National

“No one is above the law,” says Palace; notes SEC acting independently when it revoked Rappler’s registration

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque denied that the Duterte administration influenced the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission in revoking Rappler’s registration. “He had nothing to do with this decision. He was not even aware that this decision was coming up,” Roque said. Roque also said that the commissioners of the SEC were all appointees of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. “It’s [a decision made] by individuals who […]

Lower House adopts resolution convening Congress into a constituent assembly

(Eagle News) — The House of Representatives agreed to adopt a resolution that would convene Congress into a constituent assembly in preparation for the move to amend the 1987 Constitution. In House concurrent resolution no. 9, both the Senate and the House of Representatives will constitute itself as a constituent assembly. The resolution was sponsored by House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chair Roger Mercado. It was approved by majority of the lawmakers and adopted via […]

News in Photos: Ashes and thick smoke envelope Mount Mayon as it erupts

LEGASPI, Albay (Eagle News) — Photos of Mount Mayon covered by thick smoke and ash as it erupts on Tuesday morning, January 16, 2018. (Photos by Eagle News Correspondent Rebert Soriao) The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology notes “quiet lava effusion from a new summit lava dome” in Mayon volcano. It also noted lava flow down the Miisi and Bonga Gullies and lava collapse events characterized Mayon Volcano’s eruptive activity from Monday to Tuesday […]

Mayon volcano ‘fireworks’ draw tourists as residents flee

  LEGAZPI, Philippines (AFP) — Spectacular lava “fireworks” shooting from its crater are drawing tourists to the Philippines’ most active volcano, authorities said Tuesday as scientists warned of a potential dangerous eruption within days. Lava spurting from Mayon volcano lit up the sky overnight Monday in what scientists said was a sign of increasing activity that prompted official calls for evacuation of areas under threat from a major eruption. But even as thousands of residents […]

Updated: Albay now under a state of calamity because of increasing Mayon unrest

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) – The province of Albay is now under a state of calamity. The provincial board declared this because of the monitored increasing and continued volcanic activity of Mt. Mayon, which puts in peril residents who continue to remain in the seven kilometer danger zone. Earlier, Governor Al Francis Bichara of Albay Province said that anytime now, the provincial government may declare a state of emergency because of the continued volcanic […]

Oil companies implement new round of oil price increase

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — Various oil companies added Php 0.80 centavos to every liter of gasoline and Php 0.55 centavos in the price of diesel and kerosene. Flying V, one of the independent oil players in the country, implemented its increase at 12:01 AM today, Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Pilipinas Shell, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, PTT, and Eastern Petroleum, Seaoil, Total, and JETTI followed suit but their increase took effect at 6 AM. The […]

Faeldon takes his oath as OCD Deputy Administrator in Camp Aguinaldo

  (Eagle News) — The Senate has allowed former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon to temporarily leave his detention cell to take his oath of office as deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. According to Senate Sgt. at Arms, Retired General Jose Balajadia, Faeldon was allowed by Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Senator Richard Gordon to leave his detention cell from 7 a.m. to 9:30 Tuesday morning, January 16, […]

Malacañang, kinumpirma ang pagdalo ni Pangulong Duterte sa India-ASEAN Summit

MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Kinumpirma ng Malacañang ang pagdalo ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa gaganaping summit sa pagitan ng India at Southeast Asian Nations sa huling bahagi ng Enero. Ayon kay presidential spokesman Harry Roque, gagawin ang nasabing summit sa Enero 24 hanggang 27 na gaganapin sa New Delhi, India. Ang naturang summit ang unang summit sa ilalim ng ASEAN chairmanship ng Singapore. Si Prime Minister Narendra Modi ang magiging host ng mga ASEAN […]

House justice commitee wants 2 doctors to explain low grade given on Sereno psychiatric exam

  (Eagle News) — The House of Representatives committee on justice which is hearing the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno wants to know more about the psychiatric records of the chief magistrate, and has summoned the doctors who had earlier examined her. This is to clarify what the complainant lawyer Larry Gadon had included in his complaint that Sereno failed the psychological evaluation administered by the Judicial and Bar Council. […]

OSG lauds SEC ruling revoking Rappler’s certificate of incorporation; ready to defend “sound” decision

(Eagle News) — The Office of the Solicitor General lauded the Securities and Exchange Commission for revoking the certificate of incorporation of online news website, Rappler, and said that it was ready to defend this decision “in any forum.” In a statement, Solicitor General Jose Calida said that this ruling of the SEC showed that no one is exempted from following the law, not even influential media organizations. “I applaud the SEC for revoking Rappler’s […]

Sanofi to reimburse Philippines for unused dengue vaccine

  MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi is to reimburse the Philippine government for leftover doses of an anti-dengue vaccine whose use was suspended due to health concerns, the two parties said Monday. The manufacturer said the refund had nothing to do with safety issues and was meant to improve ties with the Philippine health department, which is investigating the deaths of more than a dozen children injected with Dengvaxia. Philippine regulators stopped […]

Senate invites former SC Justices to study proposed charter change

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — The Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments is inviting framers of the 1987 Constitution, including three former Justices of the Supreme Court, to study the proposed charter change. The three former Justices invited are former Chief Justices Reynato Puno, Hilario Davide Jr., and Artemio Panganiban. The Senate also invited members of the academe as well as those from different sectors of the society. https://youtu.be/aq3CicMuvvs