By Beting Laygo Dolor, Contributing Editor While conceding the US has every right to block the entry of unwelcome individuals, the Duterte government reacted to its new appropriations law with a provision to bar Filipinos involved in the imprisonment of Sen. Leila de Lima from entering the US. While initially expressing disbelief at the action, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo admitted over the weekend that the ban “is real.” And the Duterte administration put int...

By Corina Oliquino The small, teardrop-shaped island of Siargao in Surigao del Norte has been described by Conde Nast Traveleras “the tiny Philippine Island giving Bali a run for its money,” listing it among top 20 of the world’s best islands in 2020. The magazine named Siargao as the world’s eighth best holiday destination for next year, describing, as well the tourist spike the island has seen in recent years. “This island idyll won’t stay low-key for long – 12 fli...

By Corina Oliquino MANILA --Records from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) showed the influx of Chinese nationals in the Philippines resulted into them topping the list of foreign violators in 2019 with the Bureau arresting 2,257 erring foreigners in various operations from January to December. Of the arrests, at least 1,577 were Chinese, followed by 66 Taiwanese, 45 Myanmar nationals, 25 Indian and 19 Vietnamese.  The BI Intelligence Division collared 1,836 of the foreign...

By Beting Laygo Dolor, Contributing Editor Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a close personal friend and spiritual adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte, is facing charges of rape and human trafficking. A former worker at Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) filed rape, qualified trafficking in persons, and child abuse raps against the leader of the church, charges which were denied by his lawyer Israelito Torreon. The alleged rape victim was identified as Blenda Sanchez Po...