Pope Francis sad over Mindanao attacks, sends sympathies

Pope Francis has sent his sympathies to the families of those who were killed in the attacks claimed by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters over the weekend.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Poe asks justices in SET case to recuse from disqualification cases in SC

Sen. Grace Poe on Tuesday asked three Supreme Court justices who are also members of the Senate Electoral Tribunal to recuse themselves from hearing the cases she filed to contest her disqualification in the May 2016 polls.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PHL out of top 20 list of deadliest countries for journalists

For the first time in eight years, the Philippines is not included in the list of the 20 deadliest countries for journalists.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PNoy trumpets achievements in New Year message

As President Benigno Aquino III celebrates his last New Year as the Philippines’ top leader, he expressed pride on how far the country has come in the last five years of his administration.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

SC issues amended TROs on Comelec's rulings vs. Poe

The Supreme Court on Tuesday announced that it is now also requiring the four complainants against Sen. Grace Poe's presidential bid to comment on the senator's petitions.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

LTFRB lifts ban on posting of political ads on passenger vehicles

Politicians running for public office can use buses, trains and jeepneys to advertise themselves starting next year after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) lifted the ban on the posting and display of election campaign materials on public utility vehicles (PUVs).
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Majority of Pinoys still hopeful for the new year

Nine out of 10 Filipinos will face the coming new year with hope despite challenges, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Stay away from boga, piccolo, DOH says

With only a few days before 2016, the Department of Health (DOH) has reminded the public to avoid using improvised toy guns or boga and the firecracker piccolo to mark the coming New Year.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PNoy’s ups and downs in 2015 starts and ends with Pope Francis

The first highlight of President Benigno Aquino III's last full year in office was meeting Pope Francis in Malacañang during the pontiff's visit to Manila.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Grace Poe confident SC will rule in her favor in DQ cases

Senator Grace Poe has expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will rule in her in her favor as regards her disqualification by the Commission on Elections.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Solon bats for stricter firecracker regulation over rewarding LGUs

Instead of rewarding LGUs with no recorded firecracker-related injuries for the New Year, a lawmaker urged authorities Monday to step up the campaign against the use of illegal firecrackers and go after vendors of these products.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PNoy declares non-working holiday in some provinces in January 2016

President Benigno Aquino III issued several proclamations declaring special non-working holidays in several provinces in January 2016 for the celebration of their respective founding anniversaries.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

SC TRO on Poe DQ has little effect on Comelec preps —spokesman

The temporary restraining orders issued by the Supreme Court against the Commission on Elections' rulings disqualifying Senator Grace Poe from next year's presidential elections is expected to have a minimal effect on the Comelec's preparations.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Group blames Chiz for Poe's disqualification, calls him 'boy laglag'

A group of self-described supporters of Sen. Grace Poe on Monday gathered in front of the Supreme Court to accuse her running mate, Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, of "abandoning" her following her disqualification by the Commission on Elections.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Poe accuser confident SC will uphold Poe's disqualification

Lawyer Estrella Elamparo on Monday said she still trusts the Supreme Court (SC) will uphold the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) decision to disqualify Sen. Grace Poe from the 2016 presidential race.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

AFP to youth protesters in West PHL Sea island: Think of better activities next time

The military on Monday recognized the gallantry and patriotism of the youth volunteers who camped out at the disputed Pagasa island in the West Philippine Sea, but reiterated its call for the group to think of “better activities” next time.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Supreme Court stops Poe’s disqualification from presidential polls

Senator Grace Poe might have received a belated Christmas present after the Supreme Court on Monday issued a temporary restraining order stopping the Commission on Elections from disqualifying the lawmaker from next year's presidential elections.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

China angered as Filipino protesters visit South China Sea island

BEIJING - China expressed anger on Monday after a group of Filipino protesters landed on a disputed Philippine-held island in the disputed South China Sea.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Duterte camp: Comelec en banc’s decision to accept COC ‘a death blow’ on petition vs. him

The camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the Comelec en banc's decision to accept his certificate of candidacy for president should lead to the dismissal of the petition filed against him and PDP-Laban's Martin Diño.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Firecracker-related incidents on the rise as New Year approaches

The number of firecracker-related incidents continues to increase as the New Year draws near, figures from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Health (DOH) show.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Grace Poe should be dropped from list of candidates –Tatad

Former Sen. Francisco Tatad has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to enforce the decision of its First Division to cancel the certificate of candidacy for president of Sen. Grace Poe.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Piccolo still cause of most firecracker-related injuries —DOH

Piccolo is still the biggest culprit for firecracker injuries recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) since December 21.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Grace Poe runs to SC to reverse DQ from May polls

Sen. Grace Poe rushed to the Supreme Court on the first working day after Christmas to contest the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) ruling disqualifying her from the 2016 presidential election.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

'Nuisance' Ely Pamatong petitions Comelec ruling

Nuisance presidential bet Ely Pamatong on Monday filed a petition against the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) decision disqualifying him from the 2016 presidential race.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

