A caregiver advocacy group labeled as “misleading” claims of a recruiters’ association that deployment of caregivers from abroad has declined as a result of the reforms announced by the federal government to protect the workers.

President Benigno Aquino dug down in the shortlist of nominees submitted to him by the Judicial Bar Council and appointed a law professor, Maria Lourdes Aranal-Sereno, as associate justice of the Supreme Court.

Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Commissioner Ricardo Abcede over the weekend proposed the immediate disposal of assets surrendered to the government to help generate funds for the reportedly cash-strapped administration of President Benigno Aquino 3rd.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet: Mayor Greg Abalos of La Trinidad, Benguet province placed three municipal employees under preventive suspension for 90 days without pay while a formal investigation is pending. The municipal employees—Enrique Lando, Norman Simsim and Richard Leaño—were charged with the following offenses: dishonesty; grave misconduct; receiving gifts for personal use in the course of official duties; soliciting or accepting directly or indirectly anything of monetary value; and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

COTABATO City: Majority of the journalists in Mindanao are going to oppose whatever form of restriction that the government would apply as guideline in their news coverage. The newsmen reiterated their announcement on Monday of their intention to join a massive protest against media restriction in the wake of the August 23 hostage-taking resulting in the killing of eight Chinese citizens from Hong Kong and the hostage taker himself Police Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza of Tanauan City, Batangas.

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday admitted that members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Manila Police District (MPD) that stormed a tourist bus during last week’s hostage crisis were indeed ill-equipped.

Malacañang on Monday said it would not suspend the cancellation of the warrant of arrest against Sen. Panfilo Lacson, despite pleas from his family to do so. Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) already cancelled the senator’s passport in response to a court order.

Filipinos in Hong Kong on Tuesday faced the wrath of residents there angered by the bloody end to a drawn-out hostage-taking perpetrated by a disgraced police official.

Criticisms and angry comments came from a number of sectors, including the Hong Kong government and media—as well as from Filipinos themselves.

The national police on Tuesday admitted that their rescue team committed mistakes in resolving a hostage crisis in Manila that ended with eight dead Hong Kong tourists—plus the hostage-taker, a dismissed law enforcer—on Monday night.

COTABATO CITY: If there is anyone in Muslim Mindanao, rebel or civilian, who would keep their guns “silent”, then perhaps that is the only time the wish of a Muslim member of the House of Representatives would come true. In a recent privilege speech, Rep. Tupay Loong of Sulu (First District), who claimed to have almost spent his life for the welfare of the Bangsamoro people, batted for cohesive steps that would contribute to the reign of meaningful peace and development in Mindanao, especially in its embattled southern communities.

Her story reflects that of a fairytale handpicked from a golden bedtime collection: a journey of happiness behind struggles, contentment despite inferiority and beauty within determination and goodwill. If not for the walking flesh shown smiling on interviews, or the laughter shared with other beauties from different nations, Maria Venus Raj is a cutout of our newfound morena version of Cinderella. Venus Raj

A hostage crisis in the Philippine capital ended on Monday with four captives confirmed dead, Manila Police District Senior Superintendent Nelson Yabut said. Five other hostages were wounded, one of them critically, Yabut added.

Another 8.5 million-plus have prediabetes (they have symptoms indicating they would soon be diabetic if they don’t drastically change their lifestyle and eating habits and preferences). Most of the Pinoys in this second group don’t know they have this condition. Diabetes has become such a serious public health concern that the secretary of Health, through Assistant Secretary Nemesio Ga, issued a DOH circular urging all officers of the department and directors of bureaus, chiefs of medical centers and hospitals and all others in the government concerned with health and medicine, to attend the 8th Joint Annual Convention of the Philippine Association of Diabetes Educators and Association of Diabetes Nurse Educators of the Philippines which began on Friday and closed yesterday at the Century Park Hotel Manila with the theme “Diabetes Education Levels Up.”

Some 39 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were repatriated from Bahrain this morning, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday
In a statement, the Foreign Affairs department reported that the 39 Filipino workers arrived from Bahrain this morning at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport accompanied by Philippine Ambassador Corazon Yap-Bahjin.

When the Department of Foreign Affairs implemented its electronic passport (e-passport) project in August last year, many expected that getting their passports would be easier and more comfortable. “But that is the trouble with automation in this country . . . just when you thought things will be easier, you suddenly find yourself waiting under the sun,” a young woman who wanted to be identified only as Zaleen Jimenez told The Manila Times during a chance interview.