CHIEF PEACE NEGOTIATOR University of the Philippines law dean Marvic Leonen explains his new role. LYN RILLON

 MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III has assembled a new panel to negotiate peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and ruled out at the outset the establishment of a separate territory that the secessionist group demanded during the Arroyo administration.

The President has instructed the new team to “review the past agreements and recommend how we can move...

MAKATI Mayor Jejomar Binay has agreed to chair the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), Malacañang confirmed on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a text message to reporters that President Aquino welcomes the decision of Binay, who was earlier given five government positions to choose from.

“The President welcomes the Vice President’s acceptance of HUDCC. He had reiterated his offer in view of his desire for a unified administration to serve the...

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is not closed to the use of nuclear energy to provide the country with adequate power, especially in Mindanao, but is no longer keen on reviving the mothballed Bataan nuclear power plant (BNPP) because of the high cost this would entail.

The BNPP was completed in 1984 but was never used. Mr. Aquino’s cousin, former Pangasinan congressman Mark Cojuangco, had filed House Bill 4631 seeking to rehabilitate the BNPP.

Cojuangco’s wife Kimi, who succeeded him...

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has appointed Jesse Robredo, a former head of the national association of city mayors, as head of the Interior and Local Government Department, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said Friday.

The President held the post in a concurrent capacity from June 30 until he tapped Robredo, a former Naga City mayor and who led the League of Cities of the Philippines in 1995.

Mr. Aquino has also appointed retired National Police director Magtanggol Gatdula as head of the N...