Duterte said the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) would “never gain a foothold” in the Philippines. He also assured to continue the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Modernization Program, on his speech give on April 9. The president in his Day of Valor speech last Tuesday in Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu, Duterte extolled the military’s accomplishments against the Abu Sayyaf Group, a known ally
Trying to enter the country with a fake Philippine passport, an American national was detained at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Sunday. Grifton Medina, BI Port Operations Division chief said 49-year-old Elmer Doller was seized early Saturday at the NAIA Terminal 3 after alighting a flight from Doha, Qatar. Medina noted that an immigration officer noticed that Medina’s passport had no security
President Duterte is uncertain of the timely assistance from the United States if the Philippines ever comes under attack. Duterte made the remark within the fresh reports of China’s aggression around Philippine-occupied territories in the West Philippine Sea. Given a speaking engagement during PDP-Laban’s campaign rally in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Thursday night, the President stressed that the US Congress would have to give its concurrence first before it
House of Representatives’ Makabayan Bloc on Wednesday criticized the killing of 14 farmers during police operations in Negros Oriental on March 30, 2019. The group overtly commented the killing even as party-list Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro of ACT-Teachers, Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, and Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna filed three resolutions calling for the investigation, in aid of legislation, of the killings. The
USA on Friday admonished the Philippines to swiftly resolve a case against detained journalist Maria Ressa and permit her and her news site Rappler to “operate freely.” A State Department spokesperson stated the US was “concerned” about the detention of the prominent critic of President Rodrigo Duterte and called out on the Philippines to esteem freedom of the press. “The freedom of expression is a cornerstone of any truly democratic
Philippine government has officially entreated the European Union to halt its funding for certain groups they are claiming as “fronts” of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army. National Security Adviser and Vice Chairman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the EU funds are purportedly being used to fuel terrorist activities of the communist rebels, in a letter to Gilles
President Duterte on Tuesday announced he would fire more officials the following week, as he swore to give his “best shot” to rid corruption in government. Duterte said he was waiting for reports of certain officials before deciding on their fate said during the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s distribution of grants to beneficiaries in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. “I want to lessen the corruption but I will fire
On Monday, the six-man panel representative of the Senate and the House of Legislatures were unsuccessful to resolve the deadlock on the proposed P3.757 trillion 2019 budget after conference for more than three hours. Representatives cited their optimism to be able to find resolution their issues with the Budget bill soon. “As long as we are talking, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We are still talking,”
The national government will retaliate if ever Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari enacts on his threat to go to war over federalism, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo addressed Thursday. Panelo canned Misuari’s bluff as a form of “blackmail” towards the current administration, adding he was only “expressing his disappointment” because one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promises was still not in place. Panelo cited the government would not take
Out of 46 politicians called by President Rodrigo Duterte in his new drug list, 8 belonged to his political party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). Duterte called eight of his party mates as supposedly involved in the drug trade during a conference with the National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) meeting with top police and military officials in Davao City, March 14th. “An official’s right to privacy is not
