Pinoy Tambayan | A Filipino News and Entertainment

The Philippine delegation made a huge success in the recently concluded Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva, Switzerland, wherein ninety-five (95) out of 105 countries who attended the event were convinced that extra judicial killings (EJK) is non-existent in the Philippines. According to DILG Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing in a press conference on Monday that the Philippines received congratulatory message as they noted that this is the first time they heard that the figures reaching them were "spoiled and rotten information." Asec. Densing told reporters "One hundred and nine countries committed in the UPR... All 95 countries who prepared their intervention congratulated the Philippines for improving human rights situation the past five years," Densing stated. The DILG Asst. Secretary for plan and program said that about 15 to 20 countries expressed concern over the number of drug suspects killed in police operations, although none opposed the o...

The tough-talking President of the Republic of the Philippines, Pres. Rody Duterte has appointed one of the country's most prominent lawmaker, former Senate Pres. Edgardo Angara as the Philippines special envoy to the European Union (EU). Sen. Pres. Angara was appointed as Special Envoy of the President to the European Union, working under the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), last May 3, based on the list of presidential appointees released Wednesday. Edgardo Angara's appointment as special envoy to EU, is considered as a move by the Duterte administration to improve ties with the European Union, a vital trading partner of the Philippines and consistent advocate for the Mindanao peace process. Before the appointment of former Senator Angara, Pres. Duterte lashed out at the EU for its criticism of his government's war on drugs, moves to revive the death penalty, and the proposal to bring down the minimum age of criminal liability. Sen. Angara, the chairman of ...

Former Vice Presidential candidate and one of the country's most brilliant lawmaker, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was approved by the Commission on Appointments in less than five minutes as an official nominee as Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The committee's decision will now be referred to the plenary, which will vote to approve or reject the panel's hearing. Committee on Appointment's chairman stated that Sen. Cayetano's nomination approval is considered as the "shortest confirmation hearing of a Cabinet Secretary." Sen. Cayetano who is also a member of the Commission on Appointments, thanked his colleagues for letting him breeze through his confirmation hearing. The Senator was quoted as saying "I make a commitment to you today and I will do my best na hindi ko kayo mapahiya (I won't fail you)," Cayetano told members of the CA. Should the powerful CA effectively confirmed Sen. Cayetano as DFA Secretary he will be ...

The Office of the Ombudsman was asked by former Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III to dismiss with finality the administrative and criminal charges filed against the President for his alleged involvement in the controversial P72-billion Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). Former Pres. Aquino was charged for his alleged involvement in the implementation of the Disbursement Acceleration Program which was already declared by the Supreme Court of the Philippines as "unconstitutional." The request of ex-President Aquino was made through his counter-affidavit to the motion for reconsideration (MR) filed jointly by Bayan Muna Rep. Isagani Zarate and 10 other caused-oriented groups with the Ombudsman questioning the March 3 decision of the anti-graft body that cleared the former of any criminal liability on the utilization of DAP. Former Pres. Aquino's closest ally former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, filed his motion for reconsideration (MR) assailing the Ombudsman...

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, the running-mate of Pres. Rody Duterte during the 2016 national elections who was appointed by the President to head the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) revealed the names of senators who will defend the President after leaving the Senate. Some netizens who were avid supporters of Pres. Duterte were worried that after incoming DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano leaves the senate, no one would defend the President in the Senate floor but Sen. Cayetano revealed the names of Senators who will surely defend the administration's agenda. According to Sen. Cayetano he believed that there were seven senators that would push the change wanted by the Duterte administration. He revealed the name of the name of the seven senators who are allies of the President. Sen. Cayetano was quoted as saying "The President is in good hands sa present Senate... You gave me too much credit kasi I hold the microphone eh," Cayetano said. The senator said that ...

Atty. Tony La Viña, a veteran lawyer and former Dean of Ateneo de Manila University's School of Government defended Mocha Uson's appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). The former dean of Ateno stated that Mocha Uson is excellent in social media work that can benefit Pres. Rody Duterte. Atty. La Viña was quoted as saying "Kay Mocha Uson, sang ayon ako doon kasi... Sa totoo lang magaling siya sa social media and talagang magagamit niya yung social media sa agenda ng Presidente," Atty. Antonio "Tony" La Viña said in an in interview on GMA News' "Hirit ni Mareng Winnie." The lawyer and educator added further that "Yung position na yan, maraming nagsasabi na ayaw kong magbayad ng sweldo niya. Sa totoo lang yung position na yan is specifically for the President kasi talagang spokesperson siya ng President sa social media. Talagang hindi siya magse-serve sa atin na ordinary citizen....

Netizens reacts negatively on the statement of Liberal Party stalwarts Sen. Kiko Pangilinan who doubted with the Duterte administration's plans to get the service of the alleged pork barrel queen, Janet Lim Napoles who could be utilized by the DOJ to served as a state witness against lawmakers who were involved in the pork barrel controversy. In an interview with CNN Philippines, Sen. Pangilinan stated that he is afraid of the possibility that the controversial pork barrel queen, Janet Lim Napoles, will be used by the Duterte admin on their effort to bring down the members of the Liberal Party. Watch the Video Interview of Sen. Pangilinan: According to Pangilinan he will not be surprised if Janet Lim Napoles will speak against the opposition or the members of the Liberal Party. The senator was also dismayed with the decision of Court of Appeals to allow the acquittal of Napoles from the illegal detention case filed against her by Benhur Luy. Netizens were quick to reac...

