Macon Ramos-Araneta

Senate ‘won’t be rushed’ on RBH6

February 6, 2024
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
Pledge to finish talks on economic ‘Cha-cha’ by March hangs The Senate will not be rushed into proposing changes in the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, putting into question a commitment senators made to House leaders that they would be able to do so by the end of March. “I just wish to reiterate […]
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De Lima on Estrada plunder acquittal: ‘There is still a chance SC will modify this judgment’

January 19, 2024
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
While she accepts the Sandiganbayan decision to clear Sen. Jinggoy Estrada of plunder charges, former Sen. Leila de Lima said there is still a chance for the Supreme Court (SC) to modify this ruling should the accused appeal his conviction for three counts of bribery. In a statement sent to the media Friday, Jan. 19, […]
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Estrada acquitted of plunder, convicted of bribery–Sandiganbayan

January 19, 2024
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
The Sandiganbayan has cleared Senator Jinggoy Estrada of plunder charges, but found him guilty of direct and indirect bribery, in relation to his involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam. The fifth division of the anti-graft court released its verdict, Friday morning, Jan. 19. The cases stemmed from his reported transactions with controversial businesswoman Janet […]
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Economic provisions of Charter worth reviewing, Angara asserts

December 19, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
The chairman of the Senate finance committee on Monday said the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution were “worth reviewing.” Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said amending such provisions might be timely to give the country “some flexibility” in those areas. “The time might be right to revisit some of the provisions of the Constitution because […]
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2024 budget clean—Angara

December 15, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
P450b in unprogrammed funds ‘nothing new’, doesn’t violate Constitution The decision of Congress to include an additional P450 billion to the unprogrammed funds in the 2024 budget does not violate the Constitution, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said. “The unprogrammed fund is nothing new. It has been there for I think, the last two decades. So, […]
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‘Source of SMNI false news may face sanctions’

December 4, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
Disciplinary action would be initiated against the source who leaked misleading information about the travel expenses of the House of Representatives if it is proven to be an employee of the Upper Chamber, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Sunday. Sonshine Media Network International host Jeffrey Celiz made the allegation that Speaker Martin Romualdez […]
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‘Senate must OK PH rejoining ICC’

November 28, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
Dela Rosa stresses ‘process’ The administration needs to secure the Senate’s approval before the country can rejoin the International Criminal Court, Senator Ronald dela Rosa said on Monday. “If you want to rejoin, that has to go through the process. After the president’s ratification, it has to be concurred by the Senate by a two-thirds […]
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De Lima sees last drug charge being dismissed

November 16, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
Former Senator Leila De Lima has expressed optimism that she would be eventually cleared of drug cases following a trial judge’s grant of her petition for bail on Monday. Meanwhile, former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said he respected the judge’s decision to grant bail for De Lima but raised doubts about its timing. De Lima […]
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LTFRB ‘whistleblower’ asks NBI to postpone probe

October 16, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
Former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) official Jeff Tumbado confirmed that he has received a subpoena from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), but has requested a postponement of an impending investigation. The NBI subpoena details Tumbado’s allegations of corruption in the LTFRB that he had already recanted. Tumbado is expected to present […]
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Survey: CIF must go to intelligence, surveillance, defense agencies only

October 12, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
A clear majority of Filipinos believe confidential funds should be allocated only to government agencies that are directly involved in intelligence gathering, surveillance and in the development of defense capability of the Philippines. In a third quarter survey by The Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER), some 52 percent said only government agencies performing functions […]
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Panel okays OP funds in 21 mins.

October 12, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
The Office of the President (OP) breezed through committee-level budget deliberations in the Senate on Wednesday, with no lawmaker asking the office represented by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin questions on its 2024 spending plan. It took the Senate finance committee, headed by Senator Sonny Angara, only around 21 minutes to tackle the OP’s budget request […]
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PhilHealth website, member’s portal active again

September 30, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
The website and member’s portal of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) went back online yesterday after eight days of being offline after a ransomware attack. Philhealth’s e-Claims system also resumed online operations yesterday. The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) earlier advised Philhealth to shut down its public-facing application systems to isolate key […]
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‘PH shuns war, but will fight for territory’

September 27, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
“We do not want war, but it’s our territory that they want to get.” With these words, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the country will continue to protect its sovereign rights, in response to China’s warning to the Philippines “not to stir up trouble” after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) removed a floating barrier that […]
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House defends hybrid session for urgent bills

September 26, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
The House of Representatives on Tuesday defended the legality of a hybrid session it conducted Monday night, which saw the approval of several key bills, among them the reform of the pension system for military and uniformed personnel and the fiscal regime for the mining industry. “It’s not a hybrid midnight session. It’s an authorized […]
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Shut down cult exploiting kids in Surigao—Risa

September 19, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
Senator Risa Hontiveros wants the Senate to investigate cases of rape, sexual abuse, forced labor, and child marriage involving an alleged cult in Socorro, Surigao del Norte. Hontiveros has filed Senate Resolution No. 797, to inquire into the activities of the Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc. (SBSI), an alleged cult led by Jey Rence Quilario, known […]
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DepEd taps 35 schools for pilot run of new Matatag curriculum Sept. 25

September 17, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
Thirty-five schools will participate in the pilot run of the new MATATAG K to 10 curriculum starting on September 25, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Sunday, up from the 20 it initially announced. The department said five of the schools are in the National Capital Region (NCR), particularly in Malabon City, and five […]
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Halt to online SIM listup eyed

September 15, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
PAOCC says system takes fake IDs; Senators say just enforce the law The online registration of SIM (subscriber identity module) cards should be temporarily stopped as the system accepts fake identities and information, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said on Friday. But Senators Grace Poe and Alan Cayetano said backing down against scammers who […]
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Expert says local law not needed to boost WPS claims

September 15, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
A maritime expert told a Senate panel Friday there is no need for the Philippines to enact a maritime zone bill to fortify its claims over the West Philippine Sea (WPS). “I would argue and I suspect that the attorneys here at the table would say that the Philippine claims are already well-fortified under international […]
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Gloria prodding Rody back into politics, says Go

September 11, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
Former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo prodded former President Rodrigo Duterte to be active again in politics, Senator Christopher Go disclosed on Monday. Arroyo’s photo with Duterte made the rounds on social media two days after she also posted a photo of her with former Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday. “I recently had […]
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Risa warns DepEd not to use intel funds to surveil teachers, students

September 6, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday cautioned the Department of Education against using its confidential funds for surveillance operations on teachers and learners in a bid to stop alleged recruitment attempts of the New People’s Army in public schools. Hontiveros noted that Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte herself admitted during the Senate’s budget deliberations […]
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Small rice retailers to get P15k

September 5, 2023
News
 Macon Ramos-Araneta
Small rice retailers may receive a one-time financial aid of up to P15,000 to mitigate their losses from buying more expensive stocks as Executive Order 39, which sets a price ceiling on regular and well-milled rice, took effect Tuesday. The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it is ready to provide this cash assistance […]
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