By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has tested positive for COVID-19 but vows to fulfill his duties and responsibilities during his five-day isolation.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), doctors have advised Marcos to undergo mandatory five-day isolation.
“The President remains fit to carry out his duties and will continue his scheduled meetings via teleconference. Updates on his health will be provided as available,” PCO stated.
The President also urged Filipinos to take precautions to safeguard their health, such as getting vaccinated and wearing face masks in crowded places.
This marks the third time that Marcos has tested positive for COVID-19. He first contracted the virus in 2020 and again in 2022.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippines has recorded 1,340 new coronavirus cases from November 28 to December 4, 2023.
(AI/MNM)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has extended the term of Philippine National Police Chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. until March 31, 2024, Malacañang announced on Monday (04 Dec 2023).
“I wish to inform you that, according to the provisions of existing laws, your service as Chief (Police General), Philippine National Police, is hereby extended until March 31, 2024,” read a letter sent by Marcos to Acorda.
Acorda celebrated his 56th birthday on Sunday, December 3, reaching the mandatory retirement age for PNP personnel. Marcos appointed him as PNP chief on April 24, 2023.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abajos Jr. was also notified in a transmittal letter dated December 1, 2023, and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, regarding Acorda’s extension of service.
The PNP operates as an attached agency of the DILG.
Acorda, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Sambisig Class of 1991, has dedicated nearly 37 years of service to the PNP. He previously served as the director of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence before assuming the role of PNP Chief.
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By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is anticipated to grant pardons to almost 1,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) this Christmas season, according to Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano on Friday (01 Dec 2023).
“This granting of pardon occurs annually, typically coinciding with the President’s birthday and Christmas. We compile a list for the Parole and Probation Administration, which is then forwarded to the Executive Secretary,” explained Clavano.
He mentioned that they expect a similar number of recipients as last year, nearly 1,000 PDLs.
While Clavano couldn’t confirm the exact number, he emphasized that there is no specific priority list.
“Qualification is the key factor. Whether a person qualifies for pardon, parole, or probation, those are the criteria for inclusion. We do not prioritize individuals; it’s about their eligibility.”
Clavano further clarified, “We consider factors such as age, disabilities, or severe illness. Elderly individuals or those with health issues are eligible for a pardon, as detaining them would lack humanitarian considerations and be detrimental to their well-being.”
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CLIMATE ADAPTATION. Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda (right) receives the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the ceremonial turnover of a PHP118.86 million grant, at the President’s Hall of Malacañan Palace in Manila on Wednesday (Nov. 29, 2023). In a statement, Agda pledged to use the fund to address the city’s flooding problem. (Photo courtesy of Borongan City government)
MANILA — In a significant step towards fortifying its resilience against floods, Borongan City is set to utilize the P118.86 million grant received from the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) for comprehensive flood control measures and supporting reforestation initiatives.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally led the turnover of the financial grant to Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda in a ceremony held at Malacañang Palace on Wednesday (29 Nov 2023).
The allocated funds are earmarked for the “Reinforcement of Lo-om River Flood Protection System and Redevelopment for Resilient Communities and Livelihood” project, a proposal presented by the city government to the PSF in July. The project aims to enhance flood control measures along the Lo-om River and contribute to reforestation efforts in the region.
Borongan City Mayor Agda expressed gratitude for the approval and subsequent turnover of the fund, emphasizing its pivotal role in advancing the city’s resilience in the face of environmental challenges, particularly floods.
Prior to approval, the city’s proposal underwent meticulous assessments by the PSF board secretariat and board member agencies to ensure alignment with climate-responsive standards. Witnessing the ceremonial turnover were notable figures including Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Climate Change Commission Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera.
Established by Republic Act 10174, the PSF aims to provide financial support to local government units for implementing climate change adaptation projects. Borongan City’s strategic allocation of these funds reflects a proactive approach to address environmental concerns and enhance the overall well-being of its communities.
