MANILA – The contract for the Philippine Navy’s two missile-armed frigates is now being finalized, Department of National Defense (DND) public affairs office chief Arsenio Andolong said Monday. Once the contract is finalized, it will be signed by DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and the duly authorized representative of the winning proponent, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), […]
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MANILA – Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Tuesday that doubling the salaries of soldiers and police officers as promised by President Rodrigo Duterte will not happen this year. ”I can almost say that that’s not possible by the end of the year, simply because there’s nothing there in the budget for that,” Diokno stated in […]
Read MoreMANILA – Chinese Coast Guard vessels continue to harass Filipino fishers at Bajo de Masinloc in the disputed West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine Coast Guard reported. In a press release of the National Security Council-Task Force West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard said, on Sept. 6, 2016, three China Coast Guard vessels sighted […]
Read MoreMANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday said, “the policemen from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) who went on AWOL (absent without official leave) for fear of their security, when they were deployed to Mindanao, will be held liable.” According to Dela Rosa, these NCRPO […]
Read MoreZAMBOANGA CITY – Combined police and military operatives on Monday arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandit facing a series of criminal cases in the city. Chief Insp. Elmer Solon, a Police Station 4 chief, identified the arrested suspect as Abdul Baliyung alias Majula Gani, 34, a resident of Barangay Sangali, Zamboanga City. Baliyung […]
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As part of this contingent, the U.S. Air Force is sending two C-130 Hercules aircraft and Airmen from the 374th Air Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan, the 36th Contingency Response Group from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam and other units from across PACAF to Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base, Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines. While there, the […]
Read MoreMANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday announced the appointment of Brig. Gen. Ronald Villanueva as commander of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP). AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said the new ISAFP head had extensive experience both in intelligence and infantry operations. Arevalo […]
Read MoreMANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is ready to address the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea dispute if the issue comes up during his expected two-day visit to Vietnam, a foreign affairs spokesman said on Monday. ”The President will be prepared to discuss the South China Sea issue,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman […]
Read MoreMANILA — The European Union (EU) and United Nations (UN) rapporteurs should follow protocol once President Rodrigo R. Duterte decides to invite them to make their investigation on the controversial extrajudicial killings issue, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday. DFA spokesman and Assistant Secretary Charles Jose bared this when asked if the Philippine […]
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MANILA, Sept. 14 — Jamming of the brand-new R4A3 carbine rifles during the Aug. 29 engagement with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits was caused by dirt and not due to technical defects of the weapons. This was stressed by Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao in a statement Wednesday. “It can be attributed […]
Read MoreMANILA — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday speculated that it would take some time before President Rodrigo Duterte turns into “a real statesman”. Lacson was commenting on the former Davao City mayor’s remark to pull out American soldiers from Mindanao. President Duterte has also said that the Philippines will not participate in joint patrols […]
Read MoreMANILA – Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents arrested 154 Chinese nationals for possible violation of immigration laws and alleged involvement in illegal online gambling in Pampanga Friday night. Chinese citizens apprehended during a raid of the suspects’ rented unit at the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Dong Gwang annex bldg. in Clark Field, Angeles […]
Read MoreSAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Philippine Navy (PN) on Friday apprehended three Vietnamese fishing vessels carrying 17 crew members while conducting illegal poaching within the West Philippine Sea located 21 nautical miles southwest of Dile Point in Sta Catalina, Ilocos Sur. Happened when the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau […]
Read MoreMANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday laid down five key points that the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should do for the regional bloc to become a truly global player. In his speech before leaders of the ASEAN business community during the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Vientiane, Laos, the President […]
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VIENTIANE, Laos — The Philippine government expressed deep regrets, deep regard and affinity for US President Barack Obama and the enduring partnership between both nations. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar read the government’s statement before the members of the international media present at the National Convention Center here, who are covering the three-day summit of the […]
Read MoreJOHN C. STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – Nine officers from Bangladesh, Malaysia and the Philippines completed the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School’s 16th iteration of Strategic Leaders International Course, on August 31. SLIC, a senior level course, provides international officers a forum to discuss shared challenges, while helping to facilitate the formation […]
Read MoreMANILA – There is a big difference between “state of lawlessness” and martial law, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said Saturday. “State of lawlessness under the Constitutional provision is separate and apart from the powers to declare martial law or suspend habeas corpus,” he said. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state […]
Read MoreJOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, UNITED STATES – The A2A talks were designed to not only foster military-to-military relationships with allied forces but also to pave the way for future collaboration. Parra led a delegation of eight Filipino airmen that met with Maj. Gen. Mark Dillon, Pacific Air Forces vice commander, and 24 PACAF Airmen, Marine […]
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