Philippines Morning News For April 25

Duterte sued at ICC for alleged involvement in mass killings
A criminal case has been filed against President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands, for his alleged involvement in extra-judicial killings when he was mayor of Davao City and, now, as the president of the Philippines, The Manila Times Online reported on Tuesday.
— Thai PBS

Tourist arrivals up 10.5% in the Philippines, despite — or due to — anti-drugs war
Despite “a war on drugs” that reportedly claimed the lives of over 7,000 people in less than a year, the Philippines is still growing in popularity as a holiday destination, the Undersecretary of Tourism, Benito Bengzon, has said.
— Gulf News

US, Philippines scale back next month’s military drills; no more ‘war games’
About 5,000 American and Philippine troops will hold humanitarian exercises next month instead of annual war games, scaling back military drills in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s disdain for their longstanding defence alliance.
— Channel NewsAsia

First Gen raises $500M from debt
LOPEZ-LED First Gen Corp., through wholly-owned subsidiary First Gas Power Corp., signed on Monday a $500 million, 7-year term loan facility with six banks to refinance and manage its debt.
— The Manila Times

Release P139 million for retired gov’t lawyers, DOJ asks DBM
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release immediately the P139 million for retired lawyers of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).
— Manila Bulletin

Nippon Fruehauf invests P3.7-B in Bulacan plant expansion
JAPAN’S number one tailgate lift manufacturer and seller, Nippon Fruehauf Co. Ltd., is investing P3.7 billion for the plant expansion of its local licensed builder, Centro Manufacturing Corporation, in Marilao, Bulacan, a top trade official said on Monday.
— The Manila Times

Ecija bus crash victims get P4.6M in assistance
Cash assistance totaling P4.6 million was given last weekend to families of passengers who were killed or hurt when their bus fell 40 meters into a ravine at Carranglan town in Nueva Ecija province on April 18.
— Inquirer.net

PHL explores paths to modern defense
THE previous administration has endowed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with more than P65 billion worth of equipment, and allowed the AFP to make a giant leap from its decrepit and vintage assets. However, the country’s modernization spending still pales
in comparison with its military neighbors in Southeast Asia.
— Business Mirror

T-bill rates mixed during yesterday’s auction
Treasury bill rates showed mixed results during yesterday’s auction as traders are still on the lookout for more catalysts in the market, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said yesterday.
— The Philippines Star

Philippines: Army says killed 36 Islamic State-linked militants in three days
PHILIPPINE security forces killed about 36 Islamic State-linked militants in a three-day air and ground assault on a southern island, and captured the rebels’ base, an army general said on Monday.
— Asian Correspondent

Philippines: SM Investments picks 62.21% in MyTown dormitory brand owner PULS
SM Investments Corp (SMIC) has taken 62.21 per cent controlling stake in Philippines Urban Living Solutions Inc (PULS), the operator of dormitory buildings under the MyTown brand.
— Deal Street Asia

Artificial intelligence reinventing banking in PH
Artificial intelligence (AI) – or as some call robotics – will become an alternative way for banks and even brokerage firms here to interact with their customers soon.
— Rappler

Is Philippines offering Beijing an olive branch over South China Sea?
The Philippines will seek to manage tensions over the disputed South China Sea at the upcoming Asean summit, after years of tough rhetoric with Beijing over the issue.
— South China Morning Post

DoF cites tax amnesty prerequisites
THE GOVERNMENT is biding its time in its plan to offer amnesty to tax delinquents until it lays firm groundwork for an effective program, the head of the Department of Finance (DoF) said.
— BusinessWorld Online

PH, US to hold 33rd Balikatan exercises
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States (US) forces will hold the 33rd iteration of Balikatan exercises in several locations in Luzon and Visayas on May 8 to 19, 2017, the US Embassy in Manila announced on Monday.
— Manila Bulletin

DOJ files charges vs RCBC branch manager, Philrem owners on $81-M Bangladesh Bank heist
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed before the Makati City regional trial court (RTC) money laundering charges against a former branch manager of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) and the owners of remittance firm Philrem Service Corporation in connection with the $81 million stolen last year from the Bangladesh Bank.
— Manila Bulletin

Lawmaker: e-passport project illegally subcontracted
Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz 3rd of ACTS OFW Party List described as “dubious” a firm to which the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) P8 billion e-passport project was sub-contracted.
— The Manila Times

Shares open higher on French election relief
Share prices opened higher on Tuesday, as world markets welcomed the results of the French election.
— ABS-CBN

Victims of property crimes up in Q1 — SWS
The number of Filipinos who fell victim to property crimes went up in the first quarter of 2017 from the previous quarter despite the government’s intensified law enforcement efforts, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.
— The Philippines Star

Measly loot of P1,000 prompts robbers to shoot LBC workers
Two robbers who were irked by their measly loot shot and wounded two employees of a payment and remittance center in Marikina City on Sunday afternoon.
— Inquirer.net

Feature photo Giuliana Bencovich
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Philippines Morning News For April 25 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on April 25, 2017
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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.