Published June 4, 2020, 8:45 PM By Argyll Cyrus Geducos After announcing that sidecars will be allowed on national roads and highways, Malacañang clarified that these vehicles are still prohibited from plying those roads, but they will temporarily not be apprehended. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.(CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) In a statement,… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 8:42 PM By Genalyn Kabiling Freedom of expression is not absolute and is subject to derogation, Malacañang said Thursday after a United Nations (UN) rights chief called out the Philippines for its alleged clampdown on free speech during the coronavirus pandemic. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque(RESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 8:32 PM By Vanne Elaine Terrazola The effectivity of Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act ends on Friday (June 5) after Congress failed to pass a law to replace it. The Senate ended its first regular session under the 18th Congress on Thursday without… Keep Reading

Updated June 4, 2020, 8:21 PM By Aaron Recuenco Police anti-narcotics agents seized on Thursday (June 4) some P5 billion worth of shabu (crystal methamphetamine) when they raided a warehouse in Marilao, Bulacan, one of the biggest drug hauls in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. (Photo via Aaron Recuenco/MANILA BULLETIN) Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa,… Keep Reading

      THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed charges of murder, perjury and planting of evidence against the police officer who shot dead ex-Army personnel Winston Ragos over an alleged violation of quarantine protocols. NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said Thursday, June 4, that the charges were filed against Police Master Sergeant… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 7:51 PM By Reuters Coronavirus is spreading fast through Brazil’s indigenous populations, with deaths caused by the disease increasing more than five-fold in the past month, according to data collected by a national association of first peoples. Many epidemiologists had hoped remote locations might protect the tribes, but the virus, which… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 7:45 PM By Reuters A planeload of 150 ventilators arrived in Russia from the United States on Thursday, Washington’s embassy in Moscow said, to help fight the novel coronavirus in further medical aid collaboration between the two politically-estranged nations. Doctor Islam Muradov performs emergency surgery in the operating room of the… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 7:14 PM By Reuters The Togolese coastal community of Baguida has always had the ocean at its doorstep, but the waves have lapped higher and higher in recent years, destroying homes and locals’ hopes for the future. The ruins of Kokou Denis Apedo’s, the former Chief of Afidegnigban, house that was… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 7:11 PM By Argyll Cyrus Geducos  Malacañang said that President Duterte will not certify as urgent the Bayanihan We Recover As One Bill (Bayanihan 2) bill, which seeks to sustain the government’s efforts to address the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its impacts. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (ACE MORANDANTE / PRESIDENTIAL… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 6:51 PM By Agence France-Presse A scurrying robot dog named K9 dispenses hand sanitizer to curious children and wary shoppers — one of the more unexpected measures Thai malls are taking as the kingdom relaxes virus restrictions. A 5G K9 robot distributes hand sanitiser to a visitor at a shopping mall… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 6:50 PM By Mario Casayuran Senator Panfilo M. Lacson is not taking it against his colleagues – opposition Senators Francis N. Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros – for voting “no” to his Anti-Terror Bill (ATB) despite having accepted their amendments to the measure during his Senate public hearings. Senate Panfilo Lacson(Senate of… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 6:31 PM By Genalyn Kabiling The Clark International Airport is expected to reopen on Friday to accept flights carrying returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president Vivencio Dizon announced Thursday. Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president Vivencio Dizon(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) Dizon explained that the… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 6:29 PM By Jean Fernando The Paranaque City government yesterday placed two heavily populated streets in Barangay San Dionisio under “calibrated lockdown” after the city health office reported that about a hundred individuals in the area have been infected of the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Mayor Edwin Olivarez said that the… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 6:27 PM By Jun Ramirez The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) asked yesterday taxpayers to avail of its online facilities in filing the 2019 income tax returns (ITRs) and paying the corresponding taxes to avoid crowds of filers rushing to beat the June 15 deadline, thus escaping the possibility of catching… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 6:23 PM By Ben Rosario The House of Representatives on Thursday, June 4, passed on third and final reading the proposed Accelerated Recover and Investments Stimulus for the Economy of the Philippines or ARISE Philippines Act that will earmark P1.31 trillion in a bid to jumpstart the economy that has been… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 6:23 PM By Agence France-Presse Brazil and Mexico reported record daily coronavirus death tolls as governments in Latin America battled to fortify defenses against the accelerating pandemic with fresh lockdown orders and curfews. A gravedigger works at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida cemetery where COVID-19 victims are buried daily in Manaus, Brazil… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 6:14 PM By Ariel Fernandez Cebu Pacific (CEB) is operating special flights to and from Manila and to other domestic destinations flights primarily for stranded passengers and returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as well as those on essential travel work. Cebu Pacific (MANILA BULLETIN) Cebu Pacific spokesperson Charo Lagamon said that… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 6:06 PM By Analou De Vera More than 200 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in the country are now taking part in the clinical trials being led by the World Health Organization (WHO) in search for an effective treatment for COVID-19. Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) “Twenty… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 6:06 PM By Aaron Recuenco The Philippine National Police regards the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as an essential tool for the government to protect itself and the people from continuing threats of bombing and similar violent attacks both globally and in the country. PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN)… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 6:05 PM By Hannah L. Torregoza Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Thursday reminded his colleagues in the Senate that they are co-equals after delivering a privilege speech and declining to entertain other senators’ questions. (Office of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Go manifested his opinion… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 6:00 PM By Agence France-Presse British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for a “new era of global health co-operation” as he prepared to host a vaccine fundraising summit on Thursday under the shadow of coronavirus. The virtual meeting aims to raise $7.4 billion for immunization programs stalled by the pandemic, and… Keep Reading

Updated June 4, 2020, 6:01 PM By Analou De Vera The coronavirus disease cases in the Philippines climbed above 20,000 on Thursday after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed 634 new infections. The new cases brought the country’s total number to 20,382 as of 4 p.m. Thursday, the DOH said. Recoveries also went up to… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 5:48 PM By Genalyn Kabiling President Duterte has not changed his mind on the termination of the country’s visiting forces agreement (VFA) with the United States, Malacañang said Thursday. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.(CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the termination process of the… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 5:48 PM By Aaron Recuenco Approximately 200 American soldiers will remain in western Mindanao as President Duterte approved the suspension of the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which he himself had ordered earlier following the cancellation of the US visa of his former national police chief. Lt. Gen. Cirilito… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 5:46 PM By Vanne Elaine Terrazola  Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday hit back at the critics of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act who questioned the timing of its passage in Congress. Senator Vicente Sotto III(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) “Anong pinagsasabi nila (What are they… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 5:42 PM By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz The Department of Agriculture (DA) is readying to distribute to farmer-beneficiaries and organizations about 15,000 farm machineries approximately worth P10 billion this year. Department of Agriculture (MANILA BULLETIN) DA Director Roy Abaya said 2,938 machineries are now ready for distribution. A total of 495 four-wheel… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 5:41 PM By Ellson Quismorio A House leader is suggesting the use of Broadband Global Area Networks (BGANs) and Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) to aid in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) plan to use online-based learning methods in the coming school year. Iligan City lone district Rep. Frederick Siao(FACEBOOK /… Keep Reading

Published June 4, 2020, 5:38 PM By Leslie Ann G. Aquino Labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) said the railroading in Congress of the anti-terrorism bill manifested the Duterte administration’s misplaced priorities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “It clearly showed that its hunger for extrajudicial authoritarian powers has become more urgent in this time of pandemic than… Keep Reading