Other News

Robredo disappointed over Chinese gov’t refusal to admit “culpability” of Chinese vessel crew in Recto Bank incident

Also blames Duterte admin’s “less assertive” stance in dealing with W. PHL Sea issue  (Eagle News)–Vice President Leni Robredo has expressed disappointment over what she said was the Chinese government’s  “refusal to acknowledge the culpability of those responsible for sinking the Philippine fishing vessel and abandoning its crew,” but at the same time blamed the Chinese vessel’s actions  on the “less assertive policy” adopted by the Duterte administration on the 2016 ruling of the Permanent […]

Severe heat kills dozens in India’s Bihar state

PATNA, India (AFP) — Severe heat has left dozens dead over a 24-hour period in India’s Bihar state, as the country enters a third week of searing temperatures, officials said Sunday. The deaths occurred in three districts of the poor northern state, where temperatures have hovered around 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in recent days, senior health official Vijay Kumar told AFP. Forty-nine people died in three districts of the Magadh region that has been […]

Palace says Duterte called for special Cabinet meeting to discuss Recto Bank incident; meeting was later cancelled, Palace adds

(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte  called for a special Cabinet meeting on Monday, June 17, to discuss the Recto Bank incident but later canceled it, the Palace said. The meeting would have taken place days after the June 9 incident was announced by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The Palace has condemned the incident, which saw a Chinese vessel hitting a Filipino fishing boat that ended up sinking. Lorenzana said the Chinese vessel left the 22 Filipino […]

Following Recto Bank incident, Drilon reiterates push for multilateral talks in dealing with W. PHL Sea issue

(Eagle News)–Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon reiterated his push for multilateral talks in dealing with the West Philippine Sea issue, following the Recto Bank incident that prompted the Philippines to file a diplomatic protest against China. In an interview over radio dzbb, Drilon said the incident had shown that  bilateral talks were “not effective.” “Babalewalain tayo ng China. Malakas ang kanilang ekonomiya. Malakas ang kanilang sandatahang lakas,” Drilon said. According to Drilon, in the first […]

Davis heading to Lakers in blockbuster trade: reports

Anthony Davis will form a high-powered NBA strikeforce alongside LeBron James next season after the New Orleans Pelicans agreed to a trade deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, US media reports said Saturday. ESPN and the Los Angeles Times said unsettled star Davis will join the Lakers in a move which will see the Pelicans receive multiple players and draft picks in return. The Pelicans roster will be bolstered by the arrival of Lakers players […]

De Lima to President Duterte: Stop your rants, focus on your job instead

(Eagle News)–Senator Leila de Lima has slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for  what she said were his rants about his work as the chief executive, urging him to concentrate on his job instead. “A competent leader would have nothing else on his mind at this moment except to govern, face the pressing issues hounding the nation, and ease the suffering of the Filipinos, especially the poor and vulnerable members of our society,” De Lima, who is […]

Rains to prevail in parts of PHL today, June 16, as southwest monsoon affects Luzon

(Eagle News)–Rains are expected in parts of the country today, June 16, as the southwest monsoon continues to affect Luzon. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, MIMAROPA, Zambales, Bataan  will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms are possible. Davao Region will also have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, but this time due to the Intertropical Convergence […]

WellMed co-owner Bryan Sy posts bail; Manila court orders his release

(Eagle News)–A Manila court has ordered the release of a co-owner of WellMed, which has been accused of claiming PhilHealth benefits of deceased patients. This was after Bryan Sy posted a P72,000 bail before Branch 6 Metropolitan Trial Court Judge Jerome Jimenez’s sala. Sy and several others face charges of estafa through falsification of documents in connection with the incident. He was arrested after he surfaced at the National Bureau of Investigation to supposedly clear […]

Indonesia returns five containers of waste to the US

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia has returned five containers of rubbish to the United States and will not become a “dumping ground”, officials said Saturday, the latest Southeast Asian country to return imported waste. The containers were supposed to contain only paper scrap, according to the customs documents. Instead they were loaded with other waste including bottles, plastic waste, and diapers, said senior environment ministry official Sayid Muhadhar. “This is not appropriate and we don’t […]

Locsin on Chinese embassy recent statement on Recto Bank incident: China “can say what it wants” since “it is a free world”

(Eagle News)–For Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin, China “can say what it wants” about the incident near Recto Bank. “It is a free world,” Locsin said in a Tweet. In the Philippines’ case, though, Locsin said “we speak from the law of the sea.” “But still everyone’s free,” he said. Locsin issued the statement after the Chinese embassy admitted a Chinese vessel had hit a Filipino fishing boat on June 9 but added seven or […]

DILG: Nat’l earthquake drill slated on June 20

(Eagle News)–The national earthquake drill is scheduled on June 20. The Department of the Interior and Local Government made the announcement in a statement on Saturday, June 15. According to the DILG, the drill will start at 2 p.m. “LGUs should always observe maximum or extreme preparedness rather than employ a calibrated response not just for typhoons but also for earthquakes and other types of disasters. This approach will save more lives and further reduce […]