The Philippine Headlines - September 25, 2007

Posted by Balitang Pinoy at 12:48 PM

World urges restraint amid Myanmar protests

UNITED NATIONS -- World governments Tuesday called on Myanmar's junta to show restraint after it threatened to "take action" against Buddhist monks leading the country's largest protests in nearly 20 years.

Myanmar warns monks to stay out of politics

YANGON -- Myanmar's state media Tuesday warned Buddhist monks to end their burgeoning anti-government protests and to stay out of politics, accusing foreign media of fueling the unrest.

Senator Sergio Osmeña III top-bills hearing on wiretapping

MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Former Senator Sergio Osmeña III top-bills the hearing on the wiretapping scandal this Tuesday at the Senate, the office of Senator Rodolfo Biazon said Tuesday.

Korean travel agencies reported operating illegally in Davao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines -- Travel agencies owned by Korean nationals are operating illegally in the city, the Southern Mindanao regional tourism chief said Tuesday.

Peso, rupiah retreat after rally, but mood bullish

SINGAPORE -- The high-yielding Indonesian rupiah and Philippine peso retreated on Tuesday after investors took profits following their recent rallies sparked by the US rate cut last week.

Police on heightened alert ahead of Arroyo trip to US

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine National Police has been placed on heightened alert ahead of the departure of President Gloria Macapagal for New York City, an official said.

Oil falls toward $80 as US Gulf production rises

SINGAPORE -- Oil extended losses by another half a dollar on Tuesday as dealers took more profits from last week's record high after a mild storm left US Gulf oil infrastructure undamaged, allowing producers to resume pumping.

Jennifer Garner balances career with motherhood

NEW YORK -- Jennifer Garner, who stars in the upcoming film, "The Kingdom," says she's grateful that she can balance her career with motherhood. "My job is great to have as a mom," she tells Marie Claire magazine in its October issue. "I get to take long breaks and then work hard in a really concentrated way."

Need an alibi? Virtual world provides cover

PARIS -- Need an alibi for a tricky situation, something to get you out of the house, or into someone else's? Explain a missed meeting? Just log on to one of the increasingly available Internet sites that offer the latest in e-business, an alibi service.

Supreme Court rejects appeal of 3 Bali bombers on death row

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- The Supreme Court rejected appeals by all three Islamic militants on death row for the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, many of them foreign tourists, a report said Monday.

Tiger sees formidable global foes but likes Cup hopes for US

MONTREAL -- Tiger Woods sees an impressive International squad poised for the Presidents Cup but likes the chance his US team can retain the trophy with a fun but focused atmosphere inspired by captain Jack Nicklaus.

US announces largest steroid bust in history

WASHINGTON -- Law enforcement authorities said they had smashed the biggest illegal steroid ring in US history on Monday following a two-year investigation that spanned 10 countries, including China.

Abalos no show at House budget hearing

MANILA, Philippines -- Benjamin Abalos Jr, the beleaguered chairman of the Commission on Elections, was a no show at a budget hearing in the House of Representatives Tuesday.

Armstrong dismisses question on disgraced cyclist Landis

VANCOUVER, Canada -- Lance Armstrong deflected questions regarding the decision to strip disgraced American cyclist Floyd Landis of the 2006 Tour de France title following a positive drug test.

World leaders eager for 'breakthrough' on climate--UN chief

UNITED NATIONS -- UN chief Ban Ki-moon said a summit on climate change here on Monday had delivered "a clear call from world leaders for a breakthrough" at key talks looming in December.

(UPDATE) Trade deficit rose to $854M in July

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines’ trade deficit in July widened to $854 million from $396 million in the same period last year as demand for imports continued to grow ahead of the Christmas season.

ASEAN under pressure to act as Myanmar protests mount

KUALA LUMPUR -- Southeast Asian nations have long been reluctant to confront their reviled neighbor Myanmar, but as protests mount in Yangon, observers say they risk losing credibility if they fail to act.

Poorer workers ring in India's mobile phone revolution

NEW DELHI -- Lattoo may be a relatively poor 35-year-old mason living in a New Delhi slum, but he still typifies the reason why India's mobile phone market is the world's fastest growing.

Asian financial stocks slip on more credit concerns

TOKYO -- Financial stocks drifted lower in Asia on Tuesday, hit by fresh concerns about credit markets and a renewed slide in the dollar.

Facebook's sex predator safeguards questioned

NEW YORK -- Prosecutors in New York state are investigating whether social networking website Facebook is living up to its word when it comes to protecting young Internet users from sexual predators.

Hand grenade kills farmer in North Cotabato town

COTABATO CITY, Philippines -- Unidentified men on board a motorcycle tossed a hand grenade at a farmer's home at a supposedly communist rebel-infested village in Pigcawayan town, North Cotabato province on Monday evening, killing one person and wounding another.

Motorist jailed for British speeding record

LONDON -- A man caught speeding at a British record of 172 miles (277 kilometers) per hour was jailed for 10 weeks on Monday.

Japan's Abe formally resigns, ending turbulent premiership

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his entire cabinet formally resigned Tuesday hours ahead of parliament electing a new premier, a government official said.

GM workers strike in US as contract talks fail

DETROIT, Michigan -- Some 73,000 workers at General Motors plants across the United States went on strike Monday after contract talks broke down over issues of job security and health care.

Climate change melting Kashmir glaciers -- report

SRINAGAR, India -- Himalayan glaciers are melting fast in Indian Kashmir as a result of global warming, causing water levels of regional streams and rivers to drop by two-thirds, a report said Monday.

Got a backache? Get acupuncture

WASHINGTON -- Acupuncture could prove more effective then conventional treatment in curing back pain, according to a new study released Monday.

Google seeks European Union blessing of DoubleClick buy

SAN FRANCISCO -- Google said Monday that it has asked European Union regulators to approve its pending 3.1-billion-dollar purchase of Internet ad targeting colossus DoubleClick.

NASA Dawn probe to set off on solar system discovery

WASHINGTON -- The US space agency is set to launch on Thursday the space probe Dawn on an eight-year mission to unlock the secrets of the solar system and how it was born.

One violent crime every 22 seconds in US -- report

WASHINGTON -- More than 1.4 million murders, rapes, robberies and assaults were committed around the United States last year, or a violent crime every 22 seconds, the FBI said Monday.

Shares seen lower on Wall St. pullback

MANILA, Philippines -- Shares are poised to open lower Tuesday as investors shy away from blue chips and continue betting on small caps with bright earnings prospects, particularly miners due to rising metals prices.

'Die Hard', 'Predator' director jailed in wiretap scandal

LOS ANGELES -- Movie director John McTiernan was sentenced to four months jail and given a 100,000-dollar fine on Monday for lying to investigators probing a Hollywood wire-tapping scandal.

