Rappler's latest stories on reforms
Rex Robles, armed forces reformist, dies at 75
'He is one of the bright minds of the Philippine Navy. Everybody listens when he speaks,' says Navy chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo
Putin triumphant as critics slam vote extending his rule
(UPDATED) Authorities claim that only the autonomous Nenets region in the Russian Arctic came out against the reforms, with 55.25% of voters opposing the changes
Russian voters back reforms allowing Putin to stay until 2036
(UPDATED) Top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny slams the results as a 'huge lie' that did not reflect real public opinion
Putin urges Russians to vote for security, prosperity
President Vladimir Putin says Russians should vote for the country 'we want to pass on to our children' but makes no mention of a controversial amendment that would allow him to potentially stay in power until 2036
Police reform bill clears U.S. House but deadlock awaits in Senate
President Donald Trump is opposed to the House measure, and says the Democrats were aiming to 'weaken our police' and end officer immunity
Russians cast early votes in ballot to extend Putin's rule
Election officials open polling stations in the lead-up to the official voting day on July 1 to reduce the risk of overcrowding that could spread coronavirus infections
Trump signs police reform order to end 'patterns of failure'
(UPDATED) The presidential directive provides funding incentives for police departments nationwide to include a ban on choke holds and extra training on guidelines for the use of force
Business groups: Ressa verdict threatens Filipinos' rights, freedoms
(UPDATED) 'It is a big blow to press freedom especially given serious constitutional questions on whether the law is applicable at all. This would threaten our other rights and freedoms,' business groups say
U.S. police in hot seat after years of near impunity
George Floyd's death is just the latest incident in a larger pattern of police use of lethal force
Coronavirus Updates: Infections creep into Cebu’s jails
According to the Department of Health, the number of coronavirus cases in Cebu City Jail is at 335. There are 25 cases at the Cebu Provincial Detention Center and 71 at the Mandaue City Jail.
Marcos says pushing for tax reform amid pandemic 'very bad timing'
NEDA Acting Secretary Karl Chua says the comprehensive tax reform measures pending at the Senate should be passed to support the coronavirus war chest. But these reforms will not increase government revenue.
Putin delays reforms vote, holds back on tough virus measures
President Vladimir Putin unveils a series of measures to support Russians and boost the economy
P400-B uncollected power charges show 'dead end' in energy laws
Lawmakers want to collect debts now, as government lawyers stand firm on proper procedures on compromise agreements
Territorial dispute: Pia Cayetano fumes over Marcos tackling Citira at committee hearing
'Please don’t try to mediate,' Senator Pia Cayetano, chair of the ways and means committee, tells fellow senators. 'Resolve the jurisdictional issue.'
Duterte certifies Citira bill as urgent
President Rodrigo Duterte's certification allows the Senate to pass the bill on 2nd and 3rd readings on the same day
PEZA asks Senate to delay Citira passage amid coronavirus crisis
With the coronavirus crisis, Philippine Economic Zone Authority chief Charito Plaza finds an opening to appeal against the Citira bill anew
French gov't wins key victory for controversial pensions overhaul
Trade unions and opposition parties slam the move as anti-democratic, but their calls for fresh protests against a bill that triggered the crippling French transport strike this winter went largely unheeded
Bill lowering corporate tax moves to Senate plenary
The Department of Finance hopes Citira will hurdle the Senate before Congress goes on break by March 14
Lawmakers reject 'stupid' proposal to regulate campaign spending, contributions
Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel argues that it is 'restrictive' and 'unrealistic' for the state to regulate even the contributions given to candidates during the campaign
As allies jump ship, PDP-Laban stalwart wants 'balimbing' ban
(UPDATED) 'Nakakahiya na.... Hintuin na natin itong ugali na wala tayong mga prinsipyo, wala tayong pinapanindigan,' says House Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel
What are the IATF's proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution?
