66 new House members take up legislation course

SIXTY-SIX neophyte lawmakers attended a month-long legislators' course at the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance, which started June 4.   "It is a House-sponsored activity but we do not require them (to attend). New members are free to decide if they want to attend or not," Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap said.   The House of Representatives will also hold an orientation for its neophyte members on July 16, a week before the 16th Congress opens its first regular session.  

Davao Oriental declared as 'Tourism Development Area'

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has signed a new law declaring the province of Davao Oriental as a Tourism Development Area (TDA) in a bid to boost the tourism industry.

The Chief Executive signed on May 17 Republic Act 10560 otherwise known as "An Act Declaring the Province of Davao Oriental as a Tourism Development Area (TDA)."

Junk PCOS, Comelec urged

MANILA -- Poll watchdog group Kontra Daya on Wednesday recommended to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to discontinue the use of the more than 80,000 Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) in the 2016 elections.

Kontra Daya convenor Dr. Gani Tapang said they do not see the need for the retention of the PCOS machines owing to its miserable performance in the 2010 and 2013 polls.

Smartmatic hints at staying for 2016 polls

SMARTMATIC International on Tuesday hinted that it is already looking forward to participating anew in the 2016 presidential elections.   Smartmatic chief executive officer (CEO) Antonio Mugica said they are being egged on by the success of the 2010 and 2013 polls and are already looking forward to the next national exercise in the Philippines.   "After two successful national elections, thousands of candidates elected, and 1.5 billion of votes counted, our commitment toward better elections in the Philippines is stronger than ever," said Mugica.  

RH law debates moved to July 9

DEBATES on the constitutionality of the controversial Reproductive Health law has been moved to July 9 from the original schedule of June 18.

Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te said Tuesday the justices reset the oral arguments "because of the many interventions that have been filed recently as well as several other petitions still coming in."

Filipinos in Turkey warned over protests

THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday warned Filipinos in Turkey to avoid areas where violent demonstrations are being held.

One of Turkey's big trade unions is conducting a two-day protest in support of anti-government demonstrations in various cities.

Filipinos in Saudi warned vs SARS-like virus

MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday warned Filipinos in Saudi Arabia to "follow the advice" of the Saudi Health Ministry and other relevant authorities regarding a new strain of SARS-like virus that have caused several deaths in the kingdom.

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus has already killed 30 people worldwide with the latest deaths recorded in Saudi Arabia, according to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Aquino vetoes 71 bills

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has vetoed 71 proposed measures since he became president in 2010, a Palace official said Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang said that 11 of the vetoed bills were of national interest and the rest were local in nature.

Local bets told to submit campaign finance report

MANILA -- Citing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) it had with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday reminded candidates to submit of their Statements of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SECE).

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the MOA empowers the Comelec to strictly enforce the requirement of filing SECE, which is until June 12.   "Local candidates failing to submit Statements of Election Contributions and Expenditures won't be allowed to assume office. In case you've forgotten," said Jimenez on Twitter.  

Ifugao lawmaker vows to re-file alternative mining bill

MANILA -- Reelected Ifugao Representative Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr. on Monday vowed to re-file an alternative mining bill in the 16th Congress.

The bill, once approved, will be more responsive to the needs of host communities and sensitive to the environment, the lawmaker allied with the Aquino administration said.

Identify legislative priorities early, Aquino urged

MANILA -- A leader of the House of Representatives urged Monday President Benigno Aquino III to immediately identify his legislative priorities as newly-elected officials assume office on June 30.   Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II also advised the Chief Executive to convene the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) immediately after his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 22.

Serendra’s vicinity reopened; probers focus on blast site

MANILA -- Investigators at Two Serendra in Taguig City have focused their efforts on the “blast site,” which remained sealed after police authorities finished scouring through the street portion of the area and found no trace of bomb.

Public told: Wait for probe findings over Taiwanese death

MALACANANG asked the public not to easily believe on reports regarding the supposed actuation of the coast guards when they killed a Taiwanese fisherman early last month.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Sunday the Palace would only make any comment once the investigation is completed and the findings are made public.

Penalties await erring recruiters, employers of Saudi-bound OFWs

A TEAM from the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) will soon meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia to craft guidelines for the implementation of domestic worker recruitment agreement between the Philippines and the oil-rich nation.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the meeting will cover guidelines for onsite labor dispute settlement, online recruitment, and penalties for erring recruiters and employers of Saudi-bound Filipino workers.

No traces of bomb in Serendra blast

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III has ordered a thorough investigation on the explosion in Taguig City Friday night as initial search at the scene showed no traces of explosives.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte assured that results of the investigation on Two Serendra in Bonifacio Global City will be made public.

Lawmaker slams PAL directive on late check-in fee

MANILA -- A member of Congress on Saturday slammed flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) for issuing a new directive which imposes a P1,500 fine on passengers who fail to report in the check-in counter 45 minutes before the time of their departure.

Iloilo Representative Jerry Trenas said PAL's rule is a violation of the Air Passenger Bill of Rights, which has been in effect since last year as he urged the House committee on transportation to conduct an investigation on the supposed unlawful memorandum.

