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MANILA, Philippines --- The controversial Anti-Terror Bill which now only needs the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte to be turned into law is a "human rights disaster in the making," the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday. In a statement, the HRW noted that the draft law uses an "overbroad definition" of terrorism that can subject suspects, apprehended without a warrant, to weeks of detention prior to an appearance before a judge. "The Anti-Terrorism Act is a human rights disaster in the making. The law will open the door to arbitrary arrests and long prison sentences for people or representatives of organizations that have displeased the President," said Phil Robertson,...

Keep on reading: Anti-terror bill a ‘human rights disaster in the making’ — watchdog

As more and more local stars rally against the government's attempt to toughen up its anti-terrorism measures through the anti-terror bill, international celebrities have also joined the online protests to junk it. The House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 6875 on its final reading last Wednesday, June 3. It is now only awaiting President Rodrigo Duterte's signature for it to become a law. Various entities including the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the United Nations (UN) have expressed their concern regarding the bill, especially its broad and vague definition of who can be tagged as a terrorist. The bill will penalize anyone who will propose, incite, conspi...

Keep on reading: Darren Criss, Bretman Rock, other international celebs oppose anti-terror bill

    MANILA, Philippines --- The House of Representatives on Friday adjourned sine die without passing the proposed Bayanihan to Recover As One Act, or the "Bayanihan 2" bill.   House Bill No. 6953, which is a supplement measure to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, was introduced to the plenary floor on Thursday, June 4.     The chamber no longer took it up for second reading approval on Friday.   The measure is currently pending on the period of amendments.   Under the "Bayanihan 2 measure", Filipinos would be provided with various forms of relief during the public health crisis, which include an emergenc...

Keep on reading: House adjourns sans ‘Bayanihan 2’ bill approval

MANILA, Philippines --- "Basahin niyo muna 'yung batas. Basahin natin before we criticize." (Read the law first. Read it before you criticize.) This was the appeal of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday during his sine die adjournment speech on Friday to those who are opposing House Bill No. 6875 or the "Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020." Critics of the proposed measure, which was approved by the House on final reading on June 3, raised concerns, including on human rights and freedom of speech issues. Cayetano said that before labeling the bill as "draconian" or "repressive" among others, critics should first read its provisions. He assured that those who express dissent, part...

Keep on reading: Cayetano to Anti-Terrorism bill critics: ‘Basahin niyo muna ‘yung batas’

  MANILA, Philippines --- Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday debunked a claim that the Philippine government arbitrarily arrested critics of the Duterte administration's response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.   Andanar was reacting to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet's statement expressing alarm on several Asia-Pacific countries, including the Philippines, for tightening censorship rules amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.   "Such accusations by the High Commissioner of arbitrary arrests being done by the government are unfounded and uncalled for," Andanar said in a sta...

Keep on reading: No arbitrary arrest of gov’t critics, UN rights body’s claim unfounded – Andanar

MANILA, Philippines --- The United States government will give an additional P201 million aid to vulnerable populations in Mindanao to fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This brought the total amount of US aid to the Philippines to over P978 million, the US embassy said Friday. US Ambassador Sung Kim earlier virtually met with Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) officials, where they were able to discuss the challenges and present its COVID-19 contingency plan with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). "In these trying times, I am inspired by the resilience and courage of the Filipino people," Kim said. "The United ...

Keep on reading: US commits P201M aid to Mindanao in fight vs COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines --- The lawyer Senator Leila de Lima and other visitors were barred from seeing her Friday morning at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center inside Camp Crame in Quezon City, where she is currently being detained. According to De Lima's office, her chief-of-staff Atty. Fhillip Sawali, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, and Father Flavie Villanueva presented their identification cards and were told to wait outside the Custodial Center for about an hour but were prevented from visiting the senator. "Tayo ay nasa Camp Crame ngayon para kay Senator Leila de Lima. Pero nung kami'y pumasok sa Custodial Center, ay hindi kami pinayagang bumisita. Sabi d...

Keep on reading: ‘Unreasonable’ restrictions: De Lima lawyer, others barred from visiting senator

Shares were mostly higher in Asia on Friday after U.S. unemployment data gave the S&P 500 its first loss in five days.     Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index gained 0.4% to 22,790.65 after opening lower. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong edged 0.1% higher, to 24,371.38. India's Sensex rose 0.8% to 34,265.86 and the Kospi in South Korea jumped 0.9% to 2,169.87. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 picked up 0.1% to 5,996.80. Shares rose in Bangkok, Taiwan and Singapore but fell back in Jakarta. Markets got some traction from hopes for more monetary and government stimulus as the European Central Bank announced a commitment to buying 600 billion euros ($680 billion) more of bonds, n...

