HOUSE SPEAKER ALVAREZ DI MAPIPIGILANG MAGSAMPA NG IMPEACHMENT CASE LABAN KAY VP ROBREDO KAHIT TUTUL SI PRES. DUTERTE

Hindi mapipigilan si House speaker Pantaleon Alvares sa planong maghain ng impeachment case laban kay Vice President Leni Robredo kahit na sinabe pa ni Pres. Duterte na wag ituloy ang paghain ng impeachment laban kay VP. Leni.

        Sa pahayag ni Speaker Alvarez na niririspeto nya ang pahayag ng Pangulo ngunit ang kongreso gihapun ang adunay ekslusibong jurisdiksyon sa pargroseso sa impeachment case subay sa konstitusyon.

Ayon pa kay Alavarez,  pinag-aaralan pa nya sa ngayon ang kaso at hindi basihan ngunit  kailangan na maging mabigat na basihan

Walng takot na tinawag ni Speaker Alvares nga si VP Robrdo ay “ makapal ang mukha”.

Nilinaw ni Alvarez nga ito ang pinaka unang pangyayari na merong mataas na opisyal na nagpadala ng video clip sa UN upang sirain ang kridibilidad ng bansa.

A group of Lawyers will pursue to impeach rap against VP. Robredo despite Pres. Duterte's opposition

Not even President Rodrigo Duterte can stop his supporters from filing an impeachment complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo.

A group composed of lawyers, professors, and a government official on Thursday rejected Duterte's earlier call for an end to threats to impeach the Vice President.

"We would always support the President but the President cannot tell us what to do," lawyer Bruce Rivera, the group's spokesperson, said in a press briefing. Rivera previously served as legal counsel to alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

Rivera said the group's members are "not blind followers" of the President.

"If we see fit that Leni Robredo should be impeached, even against the will of the President then what can we do? We are Filipinos, we are not Duterte supporters only," Rivera added.

Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing III first told CNN Philippines on Saturday, that a group of "topnotch" lawyers had started a case build-up for Robredo's possible impeachment. 

The group said they have so far found three possible grounds for Robredo's impeachment: betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and other high crimes. They refused to elaborate.

But Rivera said Robredo's video message to the United Nations, criticizing the country's war on drugs "triggered" the group's filing of an impeachment rap.

Although everyone has right to free speech, Political Science Professor Antonio Contreras said Robredo is not an ordinary citizen, and should be careful of what she tells other countries about the Philippines.

The Office of the Vice President has said Robredo is ready to face any impeachment complaint that could possibly be filed against her.

But her lawyers said the Vice President's statements are not enough legal basis for the impeachment complaint.

Meanwhile, lawyers Tom Berenguer and Trixie Cruz Angeles are also part of the group seeking Robredo's ouster.

Angeles was part of the legal team of former Chief Justice Renato Corona during his impeachment trial in 2012.

The Senate ruled to impeach Corona over misdeclaration in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Contreras said they are also looking into Robredo's supposed misdeclarations in her SALN, and would include these in the impeachment complaint once they have enough evidence.

The group hopes to file the impeachment case against Robredo by May, when the House of Representatives resumes session.

This could be the second complaint filed against the Vice President.

Senate President Pimentel warns the LP Senator: you roused "sleeping giant" in House Speaker Alvarez

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez's impeachment threat against Vice President Robredo is the "reaction" of a "sleeping giant" for launching a jab against the ruling party's chairman, Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel said Tuesday.

Hours after Congressman Alejano called for President Duterte's impeachment complain, "He is looking at filing impeachment raps against Robredo for criticizing the government's war on illegal drugs in a video that was shown during a UN meeting" House speaker Alvazer said .

"Reaction na lang 'yun kasi may nag-file against our chairman, siyempre nagising . . . ang ginising n'yo sleeping giant pa," said Pimentel, he is pointing to Pres. Dutertes PDP-Laban Speaker Alvarez.

Pimentel hinted that it may be easier for Alvarez's complaint to gain traction in the lower chamber will really win the impeachment against VP Robredo because the impeachment process is in numbers game.

