Philippines Morning News For January 26

Philippines seeks tougher charges for Aquino over commandos’ deaths
Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino must be held criminally accountable for negligence that led to the deaths of 44 police commandos in 2015, the government’s top lawyer said in a petition filed at the Supreme Court on Thursday.
— Reuters

Philippine gov’t hits New York Times for defending Rappler
The Philippine government criticized the New York Times (NYT) for releasing an editorial that defended Rappler after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoked the license of the social news network.
— Rappler

Over 10,000 HIV cases recorded in first 11 months of 2017
Over 10,000 new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases were recorded during the first 11 months of 2017, the Department of Health (DOH) disclosed Thursday.
— Manila Bulletin

Philippines gives green light to South Korean processed meat imports
South Korean processed meat firms will soon be able to export products to the Philippines after the two nations agreed standards protocols.
— FoodNavigator-Asia

15 Dengvaxia child vaccinees in Lucena sent to hospital
Fifteen elementary students of Padre Burgos town were rushed for medical examination due to fear of dengue symptoms to the Quezon Medical Center (QMC) here on Wednesday afternoon.
— Manila Bulletin

Govt rejects Kuwait appeal to resume OFW deployment
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has turned down the appeal of the Kuwaiti government for the lifting of the temporary suspension of deployment of Filipino workers to the oil-rich state, amid investigations into the deaths of seven Filipino household workers.
— The Manila Times

Is the Philippines a Chinese province?
Partisanship is a state I wish to avoid and have been trying to do so for many years. Of course, I have not been always successful, but I keep trying and I transcend it most of the time now.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Philippine treasurer maps out plan to face higher debt costs
ONE of Asia’s fastest-growing economies is getting ready for higher borrowing costs, just as it embarks on a massive infrastructure-spending program.
— BusinessMirror

One of the world’s biggest commercial vessels is 100% made in the Philippines
A gigantic ship such as the TEU class container vessel is now considered as one of the biggest commercial ships in the world, and the best part is that it is 100-percent made in the Philippines, crafted mostly by Filipinos.
— GMA News Online

Uber Philippines seeks fare hike, citing tax reform law
Uber Philippines on Thursday, January 25, submitted a petition to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for a fare hike due to increasing fuel prices and new excise taxes on petroleum.
— Rappler

Philippines rejected EU aid due to sovereignty issues — trade chief
The 6.1 million euro assistance offered by the European Union was rejected by the Duterte administration because of sovereignty issues, an official said Thursday.
— Philstar

3 more states to do research in PH Rise
CHINA is not the only country whose application to conduct research on the resource-rich Benham Rise the Philippines has approved, Malacañang said on Thursday.
— The Manila Times

Philippines-based church has ‘means and motivation’ to kill refugee if returned: IRB
The Immigration and Refugee Board has found a Philippines-based church with chapters across Canada “is motivated by a vendetta” against a dissident who sought refugee status in B.C., and has “both the means and the motivation to seriously harm or kill” him, should he return to the Philippines.
— CBC

Philippines secures $1.25 billion investments from India
The Philippines has drawn at least $1.25 billion worth of investment pledges from Indian firms that are expected to create 10,000 jobs.
— Philstar

A volcano in the Philippines is threatening a major eruption
Magma swelled beneath the Mount Mayon volcano in the Philippines on Thursday and a column of ash more than a mile high spewed out, forcing 75,000 to flee. Officials are warning that a major eruption could happen any day now.
— VOX

U.N. experts urge Philippines to preserve free media
GENEVA – U.N. human rights experts called on the Philippines government on Thursday to allow independent news website Rappler to operate, voicing concern at rising rhetoric against voices critical of President Rodrigo Duterte.
— Rappler

Senate keen on up to 50% rice tariff
The Philippines may impose up to 50 percent duty on imported rice as lawmakers finalize the amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act, which replaces quantitative import restrictions with tariffs.
— Philstar

Third telco can deliver SMS, call services using 3G – NTC
The third major player that is expected to enter the Philippine telecommunications industry soon can still compete against PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom with the increasing availability of 3G- and 4G-capable smartphones, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said.
— The Manila Times

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Philippines morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Philippines news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Philippines Morning News For January 26 added by Leakhena Khat on January 26, 2018
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Leakhena Khat

Leakhena is a junior journalist at AEC News Today who is also currently studying International Relations, which she finds adds perspective to her work reporting on the Asean Community.

“I love what I am doing so much as it gives me a lot of great experience and provides challenges to my mind.