Supreme Court takes up draft rules for writ of amparo

Families and relatives of victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances are now a step closer to making the authorities exert more effort and be more accountable for the fate of their loved ones after a Supreme Court subcommittee finished drafting the rules on the issuance of a writ of amparo.

Apple says unlocking software can damage iPhone

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple Inc said on Monday that programs available on the Internet that allow the iPhone to be used with other service providers besides AT&T's Cingular network can irreparably damage the device.

Ahmadinejad faces public dressing down at US university

NEW YORK -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was treated to a humiliating and public dressing down when he appeared at a top US university Monday, where he was described as a "petty and cruel dictator."

In sex life of jumping spiders, size matters

PARIS -- From post-coital cannibalism to love at first sight, the sex life of the African jumping spider is full of surprises, according to a new study.

For sale: Spacious missile base for only $1.5 million

WASHINGTON -- Looking for a new home with a bit more space as well as a 1950s Cold War ambiance?

‘$100 laptops' for world’s poor students to go on sale

WASHINGTON -- Inexpensive laptop computers designed for students in developing countries will be sold to the public in a buy-one, give-one scheme, a non-profit organization behind the project said Monday.

Mike Tyson pleads guilty in drugs, driving case

PHOENIX, Arizona -- Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson could be facing jail again after admitting charges of drug possession and driving under the influence, court officials said Monday.

Tierro, Arcilla complete Davis Cup rout

KUWAIT CITY -- Patrick John Tierro and Johnny Arcilla overpowered separate rivals Sunday to complete a swashbuckling Filipino sweep of host Kuwait in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group II Davis Cup finals here.

SC to look into P10-M ‘bribe’ to magistrate

MANILA, Philippines -- The Supreme Court will hold a special session Tuesday to tackle media reports implicating one of its own magistrates in a P10-million payoff scandal.

Gov’t places more China deals on hold

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Agriculture is putting on the back burner plans to allow China use of 1.24 million hectares of Philippine agricultural land.

QC housewife loses P1.7M; suspect in rob nabbed by cops

MANILA, Philippines -- A housemaid was arrested last week by the police after her employer lost more than P1.7 million in cash and jewelry.

Denzel Washington to star in 'Pelham 1, 2, 3' remake

LOS ANGELES -- Denzel Washington will star in a remake of the classic 1970s hostage drama "The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3", entertainment industry reports said Monday.

UAAP warns: Avoid hooliganism

MANILA, Philippines -- Cheer in good conduct. This was the reminder to fans issued by UAAP host University of Santo Tomas Monday following separate off-court incidents, including one involving commissioner Ed Cordero, during the heated Ateneo-UST semifinal battle last Sunday.

UST sticking with Jarencio

University of Santo Tomas officials assured coach Pido Jarencio that they will keep him despite the Tigers’ loss to the Ateneo Blue Eagles last Sunday that ended their campaign to defend their title in this UAAP season.

Pacquiao pushes hard to be at his best against Barrera

LOS ANGELES -- He did not say anything upon arrival, but Manny Pacquiao made a clear statement -- he’s out to be at his best -- when he burst from bed at the break of dawn Sunday and did an unscheduled 30-minute jog to the surprise of aides and handlers.

Indon GM ahead; Torre surges

MANDAUE CITY -- Susano Megaranto of Indonesia blew an early positional advantage with the white pieces but still managed a draw with fellow grandmaster G.N. Gopal of India in 55 moves of the Sicilian to keep the solo lead in the sixth Asian Individual Chess Championship at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Carmina’s twin joys

MANILA, Philippines--Host-actress Carmina Villarroel is in a daze. She admits that her hectic work schedule—juggling the daily talk show “Sis” and nightly soap “Mga Mata ni Anghelita”—has left her spaced out.

Gaming world braces for industry 'killer' Halo 3

WASHINGTON--The gaming world braced Monday for the highly anticipated release of "Halo 3," expected to be a blockbuster for Microsoft and its struggling XBox 360 game console.

Bradley suffers baseball season-ending injury in bizarre incident

SAN DIEGO, California (AFP) - San Diego Padres outfielder Milton Bradley suffered a torn ACL in a fall while be restrained from attacking an umpire.

'We were free to roam around' - Doble's wife

Arlene Doble, the estranged wife of former military agent T/Sgt. Vidal Doble, testified before the Senate Tuesday that she and her children had not been detained by the military at the height of the "Hello, Garci" scandal in 2005.

Groups ask UNHRC to act on political killings in RP

Human rights advocates on Tuesday asked the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to compel the government to sincerely respect human rights and act on continuing cases of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

Myanmar officials take to streets to warn against protests

YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar officials riding on trucks in central Yangon used loudspeakers Tuesday to warn against new anti-junta protests, one day after Buddhist monks led 100,000 people in the streets.

Mrs. Doble has forgotten Medy

The wife of former military agent Vidal Doble contradicted a statement made by his estranged husband about Malacañang official, Undersecretary Remedios Poblador, as she testified at the resumption on Tuesday of the Senate's reinvestigation of the alleged "Hello, Garci" wiretapping.

Teachers to Lapus: Stop whining, address educational problems

A teachers group on Tuesday called on Education Secretary Jesli Lapus to stop complaining and instead work for the scrapping of the Cyber Education (CyberEd) Project which the Philippine government entered into with China last April along with the controversial national broadband network (NBN) deal.

Activists to file 'people's diplomatic protest' vs China

Activist groups filed Tuesday morning a "people's diplomatic protest" before the Chinese embassy in Makati City to convince its government to withdraw its support for the national broadband network (NBN) deal between the Philippine government and China's ZTE Corp. and to scrap several agricultural agreements between the two countries.

Padres sign Lane from Astros

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - The San Diego Padres have signed outfielder Jason Lane from the Houston Astros after they lost Milton Bradley for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

Abalos: JDV III was the one chasing me

Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. on Tuesday said Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.'s son was the one who has been chasing him and other government officials involved in the national broadband network (NBN) project.

Dave Brubeck says will play jazz till the end

MONTEREY, California (Reuters) - A jazz giant for more than half a century, pianist Dave Brubeck has no intention of quietly passing his golden years at home relaxing with his wife, with whom he just celebrated his 65th anniversary.

Supreme Court Justice Suspected of Accepting Payoff (update)

Justices scheduled to take it up in en banc meeting today

After Son's Revelations, Will JDV Allow GMA Impeachment?

The political fallout from the ZTE revelations: “brewing war” between President Arroyo and Speaker De Venecia

PCGG Wants to Review Payanig sa Pasig Contract

While the government’s broadband deal with ZTE Corp. was being examined at the Senate today, it was learned that another...

GMA Played Golf with Businessmen Who Bagged Broadband Deal

With a finger pointed directly at the face of Iloilo Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico who was seated beside him, businessman...

Mike Arroyo pushed for ZTE deal - de Venecia

Businessman Jose de Venecia III revealed today that First Gentleman Mike Arroyo is the mystery man involved in...

