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Robredo: ‘It’s as if no one is at the helm, no direction’
Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday night accused the Duterte administration of having no clear direction as the country grapples with the impact on Filipinos of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a 20-minute speech, Robredo also raised the issue of confidence amid the national health emergency as the government officials faced allegations of corruption from overpriced…
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Duterte abroad? That’s fake news – Palace
By Fernan Angeles MALACAÑANG categorically branded reports claiming President Rodrigo Duterte has left the country over the weekend, as no more than fake news. The president’s spokesperson Harry Roque said that the Malacañang chief executive is not the kind of person who would abandon a sinking ship. “There is no truth that President Rodrigo Roa…
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DOJ looking into PhilHealth mess bares initial findings
By John Clifford Lintao THE Department of Justice has uncovered more fraudulent schemes through the testimonies given by two resource persons formerly connected with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and even went as far as dragging banks into the massive corruption at the state insurer. In a statement issued by the DOJ, the fraudulent scheme…
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Duterte firm in decision to take 1st shot of vaccine
By Fernan Angeles President Rodrigo Duterte stood firm in his decision to take the first shot of injectable vaccine from Russia against COVID-19. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the President’s vaccination of Russia’s vaccine Sputnik V will only take place after the third stage of clinical trials, which will be done in both Manila…
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Palace hints at new quarantine protocols
By Fernan Angeles MALACAÑANG made an early announcement of new community quarantine protocols imposed over the entire archipelago – except for Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal whose fate would be made known to the public on Monday. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the quarantine classifications for implementation all over the country in the next two…
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Duterte ally Dennis Uy quits as Dito-CME president
By Fernan Angeles A STAUNCH supporter and ally of President Rodrigo Duterte wanting his Dito CME Holdings to become the third telecommunications company in the country has resigned from his corporate post as President. Billionaire businessman Dennis Uy, however, will remain on the board as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Replacing him as President is…
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FDA: Vaccine may be available by year-end
By Fernan Angeles THE government is optimistic that a vaccine against COVID-19 infection would most likely be available by the end of the year. Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo, concurrent director general of the Food and Drugs Administration, said that by that time, the world would probably have hundreds of vaccines which have already passed the…
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House approves second ‘Bayanihan’ bill
By Fernan Angeles OVERWHELMING best describes the manner in which the House of Representatives approved the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2, outlining P162 billion-worth of response interventions to help the country recover from the COVID-19 crisis and boost the economy. With a vote of 242 in the affirmative, six in the…
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Who’s gonna call the shots for PhilHealth? No, not Duque
By John Clifford Lintao THE embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) should at least have a caretaker while its chief executive is “on leave.” However, its employees do not want Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to call shots for the graft-tainted agency. On Sunday, the state insurer’s employees appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to temporarily…
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AFP: No backing down on West Philippine Sea claim
By John Clifford Lintao THE military may not be joining other countries in conducting naval exercises in the South China Sea but that does not mean the Philippine government is abandoning territorial claims in the disputed waters, the new chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said. In a television interview, AFP chief Lieutenant…