
DA's Tiu Laurel to take two-week medical leave
In an advisory released Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Undersecretary Roger Navarro will be the officer-in-charge for the two weeks.
The DA did not elaborate on Tiu Laurel's scheduled medical procedure, but said it was deferred since he stepped into public service in November 2023.
He is expected to resume his duties by July 24, ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on July 28.
'Even while I'm abroad for my medical leave, I will continue to monitor developments on the ground. Tuloy tuloy lang ang trabaho (Work continues),' Tiu Laurel said in the advisory.
According to the DA, the announcement was made to 'prevent any speculation' about Tiu Laurel's impending prolonged absence. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

GMA Network
21 hours ago
- GMA Network
VP Sara to join Pinoy event in South Korea on July 27, to return to PH on SONA day
Vice President Sara Duterte announced on Wednesday that she will visit South Korea on July 27 to attend an event for the Filipino community and return to the Philippines on July 28, the day of the President's State of the Nation Address (SONA). 'There is a Filipino community event already confirmed on July 27 in South Korea. They organized it, and we were invited as the speakers,' Duterte said. 'During the SONA, I'll be traveling back to the Philippines. It's the travel date,' she added. Duterte said she accepted the invitation to the event to 'personally' express her gratitude to Filipinos in South Korea. The Vice President is currently abroad to visit her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who has been in detention at The Hague since March. The elder Duterte is facing crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court in connection with the killings under his war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and when he was president of the Philippines. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will deliver his fourth SONA on July 28. House Secretary General Reginald Velasco earlier said the Vice President will not be attending this year's SONA but noted that the House remains prepared should she change her mind. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News
_2024_11_27_12_33_08.jpg&w=3840&q=100)

GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
Stop politicking? Sara Duterte tells Marcos: Look in the mirror
Vice President Sara Duterte said that it should be President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. who should stop politicking and serve the nation. Earlier in a recent vlog, Marcos told newly elected government officials who just assumed office that the elections are over so they should now focus their attention on public service. 'Tapos na po ang bahagi ng politika. Serbisyo (publiko) na ang haharapin ninyo ngayon. Marami-rami tayong trabahong pagtutulungan sa lokal at sa national government, at malaking ang bahagi ang LGU sa paghahatid namin ng serbisyo sa (taumbayan).' (The political phase is over. You will now face public service. The local and national governments have a lot of work to do together, and the LGUs play a big part in our delivery of service to the people.) In an interview in The Hague, Duterte said in response: 'Siguro tumingin siya sa salamin, 'no, 'pag sinasabi niya 'yung i-stop na ang pamumulitika. Kasi sila 'yung namumulitika. Ang ginagawa lang namin lahat ay sumasagot kami.' (Maybe he should look in the mirror when he's saying that, because they are the ones politicking. All we do is answer.) 'Wala naman kaming ginagawang atake, ang sa amin lahat ay pagsagot at depensa. So sila ang tumigil at sila 'yung nasa administration. Sila yung tumigil at sila 'yung tumutok sa kung ano yung dapat na ibigay para sa taong bayan,' she added. (We are not attacking, all we do is answer and defend. So they should be the ones who should stop because they are in the administration. They should be the ones focusing on providing service for the people.) GMA News Online sought a comment from Malacañang and will update this story once it responds. SONA Duterte also reiterated that she will not be attending the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Marcos on July 28. The Vice President is currently in The Netherlands to visit her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, in The Hague where he is currently detained over charges of crimes against humanity. 'Dito lang kami sa Hague sa duration ng duty ko. So…July 5 hanggang July 23 ang sa akin and then darating sa susunod si Honeylet,' she said, referring to Duterte's common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña. (We are only here in The Hague for the duration of my duty. I'm here from July 5 to July 23, and then Honeylet will come next.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News


GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
Up to 16 senators back Chiz, says JV; Sotto leaves fate to colleagues
As many as 16 senators have already signed a resolution expressing support for Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero to remain as Senate president in the 20th Congress, Senator JV Ejercito said Tuesday. At a press conference, Ejercito said he was among the 15 to 16 senators who signed the resolution, which he said was circulated last month when the Congress was on break. "Yes, because first of all, I'm part of the leadership being the deputy majority leader at present. So siguro (Maybe) as a courtesy and respect to Senate President Escudero, I have to stick it up with him," he said. Ejercito, however, said that he was "torn" in choosing between Escudero and returning Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III because the latter is "very close" to him and is his partymate at the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). He said that by backing Escudero's stay as head of the upper chamber, he may also be retained as the Senate deputy majority leader. The senator also said that if their number reaches 18, Escudero will likely take the supermajority. So far, among who signed include the Cayetano, Villar, and Tulfo siblings, as well as his brother, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada. Estrada first confirmed Monday that there was a resolution circulating among senators to signify their support for Escudero as Senate president. The 20th Congress will begin its first regular session on July 28, shortly ahead of the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Asked about the possibility of the Duterte bloc and Senators Bam Aquino and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan joining together to support Escudero, Ejercito said that "more often than not, we cross party lines at the Senate." "You know in the Senate, it has been proven time and again na sa umpisa lang ang political party, it doesn't mean a lot. Especially with issues of national significance, we often than not, we cross party lines," he said. "If we look at the issues, we look at the measures that will really be beneficial, nakakalimutan na natin ang kulay eh, dapat maging color blind tayo (we forget our political colors and we become color blind). And you just have to support if it will benefit the Filipino people," he added. Ejercito, however, pointed out that anything can still happen once the 20th Congress begins session. 'Guilty as charged' Meanwhile, Sotto clapped back at senators who are supposedly against his possible return as Senate president. "Masyadong strikto?' Guilty as charged. I was brought up by the true statesmen of the 8th and 9th Congress where decency and following rules and procedures abound. If that disqualifies me from the Senate leadership, then so be it," Sotto said. Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, a member of the so-called veterans bloc at the upper chamber, revealed Monday that he talked with some people who expressed apprehension with Sotto or Lacson becoming the next Senate president. "There's a lot of…I have a lot of privilege information. 'Yung mga kumakausap sa akin na mga ganito. Hindi magandang pakinggan kaya hindi ko na lang babanggitin what are the reasons why they don't want Tito Sen, why they don't want Ping Lacson, masyadong strikto, masyadong ano. Kaya mahirap nang magsalita kasi ayaw ko naman maipit ang nagkukwento sa akin ng ganito," Zubiri earlier said. (There's a lot of... I have a lot of privilege information. Some people talk to me and tell me things that are unpleasant to hear. I won't share the reasons why they don't want Tito Sen, why they don't want Ping Lacson. Too strict. Too whatever. It's hard to speak about it because I don't want these people to be put in a sensitive situation.) Asked if he will continue pursuing Senate leadership despite the criticisms, Sotto said that he will just leave his fate to his colleagues. "I leave it up to my colleagues. A senator is a senator even if you are not an officer and more importantly, you are well-versed in rules and procedures," Sotto told GMA News Online. — VDV, GMA Integrated News