With the ongoing investigation of the CHR into the death of two activists in Albay, the CHR said it sought to verify accounts of torture.…
Jaymar Palero and Marlon Napire, the two activists who were killed by police officers on July 26, were laid to rest.…
Filipiniana was still the attire of choice at the President’s final State of the Nation Address (Sona) held Monday at the Batasang Pambansa. The terno, with its distinct butterfly sleeves, was worn as tops paired with matching pants or in the traditional manner, as dresses accented with artful folds, beautiful embroidery or delicate beading. For […]…
In his final State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, President Duterte exhorted “our next leaders and our future generations [to]… fight for the integrity of our environment in a manner fiercer” than his administration has done. Apparently, that regard for our natural resources and environment wasn’t fierce enough to prevent the shooting last […]…
Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar relieved a Quezon City police station commander after 82 of her personnel tested positive of COVID-19, more than half of whom were deployed during President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona). Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 3 commander Lt. Col. Cristine Tabdi fielded 51 policemen to the […]…
In the lead-up to President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar promised that the speech would be “etched in the hearts and minds of the Filipino people.” By the end of the Sona, it was etched instead as, disappointingly, yet another retread of the President’s tropes, without […]…
The most memorable takeaway I had from President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) last Monday was his realization that to eradicate corruption, he needed to “overturn” the government and replace erring government personnel. For this purpose, he recommended declaring martial law. When Mr. Duterte was elected president in 2016, the people thought they […]…
MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker from party-list group Bayan Muna has asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) why police officers supposed to be doing quarantine were deployed for last Monday’s State of the Nation Address (Sona). Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite found it ironic that authorities have been […]…
KORONADAL CITY—Peace advocacy group Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte “to continue shepherding the Bangsamoro peace process.” MPC secretary general Mary Ann Arnado vowed that the group will not get tired of asking the president “to do the right thing for Mindanao.” Amid growing expectations from civil society groups and local leaders, […]…
President Duterte had promised in previous editions of his State of the Nation Addressed that under his administration, the agriculture sector would be modernized, food prices would be lowered and that the “Plant, Plant, Plant” (PPP) flagship program would jumpstart urgently needed innovations in the vital sector. But with just a year left before he […]…
MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said on Wednesday that the protest march during last Monday’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) was temporarily blocked to ensure traffic along Commonwealth Avenue does not get too congested. According to QCPD Director Brig. Gen. Antonio Yarra, ground commanders saw a problem as protesters during […]…
MANILA, Philippines—Some four hours before President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday (July 26), his spokesperson said in an interview that his boss had rehearsed his speech at least four times. “He rehearsed at least four times. The last time was yesterday, last night,” said presidential spokesperson Harry […]…
Vice President Leni Robredo has appealed for a more compassionate treatment of Filipinos amid the COVID-19 pandemic, citing several examples where the government has berated the public instead of talking and working with them.…
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise of ending “endo” or contractualization “continues to be a promise” despite not mentioning it in the State of the Nation Address (Sona), Malacañang said Tuesday. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Duterte administration would continue to work with Congress on an anti-endo bill or security of tenure bill […]…
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address (Sona) may have been almost three hours long, but there were still key issues that he failed to emphasize, Vice President Leni Robredo said Tuesday. “Tapos na ang SONA ng Pangulo. Nakarinig tayo ng talaan ng mga numero at mga proyekto. Sa kabila […]…
Vice President Leni Robredo has called on the national government to stop pushing for divisiveness amid the health crisis.…
