Saturday, May 20, 2017

GMA 24 Oras News May 21 2017






Lacson warns of infra fund misuse

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson reminded Filipinos to closely guard against any misuse of the P9-trillion fund set aside for the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program. 

panfilo lacson Sen. Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson reminded Filipinos to closely guard against any misuse of the P9-trillion fund set aside for the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program. 

Speaking at a Thursday meeting of the Rotary Club of Makati Central at New World Hotel, Lacson said the role of watchdog over infrastructure projects should not solely be given to legislators and pointed out that it was everyone’s civic duty to ensure that taxes went to services that would benefit Filipinos.

“We should be watchful on the implementation of these projects. Losing just 20 percent of the P9 trillion to irregularities means a whopping P1.8 trillion lost to corruption,” he stressed.

The senator warned that losses may potentially be much bigger than P1.8 trillion, as some contractors consider 20 percent a minimal amount that may be demanded by corrupt officials.

GMA 24 Oras News May 21 2017

GMA Balianghali News May 22 2017




GMA Balianghali News May 22 2017

P TV Patrol News May 22 2017




P TV Patrol News May 22 2017

GMA 24 Oras News May 22 2017




PH can sue China for war threat – Justice Carpio

Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio urged the Philippine government on Saturday, May 20, to sue China for threatening war against the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute.

In a statement, Carpio said the Philippines should run to another arbitral tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to protect the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

UNCLOS is the so-called Constitution for the Oceans while the EEZ is the 200-nautical mile area from a coastal state's baselines, within which the coastal state has the exclusive rights to explore and exploit resources.

Carpio wrote, "As a nation that under its Constitution has renounced war as an instrument of national policy, the Philippines' recourse is to bring China's threat of war to another UNCLOS arbitral tribunal, to secure an order directing China to comply with the ruling of the UNCLOS arbitral tribunal that declared the Reed Bank part of Philippine EEZ."

"The Philippines can also ask for damages for every day of delay that the Philippines is prevented by China from exploiting Philippine EEZ," he added.

Carpio is one of the staunchest advocates of the Philippines' claim over the West Philippine Sea. (READ: Why Carpio wants China to read his e-book)

Sought for clarification, Carpio explained that the Philippines "can sue" China because the Asian giant "is not complying with the previous ruling" issued by another arbitral tribunal.

This tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled in July 2016 to invalidate China's expansive claim over the South China Sea, but China has refused to comply with this ruling.

GMA 24 Oras News May 22 2017

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Duterte News: Ang tao sa likod ng pag-papaalis ni Sec Gina Lopez tukoy na May 15 2017


MANILA, Philippines - Less than an hour before the Commission on Appointments (CA) convened in plenary, individual lawmakers were still unsure about the final vote on the case of controversial Environment Secretary Gina Lopez.


In the end, the 25-member CA rejected her appointment, citing her being unfit for the post.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao, chairman of the CA committee on environment that scrutinized Lopez’s appointment, recommended to the plenary the termination of deliberations after the body met the minimum 13 votes cast in secret balloting to decide on her case.

“With sadness in my heart, this committee, through this plenary, is terminating its deliberation on Gina Lopez’s appointment. Not in the way I personally wanted to, but by the decision of the majority, which I am sorry, but we must all respect,” Pacquiao said.

He described the CA deliberations on Lopez’s appointment that began last March as “perhaps the longest, most dramatic and most watched by all Filipinos from all walks of life, both rich and the poor.”

Senators said the vote was 16-8 with most of those rejecting Lopez’s appointment coming from the 12-member contingent from the House of Representatives.



Duterte News: Ang tao sa likod ng pag-papaalis ni Sec Gina Lopez tukoy na May 15 2017

Duterte News: Reporter na Chinese napatulala dahil sa mga sagot ni Sen Cayetano May 14 2017

The Senate cannot call for a special election to fill in the vacancy of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as he takes over the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as its new secretary.

This was the opinion of an election lawyer, saying the law provides that a special election to fill a vacancy in the Senate should be held simultaneously with the next regular polls in 2019.

“With due respect to the Commission on Elections, the Senate cannot call for special election for Cayetano’s replacement. Such special election should be held simultaneous with the next succeeding regular election,” said poll lawyer Romulo Macalintal.


