17th Congress votes in favor of extending Martial Law until December 31, 2017 during the Congress Joint Session at the House of Representatives, Quezon City on Saturday. (davaotoday.com)
The peace negotiations between the government (GPH) and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) resumed last year in an upbeat mood with both sides agreeing to fast track the process. A year later, the talks has lost its steam and is proving to be a difficult and protracted one with a probability of meeting the same fate as in previous negotiations. Even as both the GPH panel led by Silvestre Bello and the NDFP panel led by Fidel V. Agcaoili try to save the process through continuing back-channel talks the realities on the ground – such as military intransigence and President Duterte’s poor grasp of the peace process, on one hand, and the NPA holding its ground to resist AFP operations, on the other – far outweigh efforts to keep the talks going.
Progressive lawmakers filed a House Resolution No. 1126 on Thursday at the House of Congress to determine the benefits actually received by tobacco farmers from the tobacco excise tax. (L-R) Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Ariel Casilao, ACT Teachers Partylist Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro, and Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas.(davaotoday.com)
Jeepney operators and drivers in Davao City launched a transport strike on Thursday to protest the government's Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
President Rodrigo Duterte meets with members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and lawmakers under the Makabayan bloc in Malacañan on Tuesday night. Duterte also met with the leaders of Bayan in Malacañan last year before his State of the Nation Address.