House Speaker Alvarez has 230-plus followers in the House of Representatives. From the other LP party mates alone, he has 109. It is more than the threshold number of 100," Sen Pimentel said referring to the required one-third vote from the House members to push the impeachment case to the Senate.

"Sinong unang nanuntok? nagising tuloy si Speaker na mayrong maraming vobo sa lower house. yun ang malaking problema at yun ang dahilan ginising ninyo sleeping giant," Pimentel said.

Even though the Palace also tagged Robredo's allies from the Liberal Party in an alleged destabilization plot against Duterte, Pimentel denied that the president was involved in the impeachment brawl between lawmakers.

"Si Presidente actually ay hands off . . . It's the Speaker's original idea . . . Para siyang nagising doon sa pag-file," Pimentel said.

The Senate President Pimentel earlier challenged the Liberal Party to "denounce" the impeachment complaint against Pres. Duterte to prove that they are not involved in the alleged plot to unseat the president.

Alejano tinawag ni President Duterte na ‘mayabang’ at ‘duwag’ kagaya ni Sen. Trillanes

“Mayabang kayo, mga duwag.”

Ito ang itinawag ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kay Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano.

Ginawa ng pangulo ang pahayag sa harap ng Filipino community sa bansang Myanmar.

Reaksiyon ito ni Duterte sa balak ni Alejano na maghain ng supplemental complaint kaugnay ng isyu sa Benham Rise.

Bukod pa rito ang nauna nang paghahain ni Alejano ng impeachment complaint laban kay Duterte sa Kamara.

Ayon sa pangulo, walang karapatang magsalita ng katapangan ang grupo ni Alejano dahil puro kahihiyan lamang umano ang ginawa ng grupo nito noong magsagawa ng mutiny sa Oakwood Hotel sa Makati.

Dagdag pa ni Duterte, dapat kay Alejano ay ipadala bilang unang batch ng mga Pilipinong gustong angkinin ang Spratly Islands at makipaglaban sa China.

Senate President Koko dares LP senators to denounce impeachment raps vs. Duterte to show they’re not involved

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Monday (Mar. 20) found himself in a word war of sort with members of the Liberal Party (LP) in the minority bloc who lashed back at him for saying that the impending impeachment complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo’s has a big chance of progressing in the House of Representatives.

Pimentel retaliated by challenging the LP senators to denounce the those behind the impeachment complaint against President Duterte if only to disprove the suspicions on them having a hand in ousting the Chief Executive from office.

“Let us say wala ngang hand ang LP sa filing of impeachment the impeachment process, kasi ang tanong dito sino ba ng unang sumuntok? Yun ang tanong dito sino ba ng unang nanuntok? Let say walang hand ang LP dito, I hope they denounce the people behind the impeachment process. They are not denouncing so kaya tumutuloy yung duda,” he said in an interview with reporters.

Pimentel said House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez cannot be blamed if he reacted strongly on the filing of impeachment complaint against Duterte.

“Ginising nila ang sleeping giant na si Alvarez. Kaya pana-react tuloy si Speaker and he has the numbers. That the problem ang ginising ninyo ay sleeping giant,” he said.

“If they are not really behind this impeachment they should denounce the impeachment against Duterte, denounce the people behind the impeachment (case),” Pimentel added.

Pimentel reiterated Monday his position, saying that he was speaking theoretically, given that of the current 294 lower house members, about 230 are part of the so-called super majority coalition and only about one-third or 100 congressmen are needed to back up Alvarez’ soon-to-be filed impeachment complaint against Robredo.

From their political party alone, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Alvarez commands a following of 109 congressmen, Pimentel noted.

“It is more than the threshold number of 100. But what I know is that the Speaker has 230 plus followers in the House of Representatives,” he added.

