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Sanofi insists Dengvaxia “safe, effective”

(Eagle News) — Sanofi Pasteur on Wednesday again sought to downplay the effects of its newest advisory about its dengue vaccine, insisting that Dengvaxia was “safe and effective.” Speaking before the House committee on good government and public accountability that is also holding an inquiry into the fiasco, Thomas Triomphe, Asia Pacific head of Sanofi Pasteur, added that there was “no cause for fear and alarm.” “To permanently remove the vaccine from the Philippine market… would […]

Congress approves Duterte proposal for 1-year extension of martial law in Mindanao

(Eagle News) — Congress on Wednesday voted to approve President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal for a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao. The approval pushed through with a vote of 14-4-0 in the Senate, and a vote of 226-23-0 in the House of Representatives, with joint results of 240-27-0. The four senators who voted against the 1-year martial law extension were Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros and Francis Pangilinan. The votes of Senators Cynthia […]

Mindanao solons express support for extension of martial law in Mindanao

(Eagle News) — Solons from Mindanao on Wednesday expressed support for the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao. Speaking before the joint session of Congress that will determine the fate of President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal, 1st District Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Dimapora said that in his area of jurisdiction, “we feel safe, we feel secure,” with martial law in place. “You have our 101 percent support,” he said. He noted, however, that the […]

Cousin of Honeylet Avancena among those fired by President Duterte from PCUP

(Eagle News) — Among those fired by President Rodrigo Duterte from the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor is a cousin of his partner, Honeylet Avancena. “Pati siya tinanggal ko. I told my wife, ‘You call your cousin… Alis na sila,’” Duterte was quoted as saying in a report. He was apparently referring to Melissa Avancena Aradanas, who has been working for the PCUP since 1996. She was appointed as commissioner in 2016. President Duterte […]

Atienza: Approval of 1-year extension of martial law in Mindanao tantamount to circumventing 60-day rule in Constitution

Guevarra notes, however, that extension of 60-day martial law rests in Congress as provided for also in Constitution (Eagle News) — Rep. Lito Atienza on Wednesday said that approving a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao would be tantamount to circumventing the Constitution which said that martial law could be imposed for a period of 60 days. “I’d like to be enlightened again…How can the extension be longer than the original,” he said before […]

PNP Chief Dela Rosa next in line as BuCor chief

(Eagle News) — Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa will be appointed as chief of the Bureau of Corrections when he retires in 2018. The announcement was made by President Rodrigo Duterte. Dela Rosa is set to retire in January 2018, when he reaches the mandatory age of retirement. Dela Rosa earlier said Duterte had already announced plans to appoint him to another agency after his retirement, but he declined to reveal what this […]

Drilon says extension of martial law “unconstitutional” because of “absence of state of rebellion”

Guevarra notes, however, that SC itself said state of rebellion exists in Mindanao (Eagle News) — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Wednesday said an extension of martial law in Mindanao would be unconstitutional. Speaking before the joint session of Congress that will determine the fate of President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal for such, Drilon said Congress, after all, can only extend the proclamation of martial law “in case of an actual public uprising and taking […]

Medialdea: Request for 1-year extension of martial law in Mindanao aimed at “unlimited peace”

“We do not ask for an unlimited martial law,” Medialdea says (Eagle News) — “Unlimited peace.” This was what Executive Salvador Medialdea said was the aim of President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal for a one-year extension of martial law. In his presentation before the joint houses of Congress on Wednesday, Medialdea said that such an extension would help quell  a “state of actual rebellion”  that he said “subsists in Mindanao.” He said this was “perpetrated not […]

Joint session of House, Senate that will decide on fate of Mindanao martial law extension proposal begins amid protests

(Eagle News) — The joint session of the two houses of Congress which will once again determine the fate of President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao began on Wednesday, amid protests being held by militant groups against the proposal. Senate President Koko Pimentel and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez banged the gavel inside the session hall of the Batasang Pambansa a few minutes past 9 a.m. Fourteen senators were present […]

President Duterte: No pictures of me in gov’t offices, please

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has reminded government workers not to display his pictures in their offices. The President issued the reminder after the Department of Labor and Employment issued Overseas Filipino Worker identification cards with Duterte’s face on them. Many netizens were quick to react, noting that Duterte’s face was bigger than the picture of the OFW in question. In September, the Palace issued a memorandum urging government offices to display photos of Philippine […]

Aquino hints at attending Senate inquiry into Dengvaxia mess

(Eagle News) — Former President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday hinted at attending the Senate hearing on the Dengvaxia mess. “We want to participate in telling the truth to the people, as we have always done; at the same time, observing compliance to various laws, rules and traditions,” Aquino said in a text message to the media. Aquino added he has already received the invitation to attend the hearing to be held by the blue […]

RCBC accuses Bangladesh’s central bank of a “massive cover-up” over $81-million cyber-heist last year

The Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. on Tuesday accused Bangladesh’s Central Bank (BB) of a “massive cover-up” over an $81-million cyber-heist last year, as it rejected allegations it was mostly to blame. The statement came after Dhaka, Bangladesh’s Finance Minister A.M.A Muhith said over the weekend he wanted to “wipe out” RCBC, apparently frustrated over the small amount of money recovered from the overall amount stolen from BB. “Last year’s theft of $81 million of (BB) funds was […]