Archive - Top Stories

By TESSA JAMANDRE THE Aquino government, in reviewing the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, will examine the terms of reference and roles of the third-country facilitator as well as state parties and international nongovernmental organizations before restarting talks. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said while the government is still

MAGUINDANAO governor Esmael Mangudadatu and 13 other “peacemakers” were recognized Friday for their role in helping reduce election-related violence in the recently concluded elections. The nongovernment organization Consortium for Electoral Reform, which spearheaded the Vote Peace project, gave out the awards as it ended a conference assessing the conduct of the May 10 automated elections.

By CARLOS MARQUEZ Nueva Ecija Gold ALIAGA, Nueva Ecija.—An entire village virtually turned sepia here last week as people clothed themselves in mud to celebrate the Feast of St. John the Baptist. Unshod feet rushed from the barrio’s farthest points to the chapel patio—most wrapped in dried banana leaves and wild plants soaked in mud—where

By IBARRA C. MATEO PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino’s appointee to the post of health secretary said Thursday he supports the teaching of sex education among Filipino students and the passage of a reproductive health bill. In his first press conference, Dr. Enrique T. Ona said he sees no problem on “how or when” sex education

VERA Files’ Tessa Jamandre shares her video of the inaugural of Benigno Aquino III as the country’s 15th president. The video comes in five parts.

Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III took his oath of office as 15th president of the Philippines at noon today, taking over the reins of government from Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a smooth and peaceful transfer of power.

ANG pagtayo ko rito ngayon ay patunay na kayo ang aking tunay na lakas. Hindi ko inakala na darating tayo sa puntong ito, na ako’y manunumpa sa harap ninyo bilang inyong Pangulo. Hindi ko pinangarap maging tagapagtaguyod ng pag-asa at tagapagmana ng mga suliranin ng ating bayan.  (Note: The official English translation of his address

By ARTHA KIRA PAREDES AN improvised bomb exploded at the Bangued Municipal Hall at dawn today, the inauguration day of newly elected provincial officials. The explosion, which damaged P50,000 worth of property, happened at about 2 a.m., according to Abra Police Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Joseph Adnol. The police report said an “improvised bomb was

By YOUTHVOTEPHILIPPINES GLORIA Macapagal-Arroyo exits the presidency before noon today, bequeathing her successor, Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III, a path littered with “landmines” that could weaken his control over the bureaucracy, former government officials said. These landmines come in the form of hundreds of “midnight” appointments, said Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO) member and columnist

INCOMING President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III bared on Tuesday the members of his Cabinet, but said he will be concurrent secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government while negotiations with three candidates are ongoing. He also told a press conference he has formed a “truth commission” to gather evidence of wrongdoing by the

VERA Files’ Mario Ignacio shares his photos of incoming President Benigno Aquino III’s press conference earlier today:

(Note: This live blog was launched on June 29, 10:50 p.m.)

By LUZ RIMBAN CHIEF Justice Renato Corona will oversee the computerization of all 2,200 courts throughout the country as part of what a High Court official said was the strengthening of the judicial branch. Court Administrator Midas Marquez, who is also the High Tribunal’s spokesperson, told a gathering of member of the Philippine Press Institute

By YVONNE T. CHUA OUTGOING President Gloria Arroyo has issued an executive order that would turn most government lawyers in the executive branch into career executive service officers (CESO) and guarantee them not only bigger pay and higher rank, but permanent appointment that incoming president Beningo Aquino III and future presidents may not revoke except

By ELLEN TORDESILLAS A KEY witness in the Maguindanao  massacre who was refused protection by the Department of Justice was killed 10 days ago. Lawyer Harry Roque, counsel for 14 of the 57 victims of the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre, said three sources confirmed the killing of Suwaid Upham, one of the seven gunmen, who had

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s family expects the Department of Agrarian Reform to approve within the next seven days or before she steps down from office their application to convert the 157-hectare family-owned Hacienda Bacan in Isabela, Negros Occidental from agricultural to industrial use. The application, which will exempt Hacienda Bacan from coverage of the Comprehensive

By CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS Mindanews (Conclusion) SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao.—In the province where the worst pre-election violence in Philippine history happened on Nov. 23, there was reason to celebrate when the worst-case scenarios on election day did not happen. Soldiers and policemen were already tearing down the posters of candidates and other election paraphernalia a day

By CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS Mindanews (First of two parts) SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao.—Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu will take his oath of office as the new governor on June 30 and deliver his inaugural address in his hometown Buluan, 40 kilometers from the provincial capitol here. Mangudadatu intends to be far from this place, the bailiwick of the

By YVONNE T. CHUA AN election watchdog has this piece of advice for the Commission on Elections: Don’t buy the counting machines used in the May 10 elections. Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform (IPER), instead urged the Comelec to just lease the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines

THE Rotary Club of Manila yesterday awarded  VERA Files a special citation for outstanding reporting under the New Media category. “For its exhaustive investigative reports  on the Assets and Liabilities of government officials, particularly of the President and the First Gentleman, highlighting the people’s right to information,”  the citation read. This is the first time

By BONG LACSON Punto! Central Luzon A PAMPANGA-based multisectoral group is offering President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III an alternative official home, given that he refuses to move into Malacañang and his Quezon City neighbors don’t want him to hold official residence on Times Street. The Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement suggests Aquino consider building a home

By MARK JOSEPH UBALDE THE dust may have settled from what is deemed to be a generally peaceful May 10 elections, but records show the first automated polls also gave rise to a dozen of abductions. Compared with the 2004 and 2007 elections, when no abductions were recorded, about 12 individuals were kidnapped this year

It's official: The Philippines has a new president and vice president. On Wednesday afternoon, Congress proclaimed Sen. Benigno Aquino III and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay winners in the May 10 presidential and vice presidential races

By ELLEN TORDESILLAS and YOUTHVOTEPHILIPPINES WHATEVER the final outcome of the tightly contested vice presidential race, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay has made history by being the first local official to be possibly catapulted to a top national position, just a breath away from the presidency. Unlike another former mayor, Joseph Estrada, Binay bypassed Congress in his quest