Archived News Headlines from September 1, 2016 to September 31, 2016
(Please note: some articles may have been removed by their respective publications)

9/27/2016

MANILA, Philippines -- The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is eyeing an ambitious P8.2 trillion budget for infrastructure projects in the next six years to help boost the economy. “We will be spending something like P8.2 trillion ...

NEDA Director-General answers questions on poverty reduction
PASIG CITY, Sept. 28 - From the perspective of an economist, where is the Philippines now and where is it going? And why is it important that the people know? These are just a few of the questions that National Economic and Development Authority ...

Singapore accuses Chinese paper of fabricating South China Sea story
BEIJING - Singapore's ambassador to China on Tuesday accused a major state-run Chinese newspaper of fabricating a report about Singapore's position on the South China Sea, but the paper stuck by its story. The Global Times said on Sept. 21 ...

Threat of suspension looms over 20 metallic mines
MANILA, Sept. 27 (PNA) -- Twenty of 41 metallic mines in the country face possible suspension of respective operations for supposed non-compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Environment Undersecretary Leo Jasareno identified firms operating ,,,

Sen. Aquino has prerogative to investigate foreign policy direction of Duterte administration – DFA
MANILA, Sept. 27 (PNA) – Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said on Tuesday that Senator Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino has the prerogative to conduct Senate inquiry into foreign policy direction of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Villanueva urges Palace: Certify end-Endo as urgent bill
MANILA - Senator Joel Villanueva on Tuesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to certify as urgent the proposed measure to stop all kinds of contractualization, or the so-called "Endo" scheme in the labor sector, with the exception of certain cases ...

DSWD says rescued children in Leyte deserves foster parents
BURAUEN, Leyte, Sept. 27 (PNA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development is now looking for foster parents who will adopt the two children rescued last week from a toilet converted into a makeshift house in an upland village here.

General government (GG) debt at P4.9-T in end-June
MANILA, Sept. 28 - General government (GG) debt relative to the country’s whole economy further declined to 35.4 percent even as the nominal level of debt increased to almost P4.9 trillion in the year’s first semester, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

‘Drug money missing’ De Lima-led raid of NBP yields P300m, witness says
JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday revealed that they have a new witness who can substantiate that P300 million was actually seized during the 2014 raid at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, but only P1.6 million was reported.

Typhoon Megi leaves 4 dead, 268 injured in Taiwan
TAIPEI, Sept. 27 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and 268 others were injured in Taiwan as Typhoon Megi traveled across the island on Tuesday, according to local authorities. More than 14,000 people were evacuated due to the typhoon ...

9/24/2016

TWO YEARS AGO, the existence of the "Davao Death Squad", or DDS, was enrolled and confirmed in the dockets of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. In a decision issued on Nov. 9, 2014, the Supreme Court's First Division upheld the grant of a search warrant ...

PNP: 1,216 killed, 18,873 arrested drug suspects since July 1
MANILA, Sept. 24 (PNA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday announced that more than 1,200 suspected drug personalities have been killed since the implementation of the “Oplan Double Barrel”.

Palafox has 1,000 ideas to make Philippine living easier - including how to survive Carmageddon
Renowned architect Felino Palafox, Jr. has “1,000 recommendations” to ease traffic and make Philippine cities more liveable, and is optimistic that the new administration will heed them, reversing what he believes was the previous administration's policy of NATO, or “No Action, Talk Only”.

PHP24-M worth of shabu seized from Kerwin Espinosa's aide
ALBUERA, Leyte Sept. 24 -– Police here have seized PHP24 million worth of shabu after a trusted aide of alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa surrendered himself to authorities on Friday morning.

Philippines joins call for peaceful resolution of Yemen crisis
MANILA, Sept. 24 (PNA) -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) over the weekend said that the Philippine Government joined the call for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Republic of Yemen.

Russia arms deal eyed, Moscow planning donation or loan
MOSCOW is planning to donate or loan military equipment and technology to Manila, only days after President Rodrigo Duterte said he would go to Russia or China if the United States did not like his “dirty mouth.”

Australia to offer new, five-year visas to families of migrants
CANBERRA, Sept. 24 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Families of migrants to Australia will be able to apply for a five-year temporary residency visa, in a move set to reduce the decade-long wait list for families seeking a permanent residency visa ...

Public urged: Consume brown rice
ILOILO CITY, 24 Sept. (PIA6)—The Department of Agriculture is urging the public to consume brown rice for health, and to help attain rice self-sufficiency. In its current promotion dubbed #Brown4good Challenge, the DA and the Philippine Rice Research Institute ...

