Briones: Press release

The fact that the illegal drug problem continues to exist and, judging by the recent arrests and seizures, flourish means something is going on that the rest of the public is not aware of. That is, until the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) appealed to all full-fledged police colonels and generals to […]

Gov’t assures continued health workers’ allowance after end of state of calamity 

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter  THE GOVERNMENT on Wednesday assured that the payout of COVID-19 allowance to health workers will not be affected by the expiration of a 2020 state of calamity that was declared due to the health crisis.  “That will continue,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said after meeting with health officials […]

Senate panel recommends charges vs procurement, DepEd execs over laptops

THE SENATE Blue Ribbon Committee has recommended the filing of criminal and administrative cases against current and former high officials of the procurement service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) and the Department of Education (DepEd) for the purchase of allegedly overpriced laptops for teachers. “There is sufficient basis to believe that there […]

More Philippine Defense officials quit 

MORE senior officials of the Defense department have quit after Jose Faustino, Jr. resigned as secretary.  At least seven more officials who held undersecretary and assistant secretary positions submitted their resignation letters to newly installed Defense Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., agency spokesman Arsenio R. Andolong told reporters on Tuesday.  It is customary for coterminous […]

Teachers ‘concerned’ with new DepEd order

SOME public school teachers in Cebu expressed concern over a new order issued by the Department of Education (DepEd) that mandates its personnel, especially teachers, to practice professionalism. Antonia Lim, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Cebu chapter president, told SunStar Cebu that DepEd Order 49 series of 2022 could penalize public school teachers for reporting […]

Senior Indonesian officials targeted by spyware last year — sources

Six of the individuals told Reuters they were targeted themselves. The targets included Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, senior military personnel, two regional diplomats, and advisers in Indonesia’s defense and foreign affairs ministries, according to the people. Six of the Indonesian officials and advisers targeted told Reuters they received an email message from Apple Inc. […]

Senate body seeks raps vs officials in sugar fiasco

THE SENATE blue ribbon committee has recommended criminal and administrative charges against agriculture and sugar officials for approving 300,000 metric tons of sugar imports amid rising prices and tight supply, allegedly without the president’s consent. In a committee report, the body accused the officials, who later quit their jobs, of serious dishonesty, grave misconduct and […]

Tell it to SunStar: If enacted, Tolentino’s proposal will spur crackdown on government officials, employees and their kin

Rights group Karapatan criticized Sen. Francis Tolentino for his remarks made on Aug. 31, 2022 at the Senate. The lawmaker proposed measures requiring government employees to disclose information on their relatives who may have connections with so-called terrorist organizations.“What Sen. Tolentino is suggesting is a crackdown on officials and employees in the public sector and […]

G20 talks overshadowed by Ukraine war as host Indonesia seeks consensus

NUSA DUA, Indonesia — G20 finance leaders meeting in Bali must make progress tackling the global economic threats sparked by Russia’s war in Ukraine or the humanitarian consequences would be catastrophic, host Indonesia said on Friday.  Some Western ministers blasted Russian officials attending the talks, with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen saying Russia’s “brutal and […]