DILG challenges court TRO vs. Junjun Binay suspension

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is challenging the temporary restraining order issued by the Court of Appeals against the suspension order on Makati Mayor Junjun Binay in connection with corruption allegations.

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DBM: Bangsamoro law funds to benefit poorest provinces

Funds to be appropriated through the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will benefit some of the country’s poorest provinces, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) assured Monday.

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VP Binay will stay in Aquino Cabinet despite being ‘victim of politics’, UNA says

Vice President Jejomar Binay plans to remain in the Aquino Cabinet even if his political party believes he and his family are being persecuted with allegations of wrongdoing.

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Napoles ‘saved up’ for lawyer’s fees – whistleblower

A whistleblower in the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam on Monday said suspected pork scam brains Janet Lim-Napoles has set aside millions for her legal defense in anticipation that their scheme would be discovered.

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NBI, Immigration checking if Napoles daughter is back in PHL

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are already checking reports that the daughter of alleged pork barrel fund scam mastermind Janet Napoles has returned to the Philippines.

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Catapang denies SAF guns in AFP custody found their way to MILF

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang on Monday denied speculations that the military has turned over to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) the firearms of some of the injured and slain Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF) troopers.

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PNoy didn’t violate any law during Mamasapano mission –Palace

After countering the Board of Inquiry’s conclusion that President Benigno Aquino III broke the police’s chain of command during the Mamasapano mission, Malacañang on Monday continued to be on defense mode, this time asserting that Aquino didn’t do anything illegal during the mission.

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Sandiganbayan: Less than P8k left in Coronas' accounts

The sheriff's office of the Sandiganbayan has finished garnishing assets owned by the Corona couple in relation to their civil forfeiture case.

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DOJ can’t determine PNoy’s criminal liability in Mamasapano clash

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is not authorized to determine whether or not President Benigno Aquino III can be held criminally liable for the January 25 Mamasapano clash, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Monday.

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For kin yet to be heard: Opposition congressmen want to revive Mamasapabo probe

Opposition lawmakers are pushing for the resumption of the House of Representatives’ investigation on the Mamasapano incident even as the chairman of the ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) thinks reviving the probe will be redundant.

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Ejercito seeks Senate probe on alleged chopper deal anomaly

Opposition Senator JV Ejercito on Monday filed a resolution seeking an inquiry on the supposed anomalous procurement of 21 UH-1 combat helicopters by the Department of National Defense.

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SAF survivors irritable, won’t give testimony to CHR’s human rights probes

Survivors of the Mamasapano incident from the ranks of the Special Action Force have referred investigators from the Commission on Human Rights to the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry, GMA News reported on Monday.

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Junjun Binay welcomes TRO: ‘We are now moving forward’

Makati Mayor Junjun Binay on Monday welcomed the 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Court of Appeals on his suspension, saying it will now allow the city to "move forward."

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Bongbong Marcos sets BBL hearing in April but only with MILF report on Mamasapano

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday he planned to resume the hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law next month but only once the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has submitted a copy of its report on the Mamasapano operation.

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Trillanes says the buck stops not with PNoy but with Napeñas

Administration ally Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday challenged relieved Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napeñas Jr to be man enough and accept full responsibility on the result of the Mamasapano operation instead of pointing fingers.

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Palace defends MILF leaders on citizenship issue

Malacañang on Monday defended leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) from allegations that they are not Filipino citizens.

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Sandiganbayan allows Jinggoy to attend son’s graduation

The Sandiganbayan on Monday allowed Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to attend his son's high school graduation on Tuesday for the sake of the child's well-being.

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CA issues TRO vs. Junjun Binay suspension

The Court of Appeals on Monday stopped the Ombudsman from implementing its six-month suspension of Makati Mayor Junjun Binay over corruption allegations, according to a court insider.

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DepEd reaffirms commitment to safe schools

The Department of Education over the weekend reaffirmed its commitment to safe schools at an international meeting on disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Japan.

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Lotto bettor wins P10.41M in 6/42 draw

A lotto bettor won P10.41 million Saturday night in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office's Lotto 6/42 draw.

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Chinese forces may stay in West PHL Sea structures, lawmaker warns

Chinese forces might stay in the structures being built in the West Philippine Sea and block the ships that supply the Philippine Marines guarding the Ayungin Shoal, Magdalo party-list Rep. Francisco Ashley Acedillo said on Sunday.

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PHL calls on int'l community to press to stop reclamation in South China Sea

The Philippines has called on the international community to press for a stop to massive reclamation activities in the South China Sea that could increase tension in the disputed area.

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Marwan's death proof Oplan Exodus not defective, ex-SAF chief Napeñas says

Contrary to the findings of the PNP Board of Inquiry, former Special Action Force (SAF) chief Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. said the planning for Oplan Exodus was not defective.

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Iqbal denies that he and MILF chairman Murad own Malaysian passports

Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal has disputed the allegation that he and MILF chairman Al Haj Ebrahim Murad own Malaysian passports.

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PNoy at PMA rites: The Filipino people will continue what I started

The ones who will continue "what he started" when his term ends in 2016 will be the Filipino people, President Benigno Aquino III said in his speech at the 110th Philippine Military Academy graduation rites on Sunday.

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DENR appeals for water conservation during El Niño

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Saturday appealed to the public for water conservation amid El Niño, to help prevent waster shortage and forest fires.

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NDRRMC advises regional units to prepare for tropic storm

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Saturday instructed regional disaster management units to begin preparing for a tropical storm with the international name Bavi. Bavi is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility Tuesday morning.