Alvarez’ planned filing of impeachment case against the Vice President stemmed from Robredo’s criticisms on the government’s war on drugs contained in a video message to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

Vice Pres. Robredo wala daw kinalanam sa impeachment complaint vs Duterte — Hernandez

Itinanggi ng kampo ni Vice President Leni Robredo ang mga alegasyong may kinalaman siya sa impeachment complaint na inihain laban kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Ayon sa tagapagsalita ni Robredo na si Georgina Hernandez, mismong ang naghain ng reklamo na si Congressman Gary Alejano ang nagsabing Magdalo Group lang ang nasa likod ng impeachment complaint.

Malinaw rin aniyang sinabi ng kongresista na walang kinalaman si Robredo sa paghahain ng reklamo.

Si House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez ang nagsabing si Robredo ang nasa likod ng impeachment complaint.

Ani Alvarez, nagmamadali si Robredo na pumalit kay Duterte.

Kalbo ang lakas ng loob maghain ng Impeachment complaint vs President Duterte sa Kamara

Naghain ng impeachment complaint laban kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang Magdalo Party-list sa pangunguna ni Representative Gary Alejano.

Kabilang sa mga basehan ng impeachment complaint na inihain ni Alejano ang ‘culpable violation of constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery at high crimes.’

Inihain ang reklamo sa House Office of the Secretary General.

Naniniwala si Alejano na maraming susuporta sa reklamo.

Samantala, pag-aaralan naman ng partido ang isyu sa Benham Rise para maisama sa impeachm

Trillanes itinangging may pinaplanong destabilisasyon laban kay Pres. Duterte

Itinanggi ni Senador Antonio Trillanes IV na mayroon siyang pinaplanong kudeta o destabilisasyon.

Sa isang statement, sinabi ni Trillanes na dahil wala siyang gagawing kudeta ay wala ring kailangang pondohan.

Nagsasabi lang aniya ng katotohanan ang mga self-confessed hitman na sina Edgar Matobato at Arturo Lascañas.

Problema na umano ng administrasyon kung ‘nayayanig’ sila sa mga ibinunyag nina Matobato at Lascañas na nagdidiin kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Sinabi rin ni Trillanes na kaibigan umano ng pangulo ang mining companies kaya hindi nito maipatupad ang mga suspension order ni Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez.

kaibigan din umano niya ang mga drug lord kaya’t ni isa ay wala pa aniyang nahuhuli at puro mahihirap lamang ang napapatay.

Sen. De Lima refuses to enter plea on 'disobedience to summons' case file against her

In her first public appearance since her detention, Sen. Leila de Lima refused to enter a plea before the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court over her alleged 'disobedience to summons' case during hearings at the Lower house last year into the illegal drug trade in Bilibid.

Proyekto kontra-pangongotong sa delivery trucks pinirmahan

Nagsanib-puwersa ang Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) at Philippine National Police (PNP) para masawata ang pangongotong sa mga delivery truck ng perishable goods.

Nilagdaan ng nasabing mga ahensiya ang isang memorandum of agreement (MOA) para sa food lane project.

Layunin ng nasabing proyekto na matiyak na hindi makokotongan ang mga delivery truck at mapabilis ang pagde-deliver ng mga pagkain sa pamilihan.

Kukuha ng akreditasyon sa DA ang mga trucker para makakuha ng food lane sticker.

Gayunman, sinabi ng DA na hindi magsisilbing ‘pass’ ang nasabing sticker para makalusot sa mga traffic violation, pagdadala ng droga at iba pa.

Defense chief Lorenzana 'losing sleep' over Abu Sayyaf

Terrorists, drug lords, communist insurgents, an intrusive neighbor and rumored destabilization plots — these occupy the mind of the country's defense chief.

But what's leaving him on edge are the bandits — members of the Abu Sayyaf group — down south.

"The problem in the Southern Philippines, piracy and kidnapping, is actually giving me, personally, a headache. Sometimes I could not sleep at night thinking about how to solve the problem there," said Delfin Lorenzana, Secretary of National Defense.

"Kidnapping has not abated. When the President was inaugurated on June 30, there were only 18 hostages being held by the Abu Sayyaf. Now, there are 31. So dumami pa [it has increased]," Lorenzana added. "It's very embarrassing to the whole world."