Norman Hsu, Mystery Man; Black men to patrol Philadelphia; Former Philippine President Estrada considers pardon

Philadelphia Tribune reports on the recruitment of blacks and other male residents to patrol Philadelphia's deadly streets, and Regina Reyes - ABS-CBN North America News Bureau Chief,

Cris Mendez's ma gets offer to settle case

MANILA, Philippines -- The mother of suspected hazing victim, University of the Philippines student Cris Anthony Mendez, has been approached by an unidentified man who advised her to agree to an out-o...

Ex-vice mayor found guilty of indirect contempt

MANILA, Philippines -- The Sandiganbayan yesterday convicted former Makati Vice Mayor Roberto Brillante of indirect contempt after he accused three of its justices of accepting P10 million in bribe mo...

Exhumed body of girl subjected to new tests

MANILA, Philippines -- Forensic experts yesterday exhumed the body of the young girl-believed to be that of Geraldine Palma-found inside a suitcase in Tondo last month and subjected it to a battery of...

QC housewife loses P1.7M; suspect in rob nabbed by cops

MANILA, Philippines -- A housemaid was arrested last week by the police after her employer lost more than P1.7 million in cash and jewelry. Evelyn de Guia-Magboo, 48, a resident of Victorian Heights,...

Edsa traffic lighter by weekend

MANILA, Philippines -- The laying of drainage pipes to reduce or eliminate flooding on Edsa is taking longer than anticipated, prompting the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to advise ...

Spare Calauit animals, Lim asked

MANILA, Philippines -- The animal welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has asked Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim not to push through with his plan to get more animals from Calauit...

President knew Abalos involved in deal-JdV

President Gloria Arroyo knew Chairman Benjamin Abalos of the Commission on Elections was involved with ZTE Corp., the Chinese firm that bagged the controversial $330-million national broadband d...

House Speaker says he beat ouster plot

HOUSE Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said the coup against him has been "crushed before it was launched."De Venecia, who sent off President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the Villamor Air Base for her trip t...

Razon is new police chief

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday announced the appointment of Police Deputy Director General for Administration Avelino Razon Jr. as the new PNP chief as Vice Director General Oscar Caldero...

Another senator wants broadband deal probe stopped

SENATOR Miriam Defensor-Santiago, joining Senator Joker Arroyo, called for a halt to the Senate investigation on the RP-China National Broadband Network (NBN) deal on the ground of "interdepartmental ...

Two more contracts with China frozen

Secretary Arthur C. Yap announced Monday that the Department of Agriculture is temporarily suspending two of its 19 agreements with China. The announcement comes just after the government announ...

Multitude joins Myanmar protests

David Mathieson, Myanmar consultant with New York-based Human Rights Watch, told AFP that civilians joining the monks in the kind of numbers seen Sunday and Monday marked a significant escalatio...

Asean still wants democracy in Myanmar

ASEAN wants to see democracy flourish in Myanmar, the Philippines said Monday, as tens of thousands poured onto the streets of Yangon in open defiance of the military junta.

Neri flying to US, will skip ZTE probe

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. called Neri as a "wimp." "If Neri lets [President Arroyo] silence him, he cannot blame anyone if he is called a wimp without intestinal fortitude to ...

Ramos hits Arroyo for offering pardon to Estrada

FORMER President Fidel Ramos on Monday criticized the Arroyo administration's plan to offer pardon to former President Joseph Estrada who was recently sentenced to life for plunder by the Sandiganbaya...

Honest Filipina worker in Singapore lauded

In a public toilet near the restaurant in Singapore's Vivo citymall, Marites Perez-Galam, a Filipino mother of four, found a wallet. It contained 16,000 Singapore dollars, the equivalent of $11,...

Stop recruiting tribal folk, bishops tell gov't, communists

MANILA, Philippines -- The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has appealed to both the government and the communist New People's Army (NPA) to stop the recruitment of indigenous pe...

SC to investigate bribery allegations vs one of its justices

MANILA, Philippines -- The Supreme Court will hold a special session on Tuesday to tackle media reports implicating one of its own magistrates in a P10-million payoff scandal. Jose Midas Marquez, spo...

Senators welcome Neri's decision to attend Senate hearing

MANILA, Philippines -- Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Manuel Roxas II, co-chairs in the Senate inquiry into the controversial $329-million national broadband deal with ZTE Corp., welcomed the last-m...

PETA asks Lim not to get more animals for Manila Zoo

MANILA, Philippines -- The animal welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has asked Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim not to push through with his plan to get more animals from Calauit...

Arroyo changes mind, 'advises' Neri to attend NBN hearing

MANILA, Philippines -- In a sudden turnaround, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has advised former socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri to stay behind and attend the Senate hearing on the nat...

Fish disappear from stressed Philippine coral reefs

MANILA, Philippines -- Fish species are fast disappearing from Philippine waters as delicate coral reefs, some of the biggest in the world, are destroyed in the archipelago, environmentalists warned M...

Ex-Ombudsman opposes absolute pardon for 'arrogant' Estrada

MANILA, Philippines -- Former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo opposed Monday the proposed grant of absolute pardon to convicted plunderer Joseph Estrada, saying the former president should not be setting the...

Politicians cannot stop CyberEd

MANILA, Philippines -- The ongoing investigation into the Arroyo administration's loan deals with the Chinese government and the "indefinite suspension" of the Cyber Education project have not discour...

EDSA 2 forces vow to nail Arroyo for plunder

MANILA, Philippines -- The absolute pardon Malaca ang is preparing for Joseph Estrada has angered the forces that helped bring the former president down, and is driving them to nail President Gloria M...

Brace for wetter, colder weather brought by La Ni a

MANILA, Philippines -- Weather forecasters of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) are advising the public to brace for wetter and colder weather in...

Senate to subpoena Neri to attend NBN probe next week

MANILA, Philippines -- The Senate committee on accountability of public officers and investigations (the blue ribbon) will issue a subpoena for Commission on Higher Education chairman Romulo Neri to a...

Palace move to bring Neri to US 'insidious' -- solons

MANILA, Philippines -- Legislators at the House of Representatives have strongly condemned Malaca ang's alleged "insidious" move to bring Romulo Neri, former economic planning secretary, with Presiden...

Cordial encounter as Speaker sees Arroyo off to Iligan

MANILA, Philippines -- Amid the controversy national broadband network (NBN) deal that has placed them on conflicting sides, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and House Speaker Jose de Venecia were ju...

PhilEXIM unveils P135-M ferry project for Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - State-guarantor Philippine Export-Import Credit Agency (PhilEXIM) has inaugurated a P135-million ferry project that is expected to make it easier and cheaper to commute between C...

Danga retires and can't be stopped from testifying in probe

MANILA, Philippines -- Vice Admiral Tirso Danga, one of the key figures in the 2005 "Hello Garci" wiretapping controversy, retired from the service Monday, and the military said it could no longer sto...

