Women Launches New Group to Counter Violence
A group of women launched the Women Against Violent Extremism (WAVE) on September 30, 2018 at Royce Convention Center, Astoria Hotel, Zamboanga City.  The group aims to reflect and implement the results of the Global Study on the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution No.1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), and to highlight through its activities the importance of integrating prevention of violent extremism (PVE) into the WPS Agenda. 
Luwaran

Incoming chief vows to make Army 'agile force' vs. terrorism
The incoming commanding general of the Philippine Army vowed to make the army as an "agile force" in the government's fight against terrorism and insurgency. Maj. General Macairog Alberto on Friday also thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for the trust and confidence in him, and vowed to live up to the expectations of the President.
Philippine News Agency

Gadon says he wants all terrorists dead, even children
Lawyer Larry Gadon pitched for himself in the 2019 Senate race by calling for the killing of terrorists, including children. Gadon made the comment even after he already drew flak for calling for the killing of Muslims in a GMA News TV interview in the run-up to the 2016 elections.
GMA News

MARAWI

Gov’t postpones groundbreaking of Marawi dev’t to Oct. 17
The government has moved anew the groundbreaking of the development of war-ravaged Marawi City to October 17 to coincide with the first anniversary of the liberation of the city from lawless elements.
Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News, Rappler, CNN Philippines, Manila Standard, GMA News

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD      

The role of women in West Africa’s violent extremist groups
Women’s involvement in Boko Haram attacks in the Lake Chad Basin is well known. However their role in the activities of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), operating across the Sahel, appears to be less direct. What makes these groups include or exclude women from their ranks and operations?
Institute for Security Studies

Women contribute to a culture of violence and should therefore be involved in resolving conflicts
Peace is like an egg. It is delicate and fragile, but in the right conditions, it gives life. Those are the wise words of the late Deka Ibrahim, who resolved clan conflicts in Wajir County in the early 90’s, and later became instrumental in the peace processes in North Eastern Kenya. She was my role model when I decided to start working for peace.
Finn Church Aid

New terror bill 'risks criminalising foolish internet users'
Inquisitive or "foolish" internet users could end up being jailed under planned new terror laws, a Parliamentary committee has warned. The anti-terrorism and border security bill is designed to combat "hostile state" activity and the terror threat.
BBC News, The Guardian

Denmark extends controls on German border due to terrorism threat
The Danish government is extending temporary controls on its border with Germany for six months to help counter the threat of terrorism, it said on Friday. Under normal circumstances there are no controls on the border as both countries are party to the Schengen agreement that allows free movement between them.
Reuters 

CIS defense ministers agree on fight against terrorism
Defense ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) agreed on the fight against international terrorism and mulled the development of joint military systems during a meeting here Friday. At the meeting of the Council of the CIS Defense Ministers held in the Uzbek capital, the CIS defense ministers also discussed the ways to further expand military and military technical cooperation within the framework of the CIS.
Xinhua

Hate Speech Still Spreads Too Easily Online: Here's How To Stop It
Last year saw five terror incidents occur in the United Kingdom alone, in quick succession. One of the first questions asked in response to the mindless violence was: what more could have been done to prevent it?
Forbes

Russian region offers phones for extremism tip-offs
he authorities in a restive region of southern Russia have been offering smartphones in return for tip-offs about extremist material online. Dagestan set up a website for members of the public to leave warnings about "posts that promote terrorism or incite religious or ethnic hatred", with the most prolific contributor winning an iPhone SE and the runners-up Chinese smartphones, the local Kavkaz-Uzel news site reports.
BBC News 

Erdogan Pledges to Crush U.S.-Backed Kurdish Militants in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday pledged to order a military campaign against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces who now control most of Syria’s northeast.
Bloomberg

MNLF, MILF Peace Dialogue Prevents Escalation of Family Feud
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Regional Reconciliation and Unification Commission of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RRUC-ARMM) held a peace dialogue here on Wednesday to settle a family grudge between 2 families in the coastal town of Sultan Kudarat province.
Luwaran

BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW

Can ethical business help secure peace in the southern Philippines?
Could ethical business be the key to ending one of Southeast Asia's most intractable separatist conflicts?  That is the hope of lawyer Anwar Malang, who has campaigned for decades to bring peace to a Muslim enclave of the Catholic-majority Philippines. The conflict in Mindanao, the second largest island in the Philippines, has killed about 120,000 people, displaced 2 million and helped radical Islam gain a foothold in the region.
ABS-CBN News, Reuters

