Former Corona spokesperson is VP Binay’s next

One of impeached former Chief Justice Renato Corona's spokespersons will soon be speaking for Vice President Jejomar Binay, the official's camp said on Wednesday.

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New DOTC tool vs. colorum vehicles: Yellow license plates

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on Wednesday launched new yellow license plates as part of its efforts to eliminate colorum vehicles.

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DFA launches digital pamphlet about West PHL Sea

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released on Wednesday a digital pamphlet about the West Philippine Sea as an "accessible and comprehensible" resource material on the contested area.

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Another petition vs 2015 budget filed with SC

Another petition has been filed with the Supreme Court seeking to declare as unconstitutional the P2.606-trillion national budget approved by President Benigno Aquino III last month.

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DOJ: Manila court junks drug convict’s plea vs. transfer

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday said a Manila court has junked a plea from a Bilibid inmate contesting his transfer to the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Manila.

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De Lima ready to face raps over Bilibid inmates’ transfer

Despite being sued before a commission she once headed, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima maintains there was nothing illegal in the transfer of 19 high-profile New Bilibid Prison inmates to the National Bureau of Investigation compound.

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Solon wants to hike P200 fine for indiscriminate firing

A former police official and incumbent lawmaker wants to increase the P200 fine for indiscriminate firing to discourage owners from firing their guns for no acceptable reason.

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Palace considers Bilibid raids ‘effective’ despite NBI security breach

Although high-profile inmates still managed to smuggle money after being transferred to new detention cells, Malacañang on Wednesday said the raids in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) can still be considered “effective.”

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Jinggoy insists on need to post bail

Detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday urged the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division to grant his earlier motion to set a fix amount for his temporary freedom, despite the ongoing hearing of his bail petition.

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House to probe PNP’s ability to trace indiscriminate firing cases

Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said the PNP’s ability to go after perpetrators of indiscriminate firing and other gun-related crimes has been limited because only two Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) have been bought for the crime laboratory.

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Cayetano: ‘I still dream of changing the country’

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano still has his eyes on the presidency despite his low ranking in some surveys.

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CA upholds Celdran’s conviction for ‘offending religious feelings’

The Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Manila tour guide and reproductive health advocate Carlos Celdran for "offending religious feelings" when he disrupted an ecumenical service at the Manila Cathedral in September 2010 to protest the Catholic Church's opposition to the then Reproductive Health Bill.

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CA upholds Celdran’s conviction for ‘offending religious feelings’

The Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Manila tour guide and reproductive health advocate Carlos Celdran for "offending religious feelings" when he disrupted an ecumenical service at the Manila Cathedral in September 2010 to protest the Catholic Church's opposition to the then Reproductive Health Bill.

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DOTC execs should resign if they fail to fully explain MRT, LRT fare hikes –Cayetano

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday said transportation and other concerned government officials should resign if they fail to fully explain the recently implemented fare increases on the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit.

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Palace on rise in HIV cases: Some just don’t follow safe way of doing it

After health officials reported more cases of Filipinos with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Malacañang on Wednesday maintained that the government did not let up in the fight against the virus that may progress to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

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Solons demand P6B refund from Manila Water, Maynilad before hiking rates

Manila Water and Maynilad should first refund their customers the more than P6 billion collected for unimplemented water projects before hiking fees, Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate said Wednesday.

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NDRRMC: Seniang death toll goes up further to 65

The death toll from Tropical Storm Seniang went up further to 65 as of Wednesday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

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Little Swiss Guards to welcome Pope Francis at Manila Cathedral

Several young boys dressed as Swiss Guards will welcome Pope Francis when he arrives at the Manila Cathedral next Friday to celebrate mass.

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P600B needed for AFP modernization —Defense Usec.

A Defense official on Wednesday disclosed that the military needs at least P600 billion for the modernization of the country's armed forces.

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PNoy sees 2015 as chance to showcase PHL on world stage

For President Benigno Aquino III, 2015 is a “pivotal” year for the Philippines, as the government would have a chance to project the country in the international arena, while preparing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation-World Leaders’ Summit in November.

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Pinoys’ faith caught Pope’s attention even before Yolanda, says Jesuit researcher

The Filipinos' Catholic faith may have drawn Pope Francis to visit the country even before the Bohol earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda, a seminarian researching on his life said Wednesday.

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Solon wants police to stop naming criminal gangs after towns, ethnic groups

A lawmaker wants to put an end to police authorities’ practice of naming criminal gangs after their hometown or ethnic community, saying the reputation of innocent townsfolk shouldn’t be soiled just because of the sins committed by a few.

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NDRRMC: Storm Seniang death toll up to 57; missing boy found alive

The death toll from Tropical Storm Seniang rose to 57 as of Tuesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

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Pope Francis wanted to meet Yolanda survivors as soon as he could

Pope Francis was originally scheduled to visit the Philippines in January 2016 instead of this month, but the devastation supertyphoon Yolanda left changed that. "Lagi niyang sinubaybayan yung paguunlad ng rehabilitation process ng Yolanda-affected areas. Naramdaman niya bilang pastor na kailangan siyang lumapit sa mga tao,” said Fr. Luciano Felloni, who had then Fr. Jorge Bergoglio as priest-confesor.

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Miriam Santiago still has most number of bills and resolutions filed

Despite her failure to attend most of the Senate sessions and hearings due to her battle with lung cancer, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago was able to file the most number of bills and resolutions among her colleagues.

