Terror suspects won’t have to appear in court — SC
Members of terrorist groups facing criminal charges need not appear in court personally for their testimonies or cross examinations during the trial of their cases with the implementation of the Supreme Court’s (SC) “tele-hearing” mechanism that would be pilot tested in Davao City.
Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard

MARAWI

Muntinlupa extends P5-million scholarship fund for Marawi students
MUNTINLUPA City has extended a P5-million scholarship fund to support the Marawi siege victims. This time, the fund seeks to help displaced pupils and students continue their studies.
Business Mirror

Hospital and headquarters
The ground-breaking ceremony for the planned hospital at the Sagonsongan Temporary Shelter site, the largest relocation area for war-torn Marawi City’s affected residents, was held Oct. 13. 
Business World Online

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD      

"Genocide against Christians": Extremist Persecution of Christians, April 2018
A Muslim man set a Christian woman on fire because she refused to convert to Islam and marry him. Asma Yaqoob, 25, with burns covering nearly 90 percent of her body, died five days later. According to her father, his son and he were waiting for Asma, a domestic servant, at the home of her employer, when she answered a knock on the door. 
Gatestone Institute

Just How Much Terrorism Does Iran Finance?
Just how much terrorism does Iran finance? And why are so many European nations willing to ignore this deadly part of the Iranian regime — even when the terrorism happens inside their borders? Watch Clarion’s Ryan Mauro comment on the implications of a new State Department report suggesting Iran spent $16 billion to finance terror worldwide:
Clarion Project

Saudi Arabia rejects threats to undermine it, vows to respond with tougher action
Saudi Arabia reiterated its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it, saying the Kingdom would retaliate against any sanctions with tougher measures, an official source said in a statement carried by Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.
Saudi Gazette

Global terror has no borders: Turkey parliament speaker
No country and no person can feel safe in the face of global terrorism, Turkey’s parliament speaker said on Sunday, stressing that terrorism has no borders.
Anadolu News Agency

We should talk to al-Shabaab now – we owe it to the Mogadishu bomb victims
Today is the one-year anniversary of one of the darkest days in Somalia’s history. On 14 October 2017, al-Shabaab suicide bombers drove a truck full of explosives into a crowded junction in the nation’s capital, Mogadishu. They killed approximately 600 people. Around 100 of those were children. The bomb scene was so large it resembled a canyon. For days, it was a crater of horror and tragedy.
The Guardian

Two images that show we need to be sensitive about our photos
Khalid Masood was lawfully shot dead by police after he killed five people at Westminster in March 2017, a coroner’s inquest in London concluded on Friday. Over several days of covering the hearing, Guardian editors had access to a limited range of images of Masood. For one report they used a photo of him taken in the Great Mosque of Mecca, Islam’s holiest site.
The Guardian

Gov’t looking for ‘happy compromise’ with MNLF – Duterte
The government is working out a “happy compromise for all” amid its peace initiatives with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari, President Duterte said Sunday.
Manila Bulletin

BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW

OPAPP urges civil society to read the BOL
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) urged members of civil society to go over the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in its entirety as this will be the key in developing a better appreciation of the landmark measure.
Manila Bulletin

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Politicians on ‘narcolist’ down to 85 — PDEA
The number of “narcopoliticians” has been trimmed down to 85 after the arrest and death of 8 others, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said. According to PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino, the 85 “narcopoliticians” were included in the 6,400 individuals who are part of the narcolist.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Filipinos deeply conflicted on Duterte’s drug war
Jailed drug user Bitoy Paras perks up when describing his support for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on narcotics, an unlikely fan of a campaign that has left Filipinos deeply conflicted.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte: Thorough probe first before blaming Chinese for drugs in PH
President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, October 14, said the Chinese should not be immediately blamed for the presence of illegal drugs in the Philippines. "There has to be a thorough investigation before we start to blame mostly Chinese," he said during a speech at the launch of former president Fidel Ramos' book Prosper Thy Neighbor.
Rappler, GMA News, Manila Bulletin

DOJ to officials with drug raps: Brace for hold departure order
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said that precautionary hold departure orders (PHDOs) will be pleaded in court against ranking law enforcement and government officials who are undergoing preliminary investigation on charges related to the illegal drugs trade.
Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard

