SC junks media plea vs. Arroyo-time ‘prior restraint’ order

The Supreme Court has junked a petition against a memorandum circular issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in 2006 following the lifting of the state of emergency warning broadcast media against reporting on sensitive issues during times of crisis.

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PNP BOI: Meeting with MILF commander ‘constructive’

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Roxas orders PNP to probe alleged Revilla-Enrile meeting

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has instructed PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina to look into the reported meeting between detained Senators Bong Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile last February 14 inside the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame.

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Solon denies PNoy ordered BBL passed sans amendments

President Benigno Aquino III didn't order lawmakers to approve the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) without amendments during their meeting in Malacañang on Monday, the chair of the House panel tackling the measure said.

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FULL TEXT: PNoy’s Speech at EDSA Shrine (English Translation)

"To all those calling for a stop to the peace process, and to the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, we ask: How can they guarantee that such an opportunity will present itself once more?"

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Senate ratifies amendments to Sandiganbayan law

The Senate ratified Wednesday the bicameral conference committee report on the amendments to the Sandiganbayan Law which includes the creation of two new divisions and lowering the voting requirement for the promulgation of decisions or orders.

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After 29 years, Fidel Ramos skips EDSA anniversary rites

Former President Fidel V. Ramos, one of the key players in the 1986 Edsa Revolution, was absent in ceremonies marking its 29th anniversary. According to former Department of Trade and Industry Usec. Ernesto Ordoñez, it was the first time that Ramos missed ceremonies at EDSA, a report on Balitanghali said.

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MILF ready to submit Mamasapano clash report to Malaysia

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao -- A Moro Islamic Liberation Front panel has finished its initial report on the Mamasapano clash, MILF vice chairman Ghadzali Jaafar said Wednesday in Camp Darapanan, the MILF's main headquarters.

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Purisima’s lawyer says ex-PNP chief did not lie to PNoy

The lawyer of Director General Alan Purisima on Wednesday allegations the resigned PNP chief lied to President Benigno Aquino III about the status of the PNP-Special Action Force's Oplan Exodus to capture high-value terrorists in Maguindanao on January 25.

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FULL TEXT: Homily of Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle at EDSA Shrine Mass

"[May] nabasa nga ako sabi: 'There is war only when there is an enemy.' How do you avoid war? Work towards the eradication of this mentality, this atmosphere that makes people enemies, one to another. The path to peace is finding a neighbor, a brother, a sister. When I don’t see anyone anymore as an enemy, I don’t have to fight. I don’t have to wage any fight."

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Tiamzons ask SC to reverse ruling on trial venue transfer

Two suspected ranking communist leaders have asked the Supreme Court to reverse its ruling allowing the transfer of their trial to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame.

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FULL TEXT: PNoy's speech on 29th Anniversary of Edsa Revolution

"Ginintuan ngang maituturing ang pagkakataong ito, kung kailan abot-kamay na ang kapayapaan sa Mindanao. Sa mga nagsasabi na ihinto na ang peace process, at ang pagpapasa ng Bangsamoro Basic Law, ang tanong natin: Paano nila masisigurado na magkakaroon ulit ng ganitong oportunidad?"

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Senate panels approve creation of truth commission on Mamasapano

After only one hearing, the proposal to create a Truth Commission on the Mamasapano clash was approved at the committee level on Wednesday.

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PNoy: I won’t let those against peace succeed

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said he would not let those against the peace process succeed, a month after the deadly Mamasapano incident put peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in peril.

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Sandiganbayan enters not guilty plea for Corona in tax evasion raps

The second division of the Court of Tax Appeals entered a not guilty plea for former Chief Justice Renato Corona after he refused to enter any plea during his arraignment for failure to file income tax returns for 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2010.

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Army corporal shot dead in Naga City

An Army corporal was shot dead in Naga City in Camarines Sur Monday night, as he and his wife were about to buy ice cream.