Just last week, Abu Sayyaf bandits beheaded a German hostage, Juergen Kantner.

·         AFP confirms that Abu Sayyaf beheaded the German National

Speaking to reporters and alumni at the National Defense College of the Philippines, Lorenzana said he hopes to "solve the Abu Sayyaf problem" by June, adding he is willing to give the Armed Forces a two-month leeway.

·         AFP aims to erase the Abu Sayyaf by June of 2017

Secure sea lane

Lorenzana said the Department of National Defense (DND) is working with its counterparts from Indonesia and Malaysia to drive out pirates and kidnappers from the waters around Western Mindanao and Borneo Island — where the bandit group had been attacking and abducting victims.

·         Pres. Duterte agree to chase those drug dealer & pirates

The Armed Forces is planning to set up a permanent station on Jolo Island in hopes of driving bandits away for good. Lorenzana said a task force will be formed to guard the area using fast seacraft and drones.

In April or May, navies of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia plan to begin joint patrols in the waters in and around Sibutu Passage. Their goal is to create a secure sea lane for civilian vessels.

Lorenzana admitted that beating the Abu Sayyaf may be a long shot "but we are doing a lot of things within our power," he added.

Chinese ships spotted

But bandits are not the only problem out at sea.

Lorenzana revealed that, from July to December 2016, marine patrols spotted Chinese survey ships in the areas of Recto Bank and Benham Rise.

Recto Bank lies 80 nautical miles northwest of Palawan. It lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, as affirmed by the arbitral ruling on Manila's maritime case against Beijing.

·         Philippines wins maritime arbitration case against China

Benham Rise lies 135 nautical miles east of Aurora, near the Philippine Trench. The United Nations declared it part of Philippine territory in 2012.

Both Recto Bank and Benham Rise are thought to be rich in minerals, natural gas and oil — not to mention marine life.

Lorenzana said the Chinese may have been eyeing Benham Rise as a passage for their submarines.

'Keep protesting'

"The thing here is we should protest," Lorenzana said, referring to notes verbales, a way of diplomatically protesting another country's actions in one's territory.

Duterte, nakiusap sa local executives ng Mindanao na tulungan ang gobyerno laban sa terorismo

Nakiusap si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa mga lokal na opisyal ng Mindanao na tulungan siya sa paglaban sa terorismo sa rehiyon.

GInawa ito ni Duterte sa kanyang pakikipagharap sa mga mayor at gobernador ng buong Mindanao sa Davao City.

Binigyang-diin ng pangulo na tanging local executives ang makatutulong o makagagawa ng paraan upang maiwasang kumalat ang terorismo sa kanilang mga lugar.

Sinabi ng pangulo na maaari ding hingin ng mga lokal na opisyal ang suporta ng militar kung kinakailangan.

Giit ng pangulo na kung magiging ‘out-of-control’ na ang karahasan sa Mindanao dahil sa mga terorista, mapipilitan siyang magdeklara ng Martial Law.

Tiniyak naman ni Pangulong Duterte na makaaasa ng tulong mula sa kanya ang mga mayor at gobernador na makakasuhan sa Ombudsman hinggil sa kampanya para sa kapayapaan.

Senado, tinapos na ang pagdinig sa Immigration bribery scandal

Tinapos na ni Senador Richard Gordon, chairman ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, ang pagdinig sa bribery scandal sa Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Sinabi ni Gordon na sa limang pagdinig ng Senado ay nakitaan niyang may pananagutan sina dating Deputy Immigration Commissioner Atty. Al Argosino at Atty. Michael Robles sa kasong extortion.

Inabsuwelto naman ni Gordon si Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre sa kasong extortion.

Maging si gambling tycoon Jack Lam ay inabsuwelto rin ni Gordon sa kasong bribery.

Ayon kay Gordon, wala si Lam nang panahong ibigay ni Wally Sombero ang bribe money Kina Argosino at Robles.

Sen. Loren Legarda is confident the resolution will be passed on second reading

The Senate approved on second reading the landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change that calls for the reduction of carbon emissions.