The House committee on constitutional amendments is voting on a draft resolution containing these proposals on Wednesday, February 19
Over 10% of retailers already imposed last round of fuel tax hike – DOE
The final increase in excise tax under the TRAIN law can only be imposed on new stocks acquired in 2020, not on oil produced or imported in 2019
Lawmakers to recall Cha-Cha resolution they approved in secret
The House committee on constitutional amendments also plans to reopen public hearings after the executive branch submitted a new list of proposed changes to the charter
New year, more taxes: Last fuel hike under TRAIN takes effect
Under the final tranche, excise tax for gasoline and kerosene will increase by P1 per liter, while diesel prices will go up by P1.50
Number of environmental defenders killed increases to 49 in 2019
Farmers and agricultural workers remain the most targeted, representing 63% of deaths
DOE to oil firms: Use up old inventory first before slapping new tax
The Department of Energy says oil companies may face large-scale estafa charges if they slap the TRAIN law's new taxes on old stocks in 2020
Pope shakes up cardinals with further Vatican reform
Pope Francis limits the college dean's term to two five-year terms – a change from current rules that allow the dean to remain in post as long as he chooses
French government, unions to meet over pension strike impasse
Union leaders have vowed to continue their action into the new year as the government defends its plan to forge the country's 42 pension schemes into a single points-based system
Hundreds of thousands protest in France over pension reform plans
Teachers, hospital workers and other public employees join transport workers for the third day of marches since the dispute began on December 5
French commuters face 12th day of transport strike over pensions
Unions plan a fresh day of mass demonstrations on December 17, and insist the government must abandon planned pension reforms that they say could force millions of people to work longer before retiring
House bill reforming real property valuation passed on 2nd reading
Voting on 2nd reading, lawmakers give their nod to the 3rd package under the Duterte government's Comprehensive Tax Reform Program
Prosecutor junks libel complaint vs Maria Ressa, reporter Rambo Talabong
A public official should not be onion-skinned, writes Quezon City Assistant City Prosecutor Arnel Pabellar, quoting the Supreme Court
Rappler Talk: Retired rear admiral Rommel Jude Ong on PH Navy's 'rebirth'
On Monday, November 4, Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug sits down with retired rear admiral Rommel Jude Ong to discuss the Philippine Navy's strategic vision for the future, among others
Business groups call Marcos' election protest a 'political distraction'
The Philippines' biggest business groups say that the sooner Ferdinand Marcos Jr's protest is resolved, the sooner policymakers can move on to more important matters
In a twist, PEZA now supports Citira bill
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority Board changes its tune after a 'cordial' meeting and now backs the bill seeking to rationalize tax perks
Pia Cayetano seeks 'sweet spot' for Citira bill
Senate ways and means committee chairperson Pia Cayetano plays coy on the bill seeking to change the current fiscal incentives regime, but quips that like love, 'wala ring forever'
House passes Citira bill on 3rd reading
A total of 170 members of the House of Representatives vote in favor of the Duterte administration's 2nd tax reform package
[ANALYSIS] Will Duterte’s new tax measure kill foreign investments?
Many other things could make or break our country’s attractiveness to investors. Citira's stricter investment incentives may be the least of our worries.
'Noisy naysayers' vs Citira bill proven wrong by numbers, says DOF
Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua says the surge in investment pledges in the 1st half of 2019 refutes claims of critics of the proposed Corporate Income Tax and Incentive Rationalization Act
House passes bill simplifying passive income, financial taxes
But Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas says the Pifita bill 'grossly favors the rich who make fortunes out of thin air in the financial sector'
2nd tax reform package renamed Citira, hurdles 2nd reading in House
The House of Representatives approves the Corporate Income Tax and Incentive Rationalization Act (Citira) on 2nd reading
House bill simplifying passive income, financial taxes approved on 2nd reading
The Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Tax Act (Pifita) bill is the 4th package of the Duterte administration's Comprehensive Tax Reform Program
PEZA urges Congress not to 'tinker' with tax perks for investors
PEZA Director General Charito Plaza says the current incentives are already 'globally competitive' and could help the Philippines attract investors as companies avoid the US-China trade war
House panel OKs Trabaho bill
House committee on ways and means chair Joey Salceda is expected to sponsor the Trabaho bill for 2nd reading on the same day his panel approves it
Landbank turns over 354,783 hectares of land to DAR
(UPDATED) The Land Bank of the Philippines, which President Rodrigo Duterte criticized in his 4th State of the Nation Address, says this turnover happened in May 2019
Duterte tells Congress to prioritize Trabaho bill
The Trabaho bill, which aims to reduce corporate tax and rationalize tax incentives, is mentioned in President Rodrigo Duterte's 4th State of the Nation Address
New Zealand tightens gun laws again after mosque attack
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says regulations around who could hold firearm licenses would also be tightened to 'stop weapons falling into the wrong hands'
Recto files bill to write off farmers' debts from CARP
Recto says the amount of farmers debt is 'small compared to the hundreds of billions in private sector loans it had written off over the past 40 years'
[ANALYSIS] Work on alternatives and growth, before speeding into federal system
What we should be speeding up in the second half of the administration is more policy reform and economic growth, not changing parts and engines
Landbank wants to cover more agrarian reform beneficiaries
The Land Bank of the Philippines eyes more farmer-beneficiaries after its loans for small farmers and fisherfolk went up to P13 billion in the first 3 months of 2019
