H.K. legislature calls for justice in Philippines hostage crisis+

HONG KONG, Sept.

Meralco seeks P18B in under recoveries

BY JOHN POQUIZ Manila Electric Co., the country’s largest power distribution company, has asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to allow it to raise rates by 35 percent in the next five years to P1.90 per kilowatt-hour.

Education budget hiked to P175B

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang is proposing to increase the 2011 budget for education by P32.3 billion to P175 billion even as it ordered agencies and departments to refrain from lobbying Congress for bigger allocations.

Judge defers trial of Philippine massacre suspects

Manila – A Philippine judge on Wednesday delayed the resumption of the trial of a mayor and his co-accused for the massacre of 57 people last year. Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes said the adjournment would allow the court to address motions from the counsel representing the suspects in the murders committed in…

SSS urged to recover millions of pesos from ex-officials

MANILA, Philippines – The Social Security System (SSS) has been urged by a senator to recover the millions of pesos that its former commissioners have allegedly pocketed from various private corporations.

Health chief: Give couples right to choose contraception mode

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Enrique Ona has expressed support for a provision in the reproductive health bill that calls for giving couples access to information…

2 impeach raps vs Ombudsman sufficient in form—House panel

MANILA, Philippines – The two impeachment complaints against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez hurdled the first test when they were found sufficient in form by the committee on justice at the House of Representatives. The committee has yet to decide when to consolidate the…

Taal shows increased activity but remains at lowest alert level

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has recorded increased activity in Taal Volcano in Tagaytay, Batangas in the last 24 hours, but said an eruption is not expected soon. In a bulletin issued Friday, the Phivolcs said there were 20…

Philippine fire leaves thousands homeless

MANILA, Philippines – Officials say a massive fire has left thousands homeless in two coastal villages north of the capital. Fire Officer…

Cop sacked for unauthorized presence at hostage site

MANILA, Philippines – The National Capital Region Police Office has relieved a Manila police officer for joining without proper authorization the SWAT assault team during…

Filipinos world’s top viewers of Web videos-media agency

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino Internet users have been tagged as the world’s top viewers of videos streamed over the Internet on sites like YouTube, a global social media tracker said. Global media agency Universal McCann’s Power to the People said its recent survey showed the Philippines having the highest percentage of Internet users that watch videos online, despite the country’s relatively low number of households connected to the…

Chinese tourists cancel trips to Philippines – video

“More than 500 tourists from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong have canceled their bookings with the Philippine Airlines (PAL), after the hostage incident took place on Monday, the airline said on Thursday. “‘PAL is…

Gunmen kill 4 in Lanao Norte—police

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Unidentified armed men killed four persons – including two policemen – in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte…

DILG, police execs face hostage probe

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and other local and police officials involved in the Monday hostage-taking in Manila faced the Senate on Thursday, with the upper chamber condemning the act ‘in the highest possible form.’ Also in attendance in…

Angry messages flood Aquino’s Facebook

MANILA, Philippines—Angry messages from Hong Kong residents flooded the official Facebook page of President Benigno Aquino III hours after Monday night’s hostage drama that claimed the lives of eight tourists from the Chinese territory.

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