MANILA, Philippines – International rights group Human Rights Watch on Wednesday blamed the Philippine government for allowing the proliferation of private armies of political leaders, which resulted in the “horrendous” massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao province last November.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Two Asian economies were declared the freest in the world, although the 16th Index of Economic Freedom showed the global recession forced many countries to intervene in their economies. The annual survey of economic freedom is prepared by the DC-based Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal.

General Santos City — Some 1,600 workers of various fishing companies here may lose their jobs within the next few weeks as a result of the fishing ban that started earlier this month in the critical high seas off the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, an official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE)…

The Comelec decision dismissing three petitions to disqualify President Estrada and the Supreme Court decision throwing out The Vanguard petition also to disqualify him should now debunk the black propaganda of the Nacionalista and Liberal camps that Erap will be disqualified or will withdraw from the 2010 presidential race.

Special Report: First of two parts DESPITE a fragile economy, Philippine property firms have begun unveiling new projects in anticipation of a rebound this year.

THE easing of visa restrictions has seen an employment bonanza as a total of 33,000 new jobs for Filipinos where created last year after more than 400 foreign businessmen and their dependents from 34 countries were given indefinite visas by the government.

The technological advance in the development of microprocessors for computer and electronic use occurs at an exponential rate, following the so-called Moore’s Law, which states that circuit density doubles roughly every two years. Gordon Moore was the co-founder of Intel. Thus, a single microprocessor or silicon chip which assumes an area the size of a…

A retraction does not necessarily negate an earlier declaration. Retractions are looked upon with disfavor and do not automatically exclude the original statement or declaration. This is the general principle applied in this case of a labor union (SMMSC).

Trade Union Congress Party-List (TUCP) Rep. Raymond D. C. Mendoza filed a bill to protect member-workers in cooperatives particularly their right to self-organization.

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has dismissed with finality the petition of the overseas workers’ group Migrante to be allowed to participate in this year’s elections as a party-list group.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund on Thursday declared that a global economic recovery has begun led by Asia, also cautioning that the strength of the rebound depended on a rebalancing of global growth.

CEBU, Philippines – A group of employees has launched a mass action over alleged violations by their call center ranging from delayed salaries to illegal suspension of workers.

Less than five months before the elections, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd continued to lead other presidential candidates by a sizeable margin, pollster Pulse Asia reported Tuesday.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said inflation this year would remain within its target, dismissing a forecast issued earlier by HSBC.

Lord, thank You for Your infinite love that meets our every need and provides all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in life. Release our hearts and minds from fear and worry, fill us with Your peace as we learn to fully trust in Your Providence. Help us to do all that we are…

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) assured the public yesterday that cheaters would have a hard time manipulating the 2010 elections because the voters are keenly watching the process.

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) accredited on Tuesday six more partylist groups for the elections in May, bringing the total of competing sectors to 150, a spokesman for the poll body said.

MANILA, Philippines – Just a fifth of Philippine-based firms have been taking advantage of a regional trade pact although the number may increase as interest in newer agreements grows.

The Social Security System (SSS) said an estimated 6.6 million workers would benefit from the new law that condones penalties on unpaid contributions of delinquent companies.

RENTALS in the Philippines’ premier financial district tumbled this month from a year ago as the glut in office space persisted, Jones Lang Lasalle Leechiu said Monday.

“Some people are just very greedy. In a place where you can get away with crime for profit, it will continue. Traffickers are smart in Cebu and they get away with it. The pimps and the brothels make a lot of money.”

Poll officials have begun screening the nominees of 144 party-list groups that will vie for at least 55 seats in the House of Representatives.

Two groups have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to step in in their cases and direct the Commission on elections (Comelec) to overturn its decision to remove them from its official list of accredited party-list organizations that are allowed to run in the congressional elections in May.

Liberal Party standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino still leads in the surveys, but his numbers have dropped dramatically, with respondents now giving him only a 31 percent vote, in the latest survey conducted by The Center.

Dear PAO, My boyfriend and I have been together for four years. My problem started early this year when my boyfriend was laid off from work. He started drinking and would beat me up when he’d come home drunk. I would like to know, when I finally have the courage, can I file a case…

MANILA, Philippines – The government’s budget deficit may widen to as much as P318 billion this year, above the revised official estimate of P293 billion, New York-based think-tank GlobalSource said in its quarterly report on the Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines – The government must provide performance based incentive package to help the local auto industry, a study commissioned by Toyota and other local car manufacturers said.

Can an employee be dismissed on a ground not alleged in the notice of termination? This is the issue resolved in this case of Fernan.