Breaking News

• COVID-19 UPDATES: India confirms more than 8,000 new cases

MANILA, Philippines --- The Lopezes' reclamation of ABS-CBN after the 1986 EDSA Revolution was in accordance with the law, the network's president and chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak told a House hearing Monday. Katigbak said that the return of ABS-CBN to the Lopez family had the "blessing" of three government agencies---the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the Office of the President, and the Supreme Court. "Unang-una, ang PCGG mismo ang umaksyon na ibalik sa mga may-ari ang Channel 2 noong June 1986. Sa January 1987, nagkaroon ng agreement ang gobyerno at ABS-CBN na isaayos ang pagbalik ng iba pang facilities ng ABS-CBN na patuloy pang ginagamit ng gobyer...

Keep on reading: Katigbak: Lopez family rightfully reclaimed ABS-CBN after EDSA Revolution

MANILA, Philippines --- A lawmaker is urging the House of Representatives to admonish the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for failing to comply with its commitment to issue media giant ABS CBN a provisional authority to operate while Congress is tackling its franchise renewal. Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Sarmiento on Monday said that NTC insulted the House of Representatives and the Senate when it issued a cease and desist order against the network despite its commitment under oath to Congress. The NTC also violated its own rules and did not give due process to ABS CBN, he added. "Kailangan po muna ang show cause order bago mag issue ng cease and desist order. Hin...

Keep on reading: Solon wants to admonish NTC for not issuing provisional authority to ABS-CBN

MANILA, Philippines --- The Philippine National Police (PNP) will implement new guidelines under the so-called new normal" triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, which includes migrating its frontline services to virtual platforms. In a press briefing on Monday, PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said the new guidelines, policies, and procedures will be observed by all PNP offices and units to ensure public health and safety as well as the protection of its personnel against the disease. He said a study group on the "new normal" chaired by Lt. Gen. Cesar Binag, chief of the directorial staff of the PNP, has identified six key guidelines that will define the new practices for the organiza...

Keep on reading: PNP to use virtual platforms for frontline services under ‘new normal’

MANILA, Philippines --- Eleven families were rendered homeless after a fire broke out in Makati City on Monday morning, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). According to BFP, the fire destroyed 11 houses along Kalayaan Avenuein Barangay Pinagkaisahan, and left damages to property worth P500,000, including a business establishment. BFP reported that the fire reached first alarm at 6:50 a.m. and second alarm at 6:56 a.m. It was declared under control around 8:00 a.m. andwas completely extinguished by 8:18 a.m. One person had a first degree burn on his left arm, according to BFP.   EDV...

Keep on reading: 11 families displaced by Makati City fire

World champion Lewis Hamilton criticized the "biggest of stars" in "white-dominated" Formula One for failing to speak out against racism as protests erupted around the United States. The Mercedes driver warned "I know who you are and I see you" as he accused his fellow drivers of "staying silent" following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, during his arrest in Minneapolis. The videotaped incident has triggered unrest in several cities and led to an outpouring of condemnation from top athletes including Michael Jordan and Serena Williams. "I see those of you who are staying silent, some of you the biggest of stars yet you stay silent in the midst of injustice,"...

Keep on reading: Hamilton slams ‘white-dominated’ F1 for silence over Floyd death

In an emotional response to George Floyd's family Sunday night, the Minneapolis police chief says in his mind, all four officers involved in the black man's killing bear the same responsibility.

MANILA, Philippines --- Former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr. is now in stable condition, his grandson said Monday afternoon. "Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr. Daddy is now in stable condition and we are hoping for his speedy recovery," Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla said in a Facebook post as he expressed gratitude for those who offered prayers for his grandfather. https://www.facebook.com/153170324872580/posts/1335724276617173/?d=n His post comes only hours after Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. said that the Revilla patriarch was in "critical condition" and will be under "strict observation" for the next two days. "Let's continue praying for one another, for our families and loved ones, as w...

Keep on reading: Ex-senator Revilla Sr. ‘now in stable condition’

MANILA, Philippines --- There are at least 6,800 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests that will be validated in the coming days, the Department of Health (DOH) disclosed Monday. "Ito pong sinasabi natin na mga backlogs, meron po tayo sa ngayon, we have around 6,800 pa na kailangan pong i-validate natin na atin pong pagtratrabahuhan sa mga susunod na araw para magkaroon na tayo ng at least approximation between unique individuals tested and those confirmed positive for COVID-19," DOH Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said in an online Palace briefing. (Those are what we call backlogs, we have around 6,800 that still need to be validated and we will work on it in the next few days....

Keep on reading: 6,800 COVID-19 tests still awaiting validation — DOH

Yassi Pressman was overwhelmed with emotion after receiving a meaningful gift from her sister Issa: a tree. The "Ang Probinsyano" star cried while gazing at the tree inside their home, as seen in a now-deleted video on Instagram today, June 1. Her sister could be heard asking, "Why are you crying?" "My sister decided to gift this to me for my birthday, this means so much," she wrote. Yassi celebrated her 25th birthday last May 11. She explained that the tree was "something I've always wanted as we tried to restart our lives again." "I wanted a Tree Of Life that would symbolize our journey and how we are somehow connected to the universe," she said. Yassi and her si...