Narc feels Leila trying to use him
MARINE Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino, facing drug-related charges, has accused embattled Senator Leila de Lima of trying to use him to gain public sympathy, chewing her out for releasing a transcript of his supposed conversation with a mistah.

Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts inaugurates Sentro Rizal in Qatar
MANILA, Sept. 24 (PNA) -- National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman Felipe M. de Leon, Jr. led the inauguration ceremony for the establishment of the Sentro Rizal in Qatar last Sept. 20, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported over the weekend.

9/20/2016

MANILA - On the eve of the 44th anniversary of martial law, President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants to bring back the Philippine Constabulary because, he said, he wants to ensure the government has a force ready to deal with urban terrorism.

PDEA lauds Supreme Court (SC) for additional 240 RTCs to handle drug cases nationwide
QUEZON CITY, Sept. 20 -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) commended the Supreme Court (SC) for the designation of an additional 240 Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) to hear, try and decide cases filed under Republic Act 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

De Lima received P3M monthly - Colanggo
MANILA, Philippines - Two high profile convicts and two officers of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) unraveled allegations tending to implicate Senator Leila de Lima to drug trading at the New Bilibid Prison ...

Representative Baguilat calls out Panelo for suggesting ‘constitutional dictatorship’
Ifugao Representative Teddy Brawner Baguilat, of the legitimate minority in the House of Representatives, has criticized Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo for even suggesting the return of a ‘constitutional dictatorship’ to supposedly solve the country’s lingering ills.

Should Medical Marijuana Be Legalised in the Philippines?
The debate about the legalisation of medical marijuana continues to rage on in the Philippines. Throughout the second quarter of the year, the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted five large marijuana eradication programmes ...

SWIFT plans measure to help spot fraudulent bank transfers
LONDON - The SWIFT inter-bank messaging network plans to send daily reports to clients to help them more quickly identify unauthorized payment instructions like those used by hackers to steal $81 million from Bangladesh’s central bank in February.

Former corrections bureau OIC says he delivered PHP10-M "quota" to de Lima
MANILA, Sept. 20 (PNA) -- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Deputy Dir. Gen. Rafael Ragos on Tuesday claimed that he delivered PHP10 million in drug money to Senator Leila de Lima in her residence in Parañaque City when she was still justice secretary.

Relief ops in Basilan, Sulu continue
QUEZON CITY, Sept. 21 -- Development (DSWD)- Field Office (FO) IX is currently repacking additional family food packs for the families displaced by the ongoing military operations against the Abu Sayyaf (ASG). The FO targets 25,000 food packs for ready augmentation to affected local government units (LGUs) in Basilan and Sulu Provinces.

E-trikes for Manila drivers
Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada will field electric tricycles (e-trikes) in Binondo and Malate next month as part of the gradual introduction of the environment-friendly, battery-operated tricycles in Manila’s streets.

Comelec suspends all preparations for 2016 Barangay and SK polls
MANILA, Sept. 20 (PNA) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has stopped all activities pertaining to the 2016 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. In Comelec Resolution No. 10164, the Commission en banc suspended the preparations including the conduct of public biddings and procurements for election paraphernalia.

9/19/2016

A NORWEGIAN and three Indonesian seamen held hostage in Mindanao were turned over to a government envoy on Sunday after being freed by Abu Sayyaf bandits who had beheaded two captives earlier this year.

DOJ Chief sees possibility of Veloso's release from execution in Indonesia
MANILA, Sept. 18 (PNA) -- Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said there is a possibility that convicted Filipina drug mule Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia will be released due to the outcome of pending cases against her recruiters.

Duterte seeks extension of self-imposed 3- to 6-month deadline to lick crime
MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking an extension of his "self-imposed" three- to six-month deadline to fight crime, saying he underestimated the seriousness of the problem when he first made the pledge to defeat it.

Duterte receives Norwegian hostage in Davao
DAVAO CITY, Sept 19 -- President Rodrigo Duterte received Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad in Davao City on Sunday night. Now a free man, Sekkingstad, accompanied by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, was presented to the President ...

Teddy Boy Locsin accepts President Duterte’s offer as new envoy to UN
MANILA, Sept. 18 (PNA) -- Veteran journalist and TV anchor Teddy Boy Locsin has accepted the post as ambassador to the United Nations, Presidential Communications Operations (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar confirmed on Sunday.

Duterte cites Nur's role in release of Abu Sayyaf captives; says terrorism 'everywhere'
MANILA - Freed Abu Sayyaf hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad relished his newfound freedom on Sunday, after he was presented by President Rodrigo Duterte to the media in Davao City, following the Norwegian national's release on Saturday.

