MANILA – The Senate on Tuesday began its inquiry into the allegations of rampant corruption, incompetence, and inefficiency in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Senator Panfilo Lacson said the inquiry is being conducted after several PhilHealth officials, both incumbent or recently resigned, sought the Senate’s intervention to help … Read More
MANILA – At least three senators on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and other health officials over alleged lapses by the Department of Health (DOH) in responding to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
MANILA – Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Tuesday urged concerned government agencies to look into the plight of thousands of displaced workers in the live events industry whose livelihood are severely affected by community quarantine measures amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
MANILA – Several senators on Tuesday expressed varying opinions after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered ABS-CBN Corp. to stop its television and radio broadcast operations due to the expiration of its congressional franchise on May 4. Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said the matter of allowing ABS-CBN to operate after the NTC order is “now … Read More
MANILA – Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday urged authorities to conduct a thorough probe on the real “motives” behind the mass protest action that was supposedly staged by members of an urban poor group in Quezon City to demand food and other assistance from the government. “Having been immersed in intelligence and law-enforcement work for two … Read More
MANILA — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Thursday confirmed that he has a US visa, and, given the chance, he is “interested to meet” with the United States senators who introduced a US entry ban on Filipino officials. “Meron pa akong US visa pero hindi pa ako nakakapunta ng USA. Tsaka ko na i-check kung meron nang schedule going to USA (I … Read More
MANILA — At least three senators on Wednesday said President Rodrigo Duterte should accept US President Donald Trump’s invitation to attend a special summit between the United States and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) sometime in March. Senator Panfilo Lacson said the summit is both an opportunity for the President to bolster … Read More
MANILA — Senator Ronald dela Rosa on Wednesday said he has received confirmation that his 10-year US visa has been canceled. In an interview, dela Rosa said the US embassy confirmed the cancellation through an official letter dated December 27, but which his office only received on January 20, a day before his 58th birthday. “I … Read More
MANILA — Senator Imee Marcos on Tuesday urged concerned authorities to implement preventive measures as the country faces increased risk of catching a new strain of the pneumonia-causing virus that is slowly spreading in China, where it was initially discovered. She said heightened preventive measures in the country’s international airports and seaports will minimize the risk … Read More
MANILA — The recent withdrawal of lawyer Jude Sabio of the complaint he filed against President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as other instances of “recanting” witnesses, only highlighted the need for a stronger law that would impose heavier penalties on lying witnesses, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday. Besides Sabio, Lacson … Read More
MANILA — Filipinos in Iraq should heed the mandatory evacuation order of the government for their own safety, two senators said Wednesday after Iran launched a missile attack on an Iraqi airbase housing US and allied forces. “Nakikiusap po tayo sa ating mga kababayan sa Iraq na tumalima sa panawagan ng ating pamahalaan na lumisan pansamantala doon (I am … Read More
MANILA — The Senate is ready to heed President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for Congress to convene a special session amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Tuesday. “If ever the President will request for a special session for the need to pass a supplemental budget to help repatriate … Read More
MANILA — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday it was the House of Representatives in the Third Regular Session of the 17th Congress that caused the delay in the passage of the 2019 budget, refuting statements from the current House leadership that the Senate was to blame for the delays. In an interview, Sotto particularly … Read More
MANILA — Amid issues related to the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Tuesday urged organizers of the different sporting events to unite and cooperate with each other for the sake of the athletes and the country. In a radio interview, Go pointed out that while the … Read More
MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo’s plan to report on what she discovered about the drug war is “unnecessary”, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Monday following the former’s dismissal as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD). “It’s her call. But sa akin (for me) I don’t think it’s still necessary,” Lacson said in … Read More
MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Monday questioned the “propriety” of spending more than PHP50 million in public funds to build the cauldron that will be used only once during the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, saying he will ask the Senate to investigate any possible abuses that may have been committed on the matter. “Sa akin, masyadong extravagant ang mahiwaga … Read More