AFP says Maute group recruitment slowing down due to surrender of remaining members
A military official Wednesday said recruitment to the Maute-IS (Islamic State) group has slowed down following the surrender of Maute-IS remnants in recent months due to intense military operations.
Manila Bulletin

6 more Maute remnants surrender in Lanao
The number of surrenderers from the Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-linked Maute group climbed to 19 as another six members have surrendered to military authorities in Lanao del Sur, a top military official said Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency, Sunstar Zamboanga

MARAWI

DTI continues livelihood aid to Marawi folks
Over a year after the guns fell silent in Marawi City, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) continues to provide livelihood assistance for families and individuals whose lives were turned upside down by the months-long fighting.
Philippine News Agency

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD      

UK police not a match for evolving terrorism threat, says top officer
The country’s most senior counter-terrorism officer has said police forces are not a match for the threat of Islamist and extreme far-right terrorism. Giving evidence to the home affairs select committee, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said there were 700 live terrorism investigations and that Islamists and far-right extremists feed off each other.
The Guardian

Terrorism at Home: Bombs in the Mail
One or more persons are sending bombs to those regarded as enemies by many Republicans. There may be political motivations behind these attempted bombings, or we may be talking about a seriously deranged person or persons seeking to destroy partisan enemies and encourage more Republicans to vote. 
The New York Times

China’s counterterrorism teams ‘must work together’ to keep mega bridge safe, expert says
Chinese soldiers, armed police and specialist teams will be tasked with ensuring security on and around the new Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the world’s longest sea crossing, which opened to traffic on Wednesday morning, a local military expert said.
South China Morning Post 

Campaign launched in Luton to unite town and tackle extremism
Luton in Harmony and Luton Borough Council, in partnership with Building a Stronger Britain Together, have today (Wednesday 24 October 2018) announced the launch of ‘Many Voices, One Town’, a campaign showcasing how young Lutonians are leading the way in celebrating the town.
UK Government

Russian official says terrorist activity in Siberia on rise
Russia's Siberia is becoming an increasingly attractive target for international terrorists, Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of the Russian Security Council, said Wednesday at a council meeting in Novosibirsk.
Xinhua

Canada’s Foreign Fighter Problem is No Surprise
Over the past week, Global News Canada has released a series of reports from Syria detailing the detention of Muhammed Ali (aka Abu Turaab Al-Kanadi), a high-profile Canadian Islamic State (ISIS) member, by Kurdish forces inside the country. 
Lawfare 

Save youth from extremism, Dr Sultan tells forum
Sharjah: Youth in the region must be saved from extremism and given job opportunities, the ‘Investing in the Future’ conference was told on Wednesday morning in Sharjah. The comments came during the opening remarks by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
Gulf News
 

Preserving Muslim tribe customs in the Philippines through the Council of Elders
Strong Western media influence and rapid urbanization in Southern Philippines, from where Islam spread across the country, could adversely affect the preservation of some traditional Muslim customs particularly among the youth. Yet there are at least five indigenous Muslim people still existing in the Southern Philippines, particularly in the Zamboanga region. These are Sama Bangigi, Badjao, Sama, Yakan and Kalibugan.
Al Arabiya

PRO-ARMM to hire 500 new cops; screening going on
The Police Regional Office in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-ARMM) is currently screening hundreds of police aspirants to fill in the 500 slots for new cops to be assigned in various parts of the region this year.
Philippine News Agency

BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW

BOL holds hydro's privatization
AN OFFICIAL of the Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) said the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (Psalm) has put on hold the privatization of the 982.8 megawatts (MW) Agus-Pulangi Hydroelectric Power Plants (HEPP) due to certain provisions in the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
Sunstar Davao

Deal on good governance
The Philippines has one of the best election laws in the world that puts men and women in power. But why is this country lagging in terms of delivery of public services, protection and promotion of human rights, and speed of progress and development?
Luwaran

JNC plays big role in the implementation of Normalization Process- Guerra
According to him, the mandates and mechanisms that they are pursuing to succeed in the implementation process of normalization track is within the context of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPH-MILF) on March 27, 2014.
Luwaran

‘Political struggle of the Bangsamoro could move forward through Federalism’: Advocate says
The political struggle of the Bangsamoro people, aimed to achieve their right to self-determination, could still move forward through a federal set up of government in the country, a human rights lawyer and advocate of federalism said.
Luwaran

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Duterte calls on Lapeña, Aquino to stop blame game
President Duterte has called on Bureau of Customs (BoC) chief Isidro Lapeña and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) head Aaron Aquino to stop the blame game and focus on running after those involved in drug smuggling.
Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News

Lapeña concedes magnetic lifters contained shabu
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena finally acknowledged on Wednesday that there was indeed reason to support claims that P6.4 billion worth of shabu had been slipped into the country, apparently part of a large-scale narcotics smuggling uncovered last August.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte orders arrest of former customs intel officer Guban
President Duterte has ordered the arrest of former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban and all those allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
Manila Bulletin

Solon says bill legalizing medical marijuana still has chances of hurdling 17th Congress
Isabela Rep. Rodito Albano conceded Wednesday that his bill seeking to legalize the medicinal use of “cannabis” or marijuana will not see the light this 17th Congress.
Manila Bulletin

Operations/ Incidents

Lawmen uproot thousands of Marijuana plants in Sarangani
Authorities uprooted thousands of marijuana plants in a hinterland area in Malungon town Wednesday.  Naravy Duquiatan, director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12, placed at P2.1 million the value of the marijuana shrubs they recovered in Barangay Datal Balong in Malungon, Sarangani. 
NDBC News

