DAVAO CITY, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it would respect the election gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), a senior rebel leader said.

Von Al-Haq, spokesman of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, said the MILF leadership has issued a memo ordering all members to adhere to the gun ban and keep their firearms within their camps.

“Members of the BIAF are prohibited from roaming around urban areas and highways to avoid violating the Comelec gun ban,” Al-Haq said.

The final version of the compensation bill for victims of human rights violations during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos is now awaiting ratification, after the bicameral conference committee on Wednesday ironed out the last of the contentious provisions in the measure.

The panel agreed that there would be a “conclusive presumption” that over 9,000 plaintiffs in a Hawaii class action suit against the Marcoses are human rights victims entitled to compensation, according to Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares.

MANILA, Philippines - Another historic bill is one step closer to becoming a law.

The bicameral conference committee on Wednesday, January 23, approved "in principle" the bill that will provide compensation for activists who were imprisoned, tortured, or whose relatives disappeared during the Marcos regime.

The bill seeks to provide reparation for victims of human rights violations during the regime of the late President Ferdinand Marcos covering the period from Sept 21, 1972 to Feb 25, 1986, when he was ousted.

MANILA, Philippines --- Malacañang yesterday assured that the Philippines will pursue claims over the damage done to the Tubbataha Reef, belying speculations that the government is reluctant to go after the US Navy minesweeper USS Guardian over the destruction.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Republic Act (RA) 10067 will be enforced on the damage wrought on the Tubbataha Reef.

The Commission on Audit (COA) on Wednesday said that the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) allocation was not a discretionary fund and could not be used for purposes not specified under the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

COA Chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan issued this statement in reply to a letter from Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago dated Jan. 10, questioning Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s use and realignment of the Senate savings as additional MOOE.