Keep on reading: Yassi Pressman gets ‘tree of life’ wish granted by sister Issa

Actress Vivoree Esclito reached a new milestone as she graduated from senior high school under a homeschool program by the Catholic Filipino Academy. Esclito marked her latest achievement with a heartfelt message alongside moments from her time as a high school student, as seen on her Instagram page yesterday, May 31. https://www.instagram.com/p/CA1sAakDZ0m/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link "This journey and I had a love-hate relationship; it was never easy," she said. Esclito explained how she had cried while trying to balance her showbiz career and studies, adding that she did not think she would get through her struggles. While her journey to completing her high school education was ...

Keep on reading: Vivoree Esclito graduates from senior high school: ‘It was never easy’

https://youtu.be/MTnsHjA-kv4 MANILA, Philippines --- "If I had not been the Solicitor General, I would have called his bluff and make him eat his words." These were the words of Office of the Solicitor General chief Jose Calida during a joint committee hearing at the House of Representatives Monday, breaking weeks of silence following the public uproar over the shutdown of media giant ABS-CBN over its franchise issues. Calida said that aside from the Ang Probinsyano actor, several of the network's celebrities have spoken publicly against the government's actions, using their influence to "muddle the issue and drum up support for their network. He quoted theKapamilya actor as ...

Keep on reading: ‘If I had not been SolGen, I will make you eat your words,’ Calida tells Coco Martin

BEIJING --- Asian stock markets rebounded Monday after President Donald Trump avoided reigniting a trade war with China amid tension over Hong Kong and the coronavirus pandemic.     Hong Kong's benchmark gained more than 3% and Shanghai and Tokyo rose more than 1%. Global markets sank Friday as investors waited for Trump's response to Beijing's security law on Hong Kong. In the end, Trump ended Hong Kong's special trade status and suspended visas of some Chinese students but avoided pulling out of a truce in a tariff war with Beijing that weighs on global growth. "Markets may draw hollow consolation that the U.S. is treading carefully," said Mizuho Bank in a ...

Keep on reading: Asian stocks rebound after Trump avoids reigniting trade war

MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Leila de Lima is pushing for a Senate investigation into the "real status" of the COVID-19 mass testing in the country in order to address issues that "impede the progress" of the government's pandemic response. In filing Senate Resolution No. 425, De Lima underscored the need to identify the reason "why we are still way behind on testing, in spite of already months of intensified government efforts against COVID-19." "More than lockdowns and quarantine, it has been proven in many countries that testing is the first step towards controlling the transmission of COVID-19," she said. "The lack of effective mass testing has effectively hampered our...

Keep on reading: Senate probe into ‘real status’ of PH coronavirus testing sought

The country's leading pizza parlor chain operator, Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures Inc., saw a 35 percent year-on-year drop in first quarter net profit to P114 million as the lockdown measures imposed on Metro Manila and other key regions starting mid-March disrupted operations and sales. During the second half of March, Shakey's only had 9 percent of its network operational out of a total of 280 outlets - comprised of 249 Shakey's and 31 Peri stores - servicing delivery and carry-out as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic started affecting the Philippines. As a result, the Po family-led company ended the quarter with systemwide sales of P2.3 billion, similar to same period last y...

Keep on reading: Shakey’s Pizza’s Q1 profit down 35%

      MANILA, Philippines --- The National Telecommunications Commission had no ill motive and was merely adhering to the law when it ordered the closure of media giant ABS-CBN, an NTC an official said in a House hearing Monday.   During the joint hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises and the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba explained that they were just doing their job and that it was not their intention to inconvenience the Congresson the broadcast giant's franchise renewal.   "Trabaho lang ang aming is...

Keep on reading: NTC on ABS-CBN franchise issue: ‘Trabaho lang’

As the nation eases into a modified community quarantine status, the logistics industry---including transportation, storage, and packaging businesses--- is taking several steps to cope with the "new normal." Working closely with the government and other business sectors, Autokid Truck Solutions together with Globe myBusiness initiated a webinar on May 14, 2020, titled "Moving Forward: Post-Covid Talks Toward a Stronger Logistics Industry," to share with the public how industry stakeholders plan to move forward from this pandemic. Standing by its mission to empower enterprises to achieve greater heights by discovering, developing and delivering effective, efficient and economic truc...

Keep on reading: Logistics industry experts share plans on moving forward post-quarantine

MANILA, Philippines --- Due to the continuing threat of coronavirus disease, activities for the Philippine Environment Month this June will be observed online,a first in its more than three-decade history,the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) said. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said Monday the month-long celebration should serve as an opportunity for the public to reflect on the importance of a cleaner environment as people around the world have started adapting to the "new normal" brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that certain restrictions triggered by the crisis resulted in positive environmental changes such as improved air and water quality, resurgence of...

Keep on reading: For the first time, activities for Philippine Environment Month to be held online