Duterte inks executive order banning smoking

May 18, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order banning smoking in public and enclosed places nationwide. Executive Order No. 26 signed on May 16 stated that “public health takes precedence over any commercial business interest. “In order to minimize access,

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Five new police chiefs named in NCR

May 18, 2017

Five new police chiefs in the National Capital Region have been named on Thursday, Police Director Oscar Albayalde said. In a statement, Albayalde said the reshuffling of some of  the chiefs of police is “due to career advancement of officers

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Military deploys three battalions in Davao City from Sulu 

May 18, 2017

The military has sent one battalion to Davao City from Sulu, making it a total of three battalions in the area, an official said Thursday. Major. Gen. Rafael Valencia, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion, said the 16 th

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Philippines to raise with China its installation of rocket launchers in disputed waters

May 18, 2017

The Philippines could raise with China its reported installation of rocket launchers in the disputed South China Sea during the bilateral meeting later this week, Malacanang said on Thursday. “I think that will be covered by the bilateral consultative mechanism,”

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(Update) Philippine GDP hits 6.4 percent, lower than expected

May 18, 2017

  Philippine economic growth slowed to 6.4 percent in the first quarter, lower than expected, after effects of election spending last year dissipated and due to lower government spending, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said on Thursday. The gross domestic

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4 soldiers, 3 civilians hurt as improvised bomb explodes in Laguna

May 18, 2017

Four soldiers and three civilians were injured in an improvised bomb explosion in the province of Laguna on Wednesday afternoon. 1Lt Xy-zon Meneses,  spokesman of the 2nd Infantry Division, said the troops of 202nd Brigade were traveling on board a

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Philippines rejects EU aid to avoid “interference”

May 18, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to reject grant aid from the European Union to stop it from “meddling” in the internal affairs of the government, specifically on its war against illegal drugs. Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said it was Finance

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One soldier killed in battle with alleged NPA in Samar

May 18, 2017

One soldier was killed in an encounter with the members of New People’s Army in Samar province last Tuesday, a military said in a report Thursday. 1Lt. Cherry Junia, public affairs chief of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said the

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