6/49 draw Tuesday night.

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Superlotto 6/49 combination hits jackpot of P42.6M

A lotto bettor is now P42.6 million richer after bagging the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office's Superlotto 6/49 draw Tuesday night.

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Cayetano bares seeming pressure to stop Mamasapano hearings

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday said there seemed to be pressure to stop the hearings on the Mamasapano incident.

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DFA might be invited to Mamasapano probe to explain cooperation with US

The Senate committees looking into the Mamasapano incident might invite foreign affairs officials to explain the agreements entered into by the country with the United States as regards military and law enforcement cooperation, Sen. Grace Poe told reporters on Tuesday.

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Body of male Caucasian recovered in Mamasapano after clash –Gabriela

A body of a male Caucasian was among those recovered from the site of the bloody encounter between elite policemen and Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on January 25, according to party-list group Gabriela, citing information reaching them.

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More residents flee as MILF, BIFF clash in Maguindanao continue

More residents of towns of Pagalungan, Maguindanao, and Pikit, North Cotabato have fled their homes as the clashes between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters continue on Tuesday.

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Gloria Arroyo’s defense chief: Two or three groups, including PNoy pal, planning coup

A national security adviser of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday warned President Benigno Aquino III that one or two more controversies could result in a coup being launched against him, GMA News "24 Oras" has reported.

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Bishops call for accountability in Mamasapano, won’t call on PNoy to resign

Leaders of the Catholic church in the Philippines on Tuesday for the truth to come out in connection with the Mamasapano operation and for accountability among those who will be found responsible for the deaths in what authorities called a misencounter on Jan. 25.

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28 SAF men alive because of military reinforcement in Mamasapano –Catapang

The military reinforcement may be delayed, but it was able to save 28 policemen engaged in a clash with Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, last January 25.

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Gov’t wants ‘quieter’ EDSA anniversary this year, but not due to coup rumors

The government is preparing a “quieter” commemoration of the EDSA Revolution anniversary this year, but not due to coup rumors against President Benigno Aquino III’s administration.

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Nothing wrong with US sharing info to find Marwan –Palace

Malacañang sees nothing wrong if the United States indeed provided information that helped locate Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan during the Mamasapano mission.

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Admin allies on PNoy resignation calls: Ridiculous, comedic

Administration allies in the House of Representatives have described calls for President Benigno Aquino III to step down as “ridiculous” and “comedic,” while admitting that the January 25 Mamasapano incident has somewhat dented his popularity.

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No cover-up in Senate probe on Mamasapano clash, Grace Poe assures public

Senator Grace Poe assured the public Tuesday that there will be no-cover up on the Senate’s probe on the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash that left over 60 people, including 44 PNP-Special Action Force commandos, dead.

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No cover-up: House to resume Mamasapano probe in two weeks

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Tuesday vowed to resume the chamber’s investigation on the Mamasapano incident in two weeks’ time after the Board of Inquiry (BOI) formed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) finished its own probe.

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De Lima: Govt to go after sellers of gruesome Mamasapano video

Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has warned merchants from selling DVD copies of the viral videos allegedly showing the events during the bloody Mamasapano clash, a report from GMA's “Balitanghali” program said Tuesday.

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Comelec retains PPCRV as citizens' arm for 2016 polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the application of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) to be its citizens’ arm in the 2016 national and elections.

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Slain SAF trooper’s kin dismayed over slow probe

Relatives of one of the 44 Special Action Force troopers killed in a clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25 are becoming impatient with the slow pace of the investigation into the tragedy.

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Govt lawyers insist Bong Revilla’s assets should remain frozen

The prosecution in the case of Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla is opposing the motion for reconsideration of the detained senator regarding his frozen assets.

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Recto dares peace adviser to replace rickety footbridge in Mamasapano

The wooden bridge leading to the Mamasapano cornfield where most police commandos died on Jan. 25 should be replaced by a concrete crossing using funds of the government's office on the peace process, a Senate leader said on Tuesday.

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Gloria Arroyo’s security adviser denies role in alleged coup plot vs. PNoy

Norberto Gonzales Jr, a former national security adviser and defense secretary of ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, denied Tuesday his involvement in a reported coup plot against President Benigno Aquino III. He, however, admitted being part of an initiative calling for the latter to step down.

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Majority bloc’s support for BBL has eroded after Mamasapano, House leader admits

Support for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) among the majority coalition in the House of Representatives has eroded in the aftermath of the Mamasapano incident, a House leader admitted Tuesday.

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SC junks Jinggoy TRO plea, seeks Sandigan comment

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has failed to get an immediate relief from the Supreme Court against the presentation of disbursement reports related to the charges he is facing related to the alleged pork barrel scam.

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Purisima, PNP intel official face grilling in closed-door Senate hearing

The Senate resumed Tuesday afternoon its executive session on the Mamasapano incident which resulted in the deaths of 44 Special Action Force commandos. An advisory from the office of Senator Grace Poe said the closed-door hearing started at 1:05 pm with 13 senators present.

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Palace expects MILF to recognize possible revisions to proposed BBL

Although the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) earlier urged Congress to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) with "no changes,” Malacañang expects the group to recognize revisions that the legislature may introduce to the controversial measure.

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PNP spokesman: Nothing wrong with US help

The spokesperson for the Philippine National Police on Tuesday said he sees nothing wrong with the United States' supposed assistance in extricating the injured police commandos following the January 25 clash with Moro guerillas in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

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NBI deports British drug convict

The National Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday said it will deport a British national who escaped to the Philippines in 2013 after being convicted of drug-related charges.

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Asian workers, including Pinoys, sue casino employer in CNMI

Some six weeks after suing the US government for supposedly denying their work petitions, over 500 Filipinos and other Asian workers also filed a lawsuit against their casino employer in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for allegedly lying to them about their immigration status for at least 18 months.

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ARMM gov: MILF must prove it can police its own ranks

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) must prove that it is capable of policing its own ranks, particularly if the investigations on the bloody Mamasapano clash show their members are also accountable, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman said.

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US role in Mamasapano ops discussed in Senate executive session

The supposed participation of US forces in the Mamasapano operation was discussed during the Senate’s executive session with relieved PNP-Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napeñas. But the senators present during the closed-door hearing are not expected to reveal details of what were discussed on the issue.

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