Senate OKs ‘special powers’ for PNoy to address power crisis

Voting 16-0, the Senate on Monday approved on third reading a resolution granting President Benigno Aquino III “special powers” to address the looming power crisis especially during the dry months.

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Palace: PNoy won’t apologize over Mamasapano clash

To illustrate his point, presidential spokesman Secretary Edwin Lacierda likened the Mamasapano incident to a bridge construction accident. “The policy is to promote public infrastructure. If for instance, a bridge collapsed and the construction workers died as a result of the collapse of the bridge… The President does not involve himself in the building of bridges or in the operation of neutralizing a terrorist,” the Palace official said.

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Solon asks DOJ to finish Mamasapano probe before April

The chairman of the ad hoc committee tackling the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) has asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to wrap up the Department of Justice’s investigation into the Mamasapano incident ahead of the April 2 deadline she has set so that charges could be filed against the perpetrators before lawmakers vote on the Bangsamoro bill.

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Sandiganbayan orders transfer of ex-lawmaker to Camp Bagong Diwa

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Monday denied the motion of ex-APEC party-list Rep. Edgar Valdez to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center. Instead, the anti-graft court ordered Valdez's transfer to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City as soon as his health conditions improve.

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Bishops should talk to Congress about agrarian reform bills –Palace

Roman Catholic bishops should pressure Congress, not the executive branch, about passing agrarian reform bills, Malacañang said Monday.

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Jinggoy denies attending Enrile’s party, says there was none

Detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Monday denied that he went to the Philippine National Police General Hospital to attend the party of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile. In fact, Estrada said there was no party to begin with.

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Bangsamoro law can’t wait until next administration –Palace

Malacañang on Monday maintained that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) should be passed within President Benigno Aquino III’s term, despite doubts raised about the measure following the deadly January 25 Mamasapano incident.

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Jinggoy appeals to Sandiganbayan: Let Bong see his son

Detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Monday appealed to the Sandiganbayan to allow his fellow detainee Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. to visit Revilla’s son Jolo, who is confined at a hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the upper chest.

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Bongbong wants comprehensive peace process, says BBL needs to be improved

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday expressed his commitment to a comprehensive peace process as he reiterated his stance that the pending Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) needs to be improved.

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PNP forms team to investigate Jolo Revilla shooting incident

The Philippine National Police has formed a team to investigate the shooting incident involving Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla to determine whether there was foul play involved.

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Transport group asks to bring jeepney fare back to P8.50

Despite the announcement of a rollback for the price of diesel this week, a transport group is still pushing for its petition to bring the minimum fare for jeepneys back to P8.50.

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Jolo Revilla in stable condition, eyes transfer to a regular room –lawyer

Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla was in stable condition Monday morning but was still being strictly monitored after undergoing surgery related to a gunshot wound he sustained Saturday, lawyer Raymond Fortun said.

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Bishops call on PNoy, Congress to pass pending land reform measures

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines website on Sunday posted details of a January 19, 2015 letter sent by Catholic bishops to President Benigno Aquino III that urged both Aquino and Congress to pass two pending land reform measures.

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Trillanes: Aquino will finish his term

Despite multiple calls for President Benigno Aquino III’s resignation and rumors of a coup attempt, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Sunday said he believes the president will be able to finish his term.

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Osmeña slams ‘hard-headed’ Aquino for refusing to apologize

Senator Sergio Osmeña III on Sunday blasted President Benigno Aquino III for supposedly being bull-headed and listening only to friends, going so far as to say that he regrets to a point supporting Aquino’s bid for the presidency.

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MILF refusal to turn over men in Mamasapano clash ‘deal breaker’ for BBL, solon says

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s refusal to surrender fighters involved in a clash with the police Special Action Force (SAF) troopers last January could derail the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), a lawmaker has warned.

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Osmeña warns of possible whitewash in Mamasapano clash report

At least one senator is afraid the recently-concluded Senate investigation into the Mamasapano clash could result in a whitewash of the incident, which has given President Benigno Aquino III more ammunition against him and his administration.

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House ad hoc panel resets approval of draft BBL to May

The target date for the approval by the House Bangsamoro ad hoc committee of a draft report on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law has been reset from March to May this year, a lawmaker said Sunday.

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Head of Sovereign Order of Malta in PHL for 7-day visit

The head of the Order of Malta on Sunday began a seven-day official visit to the Philippines that is expected to further strengthen diplomatic relations between the country and the sovereign religious lay group.

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Mindanao cardinal flying to Japan as pope’s envoy at 4-day event

A Mindanao-based prelate is heading to Japan this month to represent Pope Francis at a four-day Christian event, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said Sunday.

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Sen. Revilla likely to ask court for permission to visit son Jolo in hospital – lawyer

The camp of Senator Bong Revilla Jr. will likely file a motion asking the Sandiganbayan for permission to visit his son, Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla whom the family says accidentally shot himself while cleaning a gun on Satruday morning.

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LOOK: Mamasapano clash site inspection in pictures

The Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry went to Mamasapano town in Maguindanao this week to inspect the site where 44 PNP Special Action Force troopers were killed during a law-enforcement operation on Jan. 25.

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Toll in clashes with Abu Sayyaf in Sulu rises to 26

A military assault on Islamic militants in the southern Philippines entered its fifth day on Saturday, with the toll rising to 24 guerrillas and two soldiers dead, officials said.

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Enrile’s daughter: We will let court decide on house arrest proposal

Following proposals of some senators for Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile to be placed under house arrest, the 91-year-old senator's daughter said the family will just let the Sandiganbayan decide on the matter.

