NEWS | ABS-CBN News

Comelec wary of 2 to 3-day elections, eyes longer voting hours instead

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel and Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 03:55 PM

"Yung tendency ng Comelec right now, the predisposition is to go towards longer election hours, and perhaps smaller precinct sizes," Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told senators Wednesday.  Read more »

Girlfriend, mom of PH’s first case of new COVID-19 variant test positive

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 03:09 PM | Updated Jan 20 03:24 PM

MANILA — The girlfriend of the first new variant case in the Philippines tested positive for COVID-19 after being re-swabbed, the Department of Health said Wednesday. Read more »

Students slam proposal to terminate PUP-DND accord

George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 03:05 PM | Updated Jan 20 03:57 PM

Members of different student organizations stage a protest in front of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila on Wednesday. Read more »

Court issues arrest warrant vs 'Bikoy' over perjury

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 03:04 PM | Updated Jan 20 08:40 PM

A Manila court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against Peter Joemel “Bikoy” Advincula over a perjury charge filed by opposition figures he claimed were part of an ouster plan against President Rodrigo Duterte. Read more »

Robredo camp tells Go: VP said she'd take COVID-19 shots weeks ago

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 02:47 PM

Vice President Leni Robredo weeks ago committed to getting COVID-19 shots to boost public trust in the vaccine, her office said on Wednesday, after Sen. Bong Go this week dared her to get inoculated.  Read more »

Sinovac wants to run clinical trial on 'specific population' in Philippines: DOH

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 02:18 PM | Updated Jan 20 02:21 PM

MANILA — The Department of Health said the government allowed Chinese firm Sinovac to run clinical trials in the country because the study seeks to test COVID-19 vaccines on a “specific population.”  Read more »

'Democracy has prevailed': Palace congratulates incoming US President Biden

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 02:01 PM

Malacañang on Wednesday congratulated American leader Joe Biden, ahead of his inauguration as 46th President of the United States, the Philippines' longtime ally.    Read more »

Binatilyo, patay sa pananaksak sa Iloilo

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 01:46 PM

Isang binatilyo ang natagpuang patay sa gitna ng kalsada sa Barangay Pagsanga-an sa Pavia, Iloilo, Miyerkoles ng umaga.   Read more »

Gatchalian tells DepEd to speed up distribution of Bayanihan 2 subsidies

Jaehwa Bernardo, ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 01:19 PM

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of Education to speed up its distribution of subsidies under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act to students in basic education. Read more »

Spokesman says Duterte thinks senators 'war-like' in COVID-19 vaccine probe; Sotto says 'imbento!"

Jamaine Punzalan and Robert Mano, ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 01:09 PM | Updated Jan 20 02:13 PM

President Rodrigo Duterte is puzzled over why senators were "war-like" as they looked into the government's vaccination drive against COVID-19, his spokesman said on Wednesday.  Read more »

DOH to accept donated COVID-19 vaccines only if with EUA approval from FDA

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 01:04 PM

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said it can only accept COVID-19 vaccine donations that successfully went through the Food and Drug Administration’s approval process.   Read more »

Duterte and Trump: A 4-year serenade

Tarra Quismundo, ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 12:48 PM | Updated Jan 20 01:10 PM

Here's a look back at the "very good relationship" between Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and outgoing US President Donald Trump.  Read more »

'Where is your honor, excellence?' Question 'unfair,' says Harry Roque in interview

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 12:41 PM | Updated Jan 20 12:43 PM

President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman on Wednesday said was "unfair" that he was asked about honor and excellence in relation to a government move allowing troops inside his alma mater, the University of the Philippines.  Read more »

6 na preso sa Angeles City dinala sa ospital matapos ma-food poison

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 12:35 PM

Isinugod sa ospital Martes ng tanghali ang 6 na persons under police custody ng Angeles City Police Station 3 dahil sa food poisoning. Read more »

Defense chief to UP: Explain deaths of students in NPA encounters, then we'll talk

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 12:07 PM

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday asked the University of the Philippines to explain the deaths of its students in government operations against communist rebels before agreeing to discuss the unilateral abrogation of its accord. Read more »

'UP-DND Accord abrogation curtails students' freedom to think, speak'

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 12:04 PM

The termination of an agreement between the University of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense that bars state forces inside the campuses curtails the students' freedoms, the chairman of UP Los Baños' student council said Wednesday. Read more »

Mass production of Filipino-made ASF test kits starts this month - Dar

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 12:00 PM

Mass production of Filipino-made test kits that can detect African swine fever will start in January, the Department of Agriculture said Wednesday. Read more »

Duterte not consulted on entry of troops into UP: spokesman

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 11:48 AM

The defense department failed to consult President Rodrigo Duterte on a move to allow security forces to patrol the campuses of the country's biggest university after authorities accused it of being a breeding ground for communist rebels. Read more »

Public urged to still comply with health protocols as PH secures COVID-19 jabs

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 11:45 AM

The public is urged to comply with health protocols and contact tracing and not to be complacent even as the country secured supplies of COVID-19 vaccine, a group of independent researchers said Wednesday. Read more »

Unilateral abrogation of UP-DND accord now a legal question, says lawyer

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 11:42 AM

The unilateral abrogation of the defense ministry's pact with the University of the Philippine (UP) on the entry of state forces into campus grounds has become a legal question on whether it is valid or not, a faculty member said Wednesday. Read more »

Agusan del Norte niyanig ng magnitude 4.5 na lindol

Charmane Awitan, ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 11:22 AM

Niyanig ng magnitude 4.5 na lindol ang Remedios T. Romualdez sa Agusan del Norte, Miyerkoles ng umaga.   Read more »

Lokal na pamahalaan, nakiusap sa publiko na huwag muna pumunta sa Ospital ng Makati

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 11:18 AM

Nakikiusap ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Makati sa mga publiko na huwag munang pumunta sa Ospital ng Makati outpatient department para sa walk-in check-up ito ay dahil umano sa tumataas na kaso ng COVID-19 sa lugar.   Read more »

Why terminate pact that promotes peace and order? Ex-CHR chief asks

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 11:12 AM

The 1989 accord between the Department of National Defense and the University of the Philippines that bars state force inside campuses was borne out of an agreement to promote peace and order, a former chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights said Wednesday. Read more »

Disinfectant sa gulay? Mga aprub at hindi aprub na COVID-19 practices

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 10:38 AM

Epektibo ba ang paggamit ng plastic gloves at plastic wrapper sa mga establisyimiento?  Read more »

First batch of AstraZeneca COVID jabs to arrive May or June: presidential adviser

ABS-CBN News
Jan 20 10:23 AM | Updated Jan 20 10:30 AM

The first batch of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine will arrive between May and June, one of President Rodrigo Duterte's advisers said Wednesday. Read more »