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Trillanes: Agencies probing VP Binay for graft in housing projects

Government agencies are investigating Vice President Jejomar Binay of unduly making money from the government's housing projects, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has said.

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Senate to probe lifestyles of the rich and convicted inside Bilibid

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has sought a probe on the alleged special treatment of high-profile inmates and their illegal activities inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

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Bilibid inmates’ kin sue De Lima for alleged rights violations

Relatives of the high-profile inmates removed from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) following a surprise raid last month have filed a human rights violation case against Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

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Militant solon sees red over US Navy drone found in Quezon

A member of the militant bloc in the House of Representatives has criticized the alleged presence of US military drones in the country as suggested by the recent recovery in Quezon of an unarmed US Navy drone.

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Laude family contests Pemberton’s plea before DOJ

The camp of slain transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude on Tuesday asked the Department of Justice to dismiss a plea from US Marine Lance Corporal contesting his murder indictment.

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Gloria Arroyo asks Sandiganbayan anew to grant her bail

Former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has asked the Sandiganbayan anew to reconsider her appeal to be granted bail, saying her continued detention “result in the impairment of her health and will endanger her life.”

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Though ailing, Rolito Go won’t get executive clemency –BuCor chief

President Benigno Aquino III is expected to extend executive clemency to old and terminally ill convicts from the New Bilibid Prison in time for the five-day visit of Pope Francis later this month. Murder convict Rolito Go, however, though suffering from Stage 4 cancer, will not be among them.

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Ex-First Gentleman Mike Arroyo seeks court OK to travel to Japan, Hong Kong

The camp of former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo is seeking the nod of the Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division for him to be allowed to travel to Japan and Hong Kong later this month.

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Wife contests transfer of hubby-inmate accused of owning 2-storey house inside Bilibid

The wife of an inmate accused of owning a two-storey house inside New Bilibid Prison grounds in Muntinlupa has contested before the Supreme Court the transfer of his husband to the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila.

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Palace still trusts Comelec, PCOS machines amid issues on repair deal

Malacañang still trusts the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the use of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines for the 2016 polls despite issues being raised on the contract to refurbish these machines.

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Anti-MRT fare hike protesters throw red paint at PNoy, Abaya photos

Militants on Tuesday hurled red paint at portraits of President Benigno Aquino III and Transportation Secretary Jose Emilio Abaya to protest the fare hikes for the Light and Metro Rail Transit systems.

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AFP chief Catapang on securing Pope Francis: The devil is in the details

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. on Tuesday said the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines on January 15 to 19 may be the "greatest security challenge" the military will face this year.

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DOH records 146 cases of eye injuries due to firecrackers

The Department of Health has tallied 146 cases of eye injuries due to the use of illegal fireworks as of Tuesday morning.

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No contract awarded to Smartmatic for PCOS repair –Comelec chief

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to enter into a contract with Smartmatic-Total Information Management (TIM) for the refurbishment of 82,000 voting counting machines, although it has approved the consortium's proposal to examine the equipment for possible glitches, chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Tuesday.

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No consular services in NCR during Papal visit –DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said its satellite offices in the National Capital Region will be closed from January 15 to 19, 2015 in accordance with Proclamation No. 936.

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Cops assigned to secure Pope Francis start crowd control training

Police personnel assigned to secure Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines have started training on crowd control techniques.

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Group to ask SC to keep Smartmatic away from PCOS repair contract

An election watchdog plans to ask the Supreme Court to stop the Commission on Elections from contracting Smartmatic- Total Information Management (TIM) for the repair of its Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines.

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Pope Francis ‘to go around’ Luneta to bless crowd before concluding mass

Pope Francis is expected to go around Luneta before the concluding mass for his visit in keeping with his custom of "greeting" the crowd at papal events, a church official said Monday.

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Manila to close roads around Pope Francis’ home in Manila

The City Government of Manila will close roads around the Apostolic Nunciature, Pope Francis' official residence during hist visit to the Philippines, GMA News' "24 Oras" reported on Monday.

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Peace talks with CPP-NPA-NDF must be ‘time-bound, doable’ – Palace

The Philippine government does not want talks with communist rebels to drag on without progress, a Palace spokesman said Monday at the prospect of a return to the peace table.

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NBI chief calls bureau a failure after inmates smuggle cash into jail

The head of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Virgilio Mendez called his own agency "a failure" after high-profile inmates taken out of the New Bilibid Prison managed to sneak in large sums of money while inside their detention cells at the NBI headquarters in Manila.

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PNP: 62 stray bullet incidents during holidays cause 44 injuries, 1 death

The Philippine National Police on Monday revealed that there were at least 62 stray bullet incidents during the just-concluded holiday season, resulting in 44 reported injuries and one death.

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Govt planning pardon for sick, elderly inmates before Pope’s visit

The Department of Justice is drawing up a list of inmates who would be recommended to receive executive clemency from President Benigno Aquino III before Pope Francis arrives in the country for a five-day visit a week from now. De Lima said elderly inmates and those who are terminally ill would get prioritized by the President.

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Laude camp wants judge in murder case out

Public prosecutors on Monday filed a motion to recuse Olongapo City Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde from the Jeffrey (Jennifer) Laude murder case.

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BoC seizes P400-M shabu from Hong Kong

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Monday seized P400 million worth of high-grade methamphethamine hydrochloride or "shabu" from Hong Kong.

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