Macalintal cited Republic Act 7166 or the law providing for synchronized national and local elections, which states that the Comelec may hold a special election to fill a permanent vacancy in the Senate or House of Representatives at least one year before the expiration of the term.

The law’s section 4 provides that: “However, in case of such vacancy in the Senate, the special election shall be held simultaneously with the succeeding regular election.”

Duterte News: Reporter na Chinese napatulala dahil sa mga sagot ni Sen Cayetano May 14 2017

Duterte News: Natupad narin sa wakas ang pangarap ni Duterte na makamayan si Putin May 14 2017



Russian President Vladimir Putin appears delighted to meet President Rodrigo Duterte in Lima, Peru, where they are attending the APEC Leaders' Summit

President Rodrigo Duterte finally met his "idol" and "hero" Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Lima, Peru.

The meeting took place around 11:45 am on Saturday, November 19 (12:45 am, Sunday, November 20, Manila time) before the start of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

Prior to his meeting with Putin, Duterte had a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the Philippine leader again invited his Chinese counterpart to visit the Philippines at a "mutually agreeable date." Previously, Xi already accepted Duterte's invitation to visit.


Duterte News: Natupad narin sa wakas ang pangarap ni Duterte na makamayan si Putin May 14 2017

Saturday, May 13, 2017

24 Oras May 14 2017 Latest News




President Rodrigo Duterte will sneak in a rare “private time” with his common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, and their 12-year-old daughter, Veronica, nicknamed Kitty, during his two-day working visit to Hong Kong. 

“They are scheduled to visit a children’s hospital and then, they will have free time,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said. 

Duterte arrived here late Thursday from Cambodia where he attended the World Economic Forum. ADVERTISEMENT He was welcomed by Philippine Consul General Bernardita Catalla and So Pui-wan Fiona of Hong Kong’s Government Secretariat Protocol Division. There are at least 210,000 Filipinos, mostly household service workers, in Hong Kong. 

From Hong Kong, Mr. Duterte will proceed to Beijing, China, to attend the Belt and Road Forum, an international meeting on China’s envisaged plan for a wider global trade network. 



24 Oras May 14 2017 Latest News

Monday, May 8, 2017

24 Oras May 8 2017 Latest News



Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and the rest of the Philippine delegation to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva should stop “fooling itself” that they can hide the administration’s record of killings and human rights abuses, Senator Leila de Lima said Monday. 


In a handwritten note, De Lima scored the supposed “misplaced bravado” of the delegation tasked to present the human rights record of the Philippines to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).


“This early, said delegation is fooling itself that the international delegates to the periodic review are as stupid as the rest of the Malacañang cheering squad in their belief that they can pull off a magic trick and hide the Duterte regime’s record of EJKs and human rights abuses from the rest of the world,” De Lima said. 

A staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, De Lima had earlier initiated a Senate investigation on the alleged extrajudicial killings amid the government’s crackdown on illegal drugs. 

“Cayetano’s audience this time is not a cyberspace inhabited by paid trolls and a bureaucracy made up of Duterte sycophants, but independent-minded envoys who are perfectly aware of the human rights situation in the Philippines,” De Lima said. 

“Cayetano this time cannot simply pull a fast one on these country delegates with a sanitized version of our country’s HR situation. Good luck to him anyway, and hope he will not be eaten alive in Geneva,” she added. 


De Lima is presently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame over her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the national penitentiary when she was still secretary of Justice. 

Last week, Cayetano presented the human rights record in the Philippines, and defended the government’s war on drugs. 

Cayetano blamed “fake news and alternative facts” from local media, saying Duterte was portrayed to have been “acting with impunity.” 

He said the tally of killings in the country were “well within the average” of the past six years of the Aquino administration, citing statistics of 11,000 to 14,000 yearly. 

Data presented by Cayetano said that as of April 20, deaths resulting from presumed legitimate law enforcement operations were at 2,692, while total homicide cases were 9,342. 


Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isidro Lapeña, for his part, cited the “principle of non-intervention,” saying the government should be allowed to determine the “best approach” against its drug problem. 


