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Duterte wants trust fund for coconut farmers “at soonest possible time”
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 23, urged Congress to pass a bill establishing a trust fund for coconut farmers “at the soonest possible time.” “Our coconut farmers form a significant part of the basic sectors of our society. It is by the toil of their hands that we put food on the table,” he said. In March, the Senate passed on third and final reading a measure that would create the […]
Duterte reiterates support for TRAIN; “We need this for sustainable growth,” he says
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 23, rejected calls to suspend the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law. In fact, in his third State of the Nation Address, he said he hoped to sign Package 2 of the TRAIN law before the end of the year. “We need this for sustainable growth,” he said. Critics of TRAIN have aired their concerns about inflation allegedly as a result of TRAIN, which imposes […]
Trillanes gives Duterte SONA a grade of zero
(Eagle News) — “Zero.” This was the grade Senator Antonio Trillanes IV gave President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 23. “Sa akin po zero dahil 20 plus thousand na na Pilipino ang pinatay niya,” he said in a press conference. Trillanes made the statement even as he noted that “walang grado ang pwedeng magjustify (sa mga pagpatay) at sa mga taong naging biktima ng anti-tambay policy.” He noted that Duterte […]
Duterte urges Congress anew to pass law ending contractualization “once and for all”
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 23, renewed his call for Congress to pass a measure that would end contractualization “once and for all.” He said this as he reiterated the power to end the same was not vested in him. “Much as I would like to do the impossible, that power is not vested upon me by the Constitution and neither will I make both ends meet if I violate the […]
Duterte on Bangsamoro Organic Law: Give me 48 hours and I will sign it
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to sign a measure creating the Bangsamoro within 48 hours. “When the approved version is received by my office, the law has been passed actually, and give me 48 hours to sign it and ratify the law,” he said. He said in his State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 23, that he would read the measure before he signs, “baka may isiningit kayo dyan na hindi maganda […]
Duterte says gov’t will continue to go after corrupt gov’t workers; urges LGUs to “simplify” gov’t transactions
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 23, reiterated his hard stance against corruption, saying he would continue to go after corrupt government workers. “(Corruption) sucks the morale of the dedicated and honest government workers. Corruption destroys..it is the innocent who will suffer and bear its horrible consequences,” he said. He said while this was ongoing, the government also “continue(s) to enhance delivery of frontline services.” He thanked Congress for the passage of the […]
Duterte: War against drugs “far from over”
(Eagle News) — The war against drugs is “far from over.” President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated this in his third State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 23, as he lashed out at human rights advocates who criticize his move. “Illegal drugs war will not be sidelined. It will be relentless, chilling if you will,” he said. He said he has yet to hear the advocates statements against “drug lordism” and illegal drugs that are […]
Ombudsman indicts Napoles, others over alleged irregularities in procurement of fertilizers in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte
(Eagle News) — The Office of the Ombudsman has indicted Janet Lim Napoles for alleged irregularities in the procurement of fertilizers in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte in 2004. Also charged for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation of public funds were Department of Agriculture’s Assistant Regional Director Edgardo Dahino, Chief Administrative Officer Jessica Da-an, Administrative Officer Merylinda Santos, and Accountant III Gerry Leop, an Ombudsman statement posted on the anti-graft body’s website […]
UPDATED: Arroyo now the Speaker of the House of Representatives
(Eagle News) — Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is the new Speaker of the House of Representatives. She was seen taking her oath, replacing Pantaleon Alvarez, minutes before President Rodrigo Duterte arrived at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday, July 23. The microphone at the podium, where she took her oath before a lawmaker, had been notably turned off. A PTV video showed, however, that it was Alvarez who greeted the President upon his arrival at […]
Sotto: Duterte’s medical checkup prior to SONA not a cause for concern
(Eagle News) — Senate President Tito Sotto on Monday, July 23, said President Rodrigo Duterte’s medical checkup on the eve of his State of the Nation Address was not a cause for concern. “Mabuti nga yung nagpapa-check up parati. Si Manny Pacquiao nga nagpapa-check-up one week before the fight eh,” Sotto said at the House of Representatives. On Sunday, July 22, Duterte had what the Palace described as a routine checkup at the Cardinal Santos […]
Amnesty Int’l: Duterte’s two years in power “a human rights calamity”
(Eagle News) — Amnesty International described on Monday, July 23, President Rodrigo Duterte’s two years “in power” as a “human rights calamity.” “President Duterte has presided over a disturbing regression on human rights that has left the Philippines a more perilous place than when he came to power,” the group said in a statement released ahead of Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address. Rachel Chhoa Howard, Amnesty International’s Philippines researcher, noted that Duterte’s “disastrous […]
