Philippines Morning News For April 28

Philippines’ Duterte says helpless against China
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday (Apr 27) there was no point protesting Chinese artificial island building in disputed areas of the South China Sea because it could not be stopped.
— Channel NewsAsia

ASEAN now Philippines’ biggest trading partner
The Philippines has increased trade with other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members and has enormous potential for capturing half of world market, a testament it is benefiting from its partnership with nine other ASEAN members, an economist said.
— Concept Central

‘Hidden cell’ found in Manila Police District station
More than a dozen detainees were found in a nearly airless cell hidden behind a shelf at the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 1 yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

Philippines to get South Korea anti-sub warship
South Korea will transfer a used Pohang-class anti-submarine warship to the Philippines this year in return for a token $100, the defense department said yesterday, boosting its capability to patrol vast maritime borders.
— The Philippine Star

Philippines is 2nd Fastest Growing Auto Market in ASEAN
According to the latest ASEAN Automotive Federation data, the Philippines remained among the most lucrative automotive markets in the region, as it recorded the second fastest growth in motor vehicle sales among seven countries in Southeast Asia. Data showed that the Philippines posted a 17.4 percent growth in the first two months, helping the country improve its position from third to second in the ASEAN rankings.
— Yahoo News

Altered audit caused mining firm’s suspension – DENR exec
A ranking official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has attested in an affidavit submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman that former environment undersecretary Leo Jasareno instructed him to change last year’s audit findings on Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. to make it appear that it committed major violations.
— The Philippine Star

9,000 gun licenses revoked
Over 9,000 firearm licenses have been revoked by the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) for various reasons, including the involvement of the gun owners in illegal drugs.
— The Philippine Star

Self-rated poverty edges up in Q1
THE RANKS of Filipinos considering themselves poor increased last quarter as all geographical areas saw slight increments, according to a new Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
— BusinessWorld Online

Environment department poised to ban open-pit mining — Lopez
THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will ban mines preparing to operate from using the open-pit method to extract metal ore.
— BusinessWorld Online

Push for S. China Sea code stirs ASEAN suspicions about Beijing’s end game
CHINA’s support for finalising a code of conduct in the hotly contested South China Sea is generating some hope in Southeast Asia of settling disputes, but those working out the terms remain unconvinced of Beijing’s sincerity.
— BusinessWorld Online

Duterte nixes ABS-CBN franchise renewal
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday said he will block the renewal of the franchise of media and entertainment giant ABS-CBN Corp. for allegedly swindling him.
— BusinessWorld Online

Duterte: Arbitral ruling not an issue for Asean
President Duterte on Thursday said it was pointless discussing at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit the Philippines’ victory over China in the South China Sea dispute, and no one dared pressure Beijing anyway.
— Inquirer.net

SMC, PNCC mull over P700-B Quezon-Samar road, bridge deal
Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. and the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) are studying a massive P700-billion toll road project and bridge stretching from Quezon province to Northern Samar.
— Inquirer.net

50 percent of Pinoys say they are poor: SWS
The percentage of Filipinos believing they are poor increased to half the population, the latest Social Weather Stations survey said.
— ABS-CBN

Aquino officials should face trial over P3.8-B trains unfit for MRT – Poe
Transport officials in the Aquino administration must pay and face trial over the purchase of 48 coaches worth P3.8 billion that turned out to be not suitable for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 system, Sen. Grace Poe demanded yesterday.
— Manila Bulletin

BSP expects April inflation at 3%-3.8%
Headline inflation may settle at as low as 3 percent or as high as 3.8 percent in April, the central bank said, broadening its forecast range from the 3.4 percent posted in March to factor in higher utility rates and oil prices, as well as lower cooking gas prices and a stronger peso.
— The Manila Times

Asean backs Philippines infra program
The Philippines has taken the limelight in Southeast Asia not only as the host of the ASEAN Summit this year, but also as a center of infrastructure development in the region given the government’s aggressive infrastructure push.
— The Philippine Star

Feature photo Giuliana Bencovich
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Philippines Morning News For April 28 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on April 28, 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.