“While the drug problem is a common and shared responsibility, we underscore the sovereign right of each state to determine the best approach to address their drug problem considering its historical, political, economic, social and cultural context, and social norms,” Lapeña said. “Full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states as well as the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of states must be observed by all,” he added. 

24 Oras May 8 2017 Latest News

Thursday, May 4, 2017

24 Oras May 4 2017 Latest News




A Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilot was killed along with his two crewmen while another one was injured when their combat utility helicopter crashed in Tanay, Rizal Wednesday.

First Lieutenant Xy-zon Meneses, 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) Public Affairs Office chief, said the mishap happened 3 p.m., May 4, at Sitio Hilltop, Barangay Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal.

Meneses declined to identify the casualties pending the notification of their loved ones and families. Initial reports indicated that the helicopter had just finished conducting air-to-ground and disaster rescue operations training with troops stationed in 2ID headquarters in Camp Capinpin along with some 12 police operatives when it encountered some mechanical trouble,

forcing it to crash-land. Investigations are still ongoing to determine exact cause of the mishap. (PNA)


24 Oras May 4 2017 Latest News

US FORCES WAITING ORDERS TO STRIKE NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR FACILITIES



U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES ARE SET TO CONDUCT OPERATIONS AGAINST NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR, MISSILE, AND OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION SITES IN ANY FUTURE CONFLICT, THE COMMANDER OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND TOLD CONGRESS TUESDAY. 

Army Gen. Raymond A. Thomas stated in testimony to a House subcommittee that Army, Navy, and Air Force commandos are based both permanently and in rotations on the Korean peninsula in case conflict breaks out. advertisement The special operations training and preparation is a warfighting priority, Thomas said in prepared testimony. There are currently around 8,000 special operations troops deployed in more than 80 countries.

Trump said on Sunday that China appears to be pressuring North Korea but that he would be upset if North Korea carries out another nuclear test.

“If he does a nuclear test, I will not be happy,” he said on CBS Face the Nation. Asked if his unhappiness would translate into a U.S. military response, Trump said: “I don’t know. I mean, we’ll see.”

GEN. THOMAS’ TESTIMONY DID NOT INCLUDE DETAILS OF WHAT MISSIONS THE COMMANDOS WOULD CARRY OUT.

A spokesman for the Special Operations Command referred questions about potential operations in Korea to the Pacific Command.

Special forces troops would be responsible for locating and destroying North Korean nuclear weapons and missile delivery systems, such as mobile missiles. They also would seek to prevent the movement of the weapons out of the country during a conflict.

donald trump, trump, trump news, donald trump latest news , latest news on donald trump, donald trump today, korea news, north korea war.

US FORCES WAITING ORDERS TO STRIKE NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR FACILITIES

Sinking a US Navy Warship - Missiles & Torpedoes Hits




The United States Navy and its allies recently laid siege to a retired frigate in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It was all part of a SINKEX, or sinking exercise, that tested the missiles and big guns of modern navies against an actual warship.

Every two years, as part of the multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises, the US Navy tows a retired warship out to sea. Then the U.S. military, along with allied forces, blow it to smithereens.

The USS Thach was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate. Commissioned in 1979, it was named after Jimmy Thach, a World War II F4F Wildcat pilot who invented the famous "Thach Weave" fighter formation to counter the Japanese Zero fighter.


Sinking a US Navy Warship - Missiles & Torpedoes Hits

NUCLEAR BOMBERS SPOTTED OVER KOREAN PENINSULA


Rockwell B1-B Lancer strategic bombers, capable of dropping nuclear weapons, have been spotted in the airspace above the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea reported that the aircraft have entered their territory as the warplanes seem to be practicing for a strike against Kim Jong-un and his rogue nation.The United States has been conducting military drills with allies South Korea and Japan with preparations for all-out war with the North Korean regime now seemingly complete.



NUCLEAR BOMBERS SPOTTED OVER KOREAN PENINSULA

PORTLAND MAY DAY PROTEST ERUPTS INTO RIOT



Smoke bombs, Molotov cocktails and other items were thrown at police Monday afternoon in Portland, Oregon, during May Day protests.

