MANILA — Former Bureau of Customs (BOC) intelligence officer Jimmy Guban will be turned over to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Tuesday where he will be placed under the witness protection program (WPP). This came following his execution of an affidavit, vowing to tell everything he knows on the shabu smuggling operations at the BOC. […]
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PTFoMS chief hails PH’s improved status in addressing media killings
MANILA – Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Executive Director, Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, on Tuesday welcomed the Philippines’ improved status on the 2018 Global Impunity Index released recently by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). “In an interesting development, we note with optimism that the Philippines, while remaining at its 2017 ranking as […]
Palace: Military presence in BOC, part of Duterte’s duty to serve & protect
DAVAO CITY (October 30) — Malacañang on Tuesday, backed anew President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s decision to place military personnel in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) amid issues of corruption and drug smuggling within the agency. Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo said the Constitution allows the President as Commander-in-Chief to call […]
Military take over at Customs temporary-Palace
DAVAO CITY (October 30) — The military take over at the Bureau of Customs is temporary while the government fixes corruption issue in said office. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President was doing the right move when he placed the BOC under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), but said it is just […]
China to shelve maritime claims on West Philippine Sea
DAVAO CITY (October 29) -Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Philippines and China can shelve their maritime claims for the sake of joint development in the West Philippine Sea. “We stand ready to stand by the Philippines and will always be your most sincere and trustworthy friend,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi […]
DFA to pursue ‘independent foreign policy’
MANILA (October 29) – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. said he will continue to pursue President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign policy direction by strengthening the country’s relationship with traditional allies and reaching out to new partners in the international community. Locsin, during a meeting with senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), […]
President Duterte places Bureau of Customs under AFP
DAVAO CITY (October 29)- President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines to temporarily take over the Bureau of Customs (BOC). “With these kinds of dirty games they are playing, I am forced to ask the Armed Forces to take over,” Duterte said. “They will be replaced, all of them, by military men. […]
Gov’t to undertake bolder reforms to improve public service
DAVAO CITY (October 28)- Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said there will be “no room for complacency” and hinted that government will continue to undertake bolder reforms to improve public service. The recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey shows a five-point increase in the net trust rating of President Rodrigo Duterte Duterte from […]
President Duterte defends Lapeña and Faeldon: “Nalusutan talaga sila”
MANILA (October 28)— President Rodrigo Duterte defended former Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña and his predecessor Nicanor Faeldon, saying that both were not involved in any corruption. Lapeña andFaeldon were both dragged in a separate multi-billion peso drug smuggling cases involving the Bureau of Customs. Lapeña, amid the P11-billion shabu shipment controversy while Faeldon resigned after he […]
DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. welcomes formal opening of Chinese consulate in Davao
MANILA (October 28) — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. welcomed the formal opening of the Chinese consulate general in Davao on Sunday, saying its inauguration underscores the growing cooperation between Manila and Beijing. The consulate general was inaugurated by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who arrived in Davao for a two-day visit […]
Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits Davao to discuss joint exploration in South China Sea
DAVAO CITY (October 28)- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits Davao City on Oct. 28 to 29 to discuss the planned joint exploration in the South China Sea and on a possible partnership with the government’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program. Mr. Wang met with Philippine government officials in Davao City, which is also the […]
Duterte wants to spare Lapeña from intrigue: Palace
MANILA — Malacañang said Friday President Rodrigo Duterte has announced one week ahead the transfer of former Bureau of Customs chief Isidro Lapeña to spare the latter from intrigue amid the probe on the multi-billion-peso “shabu” (crystal meth) shipment into the country. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this clarification a day after Duterte promoted Lapeña […]
Twin blasts rock Maguindanao town
Camp SIONGCO, Maguindanao — Twin explosions rocked the town of Ampatuan, Maguindanao on Friday morning but no one was reported injured, the military here said. Major Arvin John Encinas, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the bombs were separately placed by the roadside near the Poblacion of Ampatuan town. “Our troops in the […]