Taiwanese tourists cancel flights to Boracay

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan -- Taiwanese, who are bound for Boracay resort island, have started cancelling their hotel reservations causing worry to the stakeholders.

Percy Malonesio, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) at the Kalibo International Airport (KIA), announced Tuesday that several airline companies had notified cancellation of flights to and from Taiwan beginning May 22.

9 Team PNoy senators 'expected' to back admin

MANILA -- The nine Team PNoy candidates who were recently declared winners in the Senate race are "expected" to support the programs of the Aquino administration, Senator Franklin Drilon said. 

This is despite the fact that only one of the new senators is a member of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), where President Benigno Aquino III is chairman. 

Petron, Shell, PTT implement price hike

MANILA -- At least three oil companies on Tuesday implemented another round of price increase on their fuel products.

Major oil players Petron Corp., and Pilipinas Shell along with independent oil player PTT Philippines implemented an increase of P.35 per liter for gasoline products and P.25 for diesel. The movement was effective at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

2 disqualified party-list groups want votes counted

MANILA -- Two party-list groups who were disqualified to run in last week’s polls asked the Supreme Court on Monday to include their votes in the ongoing canvassing by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

These are the Binhi-Partido ng mga Magsasaka Para sa mga Magsasaka (Binhi) and Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad), who maintained that their disqualification was made without hearing their side.

51 dead as tornado hits US suburb

MOORE, Oklahoma — A tornado of rare power roared through an Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51, flattening neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph (320 kilometers) and destroying at least one school. Officials said children from the school were among the dead.

The death toll was expected to rise, an Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office spokeswoman said. Rescuers swarmed the debris as darkness fell and rain began to fall. More than 140 people were being treated at hospitals, including about 70 children. Some were in critical condition.

Philippines, Saudi ink ‘historic’ agreement on HSWs

MANILA -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the Philippines signed Sunday the Agreement on Domestic Worker Recruitment in a simple ceremony at the Hilton Jeddah hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The deal was signed by Philippine Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Labor Minister Engineer Adel Bin Mohammed Fakeih.

Fire hits coconut oil mill in Iligan City

A FIRE hits Granexport Manufacturing Corporation, a coconut oil mill located in Kiwalan, nine kilometers from Iligan City proper.

Radio reports said firefighters had difficulty containing the blaze, which started around 5 p.m., burning the firm's copra warehouse.

Brillantes wants 2013 barangay, youth elections postponed

MANILA -- Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes said Monday the poll body will not oppose any move to postpone the October 2013 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

He said the Comelec needs time to resolve all the remaining issues stemming from last week's electoral exercise.

Aquino welcomes new Egypt's envoy

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III welcomed the new envoy of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Philippines who called on him in Malacañang on Monday.

Egypt's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Mahmoud Mostafa Ahmed met with Aquino at the Music Room of Malacañang to present his credentials before settling down to work as his country's representative.

Palace denies joint probe with Taiwan

MANILA (Updated) -- Malacañang clarified Monday that there was no Philippines-Taiwan joint investigation authorized by the government with regard the May 9 incident that resulted in the death of a Taiwanese fisherman.