Operations/ Incidents

2 suspected drug pushers fall in Quezon buy-bust
Two suspected drug pushers were nabbed in separate buy-bust operations in Candelaria town in Quezon province on Saturday, police said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

8 nabbed in anti-drug operations
EIGHT suspected drug personalities were arrested while some P22,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized in separate anti-drug operations in Zamboanga City on Saturday, October 13.
Sunstar Zamboanga

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

SCAM 

Threat to oust Duterte always possible, says Panelo
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Sunday said that the threat to oust President Rodrigo Duterte is always possible because of the opposition and the communist rebels who want to drive the President out of power.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PRRD tags rice tariffication bill as urgent: SAP Go
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Sunday said President Rodrigo Duterte has certified the rice tariffication bill as urgent. Go said Senate Bill No. 1998 seeks to replace the Quantitative Restriction on rice and replace it with a tariff, or tax imposed on rice.
Philippine News Agency

Duterte to suspend fuel tax increase under TRAIN law
President Rodrigo Duterte will suspend the second round of higher excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, in response to soaring inflation. In a statement on Sunday, October 14, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the P2 per liter increase in excise tax originally set to take effect January 1, 2019, will be put on hold.
Rappler

Military and police support for Duterte
What is the extent of military and police support for President Duterte, almost three years into his controversy-filled presidency? From the day he assumed office on June 30, 2016, the President has steamrolled his way from one controversy to another.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Was Cayetano actually fired?
WHETHER Alan Peter Cayetano voluntarily resigned as Foreign Secretary to return to his old congressional seat in Taguig, or was fired by President Rodrigo Duterte for whatever reason remains the subject of speculation.
The Manila Times

-----------

Trillanes: I hope RTC 148 judge would do the right thing
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Sunday expressed hopes that the judge handling the Department of Justice's bid for his arrest and hold departure order over the revived coup d'etat case against him would do the right thing.
GMA News

DOJ denies pressuring Makati judge Soriano over Trillanes case
The Department of Justice on Sunday said it "takes very strong exception" to Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano's allegation that Judge Andres Soriano of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 is being pressured to release an arrest order against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
GMA News, Philippine News Agency, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

DISASTER

Are Filipino communities prepared for a tsunami?
The deadly tsunami in Palu, Indonesia, which took more than 2,000 lives, can be attributed to several factors, including the country's topography, vulnerable communities, and a less-than-robust early warning system.
Rappler

NHA, 2 NCR cities donate P14-M for Itogon landslide victims
The municipal government here received a total of PHP14 million in cash assistance from the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the cities of Valenzuela and San Juan in Metro Manila on Saturday.
Philippine News Agency

MINDANAO

ELECTION RELATED

Candidates endorsed by Duterte will have huge chance of victory in 2019 midterm polls — Palace
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo has recognized the impact of a presidential endorsement in the polls, saying it was “logical” that people will choose bets supported by the country’s popular leader.
Manila Bulletin

PNP to provide 2 security personnel to qualified 2019 poll bets
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will provide two security personnel to qualified candidates for next year's mid-term elections. PNP spokesperson, Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr., said poll bets requesting for police security should comply with the requirements set by the PNP, which includes an assessment to determine if there is indeed a threat on their lives.
Philippine News Agency

Comelec sees surge in COC filers today
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expecting an influx of candidates filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the May 2019 midterm elections starting today. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said politicians are expected to rush to the different poll offices in the last three days of the filing of COCs.
Philippine Star

Final list of candidates for 2019 elections to be released December
The final list of candidates for the May 2019 midterm elections is expected to be released in December, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Spokesperson James Jimenez said on Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Poll season: PNP hunting 77 private armies
The Philippine National Police is now after at least 77 active private armed groups with 2,060 members nationwide. Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr., PNP spokesperson, said most of the private armies (72) were in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Poe tops list of senatorial bets in SWS September survey
The SWS survey was dominated by women as Poe garnered 52 percent followed by Sen. Cynthia Villar, 46 percent; Taguig Representative Pia Cayetano, 37 percent; and Sen. Nancy Binay, 31 percent. The leading male bet in the survey were actor and former Sen. Lito Lapid and Sen. Koko Pimentel, both obtaining grades of 30 percent of respondents for the fifth and sixth slots.
Manila Bulletin