A May Day march in Portland, Ore., "devolved into a full-scale riot with random acts of vandalism" by anarchists late Monday, police say. Attacks on police and emergency personnel resulted in 25 arrests.

 Molotov cocktails, smoke bombs and other items were thrown at police, according to member station Oregon Public Broadcasting.

"Various fires were set in the street and in garbage cans, a police car was spray-painted and vandalized, and there were attempts to set at least one business on fire," according to Portland Police. "Numerous projectiles were thrown at or launched at police and firefighters including rocks, bottles, ball bearings, fireworks, smoke bombs, and road flares."


PORTLAND MAY DAY PROTEST ERUPTS INTO RIOT

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

24 Oras May 3 2017 Latest News





Lopez turned emotional amid her supporters' cheers that also served as an indictment for the CA's decision.

Among the civic organizations and environmental groups who joined the indignation rally were: Alyansa Tigil Mina, Philippine Movement on Climate Justice, Sanlakas, Greenpeace, iDefend, Philippine Miseror Partnership, Worldwide Fund, and The Climate Reality Project-Philippines.

One of the groups said that the CA's decision to reject Lopez was a betrayal of country and the environment.

But Lopez said she remains optimistic in her crusade, and vowed to continue her work for the protection of the environment.

She also urged that President Rodrigo Duterte should take over the helm of the DENR. 

Lopez earlier said that members of the CA seemed to have succumbed to "business interests."

“If government co-opts to big businesses, then what hope does the poor have? What message are we giving here? If you wanna be confirmed, never go against big businesses,” Lopez said.

Lopez had faced over 30 filed oppositions and three CA committee hearings in which she was questioned on her order to close 23 mining operations and suspend five others last February, her memorandum on imposing a P2-million trust fund per hectare of land disturbed by miners, and her competence to lead the agency.

She is the second Cabinet official appointed by Duterte to be rejected by the CA.

Lopez said her sources informed her that the CA vote was 16 against, and eight in favor. This  was done through a secret balloting in an executive session.

The eight who voted for Lopez's confirmation were Senators Manny Pacquiao, Vicente Sotto III, JV Ejercito, Loren Legarda, Ralph Recto, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, and Franklin Drilon.

San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora who voted against the appointment of Lopez said that the latter is not prepared for the job.

WATCH: Gina Lopez sings 'I Believe I Can Fly' after CA rejects her appointment as DENR chief



24 Oras May 3 2017 Latest News

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

24 Oras May 2 2017 Latest News



US President Donald Trump still believes President Rodrigo Duterte is doing a good job in his war on drugs despite criticisms that have come his way after he invited his Filipino counterpart to the White House, Malacañang said on Tuesday. 

Human rights advocates have scored Trump for inviting Duterte, who has been blamed for the alleged extrajudicial killings of thousands of drug personalities since he came to power in the middle of last year. Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella claimed that Trump praised Duterte’s work in a phone call over the week despite the criticisms over the drug war. 

“Well, according to the conversation, the President of the United States has already acknowledged the fact that the President is doing a great job considering the weight and the enormity of the conditions in the Philippines,” Abella said at a briefing in Malacañang. “So I’m sure he’s aware of all these considerations.

However, from his point of view, it seems like the President of the Philippines is doing a sensible job,” he added. The White House earlier defended Trump’s invite to Duterte as something to do with a pressing issue over North Korea. Singapore and Thailand prime ministers also received the same invite. While Abella said that the invite was “a sign of openness and understanding” between the two leaders, he reiterated that Duterte was yet to accept the invitation. 

“There was no direct acceptance of the invitation. It was acknowledged but there was no direct response to go… He didn’t say yes, he didn’t say no. He just… You know, it was a part of the conversation but there was no commitment, there was no promise to go at a specific date,” he said. 

Duterte on Monday said that Trump told him that he would want to make friends with the Philippine leader. 

The relationship between the US and the Philippines was strained during the administration of former US President Barack Obama who criticized Duterte’s war on drugs. But Duterte made it clear that he was yet to make up his mind on going to the US, as he had forthcoming trips to Russia and Israel.


24 Oras May 2 2017 Latest News