Sen. Loren Legarda, the main sponsor of Senate Bill 320, on Wednesday said she is confident the resolution will be passed on third and final reading soon.

"We're going to pass it as long as we have a quorum next week, we're going to pass it on third reading…before adjournment so that on Earth Day, we will have a true celebration," Legarda said.

In 2015, members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including the Philippines, drafted the agreement to limit the increase in the global average temperature to below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The pact was signed by 175 countries in New York in April 2016, and took  effect on November 4.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the agreement after rejecting it earlier. 

Once the Senate ratifies the pact, Legarda said the Paris Agreement will compel polluting countries to finance the Green Climate Fund, which will help developing countries like the Philippines to start projects for adaptation and mitigation efforts.

"Once it's completely ratified and we can negotiate on a position of strength having ratified the agreement, this is really a legacy we have for our future generation, for the children of our country," she said.

World Bank Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance Program Head Olivier Mahul highlighted the financial cost of disasters in vulnerable countries.

"Every year on average, $300 billion (are lost) in terms of assets, and if you include well-being impact, it's about $500-billion dollars," Mahul said.

He said if countries are better prepared, they can respond quickly and limit the impact of disasters.

DFA Sec. Yasay, DENR Sec. Lopez to face Confirmation hearing

 Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. and Environment Secretary Gina Lopez will go through confirmation proceedings of the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday morning.

Yasay has been on the hot seat due to reports of his U.S. citizenship. The last time he went through the same proceedings, he told CA members that he never acquired legal U.S. citizenship although he admitted that he used to be an American resident.

Yasay was also quoted as saying in a TV interview that he used to have an American passport but he returned it — fueling speculation that Yasay has been lying all along about his alleged US citizenship.

Prior to the confirmation proceedings, he admitted having a U.S. passport, but denied he lied.

"Yeah, I did not only have a U.S. passport, I had a naturalization certificate which I all returned to the authorities," he said.

He added he applied for naturalization in 1986, and was granted in the same year.

Yasay and Lopez paid a visit to CA member Senator Loren Legarda, a day before the scheduled confirmation.

Lopez' controversial move against many mining companies led to 23 oppositions to her confirmation. Despite the support of many church, environment, and other cause-oriented groups, Lopez appealed to the members of the CA to vote based on the common good and their conscience and not based on business interest.

"My worry is that there are some CA members that are into mining and that a bit scary…In fact the head of the CA in Congress is a miner," Lopez said.

A day before the resumption of confirmation proceedings, the CA membership decided to change some rules, one of which is having a secret vote

Kredibilidad ni Lascañas, nananatili parin? — Trillanes

Mananatiling ‘intact’ ang kredibilidad ni retired SPO3 Arturo Lascañas matapos itong humarap sa Senado kahapon para tumestigo sa mga aktibidad ng Davao Death Squad (DDS).

Punto ni Senador Antonio Trillanes, naidetalye naman ni Lascañas ang mga diumano’y pagpatay na iniutos umano ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at ang anak nitong si Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.

Hindi naman umano napasinungalingan ng mag-amang Duterte ang mga akusasyon ni Lascañas.

Una nang sinagot ng nakababatang Duterte ang mga patutsada ni Trillanes at sinabing gumagawa lang ng pera ang senador para sirain ang kanyang ama.

Hindi naman na makahaharap muli si Lascañas sa Senado matapos tapusin ang imbestigasyon sa loob lamang ng isang pagdinig.

Napoles, inakusahan ng pangingikil si De Lima

Inakusahan ng tinaguriang ‘pork barrel’ scam queen Janet Lim-Napoles si Senadora Leila De Lima na nangikil umano sa kanya.

Ani Napoles, ang pangingikil umano noon ni De Lima ay para sa kampanya nito noong tatakbo pa lamang na senadora.

Ang nasabing pera ay bilang kapalit umano ng pagbasura sa kanyang kasong illegal detention.

