National

Duterte to push through with land reform even without peace talks with Communist rebels

(Eagle  News)–President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, June 21, said he would push through with land reform even if peace talks with the Communist rebels will not continue. “With or without the talks with the communist, I will go ahead and forge a good land reform until the end of my term,” the President said in a speech in Davao City. The President had already said he would push through with the reform even if he […]

DepEd won’t allow elementary students to undergo drug testing

(Eagle News) — The Department of Education (DepEd) said it won’t allow elementary students or grade school pupils to go through mandatory drug testing as proposed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Education Secretary Leonor Briones said they are still not convinced that a 10 year-old should undergo mandatory drug testing as children’s identities would become exposed to public scrutiny. “Hindi pa kami kumbinsido na 10 years old. Kasi ang 10 years old na […]

Muntinlupa court dismisses De Lima’s motion to quash drug case

  (Eagle News) — A Muntinlupa court junked on Friday, June 22, Senator Leila de Lima’s motion to quash the case of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading filed by the Department of Justice against her. Boni Tacardon, De Lima’s lawyer, said the Branch 206 judge junked the motion, which was filed after the court allowed the prosecution to amend its original charge of illegal drug trading, on a technicality. Despite the denial, De Lima’s […]

Proposed drug testing of Grade 4 students draws mixed reactions from senators

By Meanne Corvera Eagle News Service The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s proposal to conduct mandatory drug testings for teachers and Grade 4 students and up has drawn mixed reactions from senators. For Senator Panfilo Lacson, apart from the fact that the drug testing would help “the government’s prioritized efforts to curb drug addiction and trade, there is sufficient legal basis and jurisprudence in the conduct of random drug testing among junior and high school students.” […]

Panelo: Aquino should have been indicted for plunder or “at very least” graft and corruption over DAP

(Eagle News) — Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Friday, June 22, said former President Benigno Aquino III should have been indicted for plunder or “at the very least” graft and corruption over the disbursement acceleration program. Panelo made the statement after the Ombudsman filed a complaint of usurpation of authority–which carries a penalty of “temporary special disqualification” and imprisonment between six months and one day to six years— against the former president instead. According to […]

Sereno returns P5-million Land Cruiser to Supreme Court

(Eagle News) — Ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has returned her P5-million service vehicle to the Supreme Court. Sereno made the move days after the Supreme Court upheld its May 11 decision to nullify her appointment as Chief Justice. Lawyer Larry Gadon told Sereno off for what he said was the high cost of the vehicle, among other things, and filed an impeachment complaint against her on the basis of these allegations. Some of […]

1.5M na pamilyang Pilipino nagsabing biktima sila ng ‘common crimes’ – SWS survey

(Eagle News) — Umaabot sa 1.5 milyong pamilyang Pilipino ang nagsabing nabiktima sila ng tinatawag na ‘common crimes’ sa unang bahagi ng taon ayon sa datos na inilabas ng Social Weather Stations (SWS) nitong Huwebes, Hunyo 22. Ito ang lumabas sa survey na isinagawa ng SWS mula Marso 23 hanggang 27. Ayon dito, 6.6 percent ng pamilyang Pilipino ang nabiktima ng mga krimen tulad ng pagnanakaw, panloloob, physical violence at carnapping sa unang bahagi ng […]

Sison says gov’t “inconsistent, self-contradictory”

(Eagle News) — Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Maria Sison on Thursday, June 22, accused the government of being “inconsistent and self-contradictory.” Sison made the statement after the government announced a suspension of backchannel talks with them, pending a public consultation and a review of pacts reached by both sides during the negotiations. “It seems to wish that the gains and agreements made in the back channel talks be preserved but it has […]

Senador Sonny Angara, pinatitiyak sa mga paaralan na magkaroon ng program vs bullying

(Eagle News) — Nanawagan si Senador Sonny Angara sa Department of Education na tiyakin na may nakahandang programa ang mga paaralan ukol sa mga kaso ng bullying. Paliwanag ng senador, isa sa uri ng karahasan sa mga bata ang bullying kaya marapat lamang na ito ay mapigilan. Batay sa datos ng Department of Education, umaabos sa 19,672 kaso ng bullying sa pampubliko at pribadong elementarya at sekondaryang paaralan sa School Year 2016-2017. Ibig sabihin, halos […]

“Four high courts” proposed under new Constitution; high courts to be composed of “specialist” justices — Puno

  (Eagle News) — There will be four high courts with specialized functions and with “specialist” justices, under the proposed new Constitution to be submitted by the Constitutional Committee reviewing the 1987 Constitution headed by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno. “We propose radical changes in the judiciary,” Puno said on Thursday, June 21, in his speech during the “1st National Forum and Public Consultation” revisiting the 1987 Constitution held at the Manila Hotel. […]

Court Administrator Marquez in SC en banc’s shortlist of nominees for Associate Justice post

By Moira Encina Eagle News Service Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez is in the High Court en banc’s shortlist of nominees to replace  Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., who will retire in August. Marquez garnered the second-most number of votes from the SC magistrates, who exercised their power to vote for their nominees after a respite from such an exercise when Maria Lourdes Sereno was. Chief Justice and ex-officio chairperson of the Judicial and […]

After US withdrawal from UN rights council, Roque says PHL will not follow suit

(Eagle News)– So far, the Philippines has no plans of withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday, June 21. Roque made the statement after being asked to comment on the United States’ decision to withdraw from the body, which President Rodrigo Duterte has time and again accused of being biased. “We are also in the UN Human Rights Council. We are not following suit if that’s the […]