Philippines

MANILA – Solicitor-General Jose Calida said on Wednesday that Congress and not the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) should be blamed for the network’s shutdown. “Why blame NTC when they are only following the law?” Calida, the Solicitor General said in a statement to the media. “Without a valid and subsisting franchise from Congress, the NTC cannot allow any broadcasting entity …

METRO MANILA – ABS-CBN, the country’s largest broadcast network, has been ordered to stop broadcasting immediately after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order against the Lopez-led firm. The leading media network in the Philippines received a cease-and-desist order one day after the media giant’s broadcast franchise has been expired. Just before its main channel went …

Laura Sarreal Elorde, Philippine’s Boxing Matriarch and widow of the late WBC and WBA junior lightweight champion Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, passed away peacefully on Sunday. She was 92. The grand old lady of Philippine boxing succumbed to pneumonia on Sunday morning. She was taken to Perpetual Help Medical Center ICU in Las Pinas three weeks ago due to low oxygen. …

MANILA – Share prices of the holding companies of the Zobel de Ayalas and Manuel Pangilinan picked up after President Duterte issued an apology during a televised speech. President Duterte apologizes for the “hurting words” about the two business tycoon whom he openly disliked. Applauding their help in fighting Covid-19 a peaceful settlement to the regulatory spat between them. “My …

Metro Manila – Former senator Jinggoy Estrada was arrested on Sunday and was brought to the San Juan police station for questioning over alleged violations of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). According to reports, Estrada was seen distributing relief goods in the city without quarantine pass or authorization to distribute relief goods. Estradahad no permit from the local government for …

Metro Manila – An online petition from several authorities and groups urging the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to withdraw the memorandum of increase rates in the premium contribution of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has received some 300,000 signatures. According to the memorandum, OFWs with income amounting between ₱10,000 and ₱20,000 will be required to pay 3 percent of their …

MANILA – The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) is considering to delay the opening of Season 96 to November due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The collegiate competition that usually opens in July, NCAA Management Committee chairman Peter Cayco said that this year they have discussed the possibility of the season being delayed to as late as November or even December …

Metro Manila – Celebrity couple Coleen Garcia and Billy Crawford are going to be parents. The two made the announcement on Friday (May 1) via Instagram and that Coleen is already 5 months pregnant. Coleen wrote, “It’s been over 5 months now. And just like that, we’re more than halfway through! We found out earlier this year, but I’ve been …

MANILA – Presidential spokesman Harry Roque reiterated on Thursday that Taiwan is part of China despite mounting protest from Taiwan. The remark drew “strong dissatisfaction and high regret” from Taipei. Roque stood by his position saying the Philippines, like many countries in the world, consider Taiwan as part of China. “We have always had one position with this regard, together …

Metro Manila – Marikina City’s COVID-19 testing laboratory has finally been accredited by The Department of Health (DOH), Mayor Marcelino Teodoro announced on Thursday, April 30. The local government got the approval a month after they first set up its Covid-19 testing lab to help to satisfy the standards required by the Health department.   “It is one of the …