'Tokhang' survivor files charges vs 4 policemen

A man who claims to have survived a summary execution during an anti-illegal drugs operation in Payatas, Quezon City has filed administrative and criminal charges against four policemen before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Efren Morillo said on Friday that on August 21 last year, policemen identified as Sr. Insp. Emil Garcia, PO3 Allan Formilleza, PO1 James Aggarao and PO1 Melchor Navisaga accused him and four others of being involved in illegal drugs.

Without any proof, Morillo said they were handcuffed and brought inside a house where they were shot.

His four companions died while he sustained a gunshot wound in his left chest. He then pretended to be dead. Morillo said he managed to escape when the policemen left the crime scene.

PNP chief promises better drug war enforcement

Morillo said one of the policemen even ordered to call the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) unit, then declared that the suspects resisted arrest and fought back, and planted evidence to support their claims.

The alleged crime took place a month after the Duterte administration launched its bloody war on drugs or "tokhang."

Morillo said until now he feared for his life even if cases had been filed against the policemen. His lawyer said the best way to deal with the situation would be to take the matter to court.

AFP, NPA trade faults amid scrapped talks

The military and New People's Army continue trading accusations of atrocities amid calls to resume peace talks. With both sides insisting the allegations are not mere propaganda, it remains unclear how these charges could be resolved.

Pangulong Duterte, mariing pinabulaanan na siya ang nasa likod ng DDS

Mariing pinabulaanan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang akusasyong siya ang nasa likod ng Davao Death Squad (DDS) noong alkalde pa siya ng Davao City.

Sa kanyang talumpati sa Cebu, sinabi ni Duterte na hindi siya nag-utos na pumatay ng partikular na tao taliwas sa inihayag ni retired SPO3 Arthuro Lascañas at ng self-confessed hitman na si Edgar Matobato.

Ayon kay Duterte, ang iniutos lamang niya ay patayin ang mga kriminal kung manlalaban ang mga ito na ikapapahamak ng  mga awtoridad.

Una na ring inamin ng pangulo na may mga naganap na pagpatay sa Davao noong termino niya bilang alkalde pero ang mga ito ay resulta aniya ng mga lehitimong police operations.

Regions with biggest mining activities among the poorest–IBON

Contrary to claims that closing down mining operations will worsen poverty, research group IBON said that large-scale mining activities impact heavily on marginalized sectors and intensify poverty. The group also said that the mining sector’s export-oriented character further deprives communities by taking away potential resources for local development.

The Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) said that the crackdown on mining would lead to ‘expansive poverty’ and hurt economic growth. This was in response to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) head Regina Lopez’s recent orders to close and suspend some mining operations and cancel 75 mining contracts.

According to a study by IBON, however, mineral extraction and production often incur significant social and environmental costs which in fact fall disproportionately on the poor. In 2009, mining had the highest poverty incidence among industry groups at 48.71%. This was the highest poverty incidence since 1988, even surpassing the agriculture sector, which has historically topped poverty incidence across industries.

Among the biggest mining operations in the country are the Taganito Mining Corp in Surigao; Nickel Asia in Eastern Samar; Sagittarius Mines Incorporated in South Cotabato, Filminera Resources Corp. in Masbate and TVI Pacific Inc in Zamboanga del Sur. Yet, IBON noted that official 2015 poverty statistics show that regions hosting these mining activities are the poorest, next only to the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Poverty incidence among individuals in Caraga (Region XIII) is the second highest in the country at 39.1 percent. The Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) posted the third highest poverty incidence at 38.7% followed by Soccsksargen (Region XII) at 37.3%, Bicol (Region V) at 36.0% and Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) at 33.9 percent.

Mining industry statistics also indicate that most of Philippine mineral production goes to exports, IBON observed. Total production value in mining in 2015, for instance, was at Php179.7 billion. Meanwhile, the amount of total exports of minerals and mineral products was at Php131 billion in the same year, or 73% of total production value. The exodus of minerals from the country leaves very little or nothing for local industry to benefit from. This means a lack of raw materials for potential industries such as steel, cement, rubber, paper, chemical and pharmaceutical.

