National

Valenzuela gov’t: Girl believed to have contracted meningococcemia tests negative for disease

(Eagle News) — The girl who was suspected of having died of meningococcemia in a Valenzuela hospital over the weekend tested negative for the disease. The Valenzuela government made the announcement in a Facebook post on Thursday, Jan. 17. In a television interview, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian said the results of the “blood culture” test on the girl have already been sent to the Department of Health. He said the test was conducted by a […]

Palace declares January 21 a special non-working holiday in Isabela, Cotabato, ARMM for BOL plebiscite

(Eagle News) — The Palace has declared Jan. 21 a special non-working holiday in several parts of Mindanao. According to Proclamation No. 646, the declaration applies to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Isabela in Basilan and to Cotabato City. The declaration was made to allow voters to participate in the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law ratification slated on that day. Residents of Lanao del Norte except Iligan City, and six towns in North Cotabato […]

Paolo Duterte asks Davao court to cancel bail granted to Trillanes for libel

(Eagle News)– Paolo Duterte has asked a Davao court to cancel the bail it granted to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for libel. In making the plea in a motion filed before Branch 54 on Jan. 4, the former Davao vice mayor, through his lawyers, argued Trillanes “flagrantly violated the conditions of his bail and (the) court’s custody over him” when he left for the United States without seeking the court’s permission allegedly to attend speaking […]

Mga ulat na nakapasok ang African swine fever-infected products sa Pilipinas, tinawag ni Sec. Piñol na ‘false alarm’

(Eagle News) – Wala umanong nakapasok sa bansa na pork products mula sa Belgium na apektado ng African swine fever. Ayon kay Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, false alarm lamang ang mga ulat na isang milyong kilo ng pork products na infected ng African swine fever ang nakapasok sa bansa. Ang mga imported pork aniya na mula sa Belgium ay nasasaklaw ng sanitary at phyto-sanitary permits. Dagdag pa ng kalihim, ang mga nasabing permit ay inilabas […]

De Lima denies targeting political enemies when she was in “better political climate”

(Eagle News) — Senator Leila de Lima has cried foul over some people’s comments her detention was a result of the existing political climate, saying this implied she targeted political enemies when she was in a “better” political climate in the first place. “I have persecuted no one for political reasons or personal vengeance. I have killed no one. I have stolen nothing. I have sold or traded no drugs. I have not conspired with […]

DOTR, nagbabala laban sa unofficial LTO Facebook page na nag-aalok ng online services

(Eagle News) — Nagbabala ang Department of Transportation (DOTr) sa mga motorista laban sa pekeng Land Transportation Office (LTO) social media page na umano’y nag-aalok ng serbisyo sa pamamagitan ng online transactions. Ayon sa DOTr, ang page na ‘Land Transportation Office License Division,’ ay hindi ang official account ng LTO. Scammer anila ang nasabing page. Sabi ng DOTr, ang LTO ay hindi nakikipag-transaksyon sa pamamagitan ng courier o SMS at hindi rin tumatanggap ng payments […]

Senator Aquino renews call for suspension of excise tax on fuel under TRAIN

(Eagle News) — Senator Bam Aquino has renewed his call for the suspension of the excise tax on fuel following what he said was a recent “big-time fuel price hike” due to an increase in oil prices in the world market. “Nalulunod pa rin sa mahal na presyo ng pagkain at bilihin ang ating mga kababayan kaya napakalaking pagkakamali na payagan ang ikalawang bahagi ng excise tax sa ilalim ng (Tax Reform for Acceleration and […]

Angara wants law that will grant tax exemptions to small-scale miners who will sell their gold to BSP

(Eagle News) — Senator Sonny Angara on Thursday, Jan. 17, called for the passage of a law that would grant tax exemptions to small-scale miners who would sell their gold to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. In a statement, Angara said if passed, the Gold Bill, as it is called in the Senate, will “ensure the strength of the country’s (gross international reserves)” promote the Philippines’ “greater monetary and external sector stability,” and “help support the […]

PAGASA denies Lagmay’s claims it gave inaccurate rainfall forecasts, late warnings on TD “Usman”

(Eagle News) — The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration denied geologist Mahar Lagmay’s claims it gave inaccurate rainfall forecasts and late warnings on Tropical Depression “Usman,” which killed several people in December especially in the Bicol area. In a statement, PAGASA administrator Vicente Malano said the agency defines “moderate to heavy rainfall in its Severe Weather Bulletins as 24-hour daily accumulated rainfall of 60 to 180 millimeters and more than 180, respectively.” “In […]

DFA: Gov’t exerting best efforts to bring home seven Filipino seafarers detained in Libya

(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs assured the families of the seven Filipino seafarers who were detained in Libya that it was exerting best efforts to bring them home. In a statement, the DFA said Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. already held a meeting “with the Libyan official on the sides of the Global Compact for Migration meeting in Morocco last month.” “The Secretary reiterated his request to Libyan Embassy Chargé d’Affaires […]

SWS: Average hunger rate in PHL in 2018 the lowest since 2003

(Eagle News) — The Philippines registered an average hunger rate of 10.8 percent in 2018, the lowest annual average hunger rate since 2003, the Social Weather Stations said. In its December 16 to 19 survey, the SWS said in particular, 10.5% or an estimated 2.4 million families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months, or 2.8 points lower than the 13.3%, or an estimated  3.1 million families, hunger in September 2018. The 2.8-point […]

Sri Lankan President Sirisena heaps praises on Duterte’s drug war

(Eagle News) — Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday, Jan. 16, hailed President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war anew, saying it should serve as “an example” to the whole world. “The war against crime and drugs carried out by you is an example to the whole world and personal to me. Drug menace is rampant in my country and I feel that we should follow your footsteps to control this hazard,” Sirisena said during the state banquet […]