Philippines

MANILA – Malacañang confirmed on Sunday that the remains of 50  overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) will not be brought back and instead will be buried there. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed that the OFWs who died due to Covid-19 related illnesses will be buried in Saudi …

MANILA – As Metro Manila begins to ease restrictions, bike-sharing firms Angkas and Joyride proposed the use of plastic shields between the drivers and passengers in a bid to lobby authorities to finally allow the resumption of motorcycle taxi operations. While awaiting the decision on the legalization of motorcycle taxis, Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca yesterday the firm has …

MANILA – Businessman Wilfredo Keng has filed another case agains Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, this time over a 2019 Twitter post where she shared the website’s news article on the businessman. Keng is the same person who is behind the liber suit that recently convicted Ressa and former writer Reynaldo Santos Jr. on June 15. The businessman filed his second …

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 …