Robredo denies 'demolition job' vs transpo chief

INTERIOR Secretary Jesse Robredo denied Thursday that there is a demolition job against Land Transportation Office (LTO) head Virginia Torres, who is being linked to carjacking operations.

Congressional support for climate change fund climbs

CONGRESSIONAL support for a bill that establishes a climate adaptation fund for local governments has risen, a leading Philippine climate policy think tank said.

Mt. Bulusan evacuees told to go home

RESIDENTS affected by the activity of the Mt. Bulusan were allowed to return home after the volcano showed signs of settling down.

Postponing Armm polls may 'alienate' Moro people

AN ELECTION analyst assailed Thursday the apparent railroading of the approval to postpone the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) polls, saying it could pose a serious consequence to the government.

DepEd to add Mandarin, Arabic in foreign language program

TO MAKE Filipino students more globally competitive, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday said it is set to introduce more foreign languages this coming school year.

Police arrest Chinese drug suspects

ANTI-drug operatives apprehended three Chinese nationals suspected to be members of a big-time syndicate and recovered P35 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" in a Paranaque City operation.

Education chief to take part in Edsa run

TO INCREASE funds for the construction of school buildings across the country, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro said he will run the five-kilometer route of the "Edsa Run."

Health agency laments low breastfeeding rates among women

THE Department of Health (DOH) lamented the continued low prevalence of breastfeeding in the country despite its vigorous promotion.

Take-off points for Pinoys in Libya identified

MANILA -- The government has identified take-off points in countries near Libya where thousands of stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFW) can seek refuge while officials are working on the evacuation plans.

Vice President Jejomar Binay will embark on a weeklong trip to the Middle East starting Friday to closely monitor evacuation efforts in the riot-torn Libya.

New Zealand quake death toll rises

MANILA (Updated 5:56 p.m.) -- Hopes faded of finding more survivors Thursday in the collapsed downtown towers of New Zealand's quake-shattered Christchurch, as officials said the death toll rose to 98 with grave fears for many of the 226 missing.

Police said up to 120 bodies may still lie trapped in the tangled concrete and steel that was the Canterbury Television (CTV) building, where dozens of students from Japan, Thailand, China, Philippines and other Asian countries were believed buried when an English-language school collapsed along with other offices.

Ethics panel won't rush Singson's case

MANILA (2nd Update, 4:45 p.m.) -- The House ethics panel will wait for the official documents from the Wan Chai District Court in Hong Kong before it decides on the possible expulsion of Ilocos Sur Representative Ronald Singson.

Singson on Thursday was sentenced to 18 months in prison for bringing cocaine into the southern Chinese territory for his personal use.

Congressman gets 18 months for drugs

MANILA (Updated 4:32 p.m.) -- A Hong Kong judge has sentenced a Philippine congressman to 18 months in prison for bringing cocaine into the southern Chinese territory for his personal use.

Ilocos Sur Representative Ronald Singson was caught with 0.24 ounces (6.67 grams) of cocaine in July while transiting through Hong Kong's airport en route to the gambling enclave of Macau. He had pleaded guilty to a charge of trafficking in a dangerous drug.

Drilon wants ex-general’s brother-in-law summoned

MANILA (Updated 12:39 p.m.) -- Senator Franklin Drilon on Thursday urged the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to summon the brother-in-law of a former general for owning condominium units and cars despite having no income.

Ex-general’s wife fails to attend Senate hearing

MANILA (Updated 11:37 a.m.) -- The spouse of a former general accused of receiving cash illegally drawn from military funds was not able to attend the Senate hearing Thursday.

No mandatory evacuation of Pinoys in Libya

MANILA -- The government said there is no need yet for a forced evacuation of Filipinos in Libya despite the escalating tension in the Middle Eastern country Wednesday.

"Systems are in place and I understand that arrangements have already been made for our citizens to be brought to safer locations, but it is still voluntary," President Benigno Aquino III said.

