Trillanes urges PNoy, SC to suspend K to 12 program

Administration ally Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday urged President Benigno Aquino III and the Supreme Court to suspend the implementation of the K to 12 education program.

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Local execs told to prepare for ‘Betty’

Even as Tropical Storm Betty (Bavi) has weakened into a tropical depression, local officials in the northeastern part of Luzon have been advised to still prepare for the weather disturbance.

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GPH panel blinded with excess optimism for peace process, urged to finally stand for the gov’t —Senate draft report

The government peace panel has been blinded with an excess of optimism for the peace process that hindered it to negotiate a fair agreement for the government, a draft Senate committee report released Tuesday stated.

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MILF respects Senate Mamasapano report, but insists on independent probe

COTABATO CITY – The chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Wednesday said that while they respect the Senate report on the bloody Mamasapano clash, they would rather have an independent group to look into the incident which left over 60 people dead.

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Members of House panel on BBL seek postponement of executive sessions

At least 39 of the 75-member ad hoc committee tackling the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the House of Representatives have signed a manifesto calling for the postponement of next month's closed-door deliberations on the measure until the chamber revives its probe into the Mamasapano police operation.

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DOJ investigates 2nd set of Ampatuan massacre suspects

More than five years after the November 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre, the Department of Justice was again conducting a preliminary investigation on the infamous killings, this time, however, involving a new set of suspects.

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Napeñas to submit informant's video to Ombudsman

Former Special Action Force (SAF) commander Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. will submit the secretly taken video of terrorists Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman to the Ombudsman to prove that,Operation Plan Exodus was not a suicide mission.

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Peace talks may have shaped AFP's actions during Mamasapano clash – Senate report

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Lawmaker asks PNoy to convene natl security council to address Sino aggression

A party-list lawmaker has urged President Benigno Aquino III to convene the National Security Council immediately amid China’s creeping aggression in reclaiming areas in the West Philippine Sea.

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Some legal eagles disagree with Sec. de Lima stand on Binay TRO

Several legal experts said disagree with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima's position that the halt order against Makati Mayor Junjun Binay's suspension has no legal effect.

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Napeñas administratively liable for grave misconduct for following Purisima

Former PNP-Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas may be held administratively liable for continuing to coordinate efforts to neutralize Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and other suspected terrorists with then suspended PNP chief Director-General Alan Purisima, the Senate joint committee on the Mamasapano incident has said.

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Lacson says PNoy should apologize over Mamasapano incident

Former Senator Panfilo Lacson believes President Benigno Aquino III should apologize for the January 25 Mamasapano incident where over 60 people, including 44 policemen on a covert mission to arrest two suspected terrorists, were killed.

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Senate Report on Mamasapano: Do not dictate to me what to do. I am the commander here!' said Gen. Pangilinan to American involved in Mamasapano

The Senate report on the Mamasapano clash said one of six Americans involved in the Mamasapano assault ordered the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division commander, Major General Edmundo Pangilinan, to fire artillery, but Pangilinan refused and reportedly told the American: “Do not dictate to me what to do. I am the commander here!”

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PNoy could have done more to save SAF troopers – Senate report

President Benigno Aquino III "could have done more" to ensure that help reached the Philippine National Police's elite troopers during the Mamasapano encounter, the Senate's executive summary report on the incident said.

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IN SUMMARY: The Senate joint committee’s findings on the Mamasapano incident

After several public hearings and executive sessions, the committee found flaws and questions of accountability, including those of President Benigno Aquino III, resigned PNP chief Director-General Alan Purisima and relieved PNP-Special Action Force director Director Getulio Napeñas.

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Senators to PNoy: Prosecute those who killed the SAF 44

“The burden now lies with the Executive – no less than the President himself – to ensure that all the members of the armed groups who took the lives of our policemen are brought before the bar of justice and are punished for their crimes,” the Senate said in its report on the Mamasapano incident.

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AFP: We did our best to help SAF troopers with limited info

The military did its best to provide the Philippine National Police's Special Action Force with support during the January 25 Mamasapano clash despite the limited information and time they had, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Tuesday.