(I Am/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa expressed the need to be prepared after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. mentioned that the government is exploring the possibility of the Philippines rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“I feel I should be ready for any eventuality because the political situation in the Philippines is very fluid. So I have to be prepared—ready to react, ready to speak, ready to sing, ready to dance. Just ready for whatever comes our way,” Dela Rosa stated.
The former Philippine National Police chief affirmed his readiness to face the Philippine court.
“If it’s a foreign body, I am not willing, but it’s not an indication that I’ll abandon you. You might say, ‘Bato is going to run away.’ I won’t leave. If our court says, ‘Bato, face this, come to us,’ then I will face it,” he asserted.
Dela Rosa, who served as the PNP chief during the implementation of the war on drugs under former President Rodrigo Duterte, remains confident about navigating through the ICC probe into matters related to the war on drugs.
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By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has indicated that the potential return of the Philippines to the International Criminal Court (ICC) is currently under consideration.
“Should we return under the fold of the ICC? So that is again under study. So we’ll just keep looking at it and see what our options are,” Marcos stated.
This was Marcos’s response to questions regarding the request of House members for the government to cooperate with the ICC’s investigation into the war on drugs.
“They (lawmakers) are just expressing or manifesting the sense of the House that perhaps it is time to allow or to cooperate with the ICC investigations,” Marcos explained.
Three years prior to the resumption of the drug war investigation, the Philippines withdrew from the International Criminal Court in 2019.
“If you are talking about the jurisdiction of the ICC, especially since we withdrew from the Rome Statute a few years back, that brings into question whether or not this is actually possible,” Marcos remarked.
However, he emphasized that foreign entities have no right to decide who should be investigated or arrested.
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By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies to accelerate the distribution of relief goods and assistance to the victims of the floods in Northern and Eastern Samar.
During his visit to the province, Marcos met with officials to oversee the situation and the government’s preparations.
In a briefing, Marcos emphasized that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) should ensure all roads are passable, facilitating the swift distribution of food packs and relief goods to flood victims.
“Once the public works teams can access the area, immediate repairs should be conducted to allow larger vehicles to enter. Once the roads are passable, all efforts can be focused on necessary repairs,” stated Marcos on Thursday morning.
“We are doing everything we can, but we need to collaborate with those in evacuation centers and even those still in their homes. We must ensure they receive the necessary food packs and an adequate water supply,” added the President.
Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that they have prepared over 100,000 food packs for distribution to affected families in Eastern and Northern Samar.
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By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday said her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio maintain an amicable relationship.
“In my opinion, between my brother, myself, our president, and our vice president, I believe things are in order. The challenge lies in external disruptions,” she commented.
“The key figures—my brother, myself, VP Sara Duterte, and PRRD (former President Rodrigo Duterte)—I think are not problematic. It’s others who are causing disturbances. I don’t know,” Marcos added.
Addressing Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment allegations, the senator emphasized the need to prioritize other pressing issues in the country.
“I hope they have compassion for the Philippines,” Marcos expressed.
“We have numerous problems. Have mercy on the administration, have mercy on Filipinos struggling to afford sufficient food, and dealing with high costs, especially as Christmas approaches. Let’s be ashamed as Filipinos,” she added.
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By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has called on government agencies to stay alert for potential aftershocks following the recent 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Davao Occidental.
Marcos emphasized the importance of ongoing vigilance, noting that casualties can occur in the aftermath of the initial earthquake.
“You seem to have things well in hand. Let’s just remain vigilant. Let’s keep watching. We must pay attention to aftershocks because sometimes casualties happen during aftershocks,” Marcos stated during a meeting with government officials.
The President directed government officials to continue relief operations for affected families.
Additionally, Marcos issued orders to safeguard citizens in earthquake-affected areas, highlighting concerns about the spread of “fake news” regarding a potential tsunami. He emphasized the need for increased vigilance, stating, “Actually, that’s a valid concern during earthquakes. If there was going to be any movement from the sea, it would have happened already because the epicenter is not far. It’s very close.”