Binay’s Middle East visit to improve OFWs’ welfare

MANILA -- Vice President Jejomar Binay will leave on Friday for a week travel to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to hold meetings with officials regarding the welfare of overseas Filipinos.

Upon receiving instructions from President Benigno Aquino III, Binay -- who also serves as the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) concerns -- will also hold bilateral talks that may result in labor agreements beneficial to Filipino workers in these countries.

Martial Law victims protest removal from list of beneficiaries

MANILA -- Victims of human rights violations during the Martial Law years on Wednesday protested the “arbitrary” delisting of their names as members in the class action suit against former dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his family.

Lawyer Rod Domingo, the Filipino counsel collaborating with court-appointed lawyer Robert Swift, should explain the basis why some 2,000 names were removed, Fr. Dionito Cabillas, secretary general of the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda) said.

Aquino: Binay to decide on Marcos burial

VICE President Jejomar Binay, a former human rights lawyer, has been tasked to decide on the proposal to bury the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ remains at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery).

This was announced by President Benigno Aquino III, whose family went into political exile during the Marcos regime, on Wednesday.

COA: No UN peacekeeping fund report provided

A COMMISSION on Audit (COA) official disclosed that it was not provided with reports on peacekeeping funds worth $3.3 million received by the military from the United Nations (UN).

For Sin protégé, EDSA spirit remains

DESPITE what some sectors have been saying, one person who saw the Edsa People Power Revolution first hand believes its spirit remains until now.

Church still has two options for anti-RH bill campaign

AS THE highly-divisive Reproductive Health (RH) bill finally goes to House plenary debates, an official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) admitted on Wednesday that they only have two cards left in opposing its passage.

“To lobby in Congress and mobilize rallies in dioceses,” revealed CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) Executive Secretary Fr. Melvin Castro in a phone interview.

Contractors told: Send a card and pray for us

Manila -- Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro asked suppliers and contractors Wednesday to refrain from giving gifts to officials to curry favor and win bids for projects.

Lawyers’ group eye global attention for Filipino botanist’s death

A GROUP of human rights lawyers called for a speedy and impartial investigation into the death of slain botanist Leonard Co, saying it will bring the matter up before international human rights bodies.

Recruitment agencies rue Roxas’ failure in appeasing Taiwan

A GROUP of Taiwan-accredited Philippine recruiting agencies rued the failure of former senator Mar Roxas II in appeasing Taipei.

Philippines offers to fly citizens home from Libya

MANILA (Updated 12:33 p.m.) — The Philippine government raised the alert level for its nationals in Libya, offering to fly home 30,000 Filipino workers amid a bloody crackdown on protests calling for an end to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime.

House to continue impeach hearings vs Ombud

MANILA -- Impeachment hearings against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez will start March 1, after the House of Representatives justice committee voted to continue with the proceedings despite earlier opposition by the House Speaker.

Twenty-one committee members voted to continue the impeachment hearings while five voted against it during the committee's hearing Tuesday.

Government, rebels agree to achieve peace deal in 2012

THE Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) on Tuesday concluded their first round of formal talks, agreeing to complete peace negotiations in 18 months.

Both sides tried to find "a common political solution" to finally end decades of armed conflict in the country, government peace panel chairman Alex Padilla said on Tuesday during the resumption of peace talks in Oslo, Norway.

Senate summons ex-general's wife

THE spouse of a former general accused of receiving cash illegally drawn from military funds has been summoned by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

Erlinda Ligot, wife of former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller Jacinto Ligot, is now required to appear before the committee to shed light on her frequent foreign trips and houses in the US that she allegedly acquired.

No Filipino workers deployment to Libya, Bahrain, Yemen

THE Philippines has temporarily stopped the processing of labor contracts of Filipino workers headed for Libya, Bahrain, and Yemen where political tensions have escalated.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda announced this Tuesday, citing a move by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).

RH debates in plenary to start next week

THE reproductive health (RH) measure is set for plenary sponsorship on March 1 after it passed the House Committee on Rules Tuesday.