The Sandiganbayan convicted former Maguindanao governor Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan of graft and malversation over irregularities in the disbursement of P400 million intended for the construction and rehabilitation of several farm-to-market roads in the ...

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed the arrival of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who signed up for repatriation from war-torn Lebanon this weekend.  In a press conference held in Malacañang, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said 192 ...

Two programs initiated last year by Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday benefited a total of 8,000 qualified residents in Leyte, each receiving P5,000 in financial assistance as well as rice packages. Romualdez personally led the distribution ceremonies...

The commander of the armed forces in the disputed West Philippine Sea (WPS) heads the list of 15 newly promoted generals and senior naval officers whose papers have been forwarded by Malacañang to the congressional Commission on Appointments (CA) for c...

Speaker Martin Romualdez is scheduled to meet with Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday to discuss the legislative priorities of the current administration and ensure open communication between the Lower and Upper Houses of Congress. Romualdez...

House Assistant Majority Leaders Jay Khonghun of Zambales and Francisco Paolo Ortega of La Union have expressed optimism  that Sen. Francis Escudero’s election as the new Senate President will be the start of a “new era” marked b...

The recent Pulse Asia survey showing just eight percent of Filipinos favor Charter change or “Cha-cha” only highlights the need for a plebiscite, a lawmaker said Monday. But House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin also said efforts i...

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez praised President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for enacting three landmark laws on educational equity, passport services, and the salt industry, underscoring the administration’s commitment to driving positive change ac...

The House of Representatives under Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has proven to be more active, vocal, and aggressive, perhaps catching the Senate by surprise. Thus said Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David  Suarez on Monday, amid innuendos...

The House of Representatives has approved 100 percent of the bills prioritized by President Marcos in his 2023 State of the Nation Address, and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), and is waiting for the Senate to do its job, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said Friday. “The 2023 LEDAC [list] that we put in […]
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Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday pledged support for local manufacturers of modern jeepneys, reiterating their priority status within the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), which is now subject to a thorough review. “Our priority will be Philippine-made as this will bring outPhilippine jobs and all other benefits,” Romualdez said during adialogue conducted […]
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Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday denied attacking any administration ally, particularly Vice President Sara Duterte. Romualdez, who served as one of Duterte’s two campaign managers during the May 2022 national elections, admitted that he in fact “misses” the Vice President. “On my part, I have not attacked any ally of this administration. Idon’t […]
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4 groups reaffirm support to Marcos in audience with Speaker Four major groups of retired military generals sought an audience Monday with Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez to reaffirm their support to the administration of President Marcos and the leadership of both houses of Congress. Twenty-two retired generals attended the meeting with the Speaker, which […]
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Speaker Martin Romualdez launched Monday what he described as the House of Representatives’ historic and pioneering CongressTV, where Filipinos will not be limited to just monitoring legislative deliberations to push the pro-poor agenda of President Marcos, but also join, through an interactive platform, in the formulation of laws. Congress TV airs daily from 9 am […]
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The House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez is working to facilitate the immediate release of P35-million in financial aid for the families affected by the recent flooding and landslides in the Davao Region. The assistance includes 17,500 food packs to be distributed across seven congressional districts in the provinces of Davao […]
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Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has appealed to communist rebels to consider the consequences of their actions and “choose the path of peace.” Romualdez made the statement following a firefight between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) communist rebels in Balayan, Batangas last Sunday. “In this light, I […]
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Speaker Martin Romualdez wants to tap local government units in pursuing changes to the 1987 Constitution, saying it has the support of President Marcos. This is the fourth time this week that Romualdez spoke publicly about the House’s Charter change plans for next year. Speaking at the Awarding of the Seal of Good Local Government […]
The post Speaker seeks LGU support for Charter change appeared first on Manila Standard.

