Aquino reports administration’s successes

MANILA (Updated 4:10 p.m.) -- President Benigno Aquino III on Monday outlined the country's various successes under his administration in his third State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Police block anti-Aquino protesters

MANILA — Officials said riot police have blocked about 5,000 left-wing and trade union protesters who attempted to march to Congress where President Benigno Aquino III is to deliver his annual State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Police deployed 6,000 officers to secure the event and used fire trucks and steel barricades to block the flag-waving protesters, who jammed a highway about two kilometers (a mile) from the House of Representatives.

Leptospirosis cases up in NCR

THE Department of Health in National Capital Region (DOH-NCR) reported Sunday a 54-percent increase in the number of leptospirosis cases in the region.

In a phone interview, DOH-NCR Director Dr. Eduardo Janairo said they recorded 88 leptospirosis cases in the region as of middle of July.

23 villages in Bulacan flooded

HEAVY rains spawned by Tropical Depression Ferdie over the weekend submerged 23 villages in Bulacan, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported on Monday.

The villages are from the cities of Meycauayan and Malolos and in the towns of Obando, Calumpit and Pulilan, all in Bulacan province.

Global economy in worst shape since 2009

WASHINGTON — The global economy is in the worst shape since the dark days of 2009.

Six of the 17 countries that use the euro currency are in recession. The US economy is struggling again. And the economic superstars of the developing world — China, India and Brazil — are in no position to come to the rescue. They're slowing, too.

Palace exec respects gov't media workers joining Sona rally

PRESIDENTIAL Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said he respects the members of government media networks who joined the rally during the State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Benigno Aquino III Monday.

Coloma, who supervises government television and radio stations, said it is the right of every person to express grievances whether he works in private or government entity.

Rights office to investigate mass grave

MANILA (Updated 4 p.m.) – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said Monday it would investigate a report by the military that it has exhumed a mass grave containing at least 30 suspected victims of a 1980s communist rebel purge.

Loretta Ann Rosales, chairwoman of the CHR, said her office would look into the mass grave, but that it is too early to say whether the remains found in northern Quezon province were victims of a rebel purge.

Congress leaders push RH bill passage, Charter amendment

MANILA (4th Update, 12:42 p.m.) -- House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. urged his colleagues in Congress Monday to finally put the Reproductive Health (RH) bill to a vote and amend economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.

“I think it’s time that we finally put it (RH bill) to a vote. Let the chips fall where they may,” he said Monday, as he opened the last session of the 15th Congress.

Rain storms kill at least 37 in Beijing

BEIJING — Officials have raised the death toll to at least 37 in the heaviest rainstorm to hit Beijing in six decades, and dozens of other storm deaths have been reported elsewhere in China.

The rain Saturday night knocked down trees in Beijing and trapped cars and buses in waist-deep water in some areas.

Congress last session opened; Vote on RH bill urged

MANILA (2nd Update, 11:20 a.m.) -- House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte urged his colleagues in the opening of the last session of the present 15th Congress Monday to “finally” put the Reproductive Health (RH) bill to a vote.

“I think it’s time that we finally put it to a vote. Let the chips fall where they may,” he said.