“About aftershocks, let’s keep watching. Let’s keep waiting. Let’s not pull our people out just yet until things subside, to ensure that no one gets injured or loses their life,” the Chief Executive added.
Present during the meeting were Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Social Welfare Undersecretary Edu Punay, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, and other government officials.
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By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has addressed the rumors surrounding the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, clarifying that he and his allies are not pursuing such actions.
Marcos dismissed the allegations, stating, “Lahat naman kami merong ganyan [‘yung impeachment rumors]. There will always be an element that will want to change the results of an election. Of course, binabantayan namin ng mabuti because we don’t want her to be impeached. She does not deserve to be impeached,” Marcos said.
He emphasized that the rumors are part of a broader trend of attempting to overturn election results based on personal preferences.
“It’s just a continuation of the thinking na, ‘Basta ayaw namin dyan, tanggalin natin.’ Wala naman sigurong dahilan kung hindi lang ayaw sa amin. That is not a reason to be impeached,” he continued.
Marcos also highlighted his amicable relationship with the Vice President, stating, “On a very personal level, we get along very well.” He acknowledged their differences but noted that they also share similarities in many aspects.
Earlier, House Speaker Martin Romualdez denied the impeachment rumors, stating, “I’m not aware of anything… nothing filed, no news of that.”
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LOS ANGELES, USA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. asserted on Saturday that he harbors no obligation to forgive those responsible for ousting his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
During an interview with the Philippine media delegation, before he departed for Los Angeles, Marcos was questioned about whether he had forgiven the individuals who played a role in his family’s exile to Hawaii.
“I don’t feel the need to forgive them; I never held them responsible… that’s the bottom line,” Marcos responded.
“I hope by now you have realized that I don’t take things personally. They don’t require my forgiveness; if they seek it, I am willing to grant it,” he added.
Marcos went on to elaborate that the two factions held divergent beliefs, leading to certain outcomes.
“They don’t need my forgiveness. If this is what they believed they had to do, our thoughts and beliefs just didn’t align. I would defend my convictions, and they fought for theirs. That’s the result, and that’s how it played out,” said Marcos.
In 1986, Marcos Sr. was ousted from power during the bloodless EDSA People Power Revolution.
The Marcos family was compelled to leave the country, seeking refuge in Honolulu, Hawaii, aboard a US Air Force aircraft.
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By Liezelle Soriano
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has officially designated November 3 to 9 as the annual Philippine Criminology Week.
The proclamation aims to acknowledge the vital role of the criminology profession in the Philippines.
According to Marcos, recognizing the contributions of Filipino Criminologists is essential for national security and honors those who have dedicated themselves to their profession, significantly contributing to the nation’s development, particularly in the realms of public safety, peace, and order. Proclamation No. 397, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, outlines these sentiments.
The Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC)’s Professional Regulatory Board of Criminology is entrusted with leading the celebration of Philippine Criminology Profession Week. The board is responsible for organizing various projects, programs, and events for the annual celebration.
Furthermore, all national government instrumentalities and agencies, as well as those of a similar nature, are encouraged to actively participate in and support the successful execution of Proclamation No. 397.
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By Junex Doronio
FOLLOWING THE STATEMENT of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia assured him that the settlement of the unpaid salaries of some 10,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) was already being processed, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac on Wednesday said they will continue following up its release.
To recall, in November last year, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman committed to allocate some 2 billion riyals for the unpaid salaries of some 10,000 overseas Filipinos employed by construction companies that declared bankruptcy in 2015 and 2016.
“From our talks with our own counterparts there…we were also informed that the Ministry of Finance is on board to take care of the financial matters because this would involve disbursement of funds,” Cacdac disclosed when interviewed on CNN Philippines.
Migrante Philippines chair Arman Hernando had proposed that the government advance the unpaid salaries while awaiting the money transfer from the Saudi government.