At least seven million low-income families will benefit from a rice discount voucher program that will allow them to buy every month 25 kilos of affordable and good quality rice starting next year, Speaker Martin Romualdez said on Tuesday. Romualdez said Congress earmarked funds under the P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget for the program, which he […]
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A lawmaker filed a bill seeking to revoke the franchise of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for violating various provisions of its franchise. In his explanatory note, 1 Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez said the House committee on legislative franchises found that SMNI changed its corporate structure which affected its ownership without prior approval […]
The post Solon wants SMNI franchise axed over corporate structure changes appeared first on Manila Standard.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted resolutions concurring with presidential proclamations granting amnesty to former members of four rebel groups, including communist rebels. The resolutions were House Concurrent Resolutions (HCR) 19, 20, 21, and 22. HCR 19 provides amnesty for ex-members of the Rebolusyong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas / Revolution Proletarian Army / […]
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Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday visited the Farmers Plaza in Cubao, Quezon City to ensure that the costs of basic commodities, especially food items, remain within the bounds of suggested retail prices (SRP). Romualdez was accompanied by Deputy Majority Leader for Communications and ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo in making the rounds of […]
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Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday said it is premature to talk about the 2028 national elections at this time. Romualdez made the statement amid recent attacks against the House of Representatives from former president Rodrigo Duterte, after the institution slashed P650 million in confidential and intelligence funds of two offices headed by his […]
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The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) political party of Speaker Martin Romualdez has condemned in “the strongest possible terms” the latest aggressive actions of China in the West Philippine Sea. “We, the members of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), condemn in the strongest possible terms the illegal and blatant actions of the China Coast Guard and […]
The post Lakas-CMD condemns China’s aggressive acts appeared first on Manila Standard.

After his father allegedly threatened a party-list legislator with physical harm, Rep. Paolo Duterte on Wednesday said lawmakers should not be onion-skinned. The Davao City solon also threatened to spill the beans on Makabayan Bloc legislators in the House of Representatives. Duterte made the warning in reaction to the filing of grave threat charges against […]
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Former President Rodrigo Duterte is threatening members of Congress with harm, in particular a militant lawmaker, just so his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, can get confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for her offices, a former legislator said Friday. Neri Colmenares, chairman of the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan) and Bayan Muna party-list, condemned Duterte’s […]
The post Rody threatens to kill legislator to help Sara get CIF—Colmenares appeared first on Manila Standard.

Congress vowed to amend the modernization and procurement laws of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, along with the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. said Friday. “Congress has promised us two things —the amendment of the modernization law and the procurement law of the Armed […]
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The House of Representatives on Wednesday said it has no confidential and intelligence funds and that all its spending is aboveboard based on the report of the Commission on Audit. This was as former President Rodrigo Duterte challenged the House to be transparent in its spending a day after lawmakers slashed the P650 million CIF […]
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The increasing threats from China in the West Philippine Sea have prompted the House of Representatives to reallocate confidential and intelligence funds (CIF), including those intended for the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, to agencies that operate in the threatened areas. “The country’s safety and security are of paramount importance. To […]
The post House to realign intel funds to agencies involved in WPS appeared first on Manila Standard.

The bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday deferred the deliberations on Dr. Teodoro Herbosa’s designation as Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH). Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, the CA majority leader for the House contingent, moved to suspend the confirmation of Herbosa’s appointment due to “lack of material time.” Senator Christopher Go, […]
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Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday said the recent petition filed with the Supreme Court against the alleged unconstitutionality of the Maharlika Investment Fund has to be respected. “We respect the democratic process and the right of every individual to seek legal redress. The House of Representatives, under my leadership, has always prioritized the […]
The post ‘Cases vs. MIF must be respected’ appeared first on Manila Standard.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. slammed the filing of what he termed as “trumped-up” charges against the chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) and nine others before the Office of the Ombudsman. The case stemmed from the alleged disappearance of P75 million in performance bond posted by an e-sabong firm. Barzaga, a […]
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The government is yet to fund around P1.6 billion worth of COVID-19 emergency allowance for health workers, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said Wednesday. Herbosa disclosed this after House Deputy Minority Leader Marissa Magsino asked how much of the COVID-19 allowance for health workers had been disbursed. “We requested additional money [for COVID-19 emergency allowance] because […]
The post P1.6b in stipends for health workers unfunded — DOH appeared first on Manila Standard.