ILIGAN CITY, Lanao de Norte — A 15-year-old ISIS-linked Maute fighter on Tuesday surrendered to Philippine Army in Butig, Lanao del Sur. The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 49th Infantry ‘Good Samaritan’ Battalion of the Joint Task Force Ranao facilitated the surrender of alias AJ (not his real name). AJ was reportedly recruited by his cousins, […]
NFA to review reference price for rice imports
MANILA — The National Food Authority (NFA) will review its reference price for government-to-government (G-to-G) rice importation after participating countries offered to sell at prices higher than what was approved in the budget. During Tuesday’s bidding to supply 203,000 metric tons (MT) of 25-percent broken, well-milled long grain white rice, Thailand and Vietnam initially offered USD480.50/MT […]
Senators welcome return of Balangiga bells
MANILA — Several senators on Tuesday welcomed reports that the Balangiga bells would soon be returned to the country after more than a century of being held as war trophies by the United States military. The three church bells were seized by the US Army from Balangiga, Eastern Samar in 1901 during the Philippine-American war. The […]
‘Dugong’ netted accidentally released back to sea in Palawan
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — A 200-kilogram live female “dugong” (sea cow) that was accidentally caught recently by fishermen in the municipal waters of Brooke’s Point, was released back into the wilds by last Monday. Richen Mission Bajar, administrative aide of the Office of Municipal Agriculturist of Brooke’s Point, said the “dugong” was freed on the […]
Balangiga bells’ return thrills Eastern Samar town
TACLOBAN CITY — The town of Balangiga in Eastern Samar is preparing for the celebratory welcome for the much-awaited return of three bells seized by American soldiers 117 years ago. After hearing the report on the bells’ repatriation, priests, local government officials, and some volunteers have met to talk about possible activities for the welcome ceremony, […]
Comelec asked to disqualify Cayetano couple from 2019 polls
MANILA — Separate petitions to deny due course were filed on Monday against former senator Alan Peter Cayetano and his wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for not possessing the minimum residency qualification imposed by the 1987 Constitution for the members of the House of Representatives. Petitioner and Taguig resident […]
IPs seek legal aid from PRRD; to file raps vs. CPP-NPA
MANILA — A group of indigenous peoples (IPs) on Thursday met with President Rodrigo Duterte and presented four resolutions, including one seeking legal assistance for the filing of appropriate charges against the communists and their founding leader Jose Maria Sison. The meeting between the 31 IPs representing at least eight tribes from Mindanao and Duterte took […]
More flight cancellations seen as CAAP upgrades NAIA navigation system
MANILA — Air passengers should expect more flights to be affected on Nov. 15-20, as arriving flights will be reduced by four per hour, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesperson Eric Apolonio. In an interview with Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday, Apolonio said, this is part of the safety measure needed as CAAP improves […]
DICT defends integrity of 3rd telco selection process
MANILA (November 8)– The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) defended the validity and integrity of the bidding process, which resulted in the provisional awarding of the third telco slot to a consortium between Davao City-based holding company Udenna Corporation and Chinese state-owned firm China Telecommunications Corporation last Wednesday. Mislatel Consortium, led by local […]
Army, reds encounter in Misamis Occidental
ZAMBOANGA CITY— A soldier was wounded during the two separate encounters with the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the province of Misamis Occidental. Col. Bagnus Gaerlan, the Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, on Tuesday said the first clash happened around 4 p.m. Monday in Panaon, Misamis Occidental. Gaerlan said the troops from the 10th […]
DOH pushes for P90 per pack tobacco tax hike
MANILA (November 6)– The Department of Health (DOH) is pushing for a PHP90 per pack increase in tobacco excise tax for better health of more Filipinos through the Universal Health Care (UHC) bill. In a press briefing Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the UHC bill has passed the third reading in the upper […]
PH’s global impunity index improves anew
MANILA (November 5) – Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Executive Director, Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco expressed elation after the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) listed the Philippines anew as among countries with improved status in addressing media killings. The CPJ has recently released the 2018 Global Impunity Index with the Philippines still on the […]
Two hurt in North Cotabato grenade attack
KIDAPAWAN CITY (November 5) — Police in North Cotabato launched a manhunt operation against two attackers responsible for the grenade attack on a roadside snack bar in the North Cotabato town of Carmen Sunday, which critically wounded two persons. Supt. Bernard Tayong, speaking for police in North Cotabato, identified the victims as Mariel Referente, 17, student, […]