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PHL economic growth surges, fuelling rate hike talk

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The Philippine economy was one of Asia’s best performers in the first quarter of 2018, data showed Thursday, but the strong growth has fuelled speculation the central bank will be forced to lift interest rates. The 6.8 percent expansion, which tied it with China and was only eclipsed by Vietnam, was boosted by a surge in government spending under President Rodrigo Duterte. Philippine growth, which was four percentage points higher than […]

Acting secretaries in DSWD, DICT named

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has named acting secretaries in two departments. Based on documents released by Malacanang on Thursday, May 10, Eliseo Rio Jr. is now the acting secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology. Rio was the officer-in-charge of the DICT after DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima resigned last year. Social Welfare Undersecretary for Special Concerns Virginia Orogo was also named acting secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. […]

Lawyer Topacio hits back at Ramon Tulfo over “all talk” comment

  (Eagle News) — Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio hit back at Ramon Tulfo after the columnist described him as an “all talk” counsel who doesn’t care for his client. “He must have forgotten, kasi ulyanin na nga, na sometime in the year 2000 or 1999, he was my client, together with Raffy Tulfo. So why would he hire me if I were all talk?” he said. Topacio also denied the columnist’s claim the lawyer did not […]

Fifth Dengvaxia-related complaint filed vs former President Aquino

Garin, Abad, among those charged (Eagle News)–A fifth complaint has been filed against former President Benigno Aquino III in connection with the Dengavaxia mess. Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio led the filing of the complaint for plunder, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and for malversation of funds in the Ombudsman against Aquino, under whose term the Dengvaxia vaccination program was implemented. Also named respondents were former Budget and Management secretary Florencio Abad, former Executive […]

PSA: PHL economy posts 6.8 percent growth in first quarter of 2018

PSA says growth “faster” than growth recorded in Q1 of 2017 (Eagle News) — The Philippine economy posted a 6.8 percent growth in the first quarter of 2018, the Philippine Statistics Authority announced on Thursday, May 10. According to the PSA, this was “faster” than the 6.4 percent growth recorded in the same quarter of 2017. The PSA said other services and trade were the “main drivers of growth for the quarter.” “Among the major economic […]

Columnist Ramon Tulfo comes to defense of sister Wanda Teo; blames brother Ben for her fate

(Eagle News) — Columnist Ramon Tulfo came to the defense of his sister Wanda Teo, who resigned as tourism secretary over the P60-million advertisement placement controversy, blaming their other brother for her fate instead. In his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer published on Thursday, May 10, Tulfo said Teo “was only following President (Rodrigo Duterte’s) injunction for all Cabinet members to support PTV 4 which is a government  network.” “Wanda’s fault is that she […]

Roque: Kuwait, PHL to sign pact on protection of OFWs in Gulf state on Friday, May 11

(Eagle News)–Kuwait and the Philippines are slated to sign a memorandum of agreement on the protection of Overseas Filipino Workers in the Gulf state on Friday, May 11. This is according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who attended the meeting between Kuwait and Philippine representatives in the Middle Eastern country, following strained relations between the two countries over the rescue of distressed Overseas Filipino Workers there that Kuwait deemed illegal. Kuwait expelled Philippine Ambassador Renato […]

DFA: No Filipino casualties in deadly Kenya floods

(Eagle News) – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday, May 9, that there were no Filipino casualties in the heavy floods that hit the southern part of Kenya and have left more than 100 dead. “Our kababayans in Nairobi are safe and we will continue to monitor the situation,” Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Uriel Norman Garibay said in his report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. According to the DFA, there are […]

Duterte: Paris Agreement “could be a farce” if “industrialized nations” do not comply

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, May 9, said the Paris Agreement could turn out to be a “farce.” “(This) could be a farce if we cannot compel the other nations especially the industrialized nations to follow,” the President said after the presentation of New Generation Coins in Malacanang. While Duterte welcomed the limits to carbon footprints being imposed in the agreement signed by 194 countries, including those from the European Union and […]

Roque: Kuwaiti gov’t has agreed to release four Filipino drivers detained over controversial rescue of OFWs in Gulf state

Also agreed to sign pact to protect OFWs in Middle Eastern country, Roque says (Eagle News) — The Kuwaiti government has agreed to release  four Filipino drivers who were detained for their roles in what the Gulf state deemed an illegal rescue of Overseas Filipino Workers there by Philippine embassy officials. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the announcement after a  meeting between representatives from Kuwait and the Philippines on Wednesday, May 9. Apart from Roque, present in […]

Duterte says he is “very sad” the first people “to go” from gov’t were those who asked him to run for presidency

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, May 9, said he was “very sad” the very first persons “to go” from his government were the ones who prodded him to run for the presidency in the first place. “Early on, a Cabinet member,” he said after the presentation of the New Generation Currency (NGC) banknotes and coins at the Reception Hall of Malacañang. Duterte was apparently referring to then-Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno, whom he […]

Palace welcomes Ombudsman’s preliminary probe on Paolo Duterte

(Eagle News) – Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday, May 9, welcomed the Ombudsman’s statement resigned Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte was the subject of its preliminary investigation, saying it was part of the anti-graft agency’s “constitutional mandate” to conduct such inquiries of public officials. “The scope of the Ombudsman’s powers is to investigate, to inquire into and to demand the production of documents involving transactions and contracts of the government where there is disbursement […]