China warns PH: Behave

September 26, 2023
Tells Manila ‘not to stir up trouble’ in Scarborough Shoal Beijing warned Manila on Tuesday not to “stir up trouble” after the Philippine Coast Guard said it removed a floating barrier deployed by China to block Filipinos from their traditional fishing ground in Bajo de Masinloc. “China firmly upholds the sovereignty and maritime rights and […]
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President: All hands on deck vs. agri smugglers

September 26, 2023
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday ordered a whole-of-government campaign to stamp out the “weevils” in the country’s agricultural sector, directing all agencies and officials to strictly implement policies and laws to stop the smuggling and hoarding of rice. President Marcos, who is also the concurrent Agriculture secretary, made his remarks during the rice distribution […]
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Marcos thumbs down proposal to reduce imported rice tariff

September 26, 2023
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday rejected the proposed tariff reduction on imported rice being pushed by his economic managers. “We decided with the agriculture and economic managers that it was not the right time to lower the tariff rates because the projection of world rice prices is that it will go down. So, this […]
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PhilHealth won’t pay P17 million ransom demand from hackers

September 26, 2023
The government on Tuesday said it will not pay $300,000 or P17 million ransom demand from hackers for the stolen database of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). “According to our initial investigation, there were around 72 workstations that were affected and the systems affected are, of course, our website, our e-claims system, our member […]
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House defends hybrid session for urgent bills

September 26, 2023
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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Gilas, Eala, Paalam score wins in Asiad

September 26, 2023
Hangzhou—Following a spate of losses in many fronts on Monday, the Philippines recovered some lost ground on Tuesday with victories by Gilas Pilipinas, tennis phenom Alex Eala and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam in the 19th Asian Games here. With Justine Brownlee, CJ Perez and Ange Kouame leading the charge, Gilas used a balanced […]
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Risa: Coast Guard spent only P117m intel funds in 17 years

September 26, 2023
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday questioned how the Office of the Vice President spent P125 million in confidential funds in 11 days in 2022 as she compared it to the Philippine Coast Guard’s P117 million confidential budget spread over 17 years. “Our Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea monitors China’s tantrums every day. It […]
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CA defers Herbosa’s confirmation

September 26, 2023
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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DOJ: Foreigners can sit in public utilities’ boards

September 26, 2023
Foreigners may secure seats in the board of directors of Philippine corporations with foreign equity and engaged in public utilities and in partially-nationalized activity based only on their “actual” and “allowable” shares, the Department of Justice said in a legal opinion addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that […]
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China’s floating barriers

September 26, 2023
Incredible accomplishment. That one, after the Philippine Coast Guard removed a “floating barrier” installed by China southeast of Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, which lies within Manila’s 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Philippine authorities, complying with the instructions of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., carried out “a special operation” to get rid of the estimated 300-meter […]
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