AFP scouring ranks for more 'coup plotters'

MANILA, Philippines -- The military is undertaking "follow up operations" to find if there are any other troops involved in an alleged new coup plot following the relief of six soldiers who had allege...

First Gentleman, Abalos probe sought at Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATE) First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos are facing investigation from the Ombudsman after a lawyer filed a request for th...

Impeachment raps filed vs Arroyo, Abalos in House

MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATE) An impeachment complaint has been filed at the House of Representatives against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos an...

President may pardon Estrada

A spokesman for Philippine president Gloria Arroyo says she's aiming to pardon and release convicted former leader Joseph Estrada by Christmas. Joseph Estrada says he'll reject any pardon deal that re...

Philippine president names new police chief

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday promoted Gen. Avelino Razon Jr to the top post of the Philippine National Police (PNP), local media reported. Razon, now the deputy director of t...

Make sure Filipino porn site stays shut down

Close this MANILA, Philippines -- Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to make sure the Filipino pornography website www.boybastos....

Arroyo regrets NBN, CyberEd projects' suspension--spokesman

MANILA, Philippines -- Echoing the sentiment of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regrets the suspension of the national broadband network and cyber education projects...

Arroyo's rating plunges amid NBN scandal--SWS survey

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's approval rating has plunged amid a kickbacks scandal involving an allegedly overpriced broadband contract with China, a survey showed Monday....

Puno to visit Estrada to present gov't pardon

MANILA, Philippines -- Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno will visit convicted former president Joseph Estrada at his rest house-cum-detention center in Tanay, Rizal, on Tuesday to present the government...

Esperon told not to link NBN deal to alleged destabilization

MANILA, Philippines - Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. must not blame the Senate investigation into the $329-million contract between the government and the Chinese company ZTE Corp. for the ...

Suspended Philippine telecom deal could hit China ties

The Philippine government's decision to suspend a major telecoms deal with China has weighed on ties with the economic giant and could sour investor confidence, analysts and officials said Monday. Pr...

President asks Neri to take US trip with her--reports

(UPDATE 2) MANILA, Philippines -- Romulo Neri, ex-economic planning secretary of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and a key resource person in the national broadband network contract between the gov...

Gov't barred from allowing genetically modified rice into RP

QUEZON CITY, Philippines -- The government has been stopped by a lower court from allowing a multinational company to import genetically modified rice. Under the law, Bayer Philippines Inc. is requir...

Philippine shares close slightly higher led by small caps, miners

MANILA (Thomson Financial) - Philippine shares closed slightly higher Monday led by gains in mining issues and other small caps but with most investors consolidating their positions after last week's ...

Philippine lawyers protest against rising violence in judicial circle

Members of at least 18 lawyers' organizations in the Philippines are protesting the surge of violent attacks on members of judiciary and the police's failure to curb murders of judges, the local newsp...

Philippines OKs 3 mln dollar loan to boost investment environment

The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank, approved in principle the 300-million-U.S. dollars Asian Development Bank loan for local government unit (LGU) programs, local ...

Spreading the 'butterfly effect'

MANILA, Philippines -- Congratulations for featuring in your Metro section articles on climate change, global warming, healing the earth, solid waste management and the "Trees for Life" program activi...

RM awardee in medical science

MANILA, Philippines -- The late National Scientist Juan Salcedo was born on Sept. 23, 1904, in Pasay City. He is known for launching rice rich in thiamine or Vitamin B1 to prevent beriberi, which used...

Education chief welcomes Cyber-Ed suspension

EDUCATION Secretary Jesli Lapus welcomed the suspension of the US$400 million Cyber Education Project (CEP) but stressed he felt sorry for the students who will benefit from the program and said it wo...

Continuance of deployment ban in Iraq proposed

THE Presidential Middle East Preparedness Committee (PMEPC) recommended not to lift the deployment ban in Iraq due to still unstable "situation" there.In a report submitted to President Gloria Macapag...

Rules for writ of amparo out by Oct. 24--Supreme Court

Supreme Court subcommittee has finished drafting the rules on issuance of the writ of amparo to compel authorities to act on enforced disappearances. The Supreme Court en banc was set to discuss the ...

Court says 2 dismissed local officials may continue works

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has ruled that the respective administrative liabilities of two elected officials in Metro Manila, who were both dismissed from service by the Office of the Ombudsman, have b...

Arroyo set to leave for New York for UN meet

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will leave for New York on Tuesday night to attend the 62nd United Nations (UN) General Assembly, meet with US business groups and the Filipino community, and watch a...

675 child rights advocates to tackle abuse, neglect in forum

MANILA, Philippines--With widespread international support, Manila will host the largest regional child protection conference that will gather together close to 700 child advocates from around the wor...

Defense chief wants to revive ROTC

MANILA, Philippines--Citing the "degradation" of the military's reserve force and its "serious" consequences, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. has proposed the reimposition of a mandatory Reser...

Give it a second look, Cyber Ed proponent urges the public

MANILA, Philippines--The country's former top spy, retired Brig. Gen. Victor N. Corpus, is unhappy that his brainchild, the Cyber Education Project (CEP), has been suspended by President Gloria Macapa...

Defense plan on internal threats to be reviewed

MANILA, Philippines--Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. has ordered a review, and possible revision, of the Defense Planning Guidance -- a set of military guidelines regularly updated and prepare...

'Broadband' rock group makes 'debut'

The name of the group is a dead giveaway, and so is the date: The Senate resumes its investigation of the National Broadband Network project on Wednesday.

Growing dependence on China

(Conclusion) The Philippines started official trade with modern China on June 9, 1975, but the pace stepped up in 2000, when the two trading partners signed the Joint Statement on the Framew...

31 Fraport officials charged

A FRAPORT stockholder has filed charges in Frankfurt against 31 executives of that company in connection with the mothballed Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), a press ...

North Luzon military chief conducts loyalty check

By Anthony Vargas, Reporter Amid recent reports of a coup threat, the military commander in Northern Luzon is going around to inspect his troops and conducting what appears like a loyalty ch...

China's ZTE confident on Manila telecoms deal probe

MANILA, Philippines--Chinese telecoms equipment maker ZTE Corp said it was disappointed with the Philippines' decision to suspend a $330 million telecoms deal at the center of a political scandal but ...

Wait until judicial process ends

MANILA, Philippines--Former president Fidel Ramos said on Sunday it was "premature" for Malacañang to discuss the possibility of granting executive clemency to deposed president Joseph Estrada ...

Marriage breakups rising among Filipinos, reports bishop

website , said children were usually the victims of these failed unions, which he attributed to distorted values and a downgraded view of marriage in this predominantly Catholic country. It was unfor...

NBN deal may be revived, says Palace official

CEBU CITY, Philippines--A Cebuano Cabinet official has said that the recently suspended National Broadband Network project could be revived, should it become acceptable to the public after a discussio...

