Appeals court affirms ex-DA exec’s liability in fertilizer fund scam

The Court of Appeals has affirmed an Ombudsman decision finding a dismissed official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) liable for his involvement in the controversial fertilizer fund scam, one of the corruption issues that rocked the Arroyo administration.

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Senator seeks to increase maternity leave from two months to four months

Citing the vital role of women in nation-building, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is seeking to double the maternity leave benefits from 60 days or two months to 120 days or four months.

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Muslim groups giving aid to kin of MILF fighters killed in Mamasapano clash

Relatives of Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters killed in a clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25 are getting financial aid.

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Masbate Gov. Lanete presented to Sandiganbayan

The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group presented former Masbate Representative and incumbent Masbate Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan Friday morning to let the court decide on where the former lawmaker will be detained.

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SWS: 41% Pinoys expect life to improve in next 12 months

Some 41 percent of Filipinos expect life to improve in the next 12 months, according to a poll conducted by Social Weather Stations in the last quarter of 2014.

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PNoy told slain SAF men's families what he knew of Mamasapano clash – Palace

In a phone interview, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said President Benigno Aquino III had the chance to explain what he knew about the deadly operation during a seven-hour meeting on Wednesday with bereaved families of the slain Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) officers.

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Professors, students ready signature campaign calling for PNoy's resignation

Members of the academe will launch a signature campaign to call for the resignation of President Benigno Aquino III for allegedly not disclosing the United States' role in a police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last month.

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Some of Mamasapano guns from MILF ‘stripped of scopes, parts’

Some of the 16 firearms surrendered by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were purposely stripped of their expensive accessories such as scopes and other parts, a survivor of the Mamasapano operation and a former junior officer who's now in Congress said on Thursday.

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With Bohol broadcaster's murder, PHL still among deadliest places for journalists – CPJ

With the murder last weekend of a radio commentator in Bohol, an international media watchdog group on Wednesday said the Philippines could still be one of the world's most dangerous places to be a journalist.

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Cellphones used in uploading Mamasapano videos undergo forensic examination

Government agents on Thursday subjected to forensic examination the two cellphones allegedly used to upload the disturbing videos showing the brutality that transpired during the January 25 Mamasapano clash on the Internet.

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Fallen 44’s kin ask PNoy: Where were the reinforcements?

The families of some of the 44 police commandos that died in the Mamasapano misencounter pressed President Benigno Aquino III for an explanation why no reinforcements arrived to extricate the beleaguered policemen, most of whom died virtually defenseless in a cornfield on Jan. 25.

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Iqbal: MILF still accounting for remaining SAF firearms

More firearms belonging to the 44 policemen killed in the January 25 Mamasapano clash with Moro rebels may be turned over to the government in the coming days, a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) official said Thursday.

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Final autopsy report: Fallen 44 had 150 gunshot wounds

The Fallen 44—the members of the Phlippine National Police-Special Action Force that died in the Mamasapano operation on Jan. 25—suffered a total of 150 gunshot wounds, the final autopsy report obtained by GMA News showed.

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Don’t turn Lenten sacrifice into tourist spectacle —bishop

Now that the Lenten season has started, a bishop reminded Catholics against turning shows of remorse into tourist spectacles—such as flagellation and staged crucifixions.

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Usman hiding in MILF camp in Lanao del Sur, ex-military lawmaker claims

Filipino terrorist Abdul Basit Usman, reported wounded in a clash in Maguindanao last month, is now hiding at a Moro Islamic Liberation Front camp in Lanao del Sur, a lawmaker has claimed, citing an unspecified source.

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House panel hopes to approve BBL in March

The ad hoc committee on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) has set a deadline of June 11 for its passage in the House of Representatives even as discussion on the bill remains in limbo because of the Mamasapano clash.

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VP Binay prays for PNoy amid resignation calls

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday said he is praying for President Benigno Aquino III amid calls for the latter to resign following the deaths of 44 Special Action Force commandos in an operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last month.

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China to project power from artificial islands in South China Sea

HONG KONG - China's creation of artificial islands in the South China Sea is happening so fast that Beijing will be able to extend the range of its navy, air force, coastguard and fishing fleets before long, much to the alarm of rival claimants to the contested waters.

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PNoy willing to cooperate in Mamasapano inquiries —Palace

President Benigno Aquino III is willing to cooperate in the ongoing probes on the Mamasapano incident last month which left 44 police commandos dead, Malacañang indicated Thursday.

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Palace not keen on imposing deadline for MILF to identify members in Mamasapano clash

Malacañang is not inclined to give a deadline for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to identify its members involved in the firefight in Mamasapano, Maguindanao which left over 60 people, including 44 police commandos and 18 MILF fighters dead.

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Band of Brothers: AFP, PNP renew ties after Mamasapano

After weeks of subdued finger-pointing over the Mamasapano misencounter that led to the deaths of 44 police commandos in the hands of Moro rebels, leaders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police on Thursday found an opportunity to renew the sense of unity between the two security groups.

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Heidi Mendoza named COA officer-in-charge

Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Heidi Mendoza is now the acting chairman of the audit body until President Benigno Aquino III names a replacement for former chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan, according to a resolution posted on its website.

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Palace won’t urge Purisima to divulge private testimony on Mamasapano incident

Malacañang is not about to urge resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima to divulge his testimony during a Senate executive session on the deadly Mamasapano operation, despite a lawmaker’s assessment that doing so can help President Benigno Aquino III.

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Return of 16 guns not enough: Espina tells MILF to surrender Usman, SAF killers

Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director-General Leonardo Espina yesterday called on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to surrender its members responsible for the deaths of the 44 police commandos who died in the Mamasapano misencounter.

