National

Philippines lacks capability to secure West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines, April 23 (Eagle News) — According to an international security analyst, the Philippines lacks capability to secure its claim on West Philippine Sea, saying that the country don’t have sufficient resources to match that of China. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

OFWs in Hong Kong will conduct protests

A group of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong will stage a protest against a comment of a Hong Kong lawmaker accusing Filipina maids of seducing their employers. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

No funds for additional divisions – Sandiganbayan

QUEZON City, Philippines, April 23 (Eagle News) — According to the President Justice of the Sandiganbayan, although they are happy with the passage of the law strengthening the Anti-Graft Court, the Sandiganbayan has no sufficient funds for the two additional divisions. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

House leadership, divided by the issue of full automation

QUEZON City, Philippines, April 23 (Eagle News) — The leaders of the House of Representatives expressed different opinions regarding the issue of full automation of the upcoming 2016 elections, with House Speaker Sonny Belmonte saying that he will not allow a return to manual election while others are calling for a semi-automatic election. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

Fish supplies shortage due to Chinese reclamation

QUEZON City, Philippines – According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the continued reclamation activities of China in the West Philippine Sea may result into a shortage of fish supply in Luzon. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

DAR fails to implement 12.8B projects

QUEZON City, Philippines, April 23 (Eagle News) — According to the Commission of Audit (COA), the Department of the Agrarian Reform (DAR) failed to meet its aim to improve the livelihood of agrarian reform communities when it failed to implement 2 major development projects worth 12.8 billion pesos. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

Court rejects Ampatuan bail

APRIL 23 (Eagle News) — The Quezon City Regional Trial Court did not grant former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr.’s petition for bail, saying that prosecution’s evidence for the guilt of Ampatuan Sr. is strong. (Taguig, Philippines) (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

COMELEC obligated to ensure 2016 automated polls

MANILA, Philippines – According to Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is mandated by the Constitution to conduct elections. He added that the COMELEC is obligated by law to provide for an automated election. He further said that it is the responsibility of the COMELEC to do what it can to fulfill its obligations despite the Supreme Court (SC) decision voiding the deal between COMELEC and Smartmatic regarding the repair of the […]

BBL hearing will finish earlier

QUEZON City, Philippines, April 23 (Eagle News) — According to the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the hearing on the BBL may finish earlier and the voting on said law may be done earlier than scheduled. Said committee assured the public that it will not allow the unconstitutional provisions to pass. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

COMELEC Commissioners may face impeachment – Solon

QUEZON City, Philippines, April 23 (Eagle News) — Former chairman of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms and Dasmariñas Representative Elpidio Barzaga said that the Commissioners of the Commission on Election (COMELEC) may face impeachment if there is a return to manual election in 2016, saying that the law prohibits the return to manual election. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

Brillantes suggests alternative ways for repairs of PCOS machines

MANILA, Philippines – Ex-Chairman of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Sixto Brillantes Jr., suggested that the COMELEC should resort to alternative procurement methods for the repair of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines after the Supreme Court (SC) voided the contract between the said Commission and Smartmatic. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

Ayala Bridge will be closed for 3 more weeks

MAKATI City, Philippines, April 23 (Eagle News) — The Ayala Bridge will remain closed for three more weeks despite the timetable of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) which indicated that the said bridge should have opened last April 21. According to the Undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), underground cables found in the bridge should be taken care of first, before the infrastructure improvement can push through. (Eagle News Service […]