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Revilla, Enrile meeting at PNP Hospital only ‘accidental’

The Philippine National Police clarified that Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.'s meeting with Senator Juan Ponce Enrile at the PNP General Hospital on February 14, which happened to be the latter's birthday, was only "accidental."

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Scope, composition of Mamasapano Truth Commission discussed in Senate

Several recommendations on the scope and composition of the proposed truth body that will investigate the January 25 Mamasapano clash were discussed at the Senate on Wednesday.

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PNP inquiry board to meet with MILF commander over Mamasapano clash

COTABATO CITY - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has agreed to have the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry meet one of its commanders over the Jan. 25 bloody clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

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PORK BARREL SCAM: Ex-solon wants to be detained with Jinggoy, Bong

Citing his diabetes and a bullet lodged in his spine, former APEC party-list Rep. Edgar Valdez on Wednesday asked to be detained at the PNP-Custodial Center instead of a regular jail, noting its proximity to a hospital.

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PNoy leads wreath-laying at People Power Monument on EDSA

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday led the wreath-laying ceremony at the People Power Monument on Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue, popularly known as EDSA, in celebration of the 29th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

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PORK BARREL SCAM: Ex-lawmaker surrenders at Sandiganbayan

Former Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) party-list Rep. Edgar Valdez surrendered to the sheriff of the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday. Valdez faces graft and plunder charges for allegedly participating in the alleged pork barrel scam.

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AFP chief Catapang orders all-out offensive vs. BIFF

Exactly a month after the Jan. 25 bloody Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. ordered an all-out offensive operation against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

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Mamasapano police to investigate reported burning of Marwan hut

MAMASAPANO, Maguindanao - A team of investigators is set to conduct an investigation and documentation on Wednesday following reports that the house of suspected international terrorist Zulkfli bin Hir alias Marwan here was torched by armed men on Tuesday night.

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Australian accused of abusing, trafficking young girls in Bukidnon brought to Manila

An Australian national arrested in Bukidnon over the weekend for allegedly abusing and trafficking young girls is now in Manila for further investigation.

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Purisima, Napeñas might face raps for insubordination – Rep. Biazon

Resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima and sacked Special Action Force (SAF) commander Director Getulio Napeñas may be liable for insubordination for failing to follow President Benigno Aquino III's instructions for the Jan. 25 Mamasapano operation, Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon said on Tuesday.

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Aquino aunt says VP Binay was sent proposal to head gov't

President Benigno Aquino III's aunt, former Tarlac governor Margarita Cojuangco, admitted that there was a proposal sent to Vice President Jejomar Binay to head the government, GMA 7 news program “24-Oras” reported on Tuesday.

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Marcos disputes report, claims earning diploma from Oxford

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday countered an online report which claimed that Marcos' education background as stated in the Senate website is false.

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Palace says PHL ready to fight MERS-CoV, Ebola, etc.

After the Department of Health confirmed the death of an OFW from birdflu, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. on Tuesday assured the public that the DOH was ready to address the dangers of infectious diseases.

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Drilon clears PNoy of any liability in Mamasapano operation

Senate President Franklin Drilon, a staunch administration ally, on Tuesday cleared President Benigno Aquino III of any liability in the Mamapasapano operation.

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Raised voices mark final Senate hearing on Mamasapano clash

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday questioned the sincerity of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in pursuing the peace process with the government following the January 25 Mamasapano clash, resulting in an exchange marked by raised voices.

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Road closures on Edsa One anniversary

Some roads in Metro Manila will be closed to traffic starting midnight until 4 p.m. Wednesday for the 29th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

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Having a child out of wedlock not a ground to fire an employee —SC

An employee cannot be fired from work simply because of pre-marital sexual relations or pregnancy out of wedlock, the Supreme Court has ruled.

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Police probers to question Army officers on Mamasapano clash

MAMASAPANO, Maguindanao —- The Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry will have to interview Army officers here for input on the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash that left 44 elite police officers dead.

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PNoy pushes anew for BBL’s passage in meeting with solons

President Benigno Aquino III pushed anew for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) at his recent meeting with lawmakers although he did not give them marching orders to fast-track its approval.