Keep on reading: Asian shares higher after jobless data snaps Wall Street rally

MANILA, Philippines --- Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday said he is assuming "responsibility" as the country's health chief for the delayed release of compensation intended for healthcare workers who had died or became severely ill from coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In a meeting with President Duterte and other members of the Cabinet in Davao City, Duque blamed his subordinates at the Department of Health (DOH) for the delay in the release of the financial assistance. "Nakakahiya talaga, Sir, namatayan nga tapos nagpa-wardi wardi yung mga tao ko na parang walang sense of urgency. Kaya po ang sama-sama po ng loob ko, Mr. President," Duque said. (It is a shame, Sir...

Keep on reading: Duque takes ‘responsibility’ for COVID-19 compensation mess

MANILA, Philippines --- The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Riyadh who was seeking help in a video posted on social media has died, the Philippine Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirmed. "The Department of Foreign Affairs wishes to convey its deepest and most sincere condolences to the bereaved family of Mr. Marcelo Tanyag III. The Philippine government, through the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, will bear upon Mr. Tanyag's employer to explain if their actions, or lack thereof, contributed to his untimely demise," the embassy said in a statement dated Wednesday but shared on Facebook on Thursday. Before his death, Tanyag even managed to reco...

Keep on reading: Ailing OFW in viral video has died – PH Embassy

Singer-songwriter Rico Blanco released a "quarantine version" of classic Rivermaya hit "Liwanag sa Dilim" to help raise funds for frontliners amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Blanco treated fans last Wednesday, June 3, with the new rendition on YouTube to support soap brand Safeguard's "BayaniHands" initiative to help out frontliners through the Philippine Red Cross. The rock icon said he decided to give new life to the song because he was touched by the company's inspirational video for the said project, which aptly used a cover of the song to send its message. "This is my little way of supporting their BayaniHands Project," he said on his YouTube channel. https://www.youtube...

Keep on reading: WATCH: Rico Blanco performs quarantine version of ‘Liwanag sa Dilim’ to raise funds for frontliners

MANILA, Philippines --- Police officers who will allow pillion (back riding) passengers on their motorcycles during the less stringent general community quarantine will be facing administrative cases, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Friday. "Makakaasa kayo na we will file the necessary charges against those police officers na nauna pa lumalabag sa mga pamantayan ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases)," DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said over dzBB when asked about police officers caught having pillion riders on their motorcycles. (Expect that we will file the necessary charges against th...

Keep on reading: Cops giving motorcycle ‘back rides’ to face admin raps — DILG

MANILA, Philippines --- In a last-ditch effort, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Friday urged Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano not to sign the enrolled bill of the House-proposed Anti-Terrorism Act. In a formal letter sent on Thursday, the lawmaker said the "sizeable" number of negative votes, abstentions, and affirmative votes with reservations on the chamber's version of the bill, House Bill No. 6875, show that it lacks "full support." Lagman noted that the House failed to approve its own version and it adopted completely its counterpart bill in the Senate, "which contains the draconian provisions violative of human rights and civil liberties which are guaranteed by the Constitution." Ev...

Keep on reading: Lagman asks Cayetano not to sign enrolled Anti-Terror bill

CEBU CITY ---- At least seven students and members of progressive groups in Cebu were arrested by police while holding a rally against the anti-terrorism bill in front of the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu on Friday morning. Police Lieutenant Colonel Melbert Esguerra, deputy director for administration of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said the protesters violated the government's ban on mass gatherings aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease. "We gave them 10 minutes to disperse, but they did not heed our call. Hence, we decided to arrest them," he said in an interview. The protesters were pulled and forced to board the police patrol cars bef...

Keep on reading: 7 Cebu students protesting anti-terrorism bill nabbed

Las Vegas casinos are once again open for business after being closed for more than two months in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus. CNN affiliate KLAS reports.

Retired four-star Gen. Richard Myers said during an interview with CNN's Erin Burnett that he's "glad" he doesn't have to advise President Donald Trump as the President threatens to use the military if violent protests continue.

Ty family-led Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. has raised P10.5 billion from a fresh bond market foray that was warmly received by investors despite the challenging macroeconomic environment. The bonds, with a tenor of 1.25 years, carried a coupon rate of 3 percent per annum. "The bank is very pleased that the investing public responded enthusiastically to our bond offering, allowing us to reach our target funding in one day. The proceeds from the bond issue will be used to further support our lending activities - helping clients from corporates, middle market, SMEs (small and medium enterprises), and retail - and to diversify the bank's funding base," Metrobank said in a statem...

Keep on reading: Metrobank raises P10.5B from new bond foray

CEBU CITY ---- Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia will heed the advice of President Duterte to continue to disallow pillion or back riding on private motorcycles in the province. "Because he (Mr. Duterte) is my president, I will follow him," said the governor in Cebuano in an interview over radio DYLA shortly after President Duterte spoke on national television on Friday morning. Garcia said all she wanted was to help address the lack of public transportation in the province, which has been under general community quarantine (GCQ) since May 16. "I simply echoed the sentiments and requests of people who have difficulty looking for vehicles to ride on," she said. Garcia said she alread...

Keep on reading: Cebu gov to follow Duterte advise to stop motorcycle back riding