Both AFP and rebel groups used minors in armed operations in 2012 UN says

GMA News - Monday 17th June, 2013

It's not just armed rebel groups, but also the Philippine military that recruited minors for their operations in 2012, according to a new report from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.The report entitled "Grave Violations Committed Against Children in 22 Situations of Concern" released last June 12 said two young boys were recruited by the Armed Forces of the ...

Israeli Embassy suspends consular services due to labor dispute

GMA News - Monday 17th June, 2013

The Israeli Embassy in Manila on Monday suspended consular services indefinitely due to what it said was an ongoing labor dispute "instituted by the union of Foreign Affairs employees calling for a better working environment."In ...

Philippines says to finish probe on shooting Taiwan fishermen soon

SINA - Monday 17th June, 2013

The Philippine National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) is close to finishing its investigations on a Taiwan fisherman shot dead by Philippine coast guards, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said Tuesday. Except for the physical examination of the fishing vessel, the NBI has already completed its probe on the case, said Aquino in a chance interview after the 115th anniversary celebration ...

Nancy Binay takes crash course on lawmaking at UP

GMA News - Monday 17th June, 2013

It's back to school for Senator-elect Nancy Binay on Monday as she began a five-day course on lawmaking at the University of the Philippines (UP).Binay, a neophyte politician who placed fifth in the recent Senate polls, went along with members of her staff at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance on Monday morning for a legislative training course."Today, I am ...

PAGASA Tropical depression Emong to affect PHL until Friday

GMA News - Monday 17th June, 2013

PAGASA: 'Habagat', LPA, ITCZ bring rain to various parts of PHL. PAGASA said in its weather bulletin early Sunday morning that the Bicol region, Central and Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides." PAGASA Tropical Depression Emong will affect parts of ...

TD Emong nears Catanduanes but not likely to make landfall

GMA News - Monday 17th June, 2013

Tropical Depression Emong moved closer to Catanduanes province in Bicol before noon Monday but state weather forecasters said it is not likely to make landfall over any part of the country. PAGASA forecaster Alvin Pura said their models show that while Emong may intensify in the next 24 hours, it is also likely to veer north and head for Taiwan. "Hindi inaasahan natin itong mag-landfall. ...

Philippines urged to fix human rights laws

Asia News Network - Monday 17th June, 2013

Amnesty International has urged the incoming 16th Philippine Congress to close loopholes in the antitorture law and two other laws designed to protect human rights. At the release here on Friday of the organisation's 2013 human rights report, Amnesty Philippines human rights officer Romel de Vera presented cases of rights abuses to illustrate the weaknesses of Republic Act No. 9745, RA ...

Emirates Airlines launches second Philippines flight

eTN - Sunday 16th June, 2013

DUBAI, UAE - The Aquino administration is developing tourism clusters to attract more expatriates and overseas Filipinos (OFs) to visit the Philippines. In the UAE recently, the Philippines' Department of Tourism (DoT)-Market Development Group Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon Jr., said this is among the thrusts of Manila in promoting the country as a world tourism destination. It was ...

Marina eyes stricter policy on passenger manifests after RORO sinking

GMA News - Sunday 16th June, 2013

Friday's sinking of a roll-on roll-off vessel off Masbate , the Maritime Industry Authority is considering stricter policies on passenger manifests, even if the vessel involved is not overloaded. Marina head Maximo Mejia Jr. said Monday the failure of Medallion Transport to properly list passengers on its manifest has caused problems for the Coast Guard and other agencies searching for ...

Taiwan Philippines agree to avoid force in fishing disputes

Global Times - Sunday 16th June, 2013

Taiwan and the Philippines have pledged not to use force in fishing disputes, officials said, as they tackle a row over the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by Filipino coastguards.The agreement was reached during their first preparatory meeting on fishery cooperation held in Manila on Friday, Taiwan's "foreign ministry" said in a statement released late Saturday.It said the ...

Philippines Taiwan shun force in resolving row

Asia News Network - Sunday 16th June, 2013

The Philippines and Taiwan have "agreed in principle" to avoid the use of force in fishing disputes, as they begin to resolve a row over the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in overlapping waters last month. Officials of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Teco) reached the agreement during their preparatory meeting on ...

PHILIPPINES PRESS-Cebu Pacific eyes more plane purchases - Inquirer

Reuters - Sunday 16th June, 2013

Sun Jun 16, 2013 8:42pm EDT ---- NOTE: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for its ...