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday said President Duterte was merely expressing his frustration when he suggested that his successor should declare martial law to rid government of corruption. Duterte said this during his final State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, reiterating what he previously said that nobody can stop corruption “unless we overturn […]…
President Rodrigo Duterte allayed concerns and assured he was "okay" after losing his balance when he entered the plenary hall during Sona.…
President Rodrigo Duterte saying Senate President Vicente Sotto III can be a "good vice president" does not necessarily mean endorsement nor the Chief Executive backing out of a possible vice presidential bid, Malacañang said Tuesday.…
After delivering his almost 3-hour valedictory State of the Nation Address, President Duterte wanted to explain all his major accomplishments. He didn’t say goodbye yet, because technically, he has 341 days or about 48 weeks in power and many things can still happen. But to many citizens, this administration has rememberable achievements, good or bad, […]…
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that he would reassign radio frequencies that were held by ABS-CBN Corp. while again accusing the former television giant of owing the government “billions in taxes,” contrary to the assessment of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). During his final State of the Nation Address, the President […]…
MANILA, Philippines — In his final State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte could be observed making an effort not to spew out bad words, as he is known to do in public. During the course of his speech, which spanned for about two hours and 45 minutes, Duterte could be […]…
Dark clouds remain in the horizon for stocks this week as worries over the highly contagious Delta variant may curb any excitement for President Duterte’s last State of the Nation Address (Sona) and upcoming earnings recovery data. The main-share Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) lost a total of 173.09 points or 2.6 percent last week, […]…
It is time again for the Sona—State of the Nation Address—and naturally, President Duterte is the central figure. He has been in office for a little over five years, and it is his last Sona. In preparation for this event, the media (this paper included) has been evaluating the President’s accomplishments and failures, mostly based […]…
On July 26th, the President is scheduled to give his sixth State of the Nation Address (Sona), the country’s present situation from his point of view, and, perhaps, what he plans to do about it in his final year. The social surveys done by Social Weather Stations provide a regular flow of data about how […]…
MANILA, Philippines — Morissette Amon will sing the national anthem, while a veteran director of the Radio TV Malacañang (RTVM) will helm President Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address (Sona), the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said Friday. PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said the agency has been working round the clock to prepare […]…
Borne by pandemic circumstances, the Duterte administration has become even more embattled as it struggles to mitigate the contingent and enduring consequences of the health crisis. The mounting sociopolitical and economic demands from the various sectors of society emanate from the need to revive a devastated economy, shore up health care, and provide social protection […]…
In just 11 days, President Duterte will present his State of the Nation Address (Sona), with some relief that it’s all almost over. No doubt he’ll crow about his accomplishments. And if you get past the large amount of criticism his rule has engendered, they are quite considerable. The criticisms mainly center around his handling […]…
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has ordered government departments and agencies to jump-start their budgeting process for 2022 in order to submit President Rodrigo Duterte’s last spending plan in time for his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 26. Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado on Jan. 6 […]…
Aquino backs FOI bill, insists aide
Palace: No war with bishops over reproductive health bill
Dengue cases in Philippines up by 16%
INQUIRER.net poll: 40% of respondents think Aquino’s SONA excellent
Aquino’s RH bill endorsement an open war on Church, bishops say
Despite Aquino snub, FOI will be pushed, lawmaker vows
Palace defends use of last year’s crime stats in SONA
Aquino can’t stop Charter change moves—Palace
Aquino submits P2-trillion budget to Congress
Palace: No road map needed for ‘daang matuwid’
Palace names Rojas permanent NBI chief
Aquino statement on responsible parenthood ‘safe’ , says Sotto
Luisita lands should be distributed in one year, says farmers group leader
Guingona says Aquino’s SONA surpassed his expectations