47 injuries due to firecrackers, stray bullets as of Sunday – PNP

As of December 27, a total of 47 incidents nationwide involving firecrackers and guns have been recorded by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Lawmaker wants fines vs. HMOs that don’t accept senior citizens as clients

Health maintenance organizations that refuse to sign up senior citizens as clients may be fined as much as P300,000 if a bill now pending in the House of Representatives becomes a law.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace denies watchdog’s claim that P3-T budget includes pork

Malacañang on Sunday denied a budget watchdog’s claim that the P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 is full of pork and lump sum appropriations.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Anti-China group sails to Philippine-held island

Almost 50 young Filipinos are camping on a remote Philippine-held island in the South China Sea in a symbolic stand against China's claim to most of the waterway, officials said Sunday.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace to monitor activities of youth group staying in disputed Spratlys

Malacañang on Sunday said it will monitor the activities of a group of youth volunteers who have traveled to the disputed Pag-Asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace urges Pinoys to welcome New Year without firecrackers

With only four days left in 2015, Malacañang on Sunday urged Filipinos to usher in 2016 without firecrackers to avoid injuries and to enjoy the New Year's festivities safe from any harm.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Palace belies claim CPP-NPA growing strong in Mindanao

Malacañang on Sunday belied the claim of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army that the rebels' influence in eastern Mindanao has been expanding.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Solon bats for creation of nat’l registry of sex offenders

A registry containing all relevant information about convicted sex offenders may soon be established if a bill filed in the House of Representatives becomes a law.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Lawmakers want gov't agencies to explain how revenues from sin tax are utilized

Two lawmakers have asked the House of Representatives to investigate the government’s alleged failure to allocate a considerable portion of the sin taxes it has collected for the universal health care program.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Gloria Arroyo back at VMMC after Xmas furlough

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is back at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center after spending her 3-day Christmas furlough at her house in La Vista subdivision in Quezon City.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

5 stray bullet victims recorded ahead of New Year revelry

Five people have been hit by stray bullets fired during the holiday season, the Philippine National Police said Saturday.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Dozens hurt in firecracker-related incidents during Christmas revelry

Dozens, mostly children, have been reported injured in firecracker-related incidents during Christmas revelries in different parts of the country.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Poe camp to seek SC reversal of Comelec ruling on Monday

The camp of Sen. Grace Poe will file next week a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the Commission on Elections ruling cancelling her certificate of candidacy for president.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

In Christmas message, Pope Francis calls for end to atrocities

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis urged the world in his Christmas message on Friday to unite to end atrocities by Islamist militants that he said were causing immense suffering in many countries.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Media group mourns death of Inquirer’s Magsanoc

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Friday paid tribute to Letty Jimenez Magsanoc, describing the late Philippine Daily Inquirer editor in chief as one who "stood firm in the constant struggle for a free and independent press to her last breath."  
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Sellers bank on 'AlDub,' 'Kalyeserye' to boost fireworks sale

Wary of a possible slump in sales of fireworks because of the increase in prices, sellers have found a way to boost their sales — by naming their products AlDub, the phenomenal Kapuso love team of Maine "Yaya Dub" Mendoza and Alden Richards.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PNoy spends Christmas Eve with sisters in Malacañang

President Benigno Aquino III spent Christmas Eve with his sisters and their respective families Thursday night at the Malacañan Palace.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

President Aquino condoles with family of Inquirer editor

President Benigno Aquino III issued a statement of offering his condolences to the family of Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, Philippine Daily Inquirer Editor-in-Chief, who passed away on Thursday evening.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PDI Editor in Chief writes 30

Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) Editor in Chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc passed away on Thursday.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Bishops urge govt, NDFP to resume formal peace talks

A day before Christmas, ecumenical bishops urged the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to resume formal peace talks, which have been stalled since 2011.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Passengers still flock to bus terminals, airports on Christmas Eve

A day before Christmas, passengers still flocked to bus terminals and airports, hoping to make it to their hometowns before Noche Buena. 
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Comelec en banc: 'We're not completely bound by SET ruling' on Grace Poe citizenship

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is "not completely bound" by the ruling of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET), which has declared Sen. Grace Poe as a natural-born Filipino, the poll body said.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Comelec chair asks Congress to grant foundlings natural-born status

Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista dissented in the two rulings that Comelec en banc issued on Wednesday to uphold the disqualification of Senator Grace Poe from next year's presidential elections.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

PNP records four firearms-related injuries ahead of New Year celebration

A week before the country ushers in the New Year, two individuals have already been injured by stray bullets while two more sustained injuries due to indiscriminate firing.  
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

Chiz scores Comelec for 'bullying' Poe

Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Thursday accused the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of "bullying" Sen. Grace Poe, his running mate in the 2016 elections, when it ruled that she is not qualified to run for president next year.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation

SWS: Number of Filipinos who expect happy Christmas highest in 12 years

Seven out of ten adult Filipinos expect a happy Christmas this year, the results of the Social Weather Stations Fourth Quarter Survey has shown. The survey also found that almost eight out of ten Filipinos, or a record-high 77 percent of the respondents, believe it is better to give than to receive.
Read the rest of the news GMA News Online / News / Nation