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WATCH: Alan Cayetano grills peace adviser Deles on loyalty

A day after Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano called on President Benigno Aquino III to fire his peace adviser Teresita Deles and others involved in the talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for allegedly speaking for the rebels, the Senate Majority Leader on Tuesday asked the secretary why the panel gave pictures indicating the MILF building up its forces before the military could authenticate them.

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Operational lapses, leadership breakdown clear in Mamasapano mission –Poe

Operational lapses and leadership breakdown in the police force were clear during the Mamasapano mission that left over 60 people, most of them policemen, dead, according to Senator Grace Poe, the head of the Senate panel that investigated the incident, on Tuesday.

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Gazmin: Mamasapano ‘wounds’ should not affect AFP-PNP relations

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Tuesday admitted that the January 25 Mamasapano clash has caused a rift between the military and the police, but said this should not affect the good relations established by the two organizations in past operations.

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LOOK: General lashes out at Napeñas for continuing to blame Army for deaths of Fallen 44

After weeks of keeping it together in congressional hearings on the Mamasapano incident, in which the the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force blamed the military for delayed and inadequate assistance, 6th Infantry Division Major General Edmundo Pangilinan on Tuesday finally gave way to his emotions when former PNP-SAF chief Director Getulio Napeñas again told the committee how the 44 fallen commandos could have been saved if the Armed Forces delivered the requested artillery support.

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Napeñas: US provided intelligence, training in Mamasapano operation

Relieved Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (SAF) chief Director Getulio Napeñas on Tuesday admitted that the United States helped the police force in terms of intelligence sharing during the botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao but maintained that the US forces were never involved in the actual combat.

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Palace: Bangsamoro back on track in House amid Mamasapano probes

President Benigno Aquino III's meeting with House leaders on Monday placed the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law back on track at least as far as the House of Representatives is concerned, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

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Nominations open for Champions for Health Governance

Efficacy, innovation, and accountability are among the qualities expected in the next batch of Champions for Health Governance, the nominations for which are now open.

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SC seeks Comelec, Smartmatic side on IBP plea vs. PCOS repair deal

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to comment on a petition seeking to void its deal with Smartmatic-TIM for the refurbishment and repair of the vote-counting machines that will be used in the 2016 elections.

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Iqbal decries govt forces’ lack of trust in MILF in Mamasapano ops

Lack of trust and coordination led to the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash which left over 60 people dead, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)’s chief peace negotiator said during a Senate inquiry on Tuesday.

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Only SAF complied with ceasefire order during Mamasapano clash –Napeñas

The relieved commander of the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) on Tuesday said that while his men complied with the ceasefire order during the January 25 Mamasapano encounter, their enemies did not, resulting in the high number of casualties on the government side.

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Bongbong Marcos: MILF’s return of stripped-off rifles the opposite of goodwill

“What is supposed to be a confidence-building measure and an act of good faith has turned into the precise opposite. And this is a classic case of adding insult to injury. In this case, adding insult to death,” Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal.

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Ready for democracy? Cayetano, Iqbal debate legality of Mamasapano video

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal on Tuesday engaged in an emotional debate on the legality of the uploading of the viral video purportedly of the Mamasapano clash between police commandos and alleged MILF rebels.

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Escudero: SMS not best way to communicate during Mamasapano clash

Text messaging may have not been the best way to communicate during the Mamasapano clash, especially with the officials' seeming lack of sense of urgency, Sen. Francis Escudero said Tuesday.

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Emotional Army exec to ex-SAF chief: We did everything to help your men

A Philippine Army official turned emotional on Tuesday after relieved PNP-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) chief Director Getulio Napeñas maintained that the military failed to provide artillery support to his men during the deadly January 25 Mamasapano encounter.

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PNoy believes Purisima lied to him during Mamasapano ops —solons

President Benigno Aquino III felt he had been lied to by then-suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director-General Alan Purisima during the police operation to arrest two high-value terrorists in what is believed to be Moro Islamic Liberation Front territory in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

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