National

President Duterte vows to “put our house in order”

Says aim is to sustain growth rate at 7 percent, to bring down poverty incidence rate to 14 percent by 2022 (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, May 5, said there was a need to “put our house in order,” vowing to be “harsh” against those who prevented the country from achieving this goal. According to the President, who spoke in closing ceremonies of the Asian Development Bank Annual Meeting in Mandaluyong, he […]

Sereno wants SC Associate Justice Martires to inhibit from quo warranto case vs her

(Eagle News)–Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has asked the Supreme Court to order Associate Justice Samuel Martires to inhibit from the quo warranto petition filed against her. According to Sereno, this was because Martires exhibited “actual bias.” Proof of this, he said, were Martires’ comments about during the oral arguments set for the petition. “With due respect, it appears that Justice Martires has formed an opinion on the competence of respondent (Sereno) to serve as […]

Palace welcomes SWS survey results that showed 1 out of 3 Filipino families escaped poverty

(Eagle News)–The Palace on Saturday, May 5, welcomed the results of a recent Social Weather Stations survey that showed that one of three Filipino families have escaped  poverty. According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the administration “has espoused inclusive, sustainable and resilient growth.” “We have broadened access to free education, medicine and healthcare and other basic services to ensure that our people directly benefit from the country’s economic gains while reducing the vulnerability of families […]

Trillanes, De Lima renew call for SC not to act on quo warranto petition vs Sereno

(Eagle News)—–Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Leila de Lima renewed their call for the Supreme Court to refrain from entertaining the quo warranto petition against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, saying it was “treading on dangerous ground.” “Kapag nilabag ng judiciary ang eksklusibong kapangyarihan ng Kongreso na magtanggal sa pwesto ng mga impeachable officers, lalampas na po kayo sa boundary ng kapangyarihan ninyo, at nag-tre-trespass na po kayo sa teritoryo ng lehislatura,” Trillanes and De […]

Duterte vows to increase salaries of gov’t teachers next

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, May 4, vowed to increase the salaries of public school teachers next. The President, however, admitted that it wouldn’t be “as doubled,” noting what he said were the government’s lack of resources for this. The President earlier doubled the salaries of uniformed personnel. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno has warned against raising the salaries abruptly of public school teachers at this time, but added that they were still […]

Duterte: US, Aquino to be blamed for Chinese militarization in South China Sea

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, May 4, blamed the United States and former President Benigno Aquino III for Chinese militarization in the South China Sea. The President made the pronouncement following reports the Chinese have been successful in deploying missiles in Subi Reef, Mischief Reef and Fiery Cross Reef, reefs claimed by the Philippines in the Spratlys. “So Aquino filed an arbitration case. We won. He was still there. Bakit hindi niya ginawa […]

SWS: One out of three Filipino families escaped poverty

(Eagle News)–One out of three Filipino families escaped poverty, a recent Social Weather Stations survey said. The figure translates to 30 percent of families, of which 18 percent, according to the First Quarter 2018 survey, used to be poor five or more years ago, and 12 percent used to be poor one to four years ago. According to the pollster, the number of “newly non-poor” was two points lower than the record-high 14 percent newly […]

Marcos’ camp slams Robredo for “fake news” tag on reports she had decreasing lead over him in manual recount

(Eagle News)—-The camp of former Senator Bongbong Marcos slammed Vice President Leni Robredo for calling media reports about her allegedly reduced lead in the ongoing manual recount “fake news.” “Not satisfied in casting aspersions meant to undermine the integrity of the Tribunal and of the ongoing manual recount, Robredo is at it again, this time attacking and discrediting members of the press and dragging Senator Marcos in her desperate attempt to dilute all negative news […]

Duterte rejects Time magazine’s “strongman” tag; I am “just a gov’t worker,” he says

(Eagle News)—President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, May 4, rejected Time magazine’s “strongman” tag, saying he has never jailed any person who criticized him. In the first place, he said he was “just a government worker,” with the people being his “employer.” He said it was “another thing” though if foreigners criticized him. The President has said only Filipinos have “unlimited” freedom of expression in the country. According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, what Duterte has […]

Australian nun Fox says BI order for her to leave PHL the result of “sloppy investigation, intel work”

(Eagle News)—–Australian nun Patricia Fox has asked the Bureau of Immigration to reverse its order cancelling her missionary visa, saying the order was based on “sloppy investigation and intelligence work.” In her 26-age counter-affidavit, Fox admitted she joined rallies in the Philippines, but said these were not “partisan political activities.” “I have joined rallies, gathering or assemblies of farmers, indigenous peoples who demand that their rights to land and resources be respected; or workers in […]

China, nakapaglagay ng missiles sa 3 outposts sa West PHL Sea

(Eagle News) — Nakapaglagay umano ang China ng cruise missiles at surface-to-air missile systems sa tatlong outposts nito sa pinag-aagawang teritoryo sa South China Sea o West Philippine Sea. Batay sa US Intelligence Report, nakapag-deploy na ang China ng YJ-12B cruise missiles na kayang tumarget ng mga barko na ang layo ay hanggang 295 nautical miles, gayundin ang HQ-9B long-range surface-to-air missiles na kaya namang tumarget ng hanggang 160 miles. Nakasaad din sa report na […]

PHL assigns first defense attaché to Russia in 40 years

(Eagle News)—–The Philippines has assigned its first defense attaché to Russia in 40 years. Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta said on his Facebook page that Colonel Dennis Pastor and his administrative assistant Technical Sergeant Pablito Igne arrived on Thursday, May 3, in Moscow. “They reported for duty… and went straight to work,” Sorreta said. According to Sorreta, “Colonel Pastor’s assignment is another milestone in our relations with Russia.” “He will play an important role in […]