MILF interfaces with donors over transition matters
MILF Chairman Alhaj Murad Ebrahim met on Wednesday (October 11) with envoys and officers of international aid organizations to set its priorities and the foreseen challenges of transition in the Bangsamoro.
Luwaran

KISSAH AND DAWAT: Bangsamoro vision or visions?
Moros are living in interesting time. At the national level, we have a president who claims Moro ancestry and by signing the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) into law drives his point of having a heart for Moro’s welfare. At the regional level, we are about to witness the culmination of ARMM as a regional autonomy to be replaced by the Bangsamoro political entity.
Mindanews

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Duterte will not release list of narco-politicians vying for 2019 posts
President Duterte is not willing to release the names of suspected narco-politicians running in the 2019 elections.
Manila Bulletin

5 relieved ‘narco-cops’ undergoing pre-charge evaluation
The five active police officers who were included in the newest drug matrix released by President Duterte have been subjected to a pre-charge evaluation, the Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed Friday.
Manila Bulletin

Life imprisonment handed down to San Juan drug raid suspects
A local court on Friday sentenced to life imprisonment six suspects arrested in a 2016 raid in San Juan City that yeilded one of biggest drug hauls under President Rodrigo Duterte.
CNN Philippines

Police looking into 'drug network' in Dumaguete
Negros Oriental police said there could be a network of drug personalities here and other parts of the province involved in the supposed shipment and distribution of illegal substances, particularly “shabu”.
Philippine News Agency

Operations/ Incidents

Cop on Duterte narcolist, 3 other persons killed in Talisay City shooting
Four persons, including the policeman, were killed in a mid-afternoon shooting in Sitio Ranger, Barangay Pooc, Talisay City on Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Grade 10 student, another nabbed in San Juan City drug busts 
The San Juan City police arrested a Grade 10 student and another drug suspect during separate anti-drug operations on Thursday night. San Juan City Police chief Senior Supt. Dindo Reyes identified the 14-year-old suspect only as alias “Bong” for being a minor. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

ARMM cops seize smuggled cigarettes concealed in dried fish car
Acting on a tip from concerned citizens the Police Regional Mobile Force Battalion in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RMFB-ARMM) on Friday intercepted about P1 million worth of contraband and arrested three men at a checkpoint in Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao.   
NDBC News

HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

SCAM 

‘May the best man win:’ Duterte welcomes candidates in 2019 polls
May the best man win in the 2019 midterm elections, President Duterte declared Friday after aspirants started to file their certificates of candidacies (COCs) for the 2019 midterm elections.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte doubts passage of anti-political dynasty bill
President Duterte is having doubts about the passage of a measure prohibiting political dynasties in Congress amid claims the country remains a “feudal state.”
Manila Bulletin

Economy, environment top priorities—Duterte
President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated on  Friday that the country’s growth, environment, and economy as national priorities after he returned from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leaders’ Gathering in Bali, Indonesia.
Manila Standard

Panelo to introduce some changes in OPS
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo is planning to make some changes in the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson (OPS) to improve the government’s communication efforts.
Manila Bulletin

-----------

Makati court turns down as evidence two exhibits presented by Trillanes camp
The Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 on Friday said it did not accept two exhibits presented by the camp of embattled Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV as evidence.
Manila Bulletin

Makati court handling Trillanes' nonbailable case nears decision
The Makati court handling Senator Antonio Trillanes IV's dismissed coup d'etat case may soon reach a decision into the urgent motion filed by the Justice Department to issue an arrest warrant and travel ban against the senator.
CNN Philippines

Trillanes camp: Testimonies, not application form, 'best evidence' if senator applied for amnesty
Judge Elmo Alameda said on Friday that the hearing would have ended if Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV presented the application form, the “best evidence” in his case. But lawyer Reynaldo Robles raised that the argument does not apply to Trillanes' case. 
Philippine Star

DISASTER

Briones orders formation of DRRM team in DepEd central office
Education Secretary Leonor Briones has ordered the formation of the disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) team in the Department of Education (DepEd) Central Office in Pasig City.
Manila Bulletin

MINDANAO

ELECTION RELATED

Slow Day 2 at Comelec: 10 file for senator, 12 for partylist
It was a slow second day for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) of candidates at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.
Manila Bulletin

