Aquino's Crame comment misquoted, Palace says

President Benigno Aquino III never said he is “tabla-tabla” or on equal footing with the families of the 44 slain Special Action Force (SAF) men, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Monday.

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Pork barrel scam: Ex-APEC party-list solon ordered arrested on plunder raps

In a resolution issued on Monday, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division found probable cause put on trial former Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) party-list Representative Edgar Valdez for cases recently filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.

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AFP chief wants independent body to study lapses in Mamasapano operation

Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr on Monday proposed the creation of an independent body composed of military and police officials to investigate lapses in the Mamasapano operation, where 44 Special Action Force commandos were killed last month.

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Admin allies downplay NTC’s call for ‘people power’ vs. PNoy

Two days before the 29th anniversary of historic EDSA People Power 1 uprising, an administration ally cautioned the public against backing calls for President Benigno Aquino III to step down in the guise of launching a “new people power.”

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Cayetano to PNoy: Govt peace panelists switched sides to MILF, fire them

President Benigno Aquino III should fire his peace adviser, Secretary Teresita Deles, and all the members of the government peace panel for supposedly defending the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in connection with the deadly January 25 Mamasapano incident, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Monday.

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PNP spokesman says firearms turned over by MILF subject to lengthy inspection

The Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory Office is set to inspect the PNP-Special Action Force firearms turned over by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front last week.

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Malacañang bares PNoy’s sked for 29th People Power anniversary

It’s a busy week ahead for President Benigno Aquino III as the country celebrates the 29th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Wednesday.

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DOJ says rule exemption on coordination with MILF ‘vague’

Is coordination with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front necessary if government forces will go after high-value targets such as Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan in MILF territory? Even the Department of Justice is in a quandary.

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Sandiganbayan freezes Jinggoy's assets

The Sandiganbayan on Monday ordered the freezing of Senator Jinggoy Estrada's assets worth P183 million pending the resolution of his plunder and graft cases related to the alleged pork barrel scam.

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Govt yet to demand surrender of MILF men involved in Mamasapano clash

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Napeñas admits Purisima told him to keep Roxas, Gazmin in the dark on Mamasapano ops

Relieved Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. admitted Monday that resigned Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima told him to keep Secretaries Mar Roxas and Voltaire Gazmin in the dark on the Mamapasano operation.

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Senate panel holds another executive session to hear AFP on Mamasapano clash

The Senate public order committee on Monday held its fourth executive session on the January 25 Mamasapano operation, which left over 60 people, including 44 police commandos and 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters dead.

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Militants to hold human chain Feb. 25 for EDSA anniversary, Mamasapano ‘monthsary’

Militant groups will form a human chain along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue on Feb. 25, Wednesday, not only to mark the 29th anniversary of the EDSA-1 People Power revolt but also the first month after the Jan. 25 Mamasapano, Maguindanao clash that killed 44 Special Action Force troopers.

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PHL security officials only learned of Mamasapano operation morning of Jan. 25

The country’s security officials only learned about the operation against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan on the morning of January 25, hours after the Special Action Force has started Oplan Exodus.

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FULL TEXT: SMS exchange between PNoy and ex-PNP chief Purisima on Mamasapano clash

An exchange of text messages on Jan. 25 between resigned Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima and President Benigno Aquino III showed the President has been informed of the Mamasapano clash as early as 5:45 a.m.

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Unified police-military command proposed after Mamasapano clash

Senator Tito Sotto on Monday proposed the creation of a “unified” police and military command following the deadly Mamasapano clash that took the lives of 44 elite policemen.

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DFA: Mamasapano mission’s planning, execution were 100-percent Filipino

The United States was not involved in the planning and execution of the January 25 Mamasapano operation which left 40 PNP-Special Action Force commandos dead, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.

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MILF, not PNP, informed govt’s ceasefire body about Mamasapano clash

It was the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and not the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, which first sounded alarm bells for the government’s ceasefire body about the deadly Mamasapano clash last January 25.

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PNoy got conflicting reports on Mamasapano clash – Roxas

President Benigno S.C. Aquino III received conflicting reports while the deadly Mamasapano clash was ongoing, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said Monday.

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Govt ceasefire body head: No order for AFP to stand down during Mamasapano clash

The head of government’s ceasefire body said Monday that he did not give the Armed Forces of the Philippines orders to stand down at the height of the deadly Mamasapano clash last January 25.

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Purisima told PNoy that SAF were supported even before troops took off

Resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima had informed President Benigno Aquino III on the morning of the Mamasapano clash that the PNP-Special Action Force commandos were "supported" by military troops, despite information from Armed Forces top officials that their men could not get inside because the area was marshy.

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‘Pro-life’ solons want RH Law repealed

More than two years after the Reproductive Health Law was passed, a group of 'pro-life' lawmakers have filed a measure seeking to repeal the controversial legislation.

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AFP asks for executive session on Mamasapano clash

Armed Forces chief General Pio Catapang Jr. on Monday asked the Senate for an executive session to allow his ground commanders to freely speak their minds on the operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao against suspected terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman.

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DFA’s Del Rosario begs off from Senate probe on Mamasapano clash

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario will not be able to attend the Senate investigation on the Mamasapano clash which left over 60 people, including 44 PNP-Special Action Force commandos and 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters, dead.