Arroyo mulled NBN deal's cancellation in early Sept--solon

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has long been contemplating the cancellation of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and Cyber Education projects even before her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, was imp...

Two policemen hurt in communist rebel attack in Philippines

Manila - Two policemen were injured when communist rebels raided their station in a southern Philippine town on Sunday and took away several firearms, a police official said. The rebels attacked the p...

Extra troops in Manila amid coup fears

Manila The Philippine military has drafted extra troops into the capital Manila after reporting fresh plots aimed at President Gloria Arroyo, officials said yesterday.

Doctors urge higher health care budget since economy's up

MANILA, Philippines -- Despite recent economic gains, the government's budget for health care is still far from the international standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), according to a n...

More oil firms hike fuel prices

MANILA, Philippines -- Three more oil firms jacked up the pump prices of their gasoline, diesel and kerosene by 50 centavos a liter yesterday as world oil prices continued to escalate. Total (Philipp...

Marine biologist keeps 'little trees' in backyard nursery

MANILA, Philippines -- DURING OFFICE HOURS, the tall, bearded professor of marine biology spends most of his time studying coral reefs and giant clams. In his spare time, however, Dr. Edgardo Gomez p...

A night of song and 100 fingers on the keyboard

MANILA, Philippines -- Long before television sets or karaoke machines were invented, entertainment for some Filipinos, particularly among well-to-do families, meant gathering around the piano and sin...

Australia denies wanting to join Filipino monitoring team

Australia has denied claims by the Philippines rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that it wants to participate in the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team stationed in the souther...

Defense chief vows improvement on education of junior officers

DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the defense establishment is instituting a program for the improvement of the quality of education of junior military officers to sustain reforms and profession...

Tainted toys bring about mixed reactions

Camille Baleros talked with The Manila Times as she was doing some early Christmas shopping for toys in Divisoria. Baleros, a laundry woman with five kids, said she does not mind whether the toy...

My son is an 'agent of the Lord'

Close this MANILA, Philippines--Jose "Joey" De Venecia III may have been derided as the ex-junkie who threw a monkey wrench in China's plan to help the Philippines put up a national broadband...

Suspension of NBN deal has no effect on SC case--spokesman

MANILA, Philippines--The suspension by the executive branch of the National Broadband Network (NBN) contract with the Chinese telecommunication company ZTE will not have any effect on a petition curre...

Economic power shifting to China from the West

HONG KONG: The former president of the World Bank said rich countries were ill prepared to deal with the "tectonic shift" in economic power toward developing nations, in particular to India and ...

Mattel says design flaws caused recall, apologizes

BEIJING: American toy giant Mattel issued a startling apology to China Friday, saying the vast majority of recent recalls of Chinese-made products were due to design flaws it had committed itsel...

Purchase of military hardware for Air Force, Navy prioritized

DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. vowed to give priority to the acquisition of military hardware for the Air Force and the Navy to address certain concerns, including the entry of terrorists thro...

2 China deals halted

President Gloria Arroyo on Saturday announced the suspension of two controversial contracts with China amid allegations that they were tainted with corruption.

Philippine Rice Research Institute uses DNA marker-assisted selection to develop flood-tolerant rice

SEAMEO SEARCA By Carlos D. Marquez Jr. Correspondent A new rice variety, developed by a leading rice-research agency in Asia, for flooded, low-lying fields promises not only of enduring flood wa...

Court halts introduction of GM rice in the Philippines

SciDev.Net A Philippine court has temporarily halted an application to bring genetically modified (GM) rice to the country, pending a study of possible health and environmental effects. A temp...

Health budget far from WHO standards--doctors' group

MANILA, Philippines--Despite recent economic gains, the government's budget for health care is still far from the international standards set by the World Health Organization, according to a nongovern...

NBN deal's suspension should calm down passions--Palace exec

MANILA, Philippines--President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's decision to suspend implementation of the national broadband network (NBN) deal with the Chinese company ZTE Corp. was aimed at defusing the po...

Philippine army prepares to try soldiers for murder

MANILA – The Philippine military is preparing to try at least 13 soldiers for their alleged role in the murder of left-wing activists, the first cases to be brought before new tribunals set up t...

Fate of NBN deal rests with Supreme Court--ZTE exec

MANILA, Philippines--The fate of the $329-million deal for ZTE Corp. to build a National Broadband Network now must be taken up in the Supreme Court following a government announcement indefinitely su...

ZTE, Cyber Ed deals with China suspended

Close this MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 3) The controversial $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal with the Chinese company, ZTE Corp., has been "indefinitely" suspended, Trade...

Neri says he's been given additional security

View the NBN contract and related documents MANILA, Philippines -- Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairman Romulo Neri has received added security ahead of his testimony at the Senate next wee...

2 men nabbed in QC for selling stolen vehicle side mirrors

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested two men, believed to be members of a syndicate, for allegedly possessing and selling stolen side mirrors in Quezon City Thursday afternoon. Jojo Esguerra, 31, an...

Luli opens floodgates to counter-attack

Close this MANILA, Philippines -- For the first time, the usually low-profile Luli Arroyo, the President and Mike Arroyo's only daughter, became abrasive in public. She accused Jose "Joey" d...

QC terminals offer cheaper food items

MANILA, Philippines - Some 2,000 families in Quezon City will soon have better access to basic food items such as rice, fish and meat, priced at least 10 percent lower than those sold in retail market...

Delgados seek reinstatement of charges vs Gonzalez

MANILA, Philippines - The family of slain businessman Federico Delgado is seeking the reversal of a prosecutor's decision to drop murder and frustrated murder complaints against businessman Luis Gonza...

New police chief starts work Sept. 24 with Manila's Finest

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales bade farewell "with a heavy heart" yesterday to the Southern Police District and prepared to take over Manila's Finest on Monday. Rosales, who was na...

3 hijacking suspects killed

Close this MANILA, Philippines - Three suspected hijackers were killed in a pre-dawn shootout yesterday with police operatives in Caloocan City. Chief Supt. Pedro Tango of the Northern Polic...

Philippine censors ban films on rights violations

manila The Philippines' censors' board has banned the showing of a series of short films on alleged human rights violations under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a sister of a missing activist sa...

US gives CIDG advanced forensic equipment

MANILA, Philippines -- The police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Friday received some P50-million worth of computers for forensic work from the United States government. Thomas de Triq...

Six junior Philippine officers sacked for alleged coup recruitment

The Philippine military on Friday sacked six junior officers for allegedly recruiting troops for a coup plot against the Arroyo administration. Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. ...

RP 2nd fastest-growing broadband market

THE PHILIPPINES was the second fastest-growing market for broadband worldwide in 2006, according to a study by UK-based research and consultancy firm Ovum.

Suspended broadband network deal could hit RP-China ties

The government's decision to suspend a major telecoms deal with China has weighed on ties with the economic giant and could sour investor confidence, analysts and officials said yesterday.

