TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online and print media monitoring)
21 December 2023, Thursday, as of 5:00
p.m.
-Palace debunks fake memo declaring Dec.
22 a special half-working day
-Palace official takes blame for 'fake'
half-day holiday announcement
[ABS-CBN News, BusinessMirror, Daily
Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Philstar, Manila Bulletin, CNN PHL]
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/12/21/fake-memo-december-22-special-half-working-day.html
2.
Marcos signs P5.768-T spending law for 2024
[Abante, Abante Tonite, Daily Tribune,
Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, People’s Journal, Pilipino Mirror, Pilipino
Star NGAYON, The Manila Times, Philippine Daily Inquirer]
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1877874/marcos-signs-p5-768-t-spending-law-for-2024
3.
WEST PHL SEA ROW:
-China warns PHL to ‘act with caution’
after maritime clashes
-Some PHL politicians accused of
'poisoning' Manila-Beijing ties
-China denies funding ‘pro-China trolls’
in PHL
[CNN PHL, Daily Tribune]
https://tribune.net.ph/2023/12/china-warns-phl-to-act-with-caution-after-maritime-clashes/
4.
Marcos names 4 new ‘Maharlika’ directors
[CNN PHL, GMA News, Manila Bulletin,
Manila Standard, The Manila Times, The Philippine STAR, BusinessMirror]
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/12/21/marcos-names-4-new-mic-directors/
5.
Frederick Go steps down from RLC to be new economic czar; Lance Gokongwei takes
over
[BusinessMirror, Manila Standard,
Inquirer]
https://business.inquirer.net/438020/frederick-go-steps-down-from-rlc-lance-gokongwei-takes-over
6.
Marcos appoints new MIAA acting general manager
[Inquirer, ABS-CBN News, GMA News]
7.
PBBM vows more aid programs for OFWs; jobs open up abroad
[ABS-CBN News, BusinessMirror, Manila
Standard]
8.
SUSPENSION OF SMNI SHOWS
-SMNI to appeal 14-day MTRCB suspension
-PDP-Laban condemns MTRCB suspension of
Duterte's SMNI show
[CNN PHL, GMA News, Manila Times, Philstar,
ABS-CBN News]
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/12/21/2320391/smni-appeal-14-day-mtrcb-suspension
9.
DE LIMA DRUG CASE:
-Ex-cop Valeroso to recant accusations
against De Lima
-Muntinlupa court orders transfer of 11
PDLs in De Lima case
[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Philstar,
Inquirer]
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1877958/fwd-ex-cop-on-plan-to-recant-accusations-against-de-lima
10.
COVID-19 INFECTIONS:
-PHL logs 440 new COVID-19 cases on Dec.
20 —DOH
-Metro Manila’s COVID-19 positivity rate
rises to 22%; infections may peak ‘next week’ — OCTA
-New COVID-19 variant JN.1 may enter
Philippines in due time
[BusinessMirror, Philstar, GMA News,
Manila Standard, Manila Bulletin]
https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/20/ph-logs-440-new-covid-19-cases-on-dec-20-doh-1
11.
TRANSPORT WOES:
-Jeepney owners ask High Court to stop
PUV program
-PISTON-Manibela 'joint transport
strike' to last until December 22
[ABS-CBN News, BusinessMirror, Philstar,
Manila Standard]
© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit