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Unseated Antique gov fails to get SC relief

The unseated governor of Antique province has failed to get an immediate relief from the Supreme Court to stop his removal from office.

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PNP probe on Mamasapano clash ‘70 percent done’

The police investigation on the January 25 Mamasapano clash is about 70 percent done, according to Police Director Benjamin Magalong, the police official leading the probe. “Basically, alam na namin kung anong nangyari, from mission planning to execution,” he said.

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Senator Marcos asks MILF: Be open-minded, flexible on changes in BBL

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Thursday asked the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to be open-minded and flexible on the changes that will be introduced by Congress in the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law.

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IBP asks SC to void Comelec-Smartmatic PCOS repair deal

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has asked the Supreme Court to void the agreement between the Commission on Elections and the Smartmatic-TIM for the refurbishment and repair of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines to be used in the 2016 elections.

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Gazmin on MILF's efforts to capture Usman: That will show their sincerity

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Thursday said the efforts of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to assist the government in capturing suspected bomber Basit Usman will show the Moro group's sincerity to the peace process with the Philippine government.

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Firearms of slain SAF men returned to PNP

The firearms of the elite PNP-Special Action Force troopers slain in a clash in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao last January 25 have been officially turned over to the Philippine National Police on Thursday.

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Masbate Gov. Lanete surrenders to CIDG

A day after she was ordered arrested, Masbate Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete surrendered to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame Thursday morning, radio dzBB reported.

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Over 300 SAF commandos did nothing while clash was ongoing –soldier

Over 300 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos were on the highway doing nothing while not far from them some of their comrades were engaged in a fierce firefight with Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, last January 25, a soldier interviewed by GMA News said.

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French president to bring Cotillard, Irons for Philippine climate tour

French President Francois Hollande will bring two Oscar-winning stars on a two-day visit to the Philippines next week aimed at building momentum for climate talks in Paris, his envoy said Wednesday.

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Former cops and soldiers in House urge PNoy to show 'decisive leadership'

A group of lawmakers who had served in the military and police called on President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday to step up and "show decisive leadership" in seeking the truth regarding the killing of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers in Mamasapano last month.

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Cabral, solon face graft, malversation charges for alleged PDAF misuse

Graft and malversation charges were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza Cabral and former Caloocan City Representative Mary Mitzi Cajayon.

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Peping Cojuangco: Nothing wrong with being a critic of nephew PNoy

Former Tarlac Representative and current Philippine Olympic Committee President Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr. said that there is nothing wrong with his being a critic of his nephew, President Benigno Aquino III.

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Jinggoy Estrada files new motion to block AMLC report on his bank accounts

Detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada is trying to block anew the admission of the Anti-Money Laundering Council's (AMLC) inquiry report on his bank accounts and other assets as evidence of the prosecution for his plunder case in connection with the pork barrel fund scam.

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Energy conservation to lessen risk of rotating brownouts in summer – Energy dept

The risks of the two-hour rotating brownouts next month in Metro Manila can be lessened if the public will conserve energy, according to the Department of Energy.

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Marwan was only one of the leaders of Khalifa Islamiya Mindanao

Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan was only one of the many leaders of a new terrorist group in Mindanao, a report from GMA's “24-Oras” program said Wednesday.

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Call to resign from PNoy’s uncle must hurt personally —Osmeña

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III on Wednesday described the call of Philippine Olympic Committee President Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco Jr for his nephew, President Benigno Aquino III, to step down as “morally damaging.”

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Military commander wants coup plot recruiters arrested

The head of the military in Southern Luzon has warned that coup plotters who will try to recruit soldiers from his command will be arrested.

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Some streets in Binondo closed Thursday for Chinese New Year revelry

Some streets in Manila's Chinatown district will be closed to traffic on Thursday for activities marking the Lunar New Year.

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‘New normal’ posing challenges to anti-poverty programs –Dinky

Along with criticisms and the breadth of their scope as the main agency for the poor, Social Welfare Sec. Dinky Soliman said the "new normal" has presented a new challenge in crafting and implementation of their programs geared toward poverty reduction.

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Families of SAF 44 to receive benefits, donations from agencies, private groups

The families of the 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force who were killed at a clash in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao last Jan. 25 are set to receive benefits and donations from different multi-sector agencies and some private groups.

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Lawmakers: MILF should return slain SAF men’s belongings, surrender members in clash

While they lauded the return of firearms of the slain policemen in the January 25 Mamasapano clash, lawmakers on Wednesday called on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to surrender their members involved in the bloody encounter.

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Lawmaker: PHL received ‘peanuts’ from US for Tubbataha damage

A party-list lawmaker and an environmental group on Wednesday said the P87 million the Philippines received from the US government for the damage one of its warships caused to the Tubbataha Reef in 2013 was not enough.

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Pork barrel scam: Arrest order out for Masbate Governor Lanete

The Fourth Division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Wednesday ordered the arrest of former Masbate Representative and incumbent Masbate Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, after the court found probable cause to try her for plunder and graft charges in connection with her alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam.

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Pacquiao visits wounded SAF men at Camp Crame

Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday afternoon visited some of the Special Action Force members who were wounded in the January 25 encounter with Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

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PDEA: 8k barangays considered ‘drug-affected’

A total of 8,629 barangays in the Philippines have been tagged as "drug-affected" by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

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DFA chief Del Rosario: No combat role for US in fight vs. terrorism in PHL

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Wednesday said there is nothing wrong with the United States helping the Philippines fight terrorism as long as they respect local laws and do not engage in any combat role which is barred by the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

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