MMDA open to hi-tech solutions from private sector to address Metro problems
MANILA, Sept. 18 (PNA) -- The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Sunday urged the private sector to come up with innovative projects and technological breakthroughs which can help the agency’s efforts in fulfilling its mandates.

Total approved foreign investments up by 11.5 percent in Q2 2016
QUEZON CITY, Sept. 19 -- Total foreign investments (FI) approved in the second quarter of 2016 by the seven investment promotion agencies (IPAs), amounted to P40.4 billion.

Village chief gunned down in Talavera, N. Ecija
MANILA - A barangay chairman was shot dead by unidentified men riding in tandem Sunday morning in Talavera town in Nueva Ecija. Superintendent Leandro Novilla, the town police chief, identified the victim as George Mangalindan, 45 years old.

Military troops recover another hostages -- Palace
MANILA, Sept. 18 (PNA) -- A day after Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) released unhurt Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad in Jolo, Sulu, a Palace official said on Sunday that military troops have recovered another hostages.

9/15/2016

MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 4 - 12:28 p.m.) A self-confessed member of the so-called “Davao Death Squad” recited Thursday a litany of more than a thousand murders over than three decades, including retaliatory bombings of mosques in Davao City ...

De Lima: Is it time to revisit the presidential immunity from suit?
MANILA, Sept. 15 (PNA) -- Is it time to revisit the presidential immunity from suit? This was a question raised by Senator Leila de Lima on Thursday noting that it was merely “hypothetical” and did refer to the situation of President Rodrigo Duterte.

U.S. envoy to ASEAN upbeat about ties with the Philippines
MANILA - Nina Hachigian, the U.S. Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), believes the alliance between the United States and the Philippines "will endure and remain strong", despite President Rodrigo Duterte's maverick take on foreign policy ...

PNP Chief Dela Rosa warns criminals posing as police officers
MANILA, Sept. 16 - Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa warned criminal groups using the campaign against illegal drugs to advance their own agenda, saying they will be held accountable under the law.

Pimentel denies Senate panel request for custody of alleged ex-‘DDS’ hitman
MANILA, Sept. 15 (PNA) -- Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel on Thursday denied the request of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights for the custody of alleged ex-Davao Death Squad hitman Edgar Matobato.

Japan to boost South China Sea role with training patrols with US
Japan will step up its activity in the contested South China Sea through joint training patrols with the United States and bilateral and multilateral exercises with regional navies, Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said on Thursday.

Hero's welcome awaits PHL's first woman Chess Grandmaster in Legazpi City
LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 16 -- A hero’s welcome awaits 20-year-old Janelle Mae Frayna, the first ever woman chess Grandmaster (GM) of the Philippines, when she comes home here. “She is a Legazpeña who brought us this big honor, which is a historic achievement ...

Philippine National Police urges 5 showbiz personalities linked in illegal drugs to surrender
MANILA, Sept. 15 (PNA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) has placed five show business personalities under surveillance for their link with illegal drugs trade. According to PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) Director Senior Supt. Albert Ferro ...

Hitman: Du30 gave kill orders
A SELF-CONFESSED hitman of the Davao Death Squad told a Senate hearing on extrajudicial killings Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the killing of thousands of criminals and suspects when he was still Davao City mayor.

Department of Health urges public to intensify fight vs disease-carrying mosquitoes
MANILA, Sept. 16 - Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial orders for more intensive mosquito control campaigns following new reports from the Department of Health (DOH) after the first confirmed case of locally-transmitted Zika Virus Disease in Iloilo City ...

9/13/2016

BEIJING - The war games in the South China Sea between China and Russia will include a focus on "seizing and controlling" islands and shoals, Chinese Navy spokesman Liang Yang said in a statement, as the joint exercises were set to begin Monday (Sept. 12).

President Duterte plans dialogue with Mary Jane Veloso's Family
MANILA, Sept. 12 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte is planning to talk to the family of Mary Jane Veloso who is in the death row for drug trafficking in Indonesia following a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo last week.

Obama says South China Sea ruling ‘binding’ but Asia leaders tiptoe around tensions
VIENTIANE, Laos -- (UPDATE 2 - 1:27 p.m.) US President Barack Obama warned Thursday an international tribunal's ruling that China's sweeping claims to the South China Sea had no legal basis was "binding" after Beijing vowed to ignore the verdict.