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Palace on Pacquiao tax exemption: What about other athletes?

What about other athletes? Malacañang posed this question Saturday in response to proposals to exempt Filipino boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao from paying taxes in his May 2 bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

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Do part to prevent fires, Palace asks public, LGUs on eve of fire prevention month

On the eve of the start of Fire Prevention Month, Malacañang appealed to local government units – and the public – to do their part to prevent fires.

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Palace: No need to consolidate findings on Mamasapano incident

At least for now, Malacañang sees no need to consolidate the findings of various investigations into the clash that killed 44 Special Action Force troopers and 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

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Palace: Let court decide on house arrest for Enrile

The Sandiganbayan will have the final say on whether Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile should be allowed house arrest, Malacañang said Saturday.

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Palace: After 29 years, PCGG work not quite done yet

As it marked its 29th anniversary on Saturday, the Presidential Commission on Good Government has not quite completed its work, Malacañang said Saturday.

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Jinggoy asks Sandiganbayan to lift freeze order on his assets

Detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday asked the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court to reverse its earlier ruling to temporarily freeze P183.793 million worth of his assets pending the resolution of of his plunder and graft cases.

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Napeñas recommended to keep AFP out of loop on Mamasapano op

Oplan Exodus, the Special Action Force (SAF) mission to serve warrants of arrest against three international terrorists hiding in Mamasapano, was a closely-kept secret between the SAF's commander, the chief of the Philippine National Police, and the President.

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Prosecution wants PNP to explain Bong Revilla's presence in JPE's party

Government prosecutors on Friday asked the Sandiganbayan's First Division to order key officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to submit a report on the alleged unauthorized movement of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to the PNP General Hospital on February 14 to attend Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile's 91st birthday party.

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Armed Forces defends deployment of US surveillance aircraft in Pampanga

The Philippine Armed Forces on Friday defended the deployment of US surveillance aircraft at the former US air base in Clark airfield in Pampanga, arguing that the deployment was meant to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.

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Tingting Cojuangco clarifies statement vs. niece Kris

Former Tarlac Governor Margarita "Tingting" Cojuangco has clarified her statement that she will "leave the country" if ever her niece, actress Kris Aquino, runs for public office in the province, a report on "24 Oras" said.

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Sandiganbayan to compel PNP General Hospital to explain Enrile’s transfer to Makati Med

The Third Division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan said it will order the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital to explain on Monday why it transferred Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to the Makati Medical Center (MMC) before dawn last Thursday.

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Some Muslim groups oppose all-out war vs. BIFF

Some Muslims groups have expressed opposition to the military's all-out offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a report on “24 Oras” said Friday.

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Keep graduation rites simple, DepEd reminds schools

The Department of Education on Friday stressed that graduation ceremonies at public schools should be meaningful but simple.

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Hollande says PHL a prime example for climate change awareness

On his second day in the country, French President François Hollande said the Philippines is a perfect example of how climate change affects everyone, citing what happened in Samar during the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda, a report on GMA News TV's “Balita Pilipinas” said Friday.

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Enrile's health got worse at PNP Hospital – lawyers

Lawyers of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile said their client's condition got worse due to his continued detention in a government hospital that "does not have the complete facilities and equipment" that to address the 91-year-old senator's medical needs.

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Pemberton named witness in own murder trial

US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton has been named witness in his own murder trial for the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude in Olongapo City last year.

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Palace reminds anti-PNoy groups: Know bounds of free speech

As progressive groups started their protest near Malacañang, a Palace official reminded groups calling for President Benigno Aquino III’s resignation to know the bounds of free speech.

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Sandiganbayan justice scolds ‘pork’ scam witness over conflicting statements

A witness in the alleged P10-billion pork barrel fund scam got a dressing down from one of the justices of the Sandiganbayan for the conflicting details she provided the anti-graft court during her testimony on Friday.

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Enrile condition improves, says son

Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile's condition has slightly improved though he is still on antibiotics as of Friday.

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Palace: Executive clemency recommendations still under review

Malacañang on Friday said President Benigno Aquino III’s office is still reviewing other recommendations for executive clemency, after a 91-year-old inmate from the Women's Correctional facility was granted parole.

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New AFP-BIFF firefight delays DOJ inspection of Mamasapano clash site

(Updated 3:57 p.m.) A new encounter between the military and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Datu Unsay, Maguindanao before noon Friday has stalled a site inspection by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and the National Bureau of Investigation.

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15 SAF survivors ‘mentally healthy’ to return to duty –PNP spokesman

Fifteen policemen who survived last month's bloody Mamasapano clash are now deemed “mentally healthy” to perform their law enforcement duties, a police spokesman said Friday.

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AFP chief extends condolences to kin of soldiers killed in Ilocos Sur ambush

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. on Friday extended his condolences to the families of the soldiers killed in Ilocos Sur during an encounter with New People's Army Thursday night.

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Answered prayer: Thanks to Pope, oldest inmate in Women’s Correctional gets freedom

A 91-year-old inmate from the Women's Correctional facility, whose freedom no less than Pope Francis had prayed for right before his visit to the Philippines last January, has finally walked out of prison a free woman.

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PNoy not suppressing details of Mamasapano mission –Palace

President Benigno Aquino III is not trying to suppress details of the deadly January 25 Mamasapano mission, as accused by an administration lawmaker, Malacañang said Friday.

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Ex-national security adviser Almonte wanted Honasan to be PHL president

Senator Gregorio Honasan II could have been the president of the Philippines if then national security adviser Jose Almonte had his way.

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