No extension for COC filing — Comelec
Those who intend to run in the May 2019 midterm polls better file your certificates of candidacy from October 11 to 17 as the Commission on Elections is not extending the filing of COC.
Manila Bulletin

Comelec: Ballot printing 'right on schedule,' to start in January
The Commission on Elections said Friday it hoped to start printing ballots for the May 2019 elections, as scheduled, in January. The last day for substitution of candidates will be on Nov. 29 while the Comelec law department is expected to come out with a final list of candidates on Dec. 15, Chairman Sheriff Abas.
ABS-CBN News

Disqualifying ‘narco-listed’ candidate requires due process – Comelec
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that it cannot easily disqualify a candidate, who is included in the “narcolist,” from participating in the midterm elections because it requires due process. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday requested the poll body to disqualify those tagged as “narco-politicians.”
Manila Bulletin

Comelec advises public not to rely solely on surveys
While surveys help voters in choosing their candidates, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) advised the public not to just rely solely on surveys in the May 13, 2019 national and local polls. “Surveys help but we never sanction or promote the use of such surveys,” Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas said in a press briefing, Friday.
Manila Bulletin

‘Bato’ files Senate bid with feng shui advice, vows to restore death penalty on drug-related heinous crimes
Despite aspiring for a senatorial seat in the 2019 elections, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Director General Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa admitted that he does not know anything about inflation when asked about the topic.
Manila Bulletin

Leoncio Evasco Jr running for Bohol governor
Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr confirmed he will run for Bohol governor in 2019. Evasco told Rappler on Friday, October 12, that he will file his certificate of candidacy "anytime before the deadline."
Rappler

Evasco brushes off reports he is aiming for a gubernatorial post in 2019
Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco on Thursday evening addressed reports of his supposed plan to run for a gubernatorial position in the May 2019 elections.
GMA News

Gadon files COC for senator
Lawyer Larry Gadon, who gained popularity for his “Hindi sila bobo” (The people are not stupid) videos on social media, filed his certificate of candidacy (CoC) for senator on Friday.
Manila Bulletin

Ex-SolGen Hilbay will seek Senate seat
Former solicitor general Florin Hilbay announced on Friday that he will run for a seat in the Senate under the Opposition Coalition in the 2019 midterm polls.
Manila Bulletin

Sen. Bam Aquino to seek reelection, says unfazed by social media attacks
Opposition Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV on Friday said he remains unfazed even with the upsurge of fake quotes and disinformation being hurled against him, saying he remains steadfast to work on reforms that uplift Filipino families.
Manila Bulletin

Gabriela vies for 3 Congress seats, vows to fight abuses vs. women
Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) was the first party-list group to file the certificate of nomination and acceptance of nomination during the second day of filing before the Comelec on Monday.
Manila Bulletin

Paolo Duterte files COC for congressional seat
Presidential son and former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Z. Duterte filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for his bid for the congressional seat in the first district here on Friday.
Manila Bulletin

Mocha to ‘eat own words’ if she joins party-list race — ACT-Teachers rep
Former Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson should avoid running for a party-list seat next year if she wants to be a woman of her word.
Manila Bulletin

Tindig Pilipinas endorses 5 candidates for senator
Opposition coalition Tindig Pilipinas has officially announced five senatorial candidates they will endorse for the 2019 midterm elections.
Manila Bulletin

Nancy says rift within Binay family being settled
Sen. Nancy Binay, daughter of former vice president Jejomar Binay, on Friday confirmed that they are now trying to patch things up and settle the dispute within their family.
Manila Bulletin

Comelec to hold hearing on PDP-Laban split next week
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will look into the split in ruling party PDP-Laban by next week. "As of yesterday, nadiscuss namin siya sa executive session sa en banc," said Comelec Chair Sheriff Abas in a press briefing on Friday. "Hopefully by Oct. 18, magcoconduct kami ng hearing."
CNN Philippines

Pro-Duterte group holds mass action in face of partylist members
Pro-Duterte and pro-Marcos supporters gathered in front of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday afternoon and held a protest action in the face — literally — of some Kabataan partylist members as they presented their official candidates for the 2019 elections.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN News