“Kung talagang seryoso sila na ibigay na ‘yung unpaid salaries ng mga Saudi OFWs – matagal na nga po naming panawagan diyan eh – abonohan muna nila…. Sinasabi ni Pangulong Marcos na pinahahalagahan niya ang sakripisyo ng ating mga OFWs. Eh di unahin na nilang bayaran, at i-reimburse na lang nila kapag nagbayad ang Saudi Arabia sa kanila,” Hernando said earlier.
Last March, the DMW said it would provide P10,000 in aid to each worker waiting for the Saudi government to fulfill its promise.
Maharlika NuMedia learned that the promised funding to the OFWs would come from the DMW which has a budget of P15.8 billion for 2023 and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“It’s just hard to pin down a timeline at this point because the Saudi processes still continue. In principle, we respect the Saudi processes, and at the same time we’ll continue to persist in terms of coordination and follow-ups with the Saudi government,” Cacdac explained.
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By Liezelle Soriano
PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has expressed his deep appreciation for the dedication and commitment of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel in ensuring the nation’s maritime security.
Among those recognized were CG PPO1 Jason S. Nicol and CG SN1 Joseph Rivera, both of whom were awarded the Distinguished Coast Guard Cross Medal and Ribbon by the President.
“Let me first convey my profound appreciation, on behalf of a grateful nation, to the PCG for their unwavering service during times of calamity, for safeguarding our country’s maritime security, advocating for our maritime rights, combatting the entry of smuggled goods, preserving our marine environment, and ensuring the safety of our fisherfolk as they pursue their livelihoods,” Marcos expressed during the 122nd Founding Anniversary of the PCG.
The Chief Executive also expressed gratitude to the PCG for their achievements in fulfilling their duty, which, he said, consistently championed the rights and welfare of the nation and its people in the face of formidable challenges.
“As we embark on a new chapter, I urge all of you to continue working closely with other relevant agencies as you carry out this invaluable and essential mandate,” Marcos said, emphasizing the need to consolidate strengths for the benefit of all Filipinos.
“Rest assured that this administration stands firmly by your side in your plans and efforts to enhance, expand, and modernize your capabilities and services, enabling you to make a greater contribution to the security and welfare of our people and the nation,” the President added.
The PCG maintains 601 lighthouses that are critical for navigation to ensure maritime security and safety. Last month, the PCG removed a floating barrier installed by China that was obstructing Filipino fishermen in Bajo De Masinloc.
Previously, the PCG also successfully removed floating barriers placed by the China Coast Guard at the southeast entrance of Scarborough Shoal.
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Photo courtesy of the PNA
By Junex Doronio
DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE DEMISE of three fishermen, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday vowed that those responsible for the ramming incident in Scarborough Shoal would be held accountable.
At the same time, the President cautioned the public to allow the Philippine Coast Guard to investigate the incident and “refrain from engaging in speculation in the meantime.”
“We are deeply saddened by the deaths of the three fishermen, including the captain of the fishing vessel. The incident is still under investigation to ascertain the details and circumstances surrounding the collision between the fishing boat and a still unidentified commercial vessel,” Marcos Jr. said.
For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said in a statement that the captain of the fishing boat Dearyn was among those killed when it sank after the collision 85 nautical miles — 157.42 kilometers — from Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.
According to PCG, eleven members of the crew survived the incident, which happened around 4:20 a.m. last Monday, October 2.
A member of the crew told the PCG that the fishing boat was moored to a “payao” (a floating fish aggregating device) when they were rammed by a still unidentified vessel.
He said the crew members brought the bodies of those killed to Barangay Cato in Infanta, Pangasinan using their service boats and arrived there on Tuesday morning, October 3.
“We assure the victims, their families, and everyone that we will exert every effort to hold accountable those who are responsible for this unfortunate maritime incident. Rest assured that the government will provide support and assistance to the victims and their families,” the President said. (ai/mnm)