National

PHL needs modern firearms to fight ISIS, Duterte tells Putin

(Reuters) — President Rodrigo Duterte told Russian leader Vladimir Putin late Tuesday (May 23) that the Philippines needs modern arms to fight Islamic State and that he expected Russian support. Duterte also said he had to halt his visit to Moscow and return home as there was still fighting with militants there. The Maute group is touted to have links with ISIS. “I have to go home because I should be there at this time. […]

President Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law Tuesday across Mindanao, after deadly clashes between security forces and Islamic State group-linked militants in a major city. The announcement, made by his spokesperson at a press conference in Moscow where Duterte was on an official visit, fulfills an often-repeated warning by the president that he would enforce military rule to quell security threats. Duterte placed the region, which makes up roughly one third of the country and is […]

News in photos: President Duterte now in Moscow

    (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Moscow late Monday night (early Tuesday dawn Manila time) to begin his five-day official visit to the Russian Federation, upon the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Duterte, arrived with his high-level delegation in Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport, and is welcomed by Russian officials. The President is scheduled to meet with the Russian leaders, President Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. He is also set […]

1 policeman killed, eight wounded in clashes in Marawi

(Eagle News) — One policeman was killed and eight others were injured in clashes between the authorities and armed Maute rebels in Marawi City. General Eduardo Año, Armed Forces of the Philippines head, disclosed this in a phone interview with CNN Philippines on Tuesday night. “Eight ang wounded. Sa (Philippine National Police) meron na tayong isang officer na namatay,” Año, who is part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s official delegation in Moscow, Russia, said. According to Año, the firefight ensued […]

Military forces hunt top IS-linked militant in Marawi

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Philippine security forces hunting one of the world’s most-wanted Islamist militants were battling gunmen in a southern city on Tuesday, authorities said. Isnilon Hapilon, a leader of the infamous Abu Sayyaf kidnapping-for-ransom gang who the Islamic State group has appointed its Philippine chief, was believed to be among those fighting police and soldiers in Marawi city, regional military spokeswoman Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay told AFP. “Right now we are conducting a surgical […]

Marawi Mayor Gandamra: Military and armed rebels in ongoing firefight in Marawi

(Eagle News) — Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra confirmed on Tuesday that a firefight was ongoing between the military and armed rebels in the city. The mayor could not confirm reports however that the rebel group involved was the Maute group, and that the group had raised the Islamic State flag at a local hospital. “Meron pong mga area na mayroong presence of this group na di pa naaabot ng authorities dahil gumagawa sila ng action […]

President Duterte shows off Philippine watch in trip to Russia, asks gov’t employees to promote and wear local products

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte encouraged government workers to wear products that are locally made. He also showed off the watch he was wearing, which he said was Philippine-made. “I’m wearing a truly Filipino product. It’s called Ibarra,” he said. “It’s an elegant watch, very nice and I’m going to wear it proudly as a Philippine product.” The President said he will be wearing it even during his visit to Russia. […]

Magdalo not yet ready to file case against Duterte at ICC – Alejano

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — Magdalo Party-list representative Gary Alejano has admitted that his group has not yet prepared any other complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte. Alejano said that the Magdalo party-list has yet to decide whether to push through with the filing of the complaint against the President with the International Criminal Court or not. After the House of Representatives dismissed Alejano’s impeachment complaint, Alejano said that he would file the complaint on the ground that the […]

Work from home act, pinal nang pinagtibay sa Senado

Ni Meanne Corvera Eagle News Service Pinal nang pinagtibay ng Senado ang panukalang telecommuting act o work from home program. Dalawamput dalawang senador ang pumabor sa Senate bill 1363, na inakda nina Senador Cynthia Villar at Joel Villanueva at layong hikayatin ang mga kumpanya na payagan ang kanilang mga empleyado na magtrabaho sa bahay. Ito ay para maibsan ang matinding traffic lalo na sa Metro Manila. Sa ilalim ng panukala, ginagarantyahan na rin ang kaparatan ng mga home-based worker sa […]

DoTr, pinag-aaralang isapribado ang maintenance ng MRT

Ni Meanne Corvera Eagle News Service Pinag-aaralan na ng Department of Transportation na isapribado na ang maintenance ng Metro Rail Transit at tuluyan nang i-terminate ang kontrata sa Busan Universal Rail Incorporated o Buri. Sa pagdinig ng Senate committee on public services, sinabi ni DoTr Undersecretary Cesar Chavez, ito’y dahil sa hindi pa rin maayos na sistema ng Buri sa pagmimintina sa mga tren. Katunayan, nakapag-overhaul aniya ang Buri ng dalawang tren pero batay sa kanilang kontrata, dapat makasunod sila sa hinihinging requirements na […]

Rep. Umali, tetestigo vs Sen. De Lima

(Eagle News) — Tetestigo si House Justice Committee Chairman Reynaldo Umali laban kay Senador Leila De Lima sa kasong disobedience to summons na nasa Branch 34 ng Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court. Sa June 9 itinakda ang unang araw ng paglilitis sa kaso  ni De Lima. Kinumpirma ni Umali na siya ang unang isasalang ng prosecution na saksi laban kay De Lima. Sinabi ng kongresista na hindi naman niya ito maaaring balewalain  dahil baka matulad […]

De Lima, hiniling na makadalo sa mga sesyon ng Senado 

(Eagle News) — Hiniling ni Senadora Leila De Lima kay Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel na suportahan ang petisyon niya sa korte na payagan siyang makadalo sa mga sesyon ng Senado upang makaboto sa mga importanteng panukalang batas. Sa kanyang liham kay Pimentel, sinabi ni De Lima na ang paminsan-minsang pagdalo sa sesyon na lamang ang pwede niyang gawin dahil may ruling na ang Korte Suprema laban sa mga mambabatas na makadalo sa lahat ng […]