Daily News Highlights – June 1, 2016 Edition

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is not keen on giving Vice President-elect Leni Robredo a Cabinet position just yet. The reason? Duterte said he does not want to hurt the feelings of his friend, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, who lost to Robredo by only 263,473 votes. Following Duterte’s remarks, Robredo told Rappler that she will do her best to fulfill her duty as VP, with or without a Cabinet post.

Read more about Duterte’s remarks and Robredo’s response.

Check out Duterte’s latest Cabinet picks, too.

In a news conference, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte told reporters that journalists who took bribes or engaged in other corrupt activities deserved to die. “Just because you’re a journalist you are not exempted from assassination, if you’re a son of a bitch,” Duterte said when asked how he would address the problem of media killings in the Philippines. “Most of those killed, to be frank, have done something wrong.”

Here’s more on Duterte’s comments about slain journalists.

Read about the reaction of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) to Duterte’s comments.

Incoming Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promise to suppress crime and drugs in 3 to 6 months is “attainable.” Dela Rosa said he would order the police to “apply the full force of the law” against criminals, especially against those involved in illegal drugs.

 Get a glimpse of Dela Rosa’s plans for the PNP.

Also read this story on Duterte’s plan to offer a P3 million bounty for drug lords.

Last Monday, allegations of poll cheating in Quezon province surfaced, with whistleblowers claiming that votes were allegedly transferred to administration candidates Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Leni Robredo. These whistleblowers cited figures but have not presented evidence, so far. Rappler takes a look at whether the numbers they gave add up. 

Check out Rappler’s in-depth piece scrutinizing the cheating allegations.

Good news for Filipinos abroad. President Benigno Aquino III signed the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), which increases the tax-exempt value of items sent through balikbayan boxes. Under CMTA, the tax exemption ceiling is increased from P10,000 to P150,000.

Get more details about the new law.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is cracking down on passport applicants who fail to show up on their appointment date. DFA spokesman Charles Jose announced that no-shows will not be allowed to book again online for 30 days. This new rule will be implemented in different regional offices starting June 1, on a staggered basis.

 Find out what prompted the DFA to set the new passport application rule.

San Miguel Corporation president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said the conglomerate barely made money from its decision to sell its telecommunication assets to PLDT and Globe. “It was just cost recovery,” he said, adding that it was a “very hard decision for the company.”

 Here’s more on Ang’s remarks about the telco divestment.

Defense ministers, military chiefs, and defense experts from the Asia-Pacific region will gather in Singapore for the annual Shangri-La Dialogue. Once again, Beijing’s military expansion across the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) will likely dominate discussions. Delegates are also expected to focus on the growing threat of terrorism in the region.

Read this preview of the security summit.

The 2016 NBA Finals is upon us. Defending champions Golden State Warriors will duel with the Cleveland Cavaliers in a rematch of last year’s finals starting Friday, June 3 (Manila time). Once again, it’ll be reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Stephen Curry against 4-time MVP LeBron James battling for the championship.

Check out the full schedule of the 2016 NBA Finals.

Photos of the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are out. The play, which will premiere at the Palace Theater in London’s West End in July, centers on Albus Severus, the second of Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley’s children.

Take a look at photos of the cast.