The tough-talking President of the Republic of the Philippines, Pres. Rody Duterte believed that the controversial and alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles was a "minimal player" in the multi-billion plunder of state coffers and could be tapped as state witness. Although Napoles got an unlikely ally in the person of the President, she has to prove that she is not the most guilty of fund misuse, and the final decision rests on the courts. Pres. Duterte was quoted as saying "As to the question of whether or not she could be utilized as a state witness, there’s a law which says that one of the requirements [is]at least she appears to be the least guilty. If you are a major player, I don’t know if you can do it,” said Duterte, a former prosecutor in Davao City. The President added further that "It’s up to the judge. It is the judge, the prosecutor who would make the motion and the judge will decide… So if you are asking for an expanded explanati...

Newly-crowned Bb. Pilipinas International 2017 Miss Mariel De Leon shares her disappointment on social media about the recent appointment of popular social media personality Mocha Uson as Assistant Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). According to Mariel De Leon, she loves her country so it breaks her heart to know someone like her (Mocha) got a position in the government. This is the reply of Mariel de Leon to one of her fans who asked about her views with Mocha's appointment. Mariel De Leon also noted that there are so many other unbiased, educated and respected people who deserved her place. Due to the statement of De Leon, another popular social media personality Sass Rogando Sasot came to the rescue and defended Mocha Uson's appointment. According to Sasot, loyalty is important in an appointed position. These appointees, like Mocha, serve at the pleasure of the president. As such, they should have a particular bias --- and that is,...

Former PNP Chief and one of the country's most prominent lawmaker, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson revealed the reason why he blocked the confirmation of former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez. According to Sen. Lacson, Gina Lopez was forcefully put in a rehab facility when she was still young. The revelations of Sen. Ping Lacson was released during a radio interview as he cited a 1975 Supreme Court document involving habeas corpus petition filed by the minor Gina Lopez against her own mother Conchita Lopez who forcefully put her in a drug rehab facility for violating the Dangerous Drugs Act. Based upon the document cited by Sen. Lacson, Gina Lopez was "voluntarily submitted by her mother to the Court for treatment and rehabilitation for drug dependency on July 4, 1974" and to put her in a "physical examination" to determine whether "she is still a drug dependent or not and/or she is suffering from personality disorder or not" According t...

The tough-talking President of the Republic of the Philippines, Pres. Rody Duterte appointed former AFP Chief Roy Cimatu as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Gen. Roy Cimatu's appointment as DENR Secretary was confirmed by Special Assistant to the President, Christopher "Bong" Go a few days after the Commission on Appointments rejected Gina Lopez' appointment. Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella released the following statement announcing the appointment of the former Army General and Special Envoy to the Middle East.  "We are confident that Secretary Cimatu shall faithfully serve the interest of the country and the Filipino people in his capacity as the new DENR Secretary," Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement. Although already appointed by the Philippine President after Gina Lopez rejection, the presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella clarified that Cimatu's appointment is still sub...

Veteran journalist and former Philippine ambassador to Cyprus and Greece, Rigoberto Tiglao revealed on his latest article on The Manila Times the "Big Lie" allegedly committed by UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard. During the speech of Dr. Callamard at a Philippine Commission on Human Rights event last Friday, the Special Rapporteur Callamard said: "In April 2016, the general assembly of the world's government recognized explicitly that the war on drugs does not work." Tiglao debunked the claims made by Dr. Callamard and stated that she is lying. The United Nations General Assembly never made such a declaration,explicitly or implicitly. The former ambassador revealed that the UN General Assembly's lengthy 11,000-word resolution (UN Document A/RES/S-30/1) issued April 19 entitled "Our joint commitment to effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem" did not even use the term "war on drugs, " much less did it say ...

Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Teodoro Locsin Jr., revealed on his social media account that the complaint filed with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Pres. Duterte is "dead as a door nail." The ICC case against Pres. Duterte was in connection with allegations of extrajudicial killings ordered or abetted by the Duterte administration in the pursuit of his war on drugs. Ambassador Teddy Locsin posted the following on social media "Thank you, Agnes. The ICC case is dead. Trust me on this. Dead as a door nail," Locsin said in a Twitter post. The former lawmaker did not offer an explanation for his claim but it was apparently a follow-up to his tweets criticizing Callamard. Locsin accused her of abusing her position when she visited the country to attend a conference on drug policy. "She says to attend an academic conference but she effectively disqualified herself from any further official role investigating the drug war,”...

