National

Ombudsman to finish Mamasapano probe this April

QUEZON City, Philippines, April 20 (Eagle News) — The Office of the Ombudsman is expected to finish their investigation regarding the Mamasapano encounter by the end of this month. According to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, the panel of investigators is ready to submit their report but probers still have get more details from the other officials who were involved in the January 25 bloody incident in Mamasapano Maguindanao. Morales added that they would study and identify […]

Sandiganbayan to hear issue of CGMA’s house arrest

QUEZON City, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan will conduct a hearing on April 23 regarding the petition of Pampanga Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for house arrest. The former president faces charges regarding the misappropriation of funds worth 500 million pesos of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office during her term as president. CGMA’s camp said that her hospital arrest is not helping her recover and that she is not a flight risk. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, […]

Philippine territory compromised by Chinese reclamation

QUEZON City, Philippines, April 20 (Eagle News) — According to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, the continued reclamation activities of China is compromising the territorial defense of the country and may result in tensions between various countries with territorial claims on the said area. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

OIC conducts dialogue with Senate leadership, backs peace talks

MANILA, Philippines, April 20 (Eagle News) — The Organization of Islamic Cooperation or OIC held a dialogue with the Senate leadership regarding the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani met with Senate officials to convey the OIC’s support for the successful implementation of the peace agreement in Mindanao.   (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

China’s reclamation, bad for the environment

QUEZON City, Philippines, April 20 (Eagle News) — According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), not only is China’s reclamation activities threatening the sovereignty of the country, it is also causing severe damage on the environment and biodiversity of the West Philippine Sea. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

Boat capsizes in Libyan coast

MANILA, Philippines, April 20 (Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that there is a small chance that a Filipino was caught in the mishap off the Libyan coast were a boat capsized, causing the death of hundreds. The DFA said that the Philippine embassy on Tripoli did not report any Filipino being included in the passenger of said boat. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

Balikatan exercise coincides with China’s “bullying”

MANILA, Philippines, April 20 (Eagle News) — The Malacañang said that the Balikatan exercise between the Philippines and the United States merely coincided with the rising tension between the Philippines and China. Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said that the military exercises were held yearly after the Philippines and United States signed the mutual defense treaty. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

2015 Balikatan Exercises starts

QUEZON City, Philippines – The 2015 Balikatan Exercises starts with the focus of this year’s exercise being on maritime defense due to the archipelagic nature of the Philippines. An Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson said that the exercises will be conducted far from the West Philippine Sea to avoid tension with China. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

AFP asks China to stop reclamation activites

QUEZON City, Philippines, April 20 (Eagle News) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is asking China to halt its reclamation activities. According to AFP Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, new satellite photos show the fast progress of Chinese reclamation on the area which may be used for military purposes. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

House continues deliberation on BBL

QUEZON City, Philippines – The House ad-hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), under the leadership of Cagayan representative Rufus Rodriguez,  continued its deliberations on the said law, after it was suspended to give way to the investigation of the Mamasapano incident. The committee is now deliberating the three provisions which were said to be unconstitutional. (Based on a report by Eden Suarez, Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

DA cuts down chicken SRP

QUEZON CITY, April 20 (PIA) — The Department of Agriculture in a statement said it will implement today, Monday, a lower suggested retail price (SRP) for chicken in Metro Manila markets. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala approved the P110 per kilogram temporary SRP for whole chicken recommended by the Department’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) Director Leandro Gazmin and the United Broiler Raisers Association, until gate prices stabilize. The previous SRP for chicken was P135 per kilo. […]