Negros police name 5 LGUs as poll hotspots
The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Occidental has identified five local government units as election hotspots, the provincial police director said. Senior Supt. Rodolfo Castil Jr., PNP-Negros provincial director, said these hotspots are the municipalities of Moises Padilla, Isabela, Toboso, Salvador Benedicto and Escalante City.
The Manila Times

Opposition Senate slate out soon - Hontiveros
The opposition coalition will soon announce its senatorial line-up for the 2019 elections, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Sunday.  The coalition is made up of the Liberal Party, the Magdalo party-list, civil society group Tindig Pilipinas, and Hontiveros' Akbayan party-list, she said. 
ABS-CBN News

The race begins
Ever since Comelec announced that the elections would be pushing through in May 2019 as scheduled – candidates have been scurrying to throw their hats into the ring. Filing of candidacy began last week and we have a new crop of senators, congressmen, governors, and more gearing up to either win a seat of power or retain their seat of power.
Philippine Star

Election-related Violence

Zamboanga del Sur councilor hurt after armed man stages ambush
Zamboanga del Sur Councilor Teomila Nobleza was slightly injured after an unidentified armed man staged an ambush and fired at her vehicle on Thursday. Nobleza was hit on the face and body, according to a report by Jam Sisante-Cayco on GMA News TV's Balitanghali on Sunday.
GMA News

Town councilor killed, 2 others hurt in Masbate shooting
At least two people, including a town councilor, were killed while two others were wounded in separate shooting incidents on Saturday in the towns of Placer and Uson in Masbate.
Philippine News Agency

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Draft federal charter respects CAR customs, traditions
 Former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel reiterated that the culture and traditions of the different regions must always be respected under the proposed federal form of government.
Sunstar Baguio

Understanding federalism
A LOT of Filipinos do not understand or are having a hard time understanding what federalism is. This could simply mean that it was not properly explained in ways the average person can understand.
Sunstar Davao

JUDICIARY

Our new ‘Wonder Boys’ — Batman and Robin
Forget Alan Peter Cayetano. Forget Teresita de Castro – the wonder boys are coming to save the Philippines. Batman and Robin are on their way! On Justice Antonio Carpio: It was out of delicadeza that Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio declined his nomination for the chief justice post last June after the ouster of Ma. Lourdes Sereno.
Philippine Star

LEGISLATIVE

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

BRP Tarlac starts historic SoKor port visit
Strategic sealift vessel BRP Tarlac has started its South Korea port visit after arriving at Jeju Island on Friday night. "From a just-concluded goodwill visit in Vladivostok, Russia, and three days at sea, Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Tarlac carrying Philippine Navy contingent arrived here at 8:30 in the evening (local time) of October 12, 2018 for another historic port visit in (South) Korea," Naval Task Force (NTF) 87 head, Capt. Florante Gagua, said in a statement Saturday.
Philippine News Agency

Coast Guard to commission into service two newly acquired ships from France
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is set on Monday to commission into the service the first two of the four fast patrol boats from France at its main headquarters in Manila.
Manila Bulletin

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Analysts doubt growth of 7% can be sustained
SOME analysts have raised doubts that the Philippines will be back on track next year and will sustain a 7-percent growth for next decade, supposedly driven by its $180-billion infrastructure program.
Business Mirror

17 senators ask Duterte to support suspension of excise tax on fuel
Seventeen senators, all belonging to the majority bloc in the Senate, have asked President Rodrigo Duterte to support their move to suspend any further increases in excise taxes on fuel. The senators made the appeal in a letter to Duterte dated October 9.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sec. Dominguez and interest rate realities
It is going to be a hard sell to the critics of the Duterte administration and to those who are ignorant about how the economy works, but Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III is correct.
Business Mirror

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

Sandiganbayan upholds guilty verdict vs retired army general
The Sandiganbayan affirmed the guilty verdict given to retired army general Jose Ramiscal Jr in relation to corruption. The anti-graft court's 7th Division junked Ramiscal's motion for reconsideration which sought to reverse the April 2018 decision which sentenced him to a total of 123 years in jail for 12 counts of graft and falsification of documents.
Rappler