Philippine Silicon Valley: Software radio, new tech and Tech Boot Camp

With all the technology advances in mobile wireless technology, like computer and multimedia technology built into cellphones, one thing that is still missing, is seamless roaming among various standards.

Test Drive: Cool on warm palms: Samsung SGH-Z720

SAMSUNG�S THINNEST HSDPA slider phone to date, the Z720 is the coolest 3G-enabled phone one can hold in his palm lately. As part of the Ultra Edition thin line of Samsung, it is sleek at 13.8 mm yet powerful enough for some mobile needs you can hardly do without these days.

ZTE contract suspension 'not enough'

BUSINESS GROUPS are divided over the government's decision
to suspend its $329-million broadband network deal with Chinese firm ZTE
Corp.

Arroyo allows Cabinet officials to testify in Senate hearing

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has finally allowed Cabinet officials involved in the $329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) contract between the government and China's ZTE Corp. to attend a Senate hearing today, fighting to contain the fallout from the kickback scandal.

Microsoft partner builds training centers in Mindanao

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - A Manila-based training firm is
pushing certified Information Technology training in key regional
centers around the country in a bid to upgrade the Philippines'
readiness to compete in the global information technology (IT) industry.

Headline: Special deposit tweaks unlikely

PUBLIC SATISFACTION with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has fallen back into negative territory, a new Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

Corporate News: ABS-CBN buys part of cable firm's debts

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. (ABS-CBN), the publicly listed television network of the Lopez group, has purchased P1.8 billion worth of Central CATV, Inc.'s debt.

Banking & Finance: Gov't sells P3.42B of T-bills

RATES OF THE three-month and six-month Treasury bills dropped at yesterday's auction following the US Federal Reserve's 50-basis point interest rate cut last week.

Stock Market: Composite index flat in sluggish trading

SHARE PRICES CLOSED slightly higher in listless trading led by smaller mining shares. Investors seemed to be waiting for fresh clues about stock market prospects from Wall Street after last week's surprisingly bold cut in US interest rates, dealers said.

The Economy: Gov't gets P158-B investment commitments in eight months

THE COUNTRY'S two top investment promotion agencies reported a 26% year-on-year surge in investment commitments to P158 billion from January to August, data from the Board of Investments (BoI) showed.

The Nation: Suspended broadband network deal could hit RP-China ties

THE GOVERNMENT'S decision to suspend a major telecoms deal with China has weighed on ties with the economic giant and could sour investor confidence, analysts and officials said yesterday.

IT Matters: Software radio, new tech and Tech Boot Camp

Cabinet men still barred from Senate wiretap probe

Malacañang on Tuesday said the go-signal for Cabinet members to attend the Senate hearing on the $329.4-million ZTE deal does not apply to the chamber's probe into the "Hello, Garci" scanda...

Expect rains, RP in early phase of La Ni a

Oceanic and atmospheric conditions in the Philippines indicate the early phase of a weak La Niña event that may last until early 2008, state weather forecasters said Tuesday. The Philippine ...

Suspension no threat to RP-Sino ties, says Favila

View the NBN contract and related documents MANILA, Philippines -- Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila Monday said he had agreed with his Chinese counterpart that the suspension of ZTE Corp.'s contract t...

Neri to testify at Senate Wednesday

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) when the NBN project was approved. NEDA reviews proposed government projects. "If Neri allows himself to be silenced by the President, he can't blam...

Lawyer asks Ombudsman to investigate Arroyo hubby

View the NBN contract and related documents MANILA, Philippines -- A controversial lawyer associated with high profile lost causes yesterday asked the Ombudsman to investigate President Gloria Macap...

Gov't places more China deals on hold

Department of Agriculture . Sen. Edgardo Angara, chair of the agriculture committee, welcomed Yap's move, considering that the land deals with Chinese investors had raised protests from critics who l...

Murder, Inc. 'plays big role for Letran'

MANILA, Philippines -- Defending champion San Beda College is the prohibitive favorite over Colegio San Juan de Letran in Wednesday's Game 2 of the NCAA senior basketball best-of-three title series at...

Norman Hsu, Mystery Man; Black men to patrol Philadelphia; Former Philippine President Estrada considers pardon

Philadelphia Tribune reports on the recruitment of blacks and other male residents to patrol Philadelphia's deadly streets, and Regina Reyes - ABS-CBN North America News Bureau Chief,

P40M being spent for Expo Pilipino

CLARK FREEPORT--The mammoth yet idle government asset that is the P3-billion Expo Pilipino here has finally gotten a new lease on life. Breathing a fresh start to the 60-hectare park is the governmen...

Tierro, Arcilla complete Davis Cup rout

Arroyo execs continue word war on SCTEx

CLARK FREEPORT--Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan said Bases Conversion Development Authority president Narciso Abaya should give advice rather than merely follow the order of President Macapagal-Arroyo on ...

Razon named national police chief

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday announced the appointment of Deputy Director General Avelino Razon as the next chief of the 125,000-strong

Bolinao beach clean again after 5 years

BOLINAO, PANGASINAN--More than five years after a massive fish kill hit this town and rendered the Guiguiwanen beach unfit for swimming, the water in the seaside village is clear again, residents and ...

Land feud seen cause of clash with MILF men

COTABATO CITY--A land dispute involving members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao was the culprit behind clashes with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF...

Rights of drug suspects violated, court says

(Last of two parts) BAGUIO CITY--Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. said that with the implementation of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), the Philippines now had the b...

Fakes costing RP billions of pesos a year, says exec

ILOILO CITY--The country has incurred revenue losses running to billions of pesos due to the entry of counterfeit goods in the market, said Adrian Cristobal, director general of Intellectual Property ...

Estrada could get to keep P1B of ill-gotten assets

Close this AN ABSOLUTE pardon means the government will no longer confiscate P1 billion in ill-gained assets that deposed President Joseph Estrada had allegedly acquired and that the Sandigan...

Lyceum, St. Benilde cagebelles forge title duel

MANILA, Philippines -- Defending champion Lyceum of the Philippines and College of St. Benilde overwhelmed their respective semifinal foes Saturday to forge a rematch of last year's title duel in the ...

Valle-Millares takes 10-ball crown

MANILA, Philippines -- Gandy Valle and Jay Jay Millares were both excellent and lucky late Friday as the two billiards warriors claimed the inaugural San Miguel Corp. Scotch Doubles 10-ball crown over...

Mamiit-Taino powers RP to victory, Group 1 slot

Close this KUWAIT CITY--The Philippines left the tennis community here shocked and wed as Cecil Mamiit rose from his sickbed and teamed up with Eric Taino to complete the annihilation of Kuwa...

Lapid's comeback in Pampanga seen via SCTEx interchange

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- Watch out for "Ang Pagbabalik ni Leon Guerrero (The Return of Leon Guerrero)." That's no remake of actor-turned-senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid's action movie in the 198...

