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Duterte to activate national task force vs illegal drugs

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, Nov. 7, said he would activate a national task force against illegal drugs, as he reiterated that illegal drugs would play a role in the 2019 elections. He said the task force, which would be activated following the issuance of a memorandum, would be composed of  the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, and others. “Tignan mo ngayong eleksyon, makita ninyo ‘yan. Drug money […]

US jury convicts New York subway bomber

NEW YORK (AFP) — A US jury on Tuesday convicted a Bangladeshi driver for detonating a bomb in a crowded New York subway passage near Times Square, allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group. Akayed Ullah, 28, who lived in Brooklyn after migrating to the United States in 2011, was found guilty by a unanimous jury as Americans went to the polls in the midterm elections. His trial in Manhattan lasted a week. The December […]

Voters crowd polling stations as US delivers verdict on Trump

By Nova Safo with Jocelyne Zablit Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, CA (AFP) — Andrew Menck didn’t bother to vote in the last seven congressional elections but, determined to deliver a rebuke to Donald Trump’s presidency, he joined the lines outside his local polling station that built up before dawn. “I disapprove of the president’s actions,” said the 34-year-old, a Chicago voter who sees his ballot as a chance for real scrutiny of a president who […]

JUST IN: 188 passengers, crew on board missing Indonesia jet: official

JAKARTA, Indonesia(AFP) —  The Indonesian Lion Air passenger jet feared to have crashed on Monday was carrying 188 passengers and crew when it went missing shortly after take-off, a transport ministry official said. “The aircraft was carrying 178 adult passengers, one child and two babies, with two pilots and five flight attendants,” said Sindu Rahayu, directorate general of Civil Aviation at the transport ministry. “The plane had requested to return to base before finally disappearing […]

Indonesian Lion Air passenger plane missing: official

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — An Indonesian Lion Air passenger plane went missing Monday shortly after taking off from the capital Jakarta, an aviation authority official said, adding that a search and rescue operation is under way. The aircraft lost contact with air traffic control around 6.30 am (2330 GMT), about 13 minutes after it took off, bound for Pangkal Pinang on the island of Bangka off the coast of Sumatra island. “It’s true that Lion Air JT […]

Florida police probe suspicious packages at office of Democrat lawmaker

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Florida police were investigating two suspicious packages mailed Wednesday to the office of Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, hours after authorities intercepted potential explosives intended for prominent Democrats including ex-president Barack Obama. Local media showed images of a bomb squad unit from the Broward Sheriff’s Office, which confirmed it was at her building in the south Florida town of Sunrise, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Miami. “ALERT!!! We […]

DOJ: Alejano’s claims gov’t exerting pressure on Makati court judge “impede orderly administration of justice”

(Eagle News)–The Department of Justice on Sunday, Oct. 14, took strong exception to Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano’s allegation the government was exerting pressure on a Makati court judge for him to rule against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in the coup d’état case against him. In a strongly worded statement, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the DOJ “does not interact with the judge except through the pleadings filed and arguments raised in open court,” referring to […]

Bong Go says chances he runs for a Senate seat are higher

(Eagle News)–Special Assistant to the President Bong Go has yet to decide whether to run for a Senate seat in the 2019 elections. But in a radio interview, Go said the chances he would run were higher. “Pinagiisipan ko pa pong mabuti,” he said. According to Go, he “leave(s) it to the wisdom of the President kung saan po ako mas makakatulong.” Asked about his colleagues’ political plans, Go said Harry Roque and the President […]

DFA to Filipinos illegally staying in UAE: Regularize your stay by end of the month or face repatriation

(Eagle News)–Filipinos illegally staying in the United Arab Emirates only have until the end of the month to regularize their stay or face repatriation. This was the reminder issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs a day before the arrival in Manila of 150 Filipinos from Dubai who availed of the UAE amnesty program. The 14th batch of repatriates is expected to arrive at Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 8:45 a.m. […]

Cayetano: Number of votes PHL got to be reelected to UNHRC proof int’l community is confident in Duterte admin’s rights record

(Eagle News)–For Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, the number of votes the Philippines got to be reelected to the United Nations Human Rights Council “speaks volumes of the confidence of the international community on the human rights record of the Duterte administration.” On Friday, 165 out of 192 member-states voted for the Philippines’ reelection for 2018 to 2020. Apart from the Philippines, Bahrain, Cameroon, Somalia, Bangladesh, and Eritrea were voted into the body. “We […]

CHR to PHL gov’t following UNHRC reelection: Address “numerous allegations of human rights violations”

(Eagle News)—The Commission on Human Rights on Saturday, Oct. 13, said the Philippines’ reelection to the United Nations Human Rights Council “puts pressure on the Philippine government to address numerous allegations of human rights violations, starting with the growing cases of extrajudicial killings purportedly linked to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.” According to the CHR, the country’s “credibility to be part of this body” after all “rests on its ability to effect actions that will […]

Panelo: PHL reelection to UN Human Rights Council a “recognition that our gov’t respects human rights”

(Eagle News)–Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Saturday, Oct. 13, said the Philippines’ reelection to the United Nations Human Rights Council was “recognition that our government respects human rights and will not tolerate abuse by those in authority.” In a statement, Panelo said the reelection was a “repudiation of the critics and detractors on President Duterte’s unrelenting war against illegal drugs.” He said with the reelection, the UN-HRC  acknowledges the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, corruption, and criminality […]