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Belmonte: PNoy’s common sense to involve Purisima in Mamasapano not impeachable

President Benigno Aquino III’s decision to meet with then-suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director-General Alan Purisima to discuss the Mamasapano police operation may be a lapse in judgment but is far from an impeachable offense, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said. He even said it was "common sense" to involve Purisima in the operation to neutralize suspected terrorists in Mamasapano because of his vast knowledge as regards the hunt for Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.

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1,419 pass Medical Technologist Licensure Exam –PRC

A total of 1,419 out of 1,942 passed the Medical Technologist Licensure Examination given in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cebu and Davao this month, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Tuesday.

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Grace Poe: Up to Congress to hold PNoy accountable through impeachment

The ball is now in the hands of the congressmen as regards holding President Benigno Aquino III accountable over the Mamasapano incident which cost the lives of more than 60 people in late January, Sen. Grace Poe said on Tuesday.

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De Lima says TRO vs. Junjun Binay suspension has no legal effect

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday said the temporary restraining order issued by the Court of Appeals (CA) against the suspension of Makati Vice Mayor Junjun Binay is "without legal force and effect because it is already moot and academic."

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Pulse Asia presidential poll: VP Binay still top choice, Duterte debuts at 3rd

Vice President Jejomar Binay is still the top choice for the country’s next president with over a year before the 2016 national polls, a Pulse Asia poll revaled Tuesday.

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Napeñas gave inconsistent statements regarding US role in Mamasapano mission –Poe

Director Getulio Napeñas Jr., the relieved Special Action Force (SAF) commander, gave contradicting statements during the Senate investigation on the January 25 Mamasapano incident.

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Purisima showed intent to defy suspension in overseeing Mamasapano ops

The actions of then suspended Philippine National Police chief Director-General Alan Purisima during the planning and execution of Oplan Exodus showed his clear and manifest intent to defy the order of the Ombudsman, a draft report of a Senate committee showed Tuesday.

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Senate OKs resolution urging govt peace panel to secure copy of MILF report on Mamasapano

The Senate on Tuesday approved a resolution directing and requesting the government peace panel to secure a copy of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's report on the bloody Mamasapano clash.

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PNP defends PNoy, says Napeñas ‘most responsible’ for Mamasapano ops

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday defended President Benigno Aquino III after Senator Grace Poe said the President could be impeached for his role in the Mamasapano operation last January 25.

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Senate panel’s logic makes judge in Marwan case liable for Mamasapano —Purisima

Resigned Philippine National Police chief Director-General Alan Purisima on Tuesday countered the finding of the Senate on the Mamasapano clash, maintaining that he did not perform official functions while serving his preventive suspension.

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Junjun Binay’s lawyers want Roxas, others cited in contempt

Suspended Makati Mayor Junjun Binay on Tuesday asked the Court of Appeals to cite Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and other officials in contempt for defying a temporary restraining order against his suspension.

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PHL transmits new batch of crucial documents vs. China to The Hague tribunal

The Philippines submitted on Monday a crucial document containing additional volumes of arguments, evidence and maps seeking to nullify China’s sweeping claim over the resource-rich South China Sea.

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Palace: After ratings drop, PNoy still won’t apologize for Mamasapano debacle

More explanations, but no apology. This is how Malacañang plans to rebound from President Benigno Aquino III’s record-low trust and approval ratings following the bloody January 25 Mamasapano operation, which left over 60 people dead.

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Ombudsman says TRO on Junjun Binay suspension ‘moot and academic’

The temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Court of Appeals against the suspension of Makati Mayor Junjun Binay came out too late, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.

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Poe to MILF: Go beyond agreement to show sincerity in peace process

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front needs to prove that it remains worthy partner in building the peace in Southern Philippines, Sen. Grace Poe said on Tuesday afternoon while presenting the findings of the Senate inquiry on the Mamasapano incident.

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Chief govt negotiator to legislators: Keep BBL issue away from politics

The head of the government peace panel on Tuesday called on lawmakers, including those opposed to the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), to look into the issue beyond possible interests related to next year's local and national elections.

