National

DOJ willing to give Jaybee Sebastian immunity

(Eagle News)– Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday (September 26) said he will consider enrolling convicted kidnapper Jaybee Sebastian to the Witness Protection Program (WPP) if he would testify on the proliferation of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary which involves some government officials including Senator Leila de Lima. “Ang possibility na siya ay umamin baka yun ang medyo malabo, but with respect to immunity nasa kanya yun. Kung aamin and if he’s ready […]

DOH: Three new Zika cases recorded in PHL

(Eagle News)– The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday announced three new recorded cases of Zika virus in the country, increasing the total of confirmed cases to 12. “Of these 12 cases, 8 were females while age ranged from 9 years to 55 years. Ten of these cases were from Region VI (Western Visayas) and one each from Region VII (Central Visayas) and NCR,” Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said. “The previously reported case from Laguna […]

Smoke forces Philippine Airlines flight to turn back

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Smoke from an air vent forced a Philippine Airlines flight to Japan to turn back just minutes after taking off on Monday, aviation officials said. “Apparently there was information that the pilot detected smoke in the cabin. So as part of safety measures, the pilot had to return to the ground,” said Eric Apolonio, spokesman for the civil aviation authority. The Airbus A340-300 plane, carrying 222 passengers and 13 crew to Tokyo’s […]

Duterte set to fly for Vietnam on Wednesday

(Eagle News)– Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Spokesperson Charles Jose announced on Monday (September 26) that President Rodrigo Duterte is set to fly to Vietnam on Wednesday for a two-day visit. Jose said Duterte will be in Hanoi on September 28 to 29 as part of his introductory visits to neighbor countries. “While in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, the President is scheduled to meet with the state President Trần Đại Quang and pay a courtesy call […]

PNP Chief to urge Duterte to ink wiretapping bill for anti-narco campaign

(Eagle News)– Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa on Monday (September 26) revealed that he will ask President Rodrigo Duterte to prioritize the bill allowing wiretapping of drug suspects that would hasten the campaign against illegal drugs. “I will talk to the President and request him to sign these bills, ang tawag nun, priority bills by the President. Sana mapabilis itong mga batas na ito,” Dela Rosa told members of the […]

House debate over P3.35T 2017 nat’l budget starts

(Eagle News)– The House of Representatives on Monday (September 26) started plenary debates on House Bill 3408 or the 2017 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which refers to the P3.35 trillion national budget for next year. The deliberations started with a sponsorship speech of House committee on appropriations Chairman Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles and explained the General Principles an General Provisions of the 2017 GAB. The period of amendments has been set for October […]

Manila RTC defers arraignment, issuance of arrest warrant vs. Marcelino, Chinese national

(Eagle News)– The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 17 deferred on Monday (September 26) the issuance of arrest warrant and arraignment against Marine Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino and Chinese national Yan Yi Shou, following a case filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ). Judge Felicitas Laron-Cacanindin gave DOJ 10 days to file its comment to the omnibus motion filed by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO). The PAO– representing both Marcelino and Yan– told the court […]

2 high-tech signal jammers to be installed at NBP’s Building 14

(Eagle News)– Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Sunday (September 25) revealed that two more advanced phone signal jammers will be installed next week at the New Bilibid Prison’s (NBP) Building 14, where high-profile inmates are inhibited. According to Aguirre, the signal jammers can block 3G and LTE-type mobile phones. “Ang cost nito ay P2 million each. This is only for Building 14,” he said. Aguirre informed there was no government money involved in the […]

PNP Chief to ‘Tokhang’ alleged drug celebrities

(Eagle News)– Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday (September 26) stressed he will conduct Oplan Tokhang to the celebrities included in the drug list of President Rodrigo Duterte. “Sa mga artista kung ibigay ni Presidente sa akin yung listahan na yun, gusto mo i-Tokhang natin sila? Ito-tokhang natin. Sama kayo?” Dela Rosa told reporters. “Katukin natin sa kani-kaniyang bahay, kani-kaniyang TV station. Surrender na kayo kasi identified kayo […]

CHN air force conducts drills in East China Sea, West PHL Sea anew this month

BEIJING (Reuters) — China’s air force said on Sunday it had flown more than 40 bombers and other fighter planes through a strait between Japanese islands on their way to drills in the Western Pacific. Regular long range drills in the Western Pacific and patrols over the East China Sea air defense identification zone were for the Air Force to protect China’s sovereignty and national security, China’s air force spokesman Shen Jinke said, according to […]

Palace to probe WikiLeaks report saying Duterte directed Davao slays

(Eagle News)– Malacañang on Sunday (September 25) said it will look into a WikiLeaks report that President Rodrigo Duterte permitted vigilante killings during his tenure as Davao mayor. “We will look into [it] first,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar said. In a WikiLeaks cable, it pointed out that Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Regional Director Alberto Sipaco confirmed then Mayor Duterte’s knowledge and permission of the slays. “Recounting a conversation he once had with […]