Philippines

MANILA – President Duterte is confident that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III will be able to answer to all allegations against him by the office of the ombudsman over “lapses” in the health department’s COVID-19 response. Ombudsman Samuel Martires said on Wednesday that he will be forming additional teams to investigate alleged anomalies committed by DOH health officials including Duque …

MANILA – Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said on Wednesday, once the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is enacted, the Philippines may be “Permanently under a situation worse than martial law.” Carpio, speaking at a webinar organized by the Management Association of the Philippines, said that once the law has been enacted, martial law will be superfluous. …

MANILA – Ombudsman Samuel Martires orders the investigation of the Department of Health (DOH), including Secretary Francisco Duque III and other officials and employees of the Department over alleged irregularities on the response  to the coronavirus pandemic. The Ombudsman confirmed that he has directed two or more investigating team to probe the alleged anomalies and irregularities committed by the Health …

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported 457 new coronavirus infections — 342 “fresh” validated and 115 reported late which put the total of 27,238 confirmed cases in the country. The death toll rose to 1,108 with after 5 more patients died, while total recoveries rose to 6,820 after 268 more patients recovered from the deadly disease. …

MANILA – Singer and now former ABS-CBN talent Daryl Ong revealed that he’s no longer part of the network after he and fellow singer Bugoy Drilon were banned from ABS-CBN after talking about the embattled network’s franchise while on a gig in Visayas. In his video on YouTube, Daryl explained why the network banned him and this is due to …

MANILA – Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday claimed that the case of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa was not about the suppression of press freedom, but rather  a case of “bad journalism.” According to Roque, The Rappler article on businessman Wilfredo Keng who had filed the cyber libel case has no basis and there was no fact-checking made. The Presidential …

MANILA – Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and Former Philippine Team head coach Tab Baldwin apologized on Monday for the unfiltered remarks that he made regarding the league and its coaches last weekend. The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) said in a statement that Baldwin was apologetic and claimed that his comments were taken out of context. Baldwin issued his …

MANILA – Food prices in Metro Manila fell after shooting up in the month of March as much as 45% during the government imposed lockdown. According to Department of Agriculture’s (DA) price monitoring reports, the prices of some basic agricultural commodities decreased by as much as 71%. The retail prices of meat, fish and vegetables in the public market have …

MANILA – As the government tries to recover the ailing economy, The president may have to choose to extend for another two weeks the general community quarantine (GCQ) or further eased the quarantine to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and several areas. Reviving the economy will provide the government to revenues it needed to fund the projects …

MANILA – Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and a former researcher has been convicted by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46 of violating Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act specifically for cyber libel. The CEO and Executive Editor and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. was found guilty of cyber libel and sentenced them to six months and …