News Update As of May 16, 2017
(Tuesday) 1. Manila Bulletin
Senate approves 10-year validity of passport
Voting 18-0, the Senate approved on third and final reading the bill extending the validity of Philippine passports from five to 10 years.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, incoming Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary, said passage of the measure into law would be in line with President Duterte’s commitment to promote the welfare of the people, especially the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who are seen to greatly benefit from Senate Bill No. 1365 or the “New Philippine Passport Act.”
http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/05/16/senate-approves-10-year-validity-of-passport/
2. Philippine Star
House kills Rody impeachment
Deemed lacking in substance, the impeachment complaint against President Duterte met an early end at the House committee on justice yesterday.
All 42 of the 50 committee members present at the hearing voted to declare the complaint lacking in substance, effectively consigning it to the trash bin. Forty-one voted that it was sufficient in form.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/05/16/1700314/house-kills-rody-impeachment 3. Daily Inquirer
Duterte, Xi reaffirm position to settle sea row peacefully
President Duterte on Monday reassured Chinese President Xi Jinping that the Philippines would seek a peaceful resolution of its territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/156692/duterte-xi-reaffirm-position-settle-sea-row- peacefully#ixzz4hCJ7pAnY
4. Manila Times
Duterte seeks deeper relations with China
THE Philippines wants to expand and deepen relations with China, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday as officials from the two countries signed four agreements in an indication of further
normalization of ties despite a dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
http://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-seeks-deeper-relations-china/327436/