Mary Jane Veloso's lawyers decline to comment on execution report
STO. DOMINGO, Nueva Ecija, Sept. 12 (PNA)--Lawyers handling the case of death convict Mary Jane Veloso for charges of drug smuggling in Indonesia have declined to comment on reports that the Philippine government had given the green light for her execution.

US military forces have to leave Mindanao – President Duterte
MANILA, Sept. 12 (PNA) -– President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that United States military forces have to leave Mindanao to prevent being targeted by kidnap-for-ransom groups, particularly the Abu Sayyaf.

Bullets trump rehab as Asia quickens 'failing' war on drugs
BANGKOK/YANGON - The Philippines has launched a bloody "war on drugs" that has killed at least 2,400 people in just two months, while neighboring Indonesia has declared a "narcotics emergency" and resumed executing drug convicts after a long hiatus.

Palace clarifies reports that President Duterte gave President Widodo go signal to execute Veloso
MANILA, Sept. 12 (PNA) -– Malacañang on Monday clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte did not give his Indonesian counterpart President Joko Widodo the go-ahead to execute suspected Filipina drug courier Mary Jane Veloso.

Export decline pulls down total trade in July 2016, says NEDA
MANILA, Sept. 13 - The total merchandise trade declined as exports continue to slide in July 2016, given that global economic recovery remains slow, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Mary Jane Veloso doomed
INDONESIAN President Joko Widodo said Monday that President Rodrigo Duterte had given him the green light to execute Filipina death row convict Mary Jane Veloso ...

Department of Tourism eyes more Indian arrivals
MANILA, Sept. 13 - The Department of Tourism (DOT) expects the influx of 100,000 Indian nationals into the country as a result of the agency’s recent promotional roadshows in Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.

9/11/2016

MANILA, Philippines -- President Rodrigo Duterte was mum on the status of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina on death row in Indonesia for drug smuggling, saying he needed to talk to her family first. Back from a visit to Indonesia, Duterte told reporters in Davao City ...

President Duterte to visit Japan
MANILA, Sept. 11 – President Rodrigo Duterte is set to visit Japan. During his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the 28th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos on September 06, 2016, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte conveyed his acceptance of PM Abe’s invitation to visit Japan.

Sen. Miriam Santiago in hospital again: source
MANILA - Former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who ran in the May 9 presidential elections despite revealing she had Stage 4 lung cancer, is now in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of St. Luke's Medical Center-Global City, sources said late Saturday.

Philippines to host ASEAN 2017 with theme 'Partnering for change, engaging the world'
MANILA, Sept. 10 (PNA) -- The Philippines will host the 50th anniversary celebration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) across 11 cities nationwide. These events include the 30th ASEAN Summit in March and April to be held at Mactan Island ...

Presidents Duterte, Widodo agree to address piracy, lawlessness in Southeast Asian region waters
MANILA, Sept. 9 (PNA) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo agreed on Friday to expand cooperation in maritime security with the goal of fighting piracy and lawlessness in the Southeast Asian region vast waters.

3 Vietnamese fishing vessels caught poaching in West Philippine Sea
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union - The Philippine Navy (PN) has apprehended three Vietnamese fishing vessels carrying 17 crew members while conducting illegal poaching within the West Philippine Sea located 21 nautical miles southwest off Dile Point in Sta Catalina, Ilocos Sur.

Vibrant labor market accompanies GDP growth
MANILA, Sept. 10 – With faster and improved quality of economic growth, the Philippine labor market continues to show vibrancy as unemployment and underemployment rates fell in July 2016, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Board of Investments signs an agreement with Japan’s NEDO on P550 million e-vehicles demo project
MAKATI, CITY, Sept. 11 - The Board of Investments (BOI), the industry development and investments promotion arm of the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement to become a member of the steering committee to implement the Php550 Million e-vehicles demonstration project ...

Rody Duterte: Philippines no lackey Asserts ‘independent’ foreign policy stance
DAVAO CITY—Returning from an overseas trip where he insulted both the president of the United States and the secretary-general of the United Nations, President Rodrigo Duterte declared here Saturday that the Philippines will pursue an independent foreign policy.

PNP receives anti-terrorism equipment from US Gov’t
QUEZON CITY, Sept. 9 (PIA) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday received anti-terrorism equipment from the US Government. PNP Chief Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa personally received the donation from Diplomatic Security Service's Office ...

9/09/2016

VIENTIANE—US President Barack Obama warned Beijing Thursday it could not ignore a tribunal’s ruling rejecting its sweeping claims to the South China Sea, driving tensions higher in a territorial row that threatens regional security.