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

Tulong-Trabaho Act gets final House nod
Congressmen have unanimously approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) 8139 or the Proposed “Tulong-Trabaho Act” which seeks to institute a Philippine Labor Force Competency Competitiveness Program and free access to Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Manila Bulletin

Workers of BGC condo on hunger strike
Their plea: for their coworkers to be regularized as employees of the posh condominium in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) where they work. But this plea seemed to fall on deaf ears, so they went on an indefinite hunger strike starting October 5.
Rappler

TRANSPORTATION

Solon eyes approval of bill requiring parking space for car buyers
The Senate committee on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship has formed a technical working group to further study Senate Bill No. 201 or the proposed “Proof of Parking Space Act” after the measure received full support from different civil society and government representatives during the panel’s recent hearing.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Transport chief wants Sangley airport issues resolved by year-end
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) wants a year-end deadline to resolve issues over the Cavite provincial government’s proposal to build a new international airport on reclaimed land in Sangley Point. To date, uncertainty still hangs over the proposal, which involves the construction of a new airport with multiple runways and a passenger capacity of more than 100 million passengers per year.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Standard

HEALTH 

[OPINION] A young doctor's views on health workforce in PH
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Such can be said about my medical school experience at the Philippine General Hospital, the country's premier government tertiary hospital. After 5 long years of whole-day lectures, cadaver dissections, weekly hundred-item exams, small group discussions with consultants, unlimited ER admissions, and 24-hour hospital duties, our medical student days are finally over.
Rappler

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

More pork, chicken imports set
The Philippines will continue to rely on imported agricultural products to meet the increasing demand as the country is expected to buy more pork and chicken meat from outside, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Philippine Star, Business Mirror

Duterte, GMA support ‘World Pandesal Day’ on October 16
Despite a Feb. 6 fire that burned down Quezon City’s pioneering, award-winning, 79-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café, my staff, bakers and I are still optimistic. We invite the public to our annual “World Pandesal Day” on Oct. 16, Tuesday, starting at 11 a.m. at the burnt ruins on Judge Jimenez Street corner K-1st Street, Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City, where we will give 70,000 pandesal buns and other foods for free with Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte as guest of honor.
Philippine Star

Why Agri is a game changer
We maximized the first week of October by highlighting the potential of agriculture in our country and across ASEAN. On Oct. 1, with more than 50 speakers from all over the world who joined the discussion about uplifting the agriculture sector,  the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) Philippines, together with Go Negosyo and the Department of Agriculture (DA) Philippines, successfully organized the biggest ASEAN Agriculture Summit at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
Philippine Star

EDUCATION

ENERGY

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

‘Duterte wants Boracay as standard for Philippine resorts’
President Duterte wants the kind of environment compliance now being implemented in Boracay applied to other tourist destinations in the country, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said yesterday.
Philippine Star

Gov’t says Boracay will open only to 19,000 visitors on October 26
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Eduardo Año said over the weekend that only 19,000 tourists may be allowed on Boracay when the world-famous island resort reopens on October 26.
Manila Bulletin

FULL FORCE OF LAW
Non-compliant and non-accredited establishments accepting bookings in Boracay Island will be dealt with the “full force of the law,” the Department of Tourism (DOT) said. It instructed concerned establishments to stop all online promotions and other related collaterals until complete compliance with government regulations had been accomplished.
Panay News

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

EU to partner with PH, other nations on managing plastic use
The European Union (EU) will launch a regional program in 2019 to strengthen cooperation with the Philippines, and select countries in east and southeast Asia towards "sustainable" consumption and production of plastic which had been contributing to problems posed by climate change.
Philippine News Agency

DILG asks LGUs to secure ECC from DENR before operating any environment project
To protect and safeguard the public against man-made disasters, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) asked all local government units (LGUs) to secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) before operating any environmental project.
Manila Bulletin

COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

The Philippines’ journey to cyber resiliency
The digital economy in the Philippines has the potential to add US $8 billion to the country’s GDP over the next three years. However, cyber risks could impede trust and resilience in the digital economy and prevent the nation from realizing its full digital potential.
Manila Bulletin

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR 

Non-State Actors in Today’s Information Wars
Rivalries and confrontations between states in the information space are a feature of today’s international relations. Information is becoming one of the priority instruments in fighting for global domination.
Modern Diplomacy