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Duterte insists he didn’t kill anyone
By Fernan Angeles PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, who earned ire of both local and international human rights advocacy groups over his kill-kill-kill pronouncements, is now taking a 180 degree turn by claiming he didn’t kill anyone – not in his lifetime. In a meeting with top Cabinet men Monday night, Duterte responded to his critics’ accusations…
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Palace stands firm, survey results real
By Fernan Angeles MALACAÑANG warded off criticisms over the most recent Pulse Asia report that saw the President garnering a whopping 91 percent approval rating. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque attributed the President’s high approval rating in a recent opinion poll to his pandemic response and their desire for a “strong leader.” Roque said that the…
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Duterte wants to abolish PhilHealth
By Fernan Angeles MASSIVE, organized corruption at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation may have pushed President Rodrigo Duterte too hard that he is now seriously considering on its abolition. “I’m going to propose to Congress to abolish [it],” Duterte said in a pre-recorded speech that aired Monday night. Duterte also dismissed calls for its privatization…
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Duterte not resigning, says Palace official
NO he is not resigning. This is how categorical a top Palace official responded to queries on President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan moments after his televised national address hinting on stepping down over the difficulties of curbing corruption in the government. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte has no plans of quitting his post despite his…
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Duque not yet off the hook in Philhealth mess, says DOJ
By Fernan Angeles HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque may have got himself out of the hook in the preliminary findings of the task force created by President Rodrigo Duterte himself. But Justice Secretary said that they are not yet clearing him and other board members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) of wrongdoing over corruption…
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Prove innocence in court, Duterte tells Morales
By Fernan Angeles IF you’re innocent, prove it in court, said President Rodrigo Duterte moments after approving the recommendation of the multi-agency task force created to probe the alleged corruption activities in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to file criminal and administrative cases against former PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales and several other officials of…
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PHL most likely to buy anti-COVID vaccine from China or Russia
By Fernan Angeles FOR the nth time, President Rodrigo Duterte has shown preferential treatment for the Chinese as he hinted at prioritizing coronavirus vaccines made by China, even as he accused Western pharmaceutical companies of “profiting” amid the pandemic. If proven safe and effective, Duterte also said that administration would mostly like buy COVID-19 vaccines…
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Duterte signs Bayanihan 2 into law
WEEKS after being approved by both chambers of Congress, President Rodrigo Duterte finally signed the Bayanihan to Recover As One or Bayanihan 2, which seeks to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the absence of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque who is on quarantine, Duterte’s long time aide, now Senator Bong Go made the…
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Duterte gave Laude’s family cash, thrice
By Fernan Angeles THE FAMILY of slain transgender woman Jennifer Laude was shocked on what they described as an extreme position that President Rodrigo Duterte took when the latter gave US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton a presidential pardon, paving way for an unstoppable release of the convicted US serviceman. Laude’s former defense lawyer Harry Roque,…
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DOH shuns Duterte’s criteria on vaccine pick
By Fernan Angeles IF they had their way, the Department of Health would consider safety and effectiveness of the potential vaccine against COVID-19, if and when the country opts to buy them from foreign countries. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire’s statement is far from the criteria earlier hinted at by President Rodrigo Duterte who is…