National

DOH reports 34 certified COVID-19 labs; PNP Crime lab among 20 certified labs in NCR

(Eagle News) – There are now 34 laboratories which have been certified by the Department of Health for COVID-19 PCR testing, including the Philippine National Police’s own certified laboratory, while eight more have been licensed as GeneXpert laboratories. The PNP Crime Laboratory recently passed the stringent validation process of the DOH, and is now part of the 20 certified COVID-19 laboratories in Meto Manila. As of May 25, the PNP reported a total of 278 […]

NTC: ABS-CBN petition vs shutdown order “improper,” “premature”

(Eagle News) — ABS-CBN’s petition for certiorari and prohibition is improper because the National Telecommunications Commission’s issuance of a cease and desist order stopping several of its radio and television operations was merely an administrative act, the NTC said. In its comment to ABS-CBN’s petition for certiorari and prohibition against the shutdown order, the commission added that  the filing of the ABS-CBN petition was not the proper recourse since such a petition is available under […]

President Duterte orders LGUs to accept returning OFWs

Says LGU officials who’ll insist on barring OFWs could face criminal charges   (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte ordered local government officials to accept overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning home to their provinces, and even warned those who will insist on barring the OFWs’ return that they “run the risk of getting sued criminally” if they do so. Duterte warned local government executives that they cannot bar OFWs from returning to their homes as […]

President Duterte: “Useless” to talk about opening of classes without COVID-19 vaccine

(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte early Tuesday, May 26, said it was “useless” to talk about the opening of classes without a vaccine against COVID-19. “Mga bata, ‘wag muna. ‘Yang opening ng classes, that’s a, I will not allow the opening of classes na magdikit dikit ‘yang mga bata,” the President said. “Bahala na hindi makatapos,” he said. He said if there was a vaccine, though, “okay na.” Earlier, the Department of Education said classes would […]

President Duterte defends Health Secretary Duque

(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte came to the defense of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III following allegations of the procurement of overpriced equipment for the testing of COVID-19. The President defended Duque in a public address late Monday, May 25, that went on to the early hours of Tuesday, May 26. “I gave him (Duque) the instruction and I admit it in public now. Sabi ko sa kaniya, ‘Do everything you can. I do not care […]

More than 2.7 million workers in PHL displaced due to COVID-19, says Labor dep’t data

https://youtu.be/u6vh1PESKq4 The number of displaced workers due to the COVID-10 pandemic has reached more than 2.7 million, according to the Department of Labor and Employment as reported by the Philippine News Agency. It said that this was based on data from the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) which said that the affected workers had reached 2,757,640. These workers were from more than 102,600 establishments nationwide. Metro Manila reported the highest number of affected workers at […]

JBC opens applications for SC, CA positions; online public interview of applicants set on May 28

(Eagle News) – The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) announced the opening of applications for the Supreme Court (SC) and Court of Appeals (CA), with an online public interview of applicants set on Thursday, May 28. In an announcement, the JBC said the opening of applications is for the position of SC Associate Justice Jose C. Reyes Jr., who will be retiring in September 2020, as well as the position vacated by CA Presiding Justice […]

295 Filipinos repatriated from Cayman Islands: DFA

(Eagle News) – Nearly 300 overseas Filipino workers and their families arrived from the Cayman Islands and London at noontime on Monday, May 25, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported. The repatriates, composed of 287 Filipinos from Grand Cayman and eight from London, arrived via an “airbridge” flight organized by the Cayman Islands local government, the DFA said in a statement. “The Manila airbridge flight is but a demonstration of the close Philippine-UK bilateral […]

PNP to initiate consultative dialogues with religious groups on health protocols

(Eagle News) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is initiating consultative dialogues with leaders of the country’s religious groups to discuss health protocols amid the COVID-19 public health emergency. “I am sending out instructions to all commanders in all levels to talk to the different religious groups and orient them on the restrictions of MECQ, GCQ and MGCQ especially on mass gatherings,” PNP Chief Archie Gamboa said in a statement. Gamboa is positive that cooperation […]

COVID-19 cases among overseas Filipinos breach 2,600 mark; 34 new deaths reported from Middle East

(Eagle News) – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported 94 new confirmed COVID-19 cases involving overseas Filipinos, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,617 as of Monday, May 25. Thirty four (34) new fatalities were also recorded from the Middle East region, bringing to 328 the total number of COVID-19 related deaths among overseas Filipinos. Meanwhile, 10 new recoveries were recorded as well, from Europe and Middle East, with the total now […]

COVID-19 cases in PHL climb to 14319; recoveries reach 3323

(Eagle News)–The number of coronavirus disease 2019 cases in the country climbed to 14319 on Monday, May 25, with the addition of 284 cases. According to the Department of Health, of the new cases, 60 percent or 171 cases came from Metro Manila; 25 percent or 70 cases from Region 7; and 15 percent or 43 cases from other areas. Recoveries rose to 3323 with the 74 new ones. The death toll stands at 873, […]

Pres. Duterte gives DOLE, OWWA, DOH a week to facilitate return to provinces of 24k OFWs stuck in quarantine centers

  (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte gave labor and health authorities one week to facilitate the return of some 24,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are staying in various quarantine centers in Metro Manila. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the President gave the directive at around 1:30 a.m. Monday, May 25. In a Laging Handa presser on Monday, Roque said that the President gave the directive to the Department of Labor and Employment, […]