National

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday said former President Rodrigo Duterte acted beyond his authority and surrendered the country’s rights if he did indeed enter into a “gentleman’s agreement’ with China not to maintain BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine Marine outpost in Ayungin Shoal. “Duterte knew that without repairs the BRP Sierra…

The United States has agreed to expedite assistance aimed at beefing up the various capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). US Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Lloyd Austin III made this pledge following a phone call with Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday. “They agreed to bolster…

Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda (left) and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (Facebook) A priority bill that seeks to reform the property valuation and tax assessment in the country now awaits the President’s signature following its ratification by both houses of Congress recently. Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, House Ways and Means Committee chair,…

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. renewed his commitment to preserving the importance of inclusivity and respect for diverse culture in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). “Today, as your President, I stand before you committed to fulfilling that promise. We have seen progress, and much needs to be done,” President Marcos said in…

QUALIFIED patients may soon receive therapeutic and palliative benefits from medical cannabis or marijuana under Senator Robinhood Padilla’s  proposal while Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa said safeguards are already in place  in the measures allowing the use of the plant. Sen. Padilla sponsored Senate Bill No. 2572 or the proposed Cannabis Medicalization Act of the…

TERRITORIAL DISPUTE. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Tuesday (March 5, 2024) that one of their vessels sustained a minor damage after it figured in a collision with a Chinese Coast Guard vessel during a resupply mission for troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal. Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for…

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has expressed optimism that arrival of the high-level United States (US) trade and investment mission in the Philippines next week would improve the business partnerships of both countries. “There will be a high-level delegation comprised of 22 business delegates, C-level representatives from strategic sectors and the discussion next week is,…

University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea director Jay Batongbacal, a Filipino political expert, said China would be in trouble and stands to lose more if it imposes economic sanctions and engages in a trade war with the Philippines. Batongbacal pointed out that it is actually Beijing that benefits more from its trade ties with…

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the South Korean firm Miru Systems will sign Monday the joint venture contact for the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC) project or the 2025 automated election system (AES) worth P18 billion. The AES service contract signing will be held at the Palacio del Gobernador headquarters of the poll body in Intramuros, Manila. The Comelec has expressed gratitude to Miru Systems Co Ltd, Integrated…

The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the validity of a law enacted in 1998 allowing the government to take control of private entities engaged in the oil industry during emergencies, as directed by the President. In its 37-page decision published online Tuesday, the SC reversed a 2013 Court of Appeals (CA) decision and said the…