Jueteng return in Cavite feared with lottery OK

CAMP VICENTE LIM, LAGUNA -- Police officials here warned that the organized illegal numbers racket might be resurrected in Cavite after a company reportedly owned by controversial casino patron Charli...

Banana firms lose in pesticide ban case

DAVAO CITY -- A local court has trashed the petition of banana companies to stop the implementation of the ordinance banning aerial spraying of pesticides in plantations. In a decision dated Sept. 22...

SC Justice Ynares-Santiago denies pocketing P10-M payoff

Supreme Court Associate Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago on Monday denied claims that she accepted a P10-million payoff that was allegedly discovered by her secretary several months ago. In a state...

Arroyo eyes local telcos for NBN, CyberEd projects

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo may tap local telecommunications companies for the government's National Broadband Network (NBN) and Cyber Education (CyberEd) projects, after she ordered the suspens...

Stop recruiting tribal folk, bishops tell gov't, communists

SC to investigate bribery allegations vs one of its justices

Bishop scores NPA, military for recruiting tribesmen

A ranking member of the Catholic Church on Monday scolded the military and the New People's Army (NPA) for allegedly recruiting into their ranks local tribesmen or indigenous peoples (IPs). Laoag B...

Arroyo instructs Neri to stay, testify on NBN deal with ZTE

(Update 2, 8:20 p.m.) President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has instructed Romulo Neri, chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, to stay behind and attend Wednesday's Senate hearing on the cont...

Senators welcome Neri's decision to attend Senate hearing

Fish disappear from stressed Philippine coral reefs

Ex-Ombudsman opposes absolute pardon for 'arrogant' Estrada

Politicians cannot stop CyberEd

EDSA 2 forces vow to nail Arroyo for plunder

Court junks Mike Arroyo libel case vs Newsbreak contributor

The Manila Regional Trial Court has dismissed a three-year-old libel suit filed by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo against a Newsbreak contributor, citing the failure of the prosecution to prove it...

Body of 'girl in suitcase' exhumed; tests to take 2 months

The forensic reexamination on the body believed to be that of seven-year-old Geraldine Palma may take two months, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Monday. Renato Bautista, NBI medico...

Brace for wetter, colder weather brought by La Ni a

Senate to subpoena Neri to attend NBN probe next week

Danga retires and can't be stopped from testifying in probe

Bunye says Neri included in Arroyo trip to New York

Presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye on Monday confirmed that Commission on Higher Education chairman Romulo Neri is included in the list of delegates going with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo t...

Palace move to bring Neri to US 'insidious' -- solons

Murder suspect who escaped from Cebu jail rearrested

CEBU CITY, Philippines -- Police have arrested a provincial jail inmate who escaped last March 3 after a neighbor reported he was hiding at his parents' house in Cebu province's Carcar town. Senior S...

'Political noise' made me suspend project with ZTE

(Update 5:40 p.m.) President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday said "political noise" prompted her to order the indefinite suspension of the $329.4 million National Broadband Network (NBN) project wit...

Cordial encounter as Speaker sees Arroyo off to Iligan

Doc rules out 'rape by penetration' in Palma case

The body believed to be that of Geraldine Palma has an intact hymen, ruling out the possibility of rape by penetration, Dr Renato Bautista, head of the National Bureau of Investigation's medico-le...

AFP scouring ranks for more 'coup plotters'

Journalists score 'robbery' inside AFP press office

Journalists covering Camp Aguinaldo on Monday scored the stealing of three CPUs (central processing units) of computers inside the Defense Press Corps office, saying the stolen units contain "sensitiv...

First Gentleman, Abalos probe sought at Ombudsman

Impeachment raps filed vs Arroyo, Abalos in House

Roxas files resolution for ZTE deal cancellation

Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas II has introduced a resolution urging President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to cancel the Philippine government's National Broadband Network (NBN) project with China's Z...

Formoso affirms stance on validity of ZTE deal

Department of Telecommunication and Communication (DOTC) assistant secretary Lorenzo Formoso III said he remains firm on the validity and benefits of the government's $329.48 million contract with...

Make sure Filipino porn site stays shut down

Close this MANILA, Philippines -- Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to make sure the Filipino pornography website www.boybastos....

Lone thief breaks into BPI branch in Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines -- What is believed to have been a lone thief broke into the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) branch in the North Reclamation Area, Cebu City and carted away P140,000 in off...

Erap spokesman confirms pardon meet with Arroyo adviser

The negotiations for granting absolute pardon to former President Joseph Estrada will push through on Wednesday, radio dzBB said on Monday quoting Cagayan De Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, the ousted leade...

Arroyo's rating plunges amid NBN scandal--SWS survey

Puno to visit Estrada to present gov't pardon

Esperon told not to link NBN deal to alleged destabilization

Suspended Philippine telecom deal could hit China ties

Robbers take CPUs from Camp Aguinaldo press office

Three central processing units (CPU) of computers used by reporters covering the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines were stolen inside the press office located just bes...

Neri still 'missing,' skips CHED flag ceremony

Chairman Romulo Neri skipped Monday's flag raising ceremony at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) two days ahead of the upcoming Senate hearing into the suspended deal with China's ZTE ...

President asks Neri to take US trip with her--reports

Gov't barred from allowing genetically modified rice into RP

Philippine shares close slightly higher led by small caps, miners

Philippines OKs 3 mln dollar loan to boost investment environment

Philippine lawyers protest against rising violence in judicial circle

ZTE deal suspended even after TRO lifting - DOTC

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the controversial $329.4-million deal with China's ZTE Corp. will remain frozen even after the Supreme Court lifts the temporary restraining order (TR...

Macapagal halts Chinese deal

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippines president, has ordered the suspension of a $330m ( 234m, 163m) telecoms deal with a Chinese company at the centre of a Senate probe into corruption allegat...

Turtle Island about to be destroyed, say execs

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Local officials of the Turtle Island in Tawi-Tawi province, a protected area and home to giant leatherback turtles, fear that the island is on the verge of devastation due to foreign...

Lapu-Lapu City mayor, 18 others face graft charges

CEBU CITY -- Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza and 18 other officials are facing graft charges for their alleged involvement in the purchase and overprice of 470 computers worth P23 million in 2005. ...

Love for kids spells success for model teacher

Just doing the job When her co-teacher informed her that she won and her name was in the newspaper, Rivera just could not believe it would happen. "I was shocked and felt it was another joke [becaus...

High dismissal rate of cases traced to law weakness

BAGUIO CITY -- In 2005, Samsodin Dianalan, then 21, was arrested for allegedly selling 4.7 grams of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth P500 to an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agen...

Pay P8-M uncollected quarry taxes

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- The Commission on Audit has required a former treasurer of Pampanga to pay the provincial government P8,124,826.51 in quarry taxes which he failed to collect in 1997 ...

Arroyo satisfaction rating at -11, lowest this year - SWS

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's satisfaction rating has fallen back into "negative territory," slipping to -11, the lowest so far this year. The figure was lower than her -4 in February and -3...