Election-related Violence

Former Isabela town councilor dies in ambush, 1 hurt
A former town councilor was killed while one of his three companions was hurt in an ambush on Friday afternoon in barangay (village) Turod Norte, here, police said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Reelectionist town official survives slay try in Zamboanga del Sur
A Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member in Mahayag town, Zamboanga del Sur survived an ambush try Thursday afternoon, the first day of filing of the certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Revised Constitution not ‘GMA Charter’ – Veloso
The revised Constitution proposed by the House of Representatives is not a “GMA Charter” as claimed by critics. Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, aired this clarification as he chided critics for refusing to acknowledge the Resolution of Both Houses No. 15 that contains a revised Charter proposed by various proponents.
Manila Bulletin

‘New charter passed within Duterte’s term’
THE government remains confident Congress will pass a new constitution within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, despite House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s earlier pronouncement that Congress would not have enough time to finish amendments before the May 2019 elections.
The Manila Times

IP leaders, elders back federalism
Various Indigenous Peoples (IP) organizations and tribal councils in the Ilocos region gathered here to craft and sign a manifesto of support for the proposed federal form of government being pushed under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Philippine News Agency

JUDICIARY

JBC extends deadline for applications for next CJ
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has extended to October 26 the deadline for the applications, endorsements, and acceptance of automatic nominations to the post of Chief Justice that was vacated last October 10 with the retirement of Chief Justice Teresita J. Leonardo de Castro.
Manila Bulletin

Carpio accepts nomination as next Chief Justice
Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has accepted his automatic nomination for the vacant position of chief justice.
Manila Bulletin

Does Carpio stand a chance to be the next chief justice?
When President Rodrigo Duterte appointed former Chief Justice Teresita de Castro to the top judge post, he said that he was following the court’s tradition of seniority. De Castro’s appointment was met with criticism, with some alluding that it was a reward for her hand in unseating Maria Lourdes Sereno—named by Duterte as his enemy— as chief justice.
Philippine Star

LEGISLATIVE

House closer to passing stiffer penalties on game fixing
Congress is on the way to establishing a law imposing stiffer penalties on game fixing. The House of Representatives has passed on second reading House Bill No. 8204 to redefine the crime of game fixing and prescribe stiffer penalties for it.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Senators laud Locsin appointment as DFA Chief
Senators praised the appointment of Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr. as the next Foreign Affairs Secretary.
Manila Bulletin

Mongolia, Philippines vow to enhance cooperation
Mongolia and the Philippines have pledged to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors, especially in economy, trade, culture and education, the Mongolian Foreign Affairs Ministry said Friday.
Xinhua

West Philippine Sea

Philippine, Vietnam leaders discuss disputed sea boundaries
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Vietnam's prime minister have discussed efforts by their countries to delineate their maritime boundaries in the disputed South China Sea, most of which is claimed by China.
ABC News

LABOR

CBCP-ECMI urges to Locsin to ensure protection of OFWs
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) has appealed to newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr. to give preferential services for the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

HEALTH 

DOH records 1,047 new HIV cases in August 2018
The Department of Health-Epidemiology Bureau reported that there were 1,047 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) recorded during the month of August.
Manila Bulletin

AGRICULTURE

Duterte says PH to continue to import rice to prevent hunger
The country will continue to import rice to help prevent the people from going hungry, President Duterte admitted Friday.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

Briones: It is unfair to claim teachers group is the ‘most’ neglected sector
Amid the concerns being raised by various teachers groups, Education Secretary Leonor Briones noted that it is “unfair” to claim that theirs is the “most” neglected sector.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

Gov’t to crack whip on non-performing electric cooperatives
The government will revoke the franchise of the electric cooperatives in Mindanao and allow new players to take over their operations if they fail to improve the delivery of services, according to Energy Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella.
Manila Bulletin, Mindanews

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

House-proposed royalties on mining pass second reading
The proposed measure overhauling the imposition of royalties in the mining industry has inched closer to final reading approval in the House of Representatives.
Manila Bulletin

COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

State-run China Telecom eyes 3rd telco slot
China Telecom Corp. Ltd. is now among the potential bidders that will compete to become the Philippines’ third telecoms player, as the government seeks to break a longstanding duopoly and improve services.
Philippine Star, Rappler

Lack of protection on admin account blamed for ABS-CBN store hack – NPC
A lack of multi-factor authentication protection on an administrator account of ABS-CBN's store appears to have been the cause of the hack that affected 208 shoppers.
Rappler

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR