Eduardo Ermita News

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has appointed National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales as Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro's replacement.

Malacaang is expected to lift the cap on oil prices in Luzon, giving into the clamor of the business community.

Sen. Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri has bucked the offer of administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD to be the running mate of its standard-bearer, Defense Secretary Gilbert 'Gibo' Teodoro.

Hit by defections of key allies over the weekend, the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD made a swift and furious retaliation by snatching from the Liberal Party roster Basilan Governor Jum Akbar, the entire provincial board, and 10 municipal mayors, thus, practically paralyzing LP's political machinery in the province.

" At least a dozen municipal mayors and eight provincial legislators have withdrawn their support to Sulu vice governor Nur Ana Sahidulla as a congressional candidate in next year's polls.

By Frank Lloyd Tiongson, Reporter The United States government reportedly withheld $2-million worth of military aid to the Philippines in 2009 due to concerns raised by human rights groups and churches in the US on the human rights record of the government.

Malacaang on Wednesday urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to surface its commander tagged as responsible for the abduction of Father Michael Sinnott's. "If I were the MILF leadership, as a show of goodwill they should surface Commander Al Alshree," Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in a media briefing at Malacaang.

This was the reminder of Malacaang to public officials planning to watch the upcoming Pacquiao-Cotto match in the United States while the country is still reeling from the devastation left by a succession of deadly, destructive typhoons.

Malacaang remained clueless Monday about the abrupt resignation of the country's top tax collector amid supposed struggles to meet the Bureau of Internal Revenue's collection goals this year.

President Arroyo can run for lower elective posts next year but whether she would take that road remains unclear, according to a senior Palace official.

"Those living along the coast are advised to be on alert against storm surges and big waves generated by the typhoon," it added.

Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, presidential candidate of the Liberal Party, said he may meet with Nationalist People's Coalition stalwarts to negotiate a coalition for the 2010 national elections.

Malacaang is satisfied with the compliance of all oil companies to a temporary price freeze on petroleum products in Luzon and does not see any immediate takeover of oil companies.

The administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD party is open to a presidential tandem between Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Senator Francis Escudero in next year's elections, a senior party official said Wednesday.

The government assured that all precautionary measures were being undertaken in preparation for the coming Typhoon Santi .

The government is ready to use its full powers and prosecute oil companies who would violate a temporary price freeze on oil products in Luzon, Malacaang said Monday.

A popular blog avatar used by former President Estrada's supporters on blogs and websites, :Erap" is the former Philippine Presidents screen nickname, The slogan says Estrada, still and adds the word Pagbabalik or Pilipino for "The Return". A return to power of deposed President Joesph Estrada, is not something the current occupants of the ...

At least 15 cabinet members are expected to leave President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's government soon to pursue their political ambitions in the 2010 national and local elections, Malacaang said Friday.

A Palace official said on Wednesday that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's grant of pardon to Joseph Estrada in 2007 contains a pre-condition that bars the former president from running again in May 2010.

President Arroyo has been asked to call on fellow Southeast Asian leaders to set up a $5-billion adaptation fund that can be tapped in times of disasters in the region and help the regional bloc address the threats of climate change.