Ateneo knocks out defending champion UST

GAME THURSDAY (Araneta Coliseum) 3 p.m. -- La Salle vs Ateneo MANILA, Philippines -- The squad that reduced them to tears last season ended up on the weeping -- and whipping -- end of things Sunday. ...

Easy does it for Ballester, Tolentino

SAN PABLO CITY -- Veterans Allan Ballester and Ailene Tolentino topped the 21-kilometer qualifying race of the 31st Milo Marathon with a flourish here yesterday and sounded out their serious bids for ...

Montilla stars as greenhorn UCN Dragons destroy Doves

MANILA, Philippines -- League newcomer Universal College of Nursing turned to Mac Montilla in the endgame to score its first victory in the sixth Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) ...

Typhoon Pacquiao back with renewed fury

Close this LOS ANGELES -- He looked perfectly fine, ready to rumble. But it did not come as a surprise when Manny Pacquiao, who slept practically through the entire Manila-LAX flight Saturday...

Heart Center chief not off the hook

Philippine Heart Center Director Ludgerio Torres off the hook just yet. In a 21-page petition, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has asked the Sandiganbayan First Division to reverse its resolutio...

Arroyo tactic to avoid fighting on 2 fronts miscarries

THE ADMINISTRATION of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has suspended the $329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) project with China's ZTE Corp. in an attempt to contain the damage of an escalat...

4 Filipino jins join Olympic qualiying tilt

MANILA, Philippines -- Four members of the Smart-Petron national taekwondo team will shoot for slots in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games when they see action in the world qualification tournament on Sep...

Edita Burgos takes case to UN

Mrs. Edith Burgos files her complaint at the Palais de Wilson office of the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance (UN WGEID). PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

ZTE denies causing trouble around globe

ZTE CORP. lamented that during the Senate hearing last week on the National Broadband Network (NBN) project, the company was "again wrongly accused of causing so-called troubles in other countries aro...

Lapus rues suspension of Cyber Ed

EDUCATION Secretary Jesli Lapus on Sunday lamented the suspension of the Cyber Education Project (CEP), along with the controversial National Broadband Network (NBN) deal, saying he felt sorry for the...

Daring Air Force rainmaker wins award

FLYING is risky, but it is riskier to pilot a light, poorly equipped plane through dark, turbulent clouds to disperse rain-inducing salt crystals. For the past four years, Capt. Giemel Espino has bee...

Senators lose contact with Neri

With two days to go before they resume their hearings on the matter, senators have lost contact with a key official in the $329.4-million broadband deal with ZTE Corp of China. Senate President Man...

Rules for writ of amparo out by Oct. 24--Supreme Court

675 child rights advocates to tackle abuse, neglect in forum

Defense chief wants to revive ROTC

Give it a second look, Cyber Ed proponent urges the public

Defense plan on internal threats to be reviewed

Palace pardon offer for Estrada premature - FVR

Former president Fidel V. Ramos on Sunday criticized the Arroyo administration's planned move to offer pardon to plunder convict former president Joseph Estrada. Ramos said that under the law, ...

North Luzon military chief conducts loyalty check

By Anthony Vargas, Reporter Amid recent reports of a coup threat, the military commander in Northern Luzon is going around to inspect his troops and conducting what appears like a loyalty ch...

Wait until judicial process ends

MANILA, Philippines--Former president Fidel Ramos said on Sunday it was "premature" for Malacañang to discuss the possibility of granting executive clemency to deposed president Joseph Estrada ...

House to proceed with own probe on broadband deal

MANILA, Philippines--Despite Malacañang's suspension of the $329-million National Broadband (NBN) deal, the House of Representatives is proceeding with its investigation into the scandal. The ...

Marriage breakups rising among Filipinos, reports bishop

Name names, Suplico dares Arroyo on destab plot claims

Former congressman and now Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico on Sunday challenged the Arroyo administration to name the people behind the alleged fresh destabilization plot as he warned against using...

Purefoods opens first Outbox franchise at Ateneo de Davao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines--San Miguel Purefoods Co. has opened its first Outbox franchise store at the Ateneo de Davao University-College campus here. Necel Jean Marquez, SMC Mindanao fast foods operat...

No typhoon, just monsoon behind rains - Pagasa

No typhoon, it's just the monsoon. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Sunday that the heavy rains in Metro Manila stemmed from the southwe...

Court upholds Davao City ban on banana aerial spraying

DAVAO CITY, Philippines -- A local court has trashed the petition of banana companies to stop the enforcement of the ordinance banning aerial spraying of pesticides in plantations. In a decision date...

NBN deal may be revived, says Palace official

Mother and daughter are out to Help

The grand launch of Health, Education, Livelihood Program, as in Help, a joint project of that attractive mother-and-daughter team, Baby Arenas and Rachel, plus the birthday celebration of Baby A, the ever generous, golden-hearted philanthropist.

Gentle care for baby skin

MANILA, Philippines--Baby skin may always seem soft and smooth. But it is also extremely sensitive, vulnerable to dryness and irritation.

Get a grip

MANILA, Philippines—When you are doing nothing, feeling nothing, finding yourself at your wit’s end, and snapping at anyone or anything that comes your way, it is time to get a grip on yourself.

ET is here

MANILA, Philippines--Many books have been written espousing the idea that extra-terrestrials (ETs) have been with us for millions of years.

Macau’s different realities

MANILA, Philippines - Macau is a place of many contradictory realities, all happening simultaneously and almost independently of each other.

Passion and the search for happiness

MANILA, Philippines – The pursuit of happiness is a lifelong search. The journey is made worthwhile by memorable experiences and friendships made along the way. Along the way, those who find enlightenment often agree that the challenge is not about acquiring the most assets but about finding passion in everyday life.

Is it time to say goodbye?

MANILA, Philippines – Dear Emily, I met Jon in 2001. We worked in the same company.

Patroness of Vietnamese Christians

MANILA, Philippines - La Vang is a fern that grows deep in the forest in central Vietnam where the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared in 1798 to Vietnamese Christians when they were being persecuted.

Photography goes digital

MANILA, Philippines—For 175 years, photography has been synonymous to a light-sensitive emulsion developed in chemicals. Now, the medium is catching up with digital technology.

Good service

MANILA, Philippines—My 84-year-old father went to the AFPSLAI Bank this week to get his monthly pension as a retired army officer. The teller demanded documents to prove that my dad was not one of the so-called “ghost” pensioners.

Money cannot buy happiness

MANILA, Philippines—Lottery fans, take note: according to recent studies, money cannot buy happiness. True, winning a big sum make us euphoric at first, but this quickly diminishes to ordinary levels once we adjust to our new status.

When protein spills in the urine

MANILA, Philippines—A middle-age patient recently came to consult us at the Manila Doctors Hospital showing the results of his laboratory tests, done as part of their office’s annual checkup.

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