Category: General

Manila: A leader of the House of Representatives on Friday called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to establish an independent fact-finding commission to investigate extrajudicial killings tied to the previous administration’s war on drugs. House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said the proposed commission should operate independently of the executive and legislative branches. ‘We urge the President to form a panel – similar to the Agrava Fact-Finding Board – that will probe the summary killings and identify all individuals who may be held criminally liable,’ Libanan said in a statement. He said the independent commission should also consist of individuals

Manila: The government has already put in place necessary measures to address the reported rise in the incidence of involuntary hunger in the country, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Friday. In a news release, Gatchalian cited the timely scale-up implementation of the Walang Gutom (No Hunger) Program (WGP), which started in July as the administration’s response to the increase in the number of Filipinos who experienced involuntary hunger. “As we expand the Walang Gutom program from an initial pilot implementation covering 2,300 household beneficiaries in five areas to 300,000 household beneficiaries in 22

Manila: College of Saint Benilde defeated San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 25-19, 25-18, 25-20, to secure the last ticket to the next round in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Friday. Opposite hitter Clydel Catarig scored six points in the third set while wing spiker Wielyn Estoque added five as the Lady Blazers fended off the Lady Stags’ attempt to extend the match. Estoque delivered 11 attacks, one block and one ace for the three-time NCAA champion CSB, which ended the first round with a 2-1 record in Pool D. Catarig chipped

Tacloban: Twenty-six state universities and colleges (SUCs) and other stakeholders have committed to support poverty alleviation and sustainable development during the 5th International Poverty Conference hosted by two schools in Eastern Visayas. These schools in the Philippines and abroad will share their research works on poverty alleviation and sustainable development to empower poor communities. Samar State University (SSU) president Redentor Palencia said Friday that this year’s conference, held Oct. 16 and 17 at Summit Hotel here, saw an increase in the number of collaborators to 17 SUCs from just one in 2017. ‘We started in 2017, alone. Now, after eight

Tacloban: Three former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels from Eastern Samar province on Friday received financial assistance under the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Each received PHP65,000, distributed at the conference hall of the provincial capitol in Borongan City. Alias “Raffy” from Barangay Osmeña, General MacArthur and alias “Jumong” from Barangay Pinanag-an, Borongan City, both in Eastern Samar, surrendered to the 78th Infantry Battalion on May 15, 2023; while alias “Bañez” from Barangay Yabon, Hinabangan, Samar surrendered to the 78th Infantry Battalion on June 15, 2022. ‘The provincial government has various