GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The famed crater-lake Holon in Tboli town in South Cotabato, one of the province’s top ecotourism destinations, was shut down to tourists for over two months starting Monday, Jan. 6, for its annual rehabilitation. In a memorandum, Tboli Mayor Dibu Tuan ordered the temporary closure of the entire lake and its immediate […]
NPA should walk their talk for peace dialogues to resume: Galvez
MANILA — Before peace talks can resume, communist rebels should first walk their talk, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Monday as he condemned the recent attacks made by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) since December despite the ongoing truce. In a statement, Galvez denounced three separate attacks made by the NPA […]
Gasoline prices to go down, diesel up today
MANILA — Oil companies have announced their first price adjustments for 2020 that will take effect at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7. In separate advisories, Seaoil, PTT Philippines and Flying V said price of their respective gasoline products will decline by PHP0.10 per liter, while price of diesel will increase by PHP0.40 per liter. Seaoil […]
Duterte orders AFP to prepare air, naval assets for MidEast evacuations
MANILA – In the wake of rising tension between the United States and Iran, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been ordered by President Rodrigo R. Duterte to prepare it’s air and naval assets which could be used in the evacuation of overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East should hostilities erupt in the […]
Military clarifies no lockdown in Marawi
ILIGAN CITY – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Saturday there is no lockdown in Marawi City after the martial law in Mindanao lapsed on the midnight of Dec. 31, 2019, more than two years it was declared during the siege. Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo, commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, whose […]
Blessed Sacrament stolen from NegOr heritage church
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Blessed Sacrament at the Adoration Chapel of the St. Augustine of Hippo Parish Church in Bacong, Negros Oriental was stolen by unidentified thieves on Friday. The people in Bacong are asked to do penitential acts for the reparation of sins committed against God for the desecration and sacrilegious act in the stealing […]
PNoy exec behind faulty water deals — Duterte
DIGOS CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday faulted Manila Water President Jose Rene Almendras “and other Malacañang employees” for the “disadvantageous” water concession contract that the government signed with the company and the Pangilinan-led Maynilad. Almendras was former Energy secretary under President Benigno Aquino and was later named as Foreign Affairs secretary. He said Almendras […]
Red tide alert still up in Surigao Sur towns
BUTUAN CITY – The latest laboratory results by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) indicated the continued presence of paralytic shellfish poison in shellfishes collected from the Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur. In shellfish Bulletin No. 26 issued on Friday, BFAR said the presence of paralytic shellfish poison in samples collected is still […]
After 15 years, couple decides to quit NPA
BUTUAN CITY — Too much exhaustion and disillusionment forced a couple in Surigao del Sur to finally leave the New People’s Army (NPA), armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) that they served for more than 15 years. The Army’s 75th Infantry Battalion, through its commanding officer, Lt. Col. Warren C. Munda, welcomed […]
Go celebrates Christmas with hospital watchers
DAVAO CITY – Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go celebrated Christmas day at the Balay Pahulayan, a resting facility for the watchers of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) here. Go distributed cash assistance, food packs, and mattresses to the said beneficiaries. He also urged the watchers to go to the Malasakit Center to avail of the […]
79% of Pinoys satisfied by drug war, a wake-up call to critics
MANILA — Malacañang on Monday hailed the results of a survey which showed that majority of Filipinos are still satisfied by President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown on illegal drugs. In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the survey results should serve as a “wake-up call” against foreign groups and personalities who spread lies to discredit his […]
Duterte wants completion of gov’t transactions in hours
MANILA — As part of his plan to cut bureaucratic red tape in government, President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday ordered state offices to finish all transactions just in hours. The President gave the fresh directive, a month after he issued an ultimatum demanding the completion of paperwork in all government offices by mid-December. Duterte maintained he […]
Quakes not man-made: Solidum
DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur – Science and Technology Undersecretary Renato Solidum had shot down speculations that the strong earthquakes that have hit North Cotabato and Davao del Sur were possibly human-induced. Although he did not refer to any human activity, social media websites, particularly Facebook, had been rife with suspicions that the quakes, including the […]