Aquino: Philippines is no longer a joke
6,000 cops block 5,000 protesters hurling stones
House ‘Great Wall’ shrine to historic impeachment
Aquino: Nothing is impossible
Scores hurt as protesters clash with cops
Migrante calls for end to labor export policy
Aquino defends new mining policy
Aquino: We’ve proven the impossible possible
Aquino’s ‘good news’ not in sync with reality—Casiño
No mention of RH bill in Sona, says Sotto
Mining, sin tax bills should be passed, says Drilon
Aquino vows to step up infrastructure development
Aquino: Philippines won’t back down from feud with China
Lacierda: Aquino won’t give up Scarborough Shoal
Aquino calls ARMM governor ‘certified ghost buster’
Police say Aquino Sona peaceful despite clash
Clash with cops resulted from ‘frustration,’ say militants
Binay gives Aquino Sona a ‘9’
Villar rates Aquino’s Sona ‘good’
Aquino will stick to diplomacy to resolve shoal dispute
Ombudsman Morales extolled in Aquino Sona
AFP to get more equipment, aircraft next year – Aquino
Aquino says reforms now the norm
Ex-President Estrada, senators assess Aquino gov’t
`Kayo po ang gumawa ng pagbabago. SONA ito ng sambayanang Pilipino’
Aquino won’t ‘forgive and forget’ sins of past administration
Aquino sees 10M tourists coming to PH by 2016
Aquino lauds gov’t improved risk reduction capability
Aquino says 3.1M jobs created in past 2 years
Aquino: Classroom shortage problem solved before 2014
Aquino tells legislators: Pass Sin Tax bill
Aquino draws cheer for mentioning possible passage of RH bill
Clash erupts again on Commonwealth Avenue, 2 media members injured
Philippines now open for business – Aquino
Aquino: Reformed PhilHealth reaches more poor people
Aquino opens 3rd Sona with attack on past administration
Aquino arrives in House for Sona
Protesters clash with cops in front of Ever Gotesco
Cayetano on charter change proponents: Proceed with caution
Lawmakers urged to pass K+12, RH bills
Protesters remove steel barricade near Ever Gotesco in Quezon City
Protesters burn Aquino effigy
15th Congress sessions open for Aquino’s third Sona
Enrile wants to hear Aquino’s plan on job creation
De Venecia, Bartolome, Carpio arrive at the House for Sona 2012
Charter change among Senate’s priorities—Enrile
Protesters call Aquino’s 2-year rule pro-foreigners, ‘mostly talk than work’
Aquino urged to tackle China in annual speech
21 senators present at early Monday session; Pangilinan, Santiago absent
Militant farmers’ group clashes with police on Commonwealth Avenue
Media members affiliated with government TV stations join Sona 2012 protesters
235 lawmakers present at House’s early Monday session for 2012 Sona
Senate opens pre-Sona session
What the nation wants to hear
Police blockage on Commonwealth Avenue violates BP 880, says Bayan
Rains expected on SONA day–Pagasa
Protesters mass near Congress ahead of Aquino’s speech
Classes suspended in some Metro schools due to bad weather
Protesters told: Bring umbrellas, raincoats
PNP units on full alert for anti-Sona rallies
Sen. Arroyo to skip fashion parade of legislators
Palace vows ‘truthful, inspiring’ 3rd SONA
Senator Trillanes says won’t attend Aquino SONA
OK all the way, thumbs down on quite a few
Heavy rains forecast for Sona
PNP assures Sona protesters cops will not carry guns
Corona expects more attacks from Aquino, says he’s moved on
Palace hit for blaming courts on human rights slays
Congress pushes Charter change
Lawmakers voice out what they expect to hear from Aquino’s 3rd Sona
Liberal Party not aggressively recruiting—Belmonte
Arroyo seeks bishops’ prayers ‘to accept things she could no longer change’
Genuino charged over P258-M coffee overprice
Arroyo wants to stop P366-M PCSO case
About time you quit blaming Arroyo, militants tell Aquino
Militant group leaders snub pre-SONA dialogue with cops
CCT goal of easing poverty still way off
Some 5,000 cops to be deployed in Congress for Aquino speech
Not one human rights violator convicted–CHR chief
Gov’t reforms take roots at ‘cheating capital’ of PH
Ombudsman is Aquino’s key weapon vs graft
PSG inspects House ahead of President Aquino’s SONA
House preparations on high gear for Aquino State of the Nation Address
It’s official: Morales new Ombudsman
At A Glance
‘Thank you, my Bosses’
Aquino vows to protect sea assets
State of the Nation Address
Militants burn Aquino effigy
Militants gather at St. Peter’s Church
Farmers stopped from crossing police line
Arroyo arrives at House of Representatives
Some 5,000 cops, MMDA personnel deployed vs militants
Traffic build up on southbound lane of Commonwealth Ave. in QC
Militants prepare for ‘PeNoy’ effigy burning on Monday
President to focus on transformation
Anti-corruption drive gains top Aquino SONA—Palace
Traffic re-routing scheme for Monday in QC’s Commonwealth area
Lintang Bedol arrives in Camp Crame
Hardy Filipinos fly flag, fight loneliness on Kalayaan isle
Aquino reports to the boss (Part 1)