The Armed Forces of the Philippines in Southern Philippines confirmed to the media that a total of nineteen members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrendered to authorities in Basilan province on Thursday, May 4, 2017. Nur Hassan Lahaman and Mudz-Ar Angkun, two sub-leaders of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group, surrendered to authorities together with their followers. The surrendered Abu Sayyaf Group members surrendered to troops of the 64th Infantry Batallion in Barangay, Tumahubong, Sumisip, Basilan. According to the AFP, Angkun's group operates in the areas of Sumisip while Hassan operates in Tuburan municipality. The ASG members who surrendered to the military also yielded several high powered firearms to the government. The military also reported that four of the surrenderees are followers of slain ASG leader Alhabsy Misaya, who was killed in Sulu clash last week. The four ASG members were identified as Patta Salapuddin aka Patta, Asbi Salapuddin, Sayyadi Salapuddin, ...

The powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) composed of the members from the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives rejected the appointment of Gina Lopez as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday May 3, 2017. The former DENR Secretary Lopez failed to pass the CA after four senators and all the members of the House of Representatives who sits as CA member voted NO against the popular environmentalist. For the past few months, Sec. Gina Lopez faced strong opposition from some of the country's largest mining companies after she quickly ordered the closure of 23 mines and ordered suspensions of other mines who did not pass the agency's evaluation. Sec. Lopez also canceled future open pit mining projects in the Philippines. During the announcement of the decision of the CA rejecting Gina Lopez, netizens were surprised that some of the closest allies of Pres. Duterte voted against the appointment of Gina Lopez while...

One of world's leading inter national non-governmental organization working for the protection and conservation of the environment, GreenPeace released an official statement a few minutes after the Philippine Commission on Appointments rejected Gina Lopez as the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).  Greenpeace released an official statement on the Commission on Appointment's rejection of Regina Lopez as DENR Secretary.  On May 3, 2017, a day after the third confirmation hearing of DENR Secretary Regina Lopez, the Commission on Appointments voted to reject Lopez for the environment agency post.  In reaction, Yeb Saño, Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said: “The rejection of Gina Lopez is a rejection of change. Her rejection as DENR Secretary by the Commission on Appointments is very disappointing and worrying, and shows how destructive industries continue to hold Philippine lawmakers by their necks." “We were...

Secretary Gina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) fired another shot at the mining industry as she ordered anew to ban all prospective open-pit mines in the Philippines. During a press briefing DENR Sec. Lopez announced that she is banning the open-pit method of mining for copper, gold, silver and complex ores all over the country. Sec. Gina Lopez was quoted as saying "As a matter of policy, which is my prerogativve as DENR secretary, we're banning open-pit mining, prospective, for the following reasons: that pit is gonna be there forever and a day, eternally," Lopez said. Sec. Lopez cited several reasons for the ban including its financial and environmental liability; deprivation of economic use of the area; continuing adverse impact on the environment; and its high risk to host communities. Under the Philippine Mining Act, an open-pit mining is allowed but Sec. Lope claimed that it was within her prerogative to issue and order ...

President Rody Duterte promised during the election period that he will do his best to solve the unemployment problems in the Philippines, in order to solve the problems, the Duterte admin through the Department of Labor and Employment announced a total of 2 million job vacancies in a nationwide job fair in celebration of the Labor Day this coming May 1, 2017. According to DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III, the highly anticipated Job Fair this coming Labor Day aims to reduce the rising problems of unemployment in the country. Watch the Video Report by PTV4: Based upon the records of DOLE, the Philippines is now considered as one of the highest in unemployment problems in the ASEAN Region with an estimated 6 percent unemployment rate. In Central Luzon alone around 10,000 job vacancies are now waiting for the right jobseekers who could immediately signed a job once they were accepted in various job fairs locations in Central Luzon. The Duterte administration also announce...

The controversial Vice President of the Philippines, Vice Pres. Leni Robredo made headlines anew in a negative way as netizens lambasts the second highest official in the country for suggesting that the Philippines could follow the footsteps of Portugal in decriminalizing the use of illegal drugs in the country and sending the victims to experts for therapy Vice Pres. Leni Robredo gave her suggestions to the Duterte administration during a speech at the University of Los Baños in the Province of Laguna after one of the students challenged her on how she is going to end the drug problems in the country. According to VP Leni's suggestion, the government should follow Portugal's "triumphant war on drugs." VP Leni revealed that Portugal decriminalize drug use in 2001, she also believes that it can solve the war that Duterte is waging against drugs. VP Leni said that instead of killing or sending drug addicts to jail for life, why not send them to experts for thera...

A police officer from Davao Region together with a suspected bomb expert were arrested in Bohol for allegedly tried to rescue the remaining Abu Sayyaf members during the second firefight with government forces in Clarin town. According to the intelligence report the suspects were aboard a black Nissan Navarra vehicle when they were intercepted at a military checkpoint in Barangay Bacani, Clarin town. The suspects were driving fast that's why they were flagged down in a military roadblock near a resort in Barangay Bacani. Watch the Video During the Arrest of the Police Officer from Davao Region: The suspected Abu Sayyaf rescuers were identified as Supt. Maria Christina Nobleza and driver Reenor Lou Dungon. According to an initial reports from the military, Dungon is allegedly a suspected bomb expert who was formerly arrested in Marawi City last May 2013. Dungon was released from prison during his first arrest after presenting fake birth certificate to authorities. He is s...