Philippine-style drug crackdown gets the nod of Indonesian anti-narcotics chief
MANILA, Sept. 9 -- Indonesia’s anti-narcotics chief Budi Waseso praised the move by the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and called for a similar crackdown to be implemented in his country. In a press conference, Waseso said that the drug problem in Indonesia is no different ...

Duterte 'shocks' ASEAN delegates with pic of Filipinos killed by American colonizers - report
Vientiane, Laos - At the East Asia Forum of the ASEAN Summit on Thursday, President Duterte, straying from a prepared speech, reportedly launched into a tirade about US military killings in the Philippines when it was an American colony from 1898 to 1946.

ASEAN, partners vow to intensify negotiation on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
VIENTIANE, Sept. 8 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its partners pledged here Thursday to intensify their efforts in a cooperative manner for swift conclusion of the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Total number of Zika infections in Singapore increases to 292
SINGAPORE, Sept. 8 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Singapore confirmed nine new cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection on Thursday, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Environment Agency (NEA) in a joint statement.

Commission on Human Rights warns PNP of rights abuse as Oplan Tokhang continues in Makati enclaves
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday continued its “Oplan Tokhang” in exclusive subdivisions in Makati City. Accompanied by barangay officials and guards, PNP men led by Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Rommel Mitra made the rounds of houses in Dasmarinas Village.

Some 13 Taipans to help DILG in constructing add’l drug rehab centers
MANILA, Sept. 9 - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has announced that the government, through Secretary Ismael Sueno of the DILG and Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, will soon enter into an agreement between 13 business leaders ...

Mandatory drug rehab for voluntary surrenderers sought
MANILA, Sept. 8 (PNA) -- A lawmaker belonging to the AKO Bicol Partylist in the House of Representatives has filed a bill seeking to mandate six months of drug rehabilitation for drug users or pushers who voluntarily surrender to state authorities.

Ex-Palawan governor Joel Reyes, accused in Gerry Ortega murder, denied bail
MANILA - Reports reaching Manila indicated that one of two brothers accused of masterminding the 2011 murder of Palawan broadcaster and good governance advocate Gerardo "Gerry" Ortega has been denied bail Thursday by the court trying the case.

Feature: Private sector, crucial partner in providing basic education for all
PASIG CITY, Sept. 8 - The Department of Education (DepEd) seeks to forge stronger partnership with private institutions and better support for the Department’s teaching personnel as it lobbies for P567.56-billion budget in 2017.

9/07/2016

Obama cancels meeting with Duterte
MANILA - (UPDATE 5 - 12:24 P.M.) United States President Barack Obama has cancelled his meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, the White House announced hours after the latter issued a bristling statement that he would not stand for being lectured on human rights issues.

President Duterte affirms he continues to value alliance with US, says DFA
MANILA, Sept. 7 - President Duterte today affirmed that he continues to value the alliance with the United States, noting that both our countries share common goals in their pursuit of the war against drugs, terrorists, crime and poverty.

Japan to provide PH planes, ships amid sea dispute with China
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday agreed to provide two large-sized patrol ships and lend up to five used surveillance aircraft to the Philippines, a Japanese government spokesman said, with both countries locked in territorial disputes with China. ASEAN leaders agree to step up efforts for further regional integration
VIENTIANE, Sept. 6 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed here Tuesday to step up their efforts to push forward the integration process in the region. The agreement came as they adopted the third Work Plan of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration ...

Duterte highlights 5 key points for ASEAN to become global player
MANILA, Sept. 6 (PNA) -- 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.

‘WORDS MATTER’ | Obama right to scuttle meeting with Duterte - Clinton
The US State Department and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday stressed the need for ties with the Philippines to be based on mutual respect, after President Rodrigo Duterte raised worries about the future of the key alliance by calling President Barack Obama a "son of a bitch."

Duterte in one-on-one talks with Vietnam PM
MANILA, Sept. 6 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte talked with Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on the sidelines of the first day of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Laos. The two leaders discussed the issues surrounding the South China Sea where both countries have territorial disputes with China.

Duterte meets Singapore’s Lee
MANILA, Sept. 6 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore on the sidelines of the first day of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Laos. During the President’s first bilateral meeting with PM Lee, the two leaders discussed the illegal drug trade and its nefarious effects.

Du30 rues ‘whore’ dig at Obama
VIENTIANE—United States President Barack Obama on Tuesday called off his scheduled meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit here, even as tensions continue to rise over China’s growing territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.

Bello to workers: Dial 1349 for labor and employment queries and complaints
MANILA, Sept. 7 - Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III today launched the DOLE Hotline 1349 which will provide workers and employers with 24/7 service on all labor and employment related queries.