Gov't monitoring ports of entry vs SARS-like virus

THE Department of Health (DOH) is closely coordinating with the World Health Organization (WHO) to fight the possible spread of a new coronavirus, which has been affecting some countries in the Middle East where most Filipinos have been working, Malacanang said Saturday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, said that airport and port scanners remain in place to check passengers arriving in the country particularly those coming from the Middle East where most of the SARS-like cases were reported.

Aquino signs amendments to Revised Penal Code

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III signed on May 29 Republic Act 10592, or "An Act Amending Articles 29, 94, 97, 98, and 99 of Act 3815, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Revised Penal Code," the Palace said Saturday.

Under Article 29 of the Revised Penal Code, the local jail shall entitle a prisoner to the following deductions from the period of his sentence for good behavior:

Mosque in Tawi-Tawi declared as national historical landmark

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has declared the Sheikh Karimul Makhdum Mosque, which is considered as one of the country's oldest existing Muslim Houses of Prayer or Mosques located in Tawi-tawi, as a national historical landmark.

The Chief Executive signed on May 24 the Republic Act 10573, otherwise known as "An Act Declaring the Sheikh Karimul Makhdum Mosque, considered as the site of one of the oldest existing Muslim houses of prayer or mosques in the Philippines, at Tubig Indangan, Simunul, province of Tawi-Tawi, as a National Historical Landmark and for other purposes."

Hong Kong reiterates travel warning on Philippines

MANILA -- Hong Kong reiterated Friday its outbound travel alert over the Philippines, after the United States and three other countries warned their nationals against traveling to parts of Mindanao due to kidnapping threats.

Hong Kong's Security Bureau reissued its black outbound travel alert (OTA) to the Philippines, citing the botched rescue attempt during the 2010 Manila hostage-taking incident and the warning issued by the US.

Lawmaker doubts DepEd’s claim of ‘zero backlog’

MANILA -- A party-list representative on Thursday doubted the Department of Education's (DepEd) claim of a "zero backlog" in classrooms, textbooks and teachers, saying severe shortages in these basic inputs will meet public school children during school opening.

ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio said that there is still a shortage of 46,567 teacher items and 32,844 classrooms when public schools open this June.

Meco chief: Murder case to complicate sea shooting issue

MURDER charges against those responsible in the killing of Taiwanese fisherman will only complicate the incident since the suspects are here in the Philippines, the country's de facto embassy in Taiwan said Thursday.

Reports said Hung Tzu-chen, daughter of slain fisherman Hung Shih-chen, filed a complaint even if both countries have yet to finish their ongoing parallel investigations into the shooting incident off Batanes on May 9.

Poor communication blamed for veto of 4 bills

HOUSE Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Thursday cited poor communication between the legislative and executive branches as the reason why President Benigno Aquino III has vetoed several vital bills in the past months.

Aquino had vetoed the Centenarian bill, the Magna Carta for the Poor, the bill removing the height requirement for policemen and the bill on internally displaced persons.

Lawmakers back Senior Citizens return to Congress

MEMBERS of the House of Representatives support the appeal of Speaker Feleciano Belmonte Jr. to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to lift the disqualification of Senior Citizens party-list group.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court (SC) issued temporary restraining order in favor of the disqualified group whose registration was cancelled due to alleged term-sharing agreement for its two sets of nominees.

Comelec assures transparency over manual audit

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday assured the public that there will be full transparency in the reporting of the results of the random manual audit (RMA) of the May 13 poll results.

"We are going to be very transparent in this. We have agreed to come out with it on June 13," said Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes.

Aquino seeks cooperation in preserving Baguio, Boracay

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has urged all departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the national government and local government units (LGUs) to actively support the Technical Working Group (TEG) on Baguio and Boracay for the preparation of comprehensive plans and programs to preserve and develop these places.

The Chief Executive issued the directive by virtue of Memorandum Circular (MC) 47 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. on May 17.

Pangilinan blamed for veto of Centenarian bill

MANILA -- Senator Francis Pangilinan is to blame for President Benigno Aquino III's veto on the consolidated bill that seeks to grant 75 percent discounts to centenarians, the principal author of the House version of the bill said.   Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, author of House Bill 834 entitled "An Act Honoring and Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Filipino Centenarians," said it was Pangilinan who sought to increase the discount to be provided to centenarians once the measure is enacted.  

PPCRV calls for compact flash cards inventory

THE accredited citizens' arm of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is encouraging the poll body to conduct an inventory of the compact flash (CF) cards amid reports that some of them have been destroyed and replaced by candidates in the May 13 polls.   In a radio interview, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) chairperson Henrietta de Villa said it would be best if the Comelec would have an inventory of the almost 78,000 CF cards to find out if there is any unit missing or replaced.  

Aquino visits wake of slain Marines

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III personally expressed his condolences to the relatives of seven Marine soldiers who were killed in a clash with the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu last Saturday.

Aquino on Tuesday afternoon went to the wake of the fallen soldiers at Marine Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

US-trained maritime professor is new Marina chief

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has appointed World Maritime University (WMU) professor Maximo Mejia Jr. as the new administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), a Palace official said Tuesday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a regular press briefing, said that the Chief Executive signed Mejia's appointment letter on May 22.