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Widow of SAF 44 trooper: Blame must go beyond Napeñas

Roselle Nacino, widow of Special Action Force member PO2 Nicky Nacino, believes that liability for the Jan. 25 Mamasapano operation must fall on authorities higher than dismissed SAF commander Dir. Getulio Napenas Jr.

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MILF respects police findings on Mamasapano operation

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front said it respects the results of the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry's investigation into the encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25., "News TV Live" reported on Saturday.

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Aquino to lead 110th PMA graduation rites on Sunday

President Benigno Aquino III will lead the 110th graduation rites of the Philippine Military Academy at Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City on Sunday.

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Group calls on govt to pass law protecting children in natural disasters

In light of recent disasters, especially Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, a non-governmental organization urged the Philippine government to pass a law to protect children during calamities and other emergency situations.

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Lacson commends BOI report on Mamasapano clash

Former Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former national police chief, on Friday commended the Board of Inquiry for its report on the Mamasapano clash last January 25.

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Whistleblower drags Sotto, Legarda, Marcos into PDAF mess

Pork scam whistleblower Merlina Suñas mentioned new names in the latest bail hearing for alleged mastermind Janet Lim Napoles at the Sandiganbayan, GMA's “Saksi” reported Friday.

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SAF 44 remembered at PNPA alumni homecoming

The 44 elite Special Action Force commandos who died in the Mamasapano clash on January 25 were remembered during the Philippine National Police Academy's 35th Grand Alumni Homecoming on Saturday at Camp General Mariano Castaneda in Silang, Cavite.

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Palace on BOI report: PNoy had prerogative to deal directly with subordinates

Malacañang on Saturday downplayed a supposed violation of the chain of command when President Benigno Aquino III, Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima and Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napeñas planned and oversaw the execution of the Mamasapano operation on Jan. 25.

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Trust in government ‘has been affected’ – MILF chairman Murad

The trust that the largest Muslim guerrilla group in the Philippines has in the government has been eroded by a clash in January in which 44 police commandos and 18 rebels were killed, a rebel leader told Reuters in an interview this week.

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AFP: Officials declined BOI interviews as they already gave statements to Senate

Military officials declined to be interviewed by the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry investigating the Mamasapano clash because they have already given statements to the Senate during its probe, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Saturday.

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Public cannot trust LP members to run government competently – UNA

Due to its supposed pattern of incompetence and neglect in governance, public officials from the Liberal Party have lost the public's confidence, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) alleged on Friday.

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Inaccurate info from Purisima led to erroneous decisions – BOI report

Inaccurate information from then suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima led to "erroneous decisions" during the January 25 Mamasapano operation, according to the Board of Inquiry report on Mamasapano clash.

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Sereno asks Congress to do its utmost in making laws like the BBL

With congressional debate on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) currently suspended, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, during Friday's Manila Overseas Press Club forum in Makati, reminded both chambers of Congress to do an "excellent job" in their legislative mandate.

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BOI report says AFP commanders refused follow-up interviews

The Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry (BOI) that investigated the Mamasapano clash admitted that its investigation was limited by the refusal by "all concerned officers" of the Philippine Armed Forces to be further questioned.

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BOI: AFP considered peace process, protocols in withholding artillery support

The peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front was a factor in the Armed Forces of the Philippines' decision to withhold artillery support for the embattled members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force in Mamasapano on Jan. 25, the PNP Board of Inquiry said in its report.

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FULL TEXT: Command responsibility and the commanders responsible in Mamasapano

Records show that suspended CPNP Purisima participated in the communications and discussions relating to Oplan Exodus inspite of his suspension. A “de facto chain of command” seemed to have been created when, during his suspension, PDG Purisima communicated and reported directly to the President and continued to give advice, instructions and directions to Napeñas with respect to Oplan Exodus.

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Ateneo Senior High School to accept girls in school year 2016 to 2017

After being exclusive to boys for over 150 years, the Ateneo de Manila University's High School department will begin accepting girls next year.

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Makati vice mayor ready to take on city’s top post

Makati City Vice Mayor Romulo Peña Jr. who is poised to take over the city following Mayor Junjun Binay's suspension said he had no personal quarrels with the Binay family, a report from GMA's “24 Oras” said Friday.

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BOI affirms Napeñas faults in Mamasapano mission

The PNP Board of Inquiry into the Mamasapano incident affirmed the faults of sacked Special Action Force Dir. Getulio Napeñas Jr., who has been primarily blamed for the bloody encounter, particularly by President Benigno Aquino III and resigned PNP chief Director-General Alan Purisima.

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Witness recounts falling out between Napoles, Luy

A witness in the pork barrel scam on Friday recounted how the once harmonious relationship of Janet Lim-Napoles and her cousin Benhur Luy turned sour, prompting Luy to testify on the multibillion-peso fund scam allegedly masterminded by Napoles.

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PNoy to blame for coordinating with suspended Purisima – Napeñas lawyer

The camp of relieved Special Action Force commander P/Dir. Getulio Napeñas Jr. on Friday said President Benigno Aquino III, in the first place, should have not coordinated with suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima on the January 25 Mamasapano operation.

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Govt providing health, livelihood assistance to SAF 44 kin – Palace

The government has continued to provide health and livelihood assistance to family members of 44 police commandos killed during the January 25 Mamasapano encounter, Malacañang said Friday.

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BOI notes 'unusually long gap' in Purisima's transcript of SMS exchange with PNoy

The Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry noted the "unusually long gap" in the exchange of text messages between President Benigno Aquino III and resigned PNP chief Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima on January 25, when the Mamasapano clash was taking place.

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