Recovery and Rehabilitation  


ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

Alleged cop-supplier of firearms to N. Luzon ‘political warlords’ arrested near PNP headquarters
A policeman who was tagged as one of the main suppliers of firearms to political warlords in the northern part of Luzon was arrested while selling a high-powered firearm near the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

Most victims of human trafficking in ZamPen females
Females accounted for nearly 60% of persons rescued from suspected cases of human trafficking in Zamboanga Peninsula during the first six months of 2018, a social welfare official said.
Mindanews

Children are detained with undocumented Pinoys in Sabah, Malaysia
The children of undocumented Filipino immigrants in Malaysia were not spared from the government's crackdown on illegal immigrants. Katrina Son reported on 24 Oras on Wednesday that a video taken at a detention facility in Kimanis, Sabah in the last week of September.
GMA News

SCAM 

Duterte confers Order of National Artist on seven awardees
Seven outstanding Filipinos are now part of the prestigious list of National Artists in the country. President Duterte has conferred the Order of National Artist on seven artists, praising their significant contributions to Philippine art and culture.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte introduces beauty queen cop as new top aide
President Duterte has introduced former beauty queen Police Senior Inspector Sofia Deliu as his new presidential aide. Duterte made the announcement as he lead the Philippine Quality Award and Conferment Ceremony in Malacañang Wednesday afternoon.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star

-----------

Court martial vs Trillanes won’t reconvene for now — AFP chief
The Armed Forces of the Philippines won’t be reconvening a general court martial to try Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for now. This, after President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier decided that they would let the court decide on the matter, AFP chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lower court decisions are rarely final
When Judge Andres Soriano of the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 junked a petition of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to have Sen. Antonio Trillanes  arrested after President Duterte voided last August the amnesty granted him in 2011, Trillanes went to the court of public opinion declaring his legal victory. 
Philippine Star

DISASTER

MINDANAO

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec helpless against premature campaigning
Even before the campaign period for the 2019 elections officially starts, nearly all those who filed their certificates of candidacy (COC), especially those running for national posts, are now engaging in premature campaigning.
Manila Bulletin

Robredo: Opposition 8 will win
In next year’s elections, Vice President Leni Robredo believes the track records and capabilities of the “Opposition 8” will work to their advantage among the rest of the senatorial candidates.
Manila Bulletin

Catholic bishop asks voters to vote to ‘pro-God, gospel and good-mannered’ candidates
With seven months to go before the May 2019 midterm polls, a Catholic prelate has appealed to the Filipino electorate to take the upcoming polls seriously and with great responsibility.
Manila Bulletin

Election-related Violence

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

De Lima to file bill to institutionalize prison reform and improve justice system
Senator Leila de Lima on Wednesday vowed to pursue the passage of a measure that would institutionalize prison reform and restorative justice in the country’s correctional system to guarantee full respect for the rights of inmates.
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Why a lower debt ratio is good for the PHL
The Philippines now carries one of the lowest average debt ratios in Asia, a product of three decades of economic reforms. “The country emerged from being a highly indebted developing country in the 1980s to become one of the fastest-growing emerging economies with debt ratios lower than its Asian neighbors,” the Department of Finance said Wednesday.
GMA News

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Hungary opens consulate in Mindanao
THE honorary consulate of Hungary in Davao has formally opened its doors on October 12, providing a live local connection between the Central European country and the region of Mindanao. Hungary’s embassy marked the opening of the honorary consulate and the appointment of new Honorary Consul Mary Ann Montemayor with a reception on the said date.
Business Mirror

West Philippine Sea

China-ASEAN naval drill to focus on code to stop conflict
Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe has hailed the first, week-long naval exercise by China and ASEAN nations, off the city of Zhanjiang in southern Guangdong province, as a milestone showcasing the shared resolve of China and ASEAN states to safeguard regional peace.
Asia Times

LABOR

Demand for OFWs in Poland up
With the increasing demand for Filipino workers in Poland, the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw has launched various seminars and forums to educate the members of the Filipino community on the different types of visas they can avail of and their rights and obligations while staying in the central European country.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

Commuter group asks gov’t to stop jeep and bus fare hikes amid inflation
The imposition of the newly-approved fare increases for jeepneys and buses could be delayed after a commuters group appealed to stop its implementation. “It is most respectfully prayed that the approved fare increases for jeeps and buses be stopped or withheld for the sake of millions of people of the Philippines,” the United Filipinos Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) stated.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH 

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

BIMP-EAGA member states offer cheaper rice exports to Mindanao
Neighboring countries have expressed interest to export rice to Mindanao to lower down the cost of the staple amid the reported shortages in the previous months, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) executive director Romeo Montenegro said on Wednesday.
Mindanews

Rice hoarders face raps; purge rice trader ranks of smugglers, Imee urges
Rice-hoarding complaints were filed Tuesday against five rice dealers in Iligan City after 50,000 sacks of rice were seized in raids at three warehouses last October 2.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

Briones underscores financial literacy among high school students
Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones underscored the importance of financial literacy among students during her keynote speech for the Sun Life Financial Philippines’ Sinag Teachers Summit held recently in Quezon City.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

Duterte bans ‘thank you’ streamers in Boracay
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has been instructed by President Duterte to tell stakeholders not to post streamers and billboards thanking him for the rehabilitation of Boracay, as he does not want to be glorified. “I saw a post – someone sent it to me – which says, ‘Thank you PRDD for Saving Boracay’,” Puyat said, adding, “It was even nailed to a tree.”
Philippine Star

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Villanueva: 3rd telco to boost work-from-home bill
The entry of a third telecommunications player is a boost to the proposed telecommuting or work-from-home law, said Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva, sponsor of the measure, said a third network service provider would contribute to the implementation of the work-from-home bill especially that it is nearing becoming a law.
Manila Bulletin

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR