Rappler's latest stories on Salvador Medialdea
First wave, second wave? Duterte officials clash on where PH is in pandemic
Malacañang insists the country is still in the first wave and downplays as a 'small thing' the difference with Health Secretary Duque's statement

Medialdea wants results of Sinas probe sent to his office
Malacañang takes an interest in the Metro Manila police chief's birthday celebration which violated quarantine rules

Duterte backs Duque amid resignation calls
'The President expects him to work even harder to set aside any doubts on his capacity and sincerity to serve the public during these difficult times,' says Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea

Pinoys online livid over ‘Stay at home for us’ gimmick in House
Social media users are appalled by the gall of Cabinet and House members to lump themselves with the overworked health workers on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19

Duterte's request to take over private business 'merely standby power'
(UPDATED) Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea says the power to take over private business would only be used 'when our most critical institutions are nearing total shutdown and government is left with no choice'

4 Cabinet officials test negative for coronavirus
They are among the government officials who went into self-quarantine after exposure to a person who later tested positive for COVID-19
Duterte Cabinet members in self-quarantine amid coronavirus fears
(UPDATE) At least 2 Cabinet members are isolating themselves and avoiding contact with the 74-year-old President Rodrigo Duterte

No order from Duterte yet to terminate VFA – Lorenzana
'This is fake news,' says the defense secretary about Salvador Panelo's claim that the President has taken steps to instruct Foreign Secretary Locsin to send the notice of termination to the US

Despite risks, Duterte orders Locsin to terminate VFA
President Rodrigo Duterte ignores the calls of top security and foreign officials to first review the defense agreement

Duterte expands ban on travelers from China, Hong Kong, Macau over coronavirus fears
(UPDATED) Only Filipino citizens and permanent resident visa holders are exempt from the new travel restrictions, says Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea

Medialdea's balancing act in Malacañang
Salvador Medialdea is President Duterte's steady hand in the Palace, giving legal teeth to his orders

Duterte gives peace another chance, names Medialdea in panel with communists
President Rodrigo Duterte reconstitutes the government's peace panel with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines

Duterte to go on 3-day 'rest,' Medialdea to take over
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea will be caretaker of the government. Asked why not Vice President Leni Robredo, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo says, 'She is so busy with the drug war.'

Medialdea files new libel, cyberlibel complaint vs Ramon Tulfo
The Executive Secretary files 2 counts of libel and 2 counts of cyberlibel against Tulfo and Manila Times editors for the columnist's July 20 and July 23 articles

Medialdea files libel complaint vs Ramon Tulfo
The spat between the Executive Secretary and the Special Envoy for Public Diplomacy to China escalates

PHISGOC saga: Medialdea blasts 'noisy' people questioning his authority
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea's rant comes after special envoy Ramon Tulfo writes a column accusing him of issuing a memorandum circular in support of PHISGOC Foundation without the President's knowledge

Philippines lifts restrictions on official trips to Canada
The diplomatic row caused by the presence of 69 container vans of garbage from Canada in the Philippines appears to be at an end

Philippine economic team flies to China for infrastructure projects
President Rodrigo Duterte's economic team will meet with Chinese counterparts to score new infrastructure deals

New law provides bigger discounts for political ads
President Rodrigo Duterte signs a law designed to benefit candidates with smaller budgets, in time for the 2019 elections

Duterte vetoes coconut farmers trust fund bill
It's back to the drawing board for lawmakers on how the P76-billion coco levy funds will be managed in order to benefit coconut farmers

Duterte signs resolution extending life of 2018 budget for another year
President Rodrigo Duterte cites the need to continue funding rehabilitation efforts for several regions affected by calamities last year

Medialdea on Human Rights Day: Drug war protects 'innocent, law-abiding' Filipinos
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea says President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign is one way the government is upholding human rights

Extending martial law 'an option' after Sultan Kudarat bombing
(4th UPDATE)Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea says the deadly explosion is a worrisome development given that Mindanao is still under martial law

Medialdea annoyed by Mocha Uson federalism video controversy
No less than Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea is unhappy about the controversy sparked by Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson's federalism jingle

Duterte to frontline services: Answer requests in 15 days
President Rodrigo Duterte directs agencies with frontline services 'to respond to all public requests and concerns within 15 days from receipt thereof'

Boracay workers file 1st petition vs closure at Supreme Court
(UPDATED) Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque asserts, 'Unless a TRO is issued, the planned closure of Boracay to tourists shall proceed'
Malacañang rejects 'authoritarian' tag: Rule of law 'thrives' in PH
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea says UN Special Rapporteur Victoria Tauli-Corpuz is 'detached with the realities happening in the Philippines'

#WalangPasok: Half-day in gov't offices, public schools on Wednesday, March 28
Malacañang says this would allow government workers to prepare for the observance of Holy Thursday and Good Friday

Aguirre on DOJ probe, Alvarez on Go, Sereno on quo warranto petition | Evening wRap
Watch the evening newscast with Mara Cepeda

Stephen David using Palace connections for Napoles?
'[Medialdea] was asked by Atty David if he could overrule me, he said he could not, because he is of the same opinion as mine,' Aguirre says, referring to his opinion about the need for the Sandiganbayan's nod to transfer Napoles to a safehouse
Sereno impeachment, Medialdea on Napoles, Dela Rosa on DOJ | Evening wRap
Watch the evening newscast with Marguerite de Leon

Medialdea advised Napoles lawyer on jail transfer
'[It's] because we are in a situation where we don't know what to do.... That's why we have to consult people in authority,' says Janet Lim Napoles' lawyer Stephen David, defending a meeting in Malacañang
Who did Duterte consult on his long ICC statement?
Critical officials in Malacañang are caught unawares by the release of Duterte's 15-page and 3-page press statements declaring withdrawal from the ICC

[OPINION] ICC: Complementarity, not exhaustion of remedies
If the ICC has to wait for the Duterte regime to investigate – which is not forthcoming at all – the ICC will never be able to act

TIMELINE: Malacañang's evolving statements on Rappler ban
(UPDATED) Rappler tracks the ever-changing reasons given by President Rodrigo Duterte and Malacañang officials about the ban prohibiting its reporters from covering the Palace

Duterte on Benham Rise, Duterte on Rappler, PH-Kuwait bilateral meeting | Midday wRap
Watch the midday newscast with Marguerite de Leon

[OPINION] Duterte's zero concept of independent journalism
This truly reflects the sad state of journalism in the Philippines. It shows the swath of reality that independent journalism has not yet taken root in our society.

Sara Duterte-Carpio’s new party, Duterte on Malacanang ban, Medialdea meets U.S. ambassador | Evening wRap
Watch the evening newscast with Mara Cepeda

Malacañang summons U.S. envoy over intel report
US Ambassador Sung Kim meets with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea over the report by US intelligence agencies calling President Duterte a 'regional threat'

Rappler reporter now banned from entire Malacañang complex
Previously, Rappler reporter Pia Ranada was only barred from entering the Palace but could enter the New Executive Building which houses the Press Working Area

Roque: Rappler reporter barred because 'buwisit sa kanya ang Presidente'
(UPDATED) But the day before, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said personal dislike is 'not a valid reason' to bar a reporter from covering events

Medialdea on Rappler, PSG Commander on Ranada, Worldwide Threat Assessment | Midday wRap
Watch the midday newscast with Marguerite de Leon

Medialdea: Duterte just following SEC decision with ban on Rappler
This is contrary to the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque who, quoting Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea himself, said reporter Pia Ranada can still cover the Palace as long as the Court of Appeals has not ruled against Rappler's petition

Rappler no longer accredited for Malacañang coverage – Palace official
'Unless the CA issues a TRO against the SEC ruling, Rappler's accreditation with the Malacañang Press Corps has accordingly ceased,' Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra tells reporter Pia Ranada, correcting a statement earlier released by Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque

Rappler still allowed to cover Malacañang events – Medialdea
But the Office of the President changes its tune a few hours later

EXPLAINER: Can SC reverse ruling on deputy ombudsman?
(UPDATED) Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang can now challenge the suspension order before the Supreme Court
Duterte appoints Prospero de Vera as CHED OIC
Commissioner Prospero de Vera III is the most senior official in the Commission on Higher Education

Senate panel seeks Divina disbarment, Dela Rosa on body cameras, Licuanan on resignation| Evening wRap
Watch the evening newscast with Mara Cepeda

Licuanan says exec director Vitriolo helped kick her out of CHED
Resigned CHED chair Patricia Licuanan also says she had a 'strained' relationship with the other 4 commissioners, who had been outvoting her in key CHED decisions prior to her resignation

Malacañang warned Licuanan of ‘worse’ to come if she doesn’t resign
Ex-CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan says she has not been given the opportunity to talk to the President to defend herself from corruption allegations
