National

Duterte designates ex-presidential spokesperson Abella as Foreign Affairs undersecretary

(Eagle News) — Ernesto Abella is now Foreign Affairs undersecretary. The appointment was made by President Rodrigo Duterte himself in a letter dated Oct. 27. The mild-mannered Abella was presidential spokesperson until he was replaced by then-Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque on Oct. 28. Roque, however, assumed his new post only on Nov. 6. Duterte had said removing Abella from the presidential spokesperson post was his “personal decision.”  

Massive search expands for US sailors after Philippine Sea air crash

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Eight warships joined a US aircraft carrier and scores of helicopters and planes Thursday to search for three American sailors who went missing after their plane crashed in the Philippine Sea. The families of the missing sailors were notified after a C-2A “Greyhound” aircraft with 11 people on board went down Wednesday afternoon around 930 kilometers (500 nautical miles) southeast of Okinawa, the US Navy said in a statement. Eight sailors […]

Senator Poe says she doubts “delicadeza” is sole reason Transport Undersecretary Chavez resigned

  By Meanne Corvera Eagle News Service Senator Grace Poe said that while  she “admire(s)” Transport Undersecretary Cesar Chavez’s “sense of delicadeza,” she “doubt(s) that this is the only reason that prompted him to resign.” Poe, chair of the Senate committee on transport services, did not elaborate, and only noted that Chavez “seemed to be one of the (Department of Transportation) officials who was determined to fully address all the issues plaguing the MRT.” “I […]

Malacanang unfazed by UN human rights spokesperson’s rebuke of Duterte over threat vs Callamard

(Eagle News) — Malacanang has dismissed the United Nations’ human rights spokesperson’s rebuke of President Rodrigo Duterte over his remark against UN special rapporteur Agnes Callamard. In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that Rupert Colville should “do well not to judge the colorful language the President is known for, but by what he stands for and the values he holds dear” instead. “We need to point [out] that the President’s remarks on Callamard […]

Pagpapawalang bisa sa LTO driver’s license plate project, hiniling sa SC

MANILA,Philippines (Eagle News) — Ipinapawalang-bisa ng isang kongresista sa Korte Suprema ang Land Transportation Office Driver’s license plate project. Sa kanyang petisyon, hiniling ni Acts Ofw Partylist Representative Aniceto Bertiz III na ipahinto ang implementasyon ng driver’s license plate deal na nagkakahalaga ng 830 million pesos. Nais din ni Bertiz na ideklara ng Korte Suprema na unconstitutional ang nasabing proyekto dahil wala ni isang sentimo na nakalaan dito sa 2016 General Appropriations Act na paglabag […]

Senator Ejercito “sad” over resignation of Transportation Undersecretary Chavez; notes he is “one of the more passionate DoTr officials”

By Meanne Corvera Eagle News Service Senator JV Ejercito said he was “sad(dened)” by the resignation of Department of Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez, noting that he was “one of the more passionate DOTr officials.” “At least kay Usec. Chavez, alam niya na by now mga problema at kailangan gawin,” Ejercito said in a statement. He said whoever would replace Chavez “may be back to zero” again, and will need “time to be acquainted and to […]

Transport Undersecretary Cesar Chavez resigns over MRT-3 mess

(Eagle News) — Department of Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez has resigned out of what he said was a “simple sense of delicadeza” following the series of glitches that have marred the Metro Rail Transit 3. Chavez himself made the announcement in a press briefing on Thursday. “I’m tendering my irrevocable resignation. Hindi pwedeng lagi tayong naninisi sa nakaraan dahil sa responsibilidad na natin ito,” he said. He said he has submitted his letter of resignation […]

PHL, Australia to lead newly formed group aimed at choking financing for militant networks in region

Announcement comes as Malaysia makes public arrest of 20 terrorists funding militants in the Philippines The Philippines Anti-Money Laundering Council and Australia’s financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC will lead an alliance between Southeast Asian countries and Australia aimed at choking financing for militant networks, Canberra said Wednesday, as Malaysian authorities revealed 20 militants who were financing terrorists in the Philippines had been arrested. Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan said the South East Asia Counter Terrorism Financing Working Group was […]

Duterte: Gov’t to go after communist “legal fronts”

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said the government would go after “all legal fronts” of the Communist Party of the Philippines. “Legal (front) ninyo, alam ko, wag na tayo magbolahan. You are helping each other, conspiring to topple or sow terror or whatever,” he said in a speech in Nueva Ecija. He said he “will consider (them) as criminals.” “We will arrest everybody connected with you,” he said. The President made the […]

Eight rescued after US Navy aircraft crashes in Philippine Sea

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Rescuers have plucked eight people to safety south of Japan after a US Navy aircraft with 11 people on board came down in the Philippine Sea, the latest accident to hit American armed forces in East Asia. Japanese and American forces scrambled to reach the downed C2-A “Greyhound” aircraft in waters off the remote uninhabited Japanese reef of Okinotori on Wednesday. The US Navy said the rescued personnel were being transferred […]

Phase-out of old jeepneys likely to push through next year, Presidential Spokesperson Roque says

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — The government is determined to push through with the phase-out of old public utility jeepneys next year. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that it was President Rodrigo Duterte himself who gave the ultimatum. Last month, the President said that he wanted to implement the phase-out next year because the old types were harming the people with their smoke. “You do not want to fix your engines, which were used […]

Majority of senators approve transfer of Senate office to Bonifacio Global City

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — The majority of senators have approved the transfer of the Senate to the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. Fourteen of the Senators voted for the construction of a Senate building in BGC. Only Senator Bam Aquino and Senator Risa Hontiveros voted against the proposal. Senator Panfilo Lacson pointed out that since 1996, the Senate had been renting its building and parking from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). […]