National

Malacañang says no resignation letters from Aguirre, Bello

MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Malacañang on Wednesday, April 4, said that it has not received resignation letters from Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, in a letter to Malacañang media, said that they have not received any letter from Aguirre nor from Bello. The statement came after reports floated that one or two cabinet members were going to be given the […]

Sereno to attend oral arguments on quo warranto petition

By Moira Encina Eagle News Service Chief Justice on-leave Maria Lourdes Sereno will attend oral arguments on the quo warranto petition filed against her. Jojo Lacanilao, one of Sereno’s spokespersons, said Sereno will appear before her colleagues on April 10 and “engage them.” “We believe that Solicitor General (Jose) Calida is wrong in filing the petition,” Lacanilao said, reiterating that the “appropriate measure” to remove the Chief Justice was via impeachment. “We hope that the […]

Trillanes, De Lima urge SC to allow them to intervene in ouster plea vs Sereno

(Eagle News) — Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Leila de Lima have asked the Supreme Court to allow them to intervene and oppose the quo warranto petition filed against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. In a five-page motion, Trillanes and De Lima said as “citizens, taxpayers and senators of the Republic,” they “have the right and duty to uphold the Constitution and to oppose government actions that are clearly patently unconstitutional.” They added they also […]

Zarate: Reds, gov’t should not set preconditions for resumption of peace talks

Says both parties should comply with “past mutual binding commitments and agreements” instead (Eagle News) — While he welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s openness to the resumption of peace talks, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate said on Wednesday that both the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the government should not “set preconditions.” Zarate said in a statement that it would be “best” if the two parties would just comply with “past mutual […]

PNP to continue to go after communist rebels despite President Duterte’s pronouncement on peace talks

  By Mar Gabriel Eagle News Service The Philippine National Police will continue to go after communist rebels. Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, PNP spokesperson, made the pronouncement even after President Rodrigo Duterte  said on Tuesday that peace talks with the communists could continue if they stop committing alleged atrocities and agree to a ceasefire. “In fact, ang intel community, tuloy (ang paghahanap sa kanila)..Habang walang peace talks tuloy ang effort na yun,” Bulalacao said. He […]

Palace: No withdrawal of petition seeking to have communist rebels declared as terrorists

(Eagle News) — The Palace on Wednesday said it will not withdraw its petition before a Manila court seeking to have communist rebels declared as terrorists. Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra made the statement even after President Rodrigo Duterte said peace talks could resume if the rebels stopped committing  atrocities, and agreed to a ceasefire. Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison also said the NDFP was ready to talk to the […]

DOLE orders Jollibee to regularize over 6000 workers

(Eagle News) — The Department of Labor and Employment has directed Jollibee to regularize over 6000 of its workers. In a statement, DOLE said the order to regularize 6482 workers deployed by Jollibee Foods Corporation’s two contractors was made by  DOLE National Capital Region Director Henry John Jalbuena. DOLE said JFC was also directed to “refund illegally collected payments to 426 affected workers in the amount of P15,432,305.00 for Coop Share, Coop Party Paluwagan Fund, and […]

Palace: President Duterte “generally satisfied” with Aguirre’s performance despite “certain” DOJ “debacles”

(Eagle News) — The Palace on Wednesday said President Rodrigo Duterte was “generally satisfied” with the performance of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre. Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said this was despite “certain” Department of Justice “debacles.” “(The President) did not hide his displeasure about certain developments pertaining to the war on drugs, the dismissal of charges against high-profile suspects,” Guevarra said in reference to the charges filed against Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Lim, Peter Co, […]

Palace says gov’t has “no other alternative” but to comply with SC order to submit drug war reports

But PNP says that while it “respects” SC order, it will “take” OSG’s “legal recommendation” on the matter (Eagle News) — The Palace on Wednesday said the government has “no other alternative except to comply” with the Supreme Court order to submit reports on the administration’s drug war. But Philippine National Police spokesperson Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said that while the PNP respected the SC order to submit the documents within 15 days upon notice, […]

Mga aplikanteng may tattoo sa katawan, hindi papayagan -PNP Chief Dela Rosa

MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Muling iginiit ni Philippine National Police Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa na hindi nila papayagan na makapasok sa kanilang organisasyon ang mga aplikante na mayroong tattoo sa katawan. Ito ay sa harap ng suhestyon ni Davao 1st District Congressman Karlo Nograles sa PNP na panahon na para bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga aplikanteng may tattoo. “For our military and police organizations to bar the entry of capable and well-meaning Filipinos […]

Evasco says Duterte to meet rice traders; slams NFA management for statements that “create panic”

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte is slated to meet rice traders on Thursday. National Food Authority Council Chair Jun Evasco made the revelation during a press conference in Malacanang, where he also called out the NFA management for allegedly creating an “artificial shortage” with their statements about zero buffer NFA stocks. “The reaction to the statement(s) would eventually make traders withdraw the rice to speculate on the higher price of rice at the expense of […]

Joma Sison to Duterte: NDFP also open, ready to resume peace talks

(Eagle News) — Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison said on Wednesday the National Democratic Front of the Philippines  was open and ready to resume peace talks with the government. Sison made the statement a day after President Rodrigo Duterte said both parties could talk peace if the communist rebels stopped committing what he said were atrocities, and agreed to a ceasefire. According to Sison, the NDFP  is “sincere in striving […]