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Look: Pemberton arrives at Olongapo for arraignment

A convoy bearing Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton arrived at Olongapo City early Monday morning for his arraignment before the Regional Trial Court Branch 74.

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MILF to release result of Mamasapano probe this week

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Sunday said that it will release its report on the deadly Mamasapano encounter that claimed the lives of 44 elite police troopers, 18 MILF members, and four civilians.

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Public school teachers to strike for higher salaries, PNoy’s resignation – ACT

Public school teachers nationwide will stage a sit-down strike on Tuesday to demand a salary increase and the resignation of President Benigno Aquino III, a party-list group announced Sunday.

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De Lima to Natl Transformation Council: Don't cross line of ‘legitimate dissent’

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Sunday hinted at holding groups calling for a transition government to replace President Benigno Aquino III accountable under "the full force of the law" if they go beyond mass mobilizations.

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Espina defends Purisima’s absence at PMA homecoming

Philippine National Police Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina asked the public not to read too much into resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima’s absence at the annual homecoming of Philippine Military Academy alumni in Baguio City Saturday, saying he “may have his reasons.”

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Palace: Feb. 25 holiday for schools only

Malacañang on Sunday said the 29th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA popular uprising on Feb. 25 will be a holiday only for schools nationwide.

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PHLPost issues UP dentistry centennial stamps

Commemorative stamps from the Philippine Postal Corp. will be among the highlights of the University of the Philippines College of Dentistry centennial celebration.

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Bettor wins P23.68M in Lotto 6/42 draw

A lone bettor bagged the P23.68-million jackpot in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office's Lotto 6/42 draw Saturday evening.

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Sen. Grace Poe: Napeñas should not take all blame for Mamasapano clash

Relieved Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. should not take all the blame for the Mamasapano clash that left 44 police commandos dead last month, Senator Grace Poe said in a radio interview on Sunday.

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Defense Sec. Gazmin downplays coup rumors

There are no solid coup plots threatening the Aquino administration, despite what Sen. Miram Santiago said. At least that’s what Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin said in an interview Saturday night.

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Duterte: Mindanao will be in chaos if peace talks fail

Hostilities will erupt in Mindanao if the government would fail to adopt a backup plan should the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front fail, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte made this warning on Saturday.

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Gazmin: Civilians evacuated even before MILF-BIFF clashes started

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin assured the public that civilians who may be affected by clashes between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its breakaway group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters have long been evacuated before clashes erupted Saturday.

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Gazmin to govt troops: Continue pursuit of BIFF members if they won’t surrender

If the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters won't surrender, "continue pursuing them." This is the order of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to government forces who have been pursuing BIFF men in North Cotabato since Saturday, in coordination with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

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Bishop’s Lenten message to Yolanda survivors: Time to help others

After getting help from others more than a year ago, now may be a good time for some survivors of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) to give back by helping others.

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Manila archbishop warns vs. indifference at start of Lent

While Filipinos observe the Lenten season, they were cautioned on the perils of being indifferent to the plight of others.

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Terrorism to be discussed in French president’s PHL visit

Terrorism will be one of the topics French President François Hollande will discuss with President Benigno Aquino III during his Philippine state visit on Feb. 26 and 27.

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PNP OIC Espina submits affidavit to Mamasapano investigating board

Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, officer in charge of the Philippine National Police, has submitted his affidavit on the Mamasapano clash to the PNP Board of Inquiry investigating the incident.

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Pimentel: PDP-Laban might field Davao Mayor Duterte in 2016 polls

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is considering fielding Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as the party’s standard-bearer in the 2016 presidential elections.

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AFP to MILF: Make results of probe on Mamasapano clash public

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to release the results of its probe into the firefight between its men and the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force troopers.

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PNP, AFP: Surrender of MILF men in Mamasapano clash up to peace panel

Both the police and military said they will leave it to the Philippine government's peace panel to decide if the Moro Islamic Liberation Front should surrender its members who figured in the firefight in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that left 44 police commandos dead.

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Palace: CHED to scrutinize planned tuition hikes

The Commission on Higher Education will look into all plans by colleges and universities to hike tuition and other fees for the coming school year, Malacañang assured Saturday.

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Palace: We’ll find other ways to get SAF men’s firearms from BIFF

If the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters won't return the firearms of the 44 Special Action Force troopers killed in a clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25, government will look for other ways to get them back.

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OPAPP twits priest over claims govt paid for ‘return’ of slain SAF men’s firearms

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process on Saturday denied allegations by a Mindanao-based priest that the government bought the firearms of 44 slain Special Action Force troopers, which the Moro Islamic Liberation Front returned last Wednesday.

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Members of PMA Class ‘67 wear black armbands for SAF 44 at PMA homecoming

Some members of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1967, during the PMA Grand Alumni Homecoming on Saturday, sported black armbands to show their support to the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force troopers who were killed in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao last January 25.

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PNP: Report, not share bomb threat text messages

Report bomb scare messages, instead of sharing them.

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France's Hollande to visit the PHL Feb 26-27

French President François Hollande will be in the Philippines from Feb. 26 and 27 for a state visit, during which he will visit Guiuan, Samar - an area devastated by super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

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