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GPH, MILF peace panel affirm Iqbal, Murad carry PHL passports

The chairperson of the government peace panel, as well as a member of its counterpart at the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), affirmed Tuesday that the ranking leaders of the organization carry Philippine passports.

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Poe sides with AFP on Mamasapano artillery support issue

Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday sided with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) regarding the issue of artillery support in the January 25 Mamasapano incident, saying that the military could not have provided it without ample preparation.

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Ex-lawmaker denies endorsing Napoles NGOs

Former APEC party-list Rep. Edgar Valdez on Tuesday denied before the court that he endorsed non-government organizations linked to alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

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PNoy ultimately responsible for Mamasapano massacre —Senate panel

President Benigno Aquino III is responsible for the results of the Mamasapano operation for allowing the then suspended Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima to be involved in overseeing the mission to neutralize suspected terrorists in alleged territory of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

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PNP says no stopovers for Jinggoy during trip to attend son's graduation

The Philippine National Police on Tuesday assured the public that there would be no stopovers for Sen. Jinggoy Estrada during his trip to attend his son's high school graduation.

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Admin senators urge Malacañang to prevent further slide in Aquino ratings

Admitting that the Mamasapano incident was the cause of the drop in President Benigno Aquino III's trust and approval ratings, senators allied with the administration on Tuesday urged Malacañang to move to prevent the ratings from declining further.

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Escudero says Senate committee report on Mamasapano ops is complete

Senator Francis Escudero on Tuesday described as complete the report on the Senate probe on the Mamasapano operation which is set to be released in the afternoon.

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Educational assistance sought for dependents of members of law enforcement agencies

Acting Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III has filed a bill seeking educational assistance and benefits for the dependents of the members of law enforcement agencies who are killed or permanently incapacitated while performing their duty.

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CIDG to file raps vs. ex-BIFF vice chair Tambako

The PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) is set to file criminal charges against former BIFF vice president and Justice for Islamic Movement founder Mohamad Ali Tambako and five others following their arrest over the weekend.

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PNoy gets lowest approval, trust ratings after Mamasapano debacle

President Benigno Aquino III received his lowest trust and approval ratings since assuming the presidency in 2010 after the bloody January 25 Mamasapano operation which left over 60 people dead, pollster Pulse Asia said Tuesday.

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PNoy visits wake of soldiers killed in Maguindanao

More than a month after drawing flak for skipping the arrival honors for 44 police commandos killed during the January 25 Mamasapano clash, President Benigno Aquino III quietly visited on Monday night the wake of soldiers killed in Maguindanao.

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Video of terrorists proves Oplan Exodus was well-planned – Napeñas lawyer

Video secretly taken of terrorists Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan, Basit Usman, and Amin Baco proved that the Special Action Force operation to arrest the suspects was well planned, SAF Director Getulio Napeñas' lawyer, Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre, said on Monday.

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Video shows Marwan and Usman in alleged terror hideout

International terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan, the main target of the Mamasapano operation of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force on Jan. 25, was planning a series of bomb atttacks in North Cotabato, GMA News' "24 Oras" reported on Monday.

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VACC dares PNoy to take psych test

In a press statement, VACC founding chairman and president Dante Jimenez said President Benigno Aquino III's actuations before, during and after the Mamasapano incident exposed his alleged incompetence in making sound decisions under stress.

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PNoy not the commander-in-chief of the PNP but still accountable for Mamasapano —lawyer

While Malacañang and some cabinet officials has already cleared Pres. Benigno Aquino III of any liability in the bloody Mamasapno incident, Attorney Antonio La Viña, dean of the Ateneo De Manila School of Government said Aquino was still accountable for "misencounter."

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Akbayan's Bello urges PNoy to take responsibility for Mamasapano in farewell speech

Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello toned down the stinging criticism he originally planned to give President Benigno Aquino III in his final privilege speech and instead appealed to the chief executive to accept responsibility for the Mamasapano tragedy.

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Vice Mayor Peña: Makati leadership issue not yet over

After serving as acting Makati mayor for only less than three hours on Monday, Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña hinted that he's not giving up hope on becoming the city's highest official.

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