IBON said that for allowing the extraction and export of most of the country’s mineral wealth while poverty remains stark in regions with mining activities, the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 should be repealed. The group said that government should not heed the mounting pro-big-business mining hype and instead focus on saving and utilizing what is left of the country’s resources to genuinely benefit the nation, especially the poorest regions.

P200 milyong halaga ng mga pekeng damit, nasamsam ng BOC sa Pasay

Sinalakay ng mga tauhan ng Bureau of Customs (BOC) ang ilang gusali sa Taft corner Cuneta Avenue sa Pasay City.

Ito ay matapos mapag-alaman na ginagawang imbakan ng mga pekeng produkto mula China ang dalawang warehouse sa lugar.

Sa isinagawang raid, nakumpiska ng mga Custom intelligence ang iba’t ibang uri ng mga pekeng damit na karamihan ay mga damit-pambata.

Tinatayang aabot sa dalawandaang milyong piso ang halaga ng mga nakumpiskang pekeng produkto

Peter Laviña resigns as NIA chief post amid corruption allegations.

National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Chief Peter Tiu Laviña has resigned from his post amid corruption allegations.

Laviña on his Facebook page on Tuesday said he wanted to quietly leave his post but he had to address the intrigues.

"Recently, there had been efforts to discredit me again. There are rumors circulating that I have asked money from NIA contractors. These are not true!" he said in a separate post.

Laviña said he decided to resign to spare President Rodrigo Duterte's administration from unnecessary intrigues.

"I have neither personal vested interest in it nor ill intent towards NIA and the whole government, which we are trying to reform," he said.

“He will continue to serve the Filipinos even if he is no longer working for the government”, Laviña said.

"This is your H2O boy, signing off!" he said, bidding his post good bye.

Former President Benigno Aquino III attends a closed-door meeting of LP members on Tuesday.

LP Senate President Kiko Pangilinan was not surprise about the down full of the 4 LP senators in the major commitee and replace with other senators in the Pres. Duterte side. We all know that the LP senator is a member of the majority coalition or hindrance of President Rodrigo Duterte's plan for his Administration.

But the fate of the coaliton is now in limbo after a shakeup in the Senate on Monday March 6, 2017.

Three LP senators and an ally lost their key Senate positions.

Ralph Recto replaces Frankin Drilon as Senate president pro tempore – the second highest in the chamber. Cynthia Villar takes over the agriculture committee from Pangilinan, Chiz Escudero now leads the education committee from Bam Aquino, while JV Ejercito gets the health committee from Sen Risa Hontiveros.

Pangilinan said the LP will decide on the matter after the vote on the re-imposition of death penalty in the Lower House on Wednesday.

LP Senator’s postponed the decision on the matter of whether or not the contingent of Liberal Party in the House will leave the majority until after these death penalty debates have been completed.

Some LP members want to see if House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez will follow through on his threat to strip congressmen off their committee chairmanships if they vote against the bill.

If this happens, it could trigger the LP's split from the coalition.

But the LP has still decided to formally disagree on the possible return of the Death Penalty.

X.Pres. Benigno Aquino III and V.P. Leni Robredo were also present at the meeting but did not allow someone to know the content of thier meeting and what they shared with their party mates. But according to some LP members, Aquino urged party members to speak out more.

Trillanes, hindi natatakot sa bantang pagsasampa ng kaso laban sa kanya ni SolGen Calida

Hindi nagpatinag si Senador Antonio Trillanes IV sa banta ni Solicitor General Jose Calida na sampahan siya ng kaso.

Sa isang statement, sinabi ni Trillanes na kahit pa bantaan siya ay gagampanan pa rin niya ang mandato na ibunyag si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Maninindigan din umano siya sa pag-abuso sa kapangyarihan ng administrasyon.

Kaya hamon ni Trillanes, tumahimik na lang si Calida at gawin na lang ang banta nitong pagsasampa ng kaso.

Si Trillanes ay binantaang kakasuhan dahil sa umano’y pagkakanlong kina Edgar Matobato at Arthur Lascañas na kapwa umaming miyembro ng Davao Death Squad (DDS).